Jump to content
tlw content
tlw content

By tlw content •

A few thoughts from the Southampton game - by Paul Natton

1. So for the first time in our history we’ve won the first seven games of a season. First time. In our history. Seven!!! Won!!!

 

2. PSG excepted though, we’ve barely hit third gear and today was very much in that vein. However it wasn’t about riding our luck or scraping through. We’re just very, very good and can beat most sides we face without breaking a sweat. 

 

3. I don’t mean to imply arrogance or complacency though. We’ve been grafting constantly in every game and the third gear thing is about form rather than choice or attitude. That said, there is something hugely satisfying about us being able to experiment with the line up as we did here and still emerge as eminently comfortable winners. 

 

4. Klopp went with Shaqiri in midfield, resting Milner in exchange, but also switched the front three around with Salah through the middle, Mané right and Bobby left (in the first half at least). It wasn’t exactly fluent and yet it led to three first half goals. He’s getting this whole squad thing eminently right so far and indeed starting to step it up at just the right time. 

 

5. Shaqiri looked lively on his first start, working hard and linking well with his teammates. His free kick for Mo’s goal was sensational and it was disappointing that he emerged onto the bench for the second half. Hopefully that was just a precaution from Klopp with Wednesday night in mind, as he’d taken a clattering about 35 minutes in. Either way though, he was good and I’ll be disappointed if he isn’t starting when we play Chelsea in the league cup. He looks hungry, aggressive and very Kloppball-esque. For thirteen million quid. Sound. 

 

6. Despite Klopp dipping his toes into rotation today (before no doubt fully embracing it on Wednesday night), he stuck with his front three and, while he wasn’t on fire, Mo looked sharper again. He’s now got three goals and two assists in six league games. Not bad for a lad who’s apparently out of form. He could have had more too, with what seemed a weird offside decision denying him at least the brace. 

 

7. Virgil going off gave the crowd a wobble with The Kop noticeably more jittery afterwards. However, that was surely more testament to his universally accepted importance to the side rather than any perceived drop off on the pitch in his absence as Joe G came on and, despite playing on the other side to normal, was very Virgil-like in his composure and class on the ball. Indeed there was one moment where he shut down a Southampton break on our left flank on his own that was absolutely brilliant, stealing the ball and laying it off to Robbo (who unfortunately contrived to immediately give it away). 

 

8. Which brings me to our joke of a captain. I mean, can you believe this? He ripped Robbo’s head off not once, but twice for that error and we all know he’s not fit to wear the armband/is a crab/never shows his teeth/(insert more random internet gobshite bollocks). All sarcasm aside, I haven’t heard a single complaint about Hendo at the match since the season he arrived under Kenny and played like a timid kid when deployed on the right. He was good again today, just like he always is, playing that cog-in-the-Kloppball-machine role to perfection. The moral of this story? We’ve got some bad blerts following us online and Hendo is boss. 

 

9.  While I’m on about the midfield, the TLW lads were all chatting before the game and Spurs’ less than stellar start was discussed in relation to their lack of signings and in the context of what ours have done for us. For all the broader rumblings about Fabinho barely featuring, people seem to be missing the impact the new signings have had on our existing midfielders. Certainly Gini and Milner have raised their games (almost unbelievably in Milner’s case after his brilliance last year) and that is exactly what happens at title winning clubs. That’s not to say we will win the title, but it’s clear that the momentum is relentlessly forward and much of it is currently the result of improvements from the more unsung players of last season. 

 

10. So, the great start to the campaign continues apace and there’s no reason to think that can’t continue in the week. I expect we’ll see a dramatically changed side, but these players are so well drilled that I don’t envisage a problem against Chelsea on Wednesday. In fact, I think this winning run is going to be sustained up to and including City so settled and reassuringly drilled have we been. There, I’ve said it: we'll beat Chelsea and City. Come on you Reds!!!

 

Paul Natton

Edited by dave u

  • Like 1
Go to articles

User Feedback

Recommended Comments



VERBAL DIARRHEA
24 minutes ago, dave u said:

Of course you'll get that, I mean fucking hell I've even heard people giving Mo shit (the Main Stand is a tough crowd!) but for the most part the crowd is well and truly with Henderson.

