Energy

[Bruce Wayne]

We had little to none today, the midfield were off the pace all game, lost every 2nd ball, sluggish to close down and when they did get the ball they simply gave it away. Moose looked static and jogged around all day as did McGoldrick.

Liverpool are clearly a brilliant side but we made it easy for them tonight, that wasn't us. So slow and ponderous when we had the ball and without it.

We need fresh players in this window because our lads look fucked, they have put so much in to the first half of the season I fear it's catching up with them.

Next league game is massive.

 

[Akinbiyi]

We had little to none today, the midfield were off the pace all game, lost every 2nd ball, sluggish to close down and when they did get the ball they simply gave it away. Moose looked static and jogged around all day as did McGoldrick.

Liverpool are clearly a brilliant side but we made it easy for them tonight, that wasn't us. So slow and ponderous when we had the ball and without it.

We need fresh players in this window because our lads look fucked, they have put so much in to the first half of the season I fear it's catching up with them.

Next league game is massive.

Biggest annoyance for me by a mile

 

[DronnieBlade]

That’s simply not true.

Liverpool are outstanding. They whooped Leicester recently 4 zip.

The pace at which they move the ball, the pace of their offensive players in their off the ball movement and the pace at which the transition breaks any press we make through the thirds is quite simply as good as it gets.

UTB

 

[LJBlade]

We had little to none today, the midfield were off the pace all game, lost every 2nd ball, sluggish to close down and when they did get the ball they simply gave it away. Moose looked static and jogged around all day as did McGoldrick.

Liverpool are clearly a brilliant side but we made it easy for them tonight, that wasn't us. So slow and ponderous when we had the ball and without it.

We need fresh players in this window because our lads look fucked, they have put so much in to the first half of the season I fear it's catching up with them.

Next league game is massive.

There was plenty of energy, we were just playing against the best team in the world who have players that are quicker than us in both thought and movement. It’s as simple as that really.

 

[PokerBlade]

I can't believe anyone is even remotely bothered by anything today. Probably the only disappointment to me was McBurnie missing a sitter.

Every player in their side is incredibly comfortable on the ball. If you go chasing them then you'll be chasing shadows. Criticising our performance today is daft.

 

[IdLiketoRogerMoore]

I can't believe anyone is even remotely bothered by anything today. Probably the only disappointment to me was McBurnie missing a sitter.

Every player in their side is incredibly comfortable on the ball. If you go chasing them then you'll be chasing shadows. Criticising our performance today is daft.

Do you think Wilder will criticise our lack of composure and inability to retain any type of possession? It's being critical that's enabled him to get the best out of this side.

What's the betting he's telling them now that they've now seen what excellence looks like and they'll need to get a lot better against 'big' opposition...

 

[ATL Recs]

That’s simply not true.

Liverpool are outstanding. They whooped Leicester recently 4 zip.

The pace at which they move the ball, the pace of their offensive players in their off the ball movement and the pace at which the transition breaks any press we make through the thirds is quite simply as good as it gets.

UTB

At last a comment full of substance

 

[Bruce Wayne]

There was plenty of energy, we were just playing against the best team in the world who have players that are quicker than us in both thought and movement. It’s as simple as that really.

Nah we didn't, we were very slow today. Wilder says it too.

 

[LJBlade]

Nah we didn't, we were very slow today. Wilder says it too.

Oh ok then

 

[PokerBlade]

Do you think Wilder will criticise our lack of composure and inability to retain any type of possession? It's being critical that's enabled him to get the best out of this side.

What's the betting he's telling them now that they've now seen what excellence looks like and they'll need to get a lot better against 'big' opposition...

I think Wilder will look at what we could've done better. I think publicly he might speak of some negatives. I don't think he'll be particularly bothered behind the scenes. If he is then it'll be out of pride and his hatred of losing but not because there was any reasonable expectation of much better.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Oh ok then

Lost the first ball, lost the 2nd ball, wasn't us today was what Wilder said.

 

[Rojoyblanco]

We had little to none today, the midfield were off the pace all game, lost every 2nd ball, sluggish to close down and when they did get the ball they simply gave it away. Moose looked static and jogged around all day as did McGoldrick.

Liverpool are clearly a brilliant side but we made it easy for them tonight, that wasn't us. So slow and ponderous when we had the ball and without it.

We need fresh players in this window because our lads look fucked, they have put so much in to the first half of the season I fear it's catching up with them.

Next league game is massive.

I think it was more that their defenders have also got pace.

 

[Collins Morris]

Could end up being like first season back in championship....... I'm going for us still to be safe with 3-4 games of the season to go

 

[Rodley]

We had little to none today, the midfield were off the pace all game, lost every 2nd ball, sluggish to close down and when they did get the ball they simply gave it away. Moose looked static and jogged around all day as did McGoldrick.

Liverpool are clearly a brilliant side but we made it easy for them tonight, that wasn