Triple echo there, apologies.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
dave u

Worth mentioning that my Dad loves Hendo, and generally he's tough to please as he usually thinks everyone is shit.

 

He loves Milner and Andy Robbo too, as well as Mo, obviously. Van Dijk is a big favourite of his now too, and Firmino finally won him over midway through last season. The rest he can generally take or leave, except Gini who he still doesn't like, (although I can feel him mellowing a little) and Matip who he isn't a big fan of and I genuinely don't think he even knows his name.

 

Edit: I forgot to mention his favourite, Shaqiri. He fucking loves that little guy.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Bob

On this basis, I’d suggest @Paul needs to keep his weekly Hendo bit, but to hence forth make clear the distinction between twitter bellends and other internet frequenting fans.

 

Final word from me, accepting that all you are both saying may be fair but having zero interest in ever reading the comment sections of anything put out by the club website, is just to say the frustration doesn’t totally relate to his lack of channelling an inner Stevie, but more his willingness in the final minutes of a goalless let down at home to someone we should be smashing to instead give it to lovren to let him have a go at doing it.

  • Upvote 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
dave u
1 hour ago, Bob Spunkmouse said:

On this basis, I’d suggest @Paul needs to keep his weekly Hendo bit, but to hence forth make clear the distinction between twitter bellends and other internet frequenting fans.

 

Final word from me, accepting that all you are both saying may be fair but having zero interest in ever reading the comment sections of anything put out by the club website, is just to say the frustration doesn’t totally relate to his lack of channelling an inner Stevie, but more his willingness in the final minutes of a goalless let down at home to someone we should be smashing to instead give it to lovren to let him have a go at doing it.

At the same time though I think we'd all agree that his long range shooting isn't his greatest asset. So, if he's aware of that too (which presumably he is), he's probably right not to be lashing desperation shots from 30 yards late in the game as the chances are it won't help.

 

Lovren could probably do with having the same level of self awareness!

 

Hendo is the holding midfield player. It's really not his job to be pulling us out of the fire in close games. It won't be Fabinho's when he plays, and it's not Gini's when he plays as the six either. Anything we get from that position in terms of goals is a bonus really.

 

I think this is part of the reason he's judged so harshly by some. When he does his job and the forwards click he looks great and people acknowledge the good job he does. When he does the same job and the forwards aren't at it and the team struggles, the finger often gets pointed at him even though he's basically doing the same thing he always does.

 

He can't take a game by the scruff of the neck and drive us on to victory. Very few players can, but we've had players who are capable of it (Souness, McMahon, Gerrard) so we've been spoiled in that regard.

 

None of our current midfielders can do it, which is why we need Keita to be the player we all hope he is.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
TheBitch
1 hour ago, Pidge said:

Has he even taken a shot since that goal against Chelsea a couple of seasons back?

To be fair I'd have quit after that one too. 

It ain't getting any better than that so why bother. 

  • Upvote 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Bob
1 hour ago, dave u said:

At the same time though I think we'd all agree that his long range shooting isn't his greatest asset. So, if he's aware of that too (which presumably he is), he's probably right not to be lashing desperation shots from 30 yards late in the game as the chances are it won't help.

 

Lovren could probably do with having the same level of self awareness!

 

Hendo is the holding midfield player. It's really not his job to be pulling us out of the fire in close games. It won't be Fabinho's when he plays, and it's not Gini's when he plays as the six either. Anything we get from that position in terms of goals is a bonus really.

 

I think this is part of the reason he's judged so harshly by some. When he does his job and the forwards click he looks great and people acknowledge the good job he does. When he does the same job and the forwards aren't at it and the team struggles, the finger often gets pointed at him even though he's basically doing the same thing he always does.

 

He can't take a game by the scruff of the neck and drive us on to victory. Very few players can, but we've had players who are capable of it (Souness, McMahon, Gerrard) so we've been spoiled in that regard.

 

None of our current midfielders can do it, which is why we need Keita to be the player we all hope he is.

That’s all fair, and I’m not going to argue, but what I’m visualising in my minds eye is the chance to pit a ball into the box - which he is good at, and does often do well - in the latter stages of a frustrating game, being shifted onto a Lovren or Matip type to have a go instead.

 

The (probably harsh) word that sticks in my head around his playing style is “timid”  - and mostly at those crucial moment s where we need bravery - and that’s not what I want from a captain of our club.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
dave u

There have been times I would agree with the 'timid' shout. Nowhere near as often these days but yeah, every now and again.

 

He's not perfect and some of the criticism directed at him is valid. Most of it is completely disproportionate with reality though, that's what gets people's backs ups.

 

Can't wait until the weekend when he repeats his Stamford Bridge goal from a couple of years back, and Paul posts a picture of his bare arse with the caption 'kiss this all you Hendo haters' as point number three in his 'thoughts from the game'.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
VERBAL DIARRHEA
20 minutes ago, dave u said:

There have been times I would agree with the 'timid' shout. Nowhere near as often these days but yeah, every now and again.

 

He's not perfect and some of the criticism directed at him is valid. Most of it is completely disproportionate with reality though, that's what gets people's backs ups.

 

Can't wait until the weekend when he repeats his Stamford Bridge goal from a couple of years back, and Paul posts a picture of his bare arse with the caption 'kiss this all you Hendo haters' as point number three in his 'thoughts from the game'.

There’s your answer “ a couple of years back “ he is not really expected to get goals is he. One since that, two? Hopefully he scores a nice winner at the weekend but it should hardly be used as a stick to beat his detractors into submission. He is footballer Marmite. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Anubis

If you want to take on Stringvest over his views on Henderson, take him on directly instead of conflating him with 'internet fans.' I think both Paul and Dave are scared of Stringy. You big cowards...

Link to comment
Share on other sites
dave u
54 minutes ago, Anubis said:

If you want to take on Stringvest over his views on Henderson, take him on directly instead of conflating him with 'internet fans.' I think both Paul and Dave are scared of Stringy. You big cowards...

He didn't like Dirk either. The man has no soul.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Bob
3 hours ago, dave u said:

There have been times I would agree with the 'timid' shout. Nowhere near as often these days but yeah, every now and again.

 

He's not perfect and some of the criticism directed at him is valid. Most of it is completely disproportionate with reality though, that's what gets people's backs ups.

 

Can't wait until the weekend when he repeats his Stamford Bridge goal from a couple of years back, and Paul posts a picture of his bare arse with the caption 'kiss this all you Hendo haters' as point number three in his 'thoughts from the game'.

I’d still prefer him to keep it to the last point. Pretty sure I made that clear.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
VladimirIlyich
On 9/25/2018 at 8:20 AM, dave u said:

At the same time though I think we'd all agree that his long range shooting isn't his greatest asset. So, if he's aware of that too (which presumably he is), he's probably right not to be lashing desperation shots from 30 yards late in the game as the chances are it won't help.

 

Lovren could probably do with having the same level of self awareness!

 

Hendo is the holding midfield player. It's really not his job to be pulling us out of the fire in close games. It won't be Fabinho's when he plays, and it's not Gini's when he plays as the six either. Anything we get from that position in terms of goals is a bonus really.

 

I think this is part of the reason he's judged so harshly by some. When he does his job and the forwards click he looks great and people acknowledge the good job he does. When he does the same job and the forwards aren't at it and the team struggles, the finger often gets pointed at him even though he's basically doing the same thing he always does.

 

He can't take a game by the scruff of the neck and drive us on to victory. Very few players can, but we've had players who are capable of it (Souness, McMahon, Gerrard) so we've been spoiled in that regard.

 

None of our current midfielders can do it, which is why we need Keita to be the player we all hope he is.

Great post Gaffer.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
dave u

It's crept in over the last year or so and its getting worse all the time, which tells me that they think its working because people must be clicking on them. It started with sites running articles based on stuff a player might tweet. That was bad enough, but now they're doing it based on stupid shit that a minority of fans might be tweeting when they're pissed off during a game.

 

Talksport wasn't the only site doing that about Hendo this weekend either. I saw a couple of others when browsing through newsnow.

  • Upvote 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites


Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Add a comment...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×

×
×
  • Create New...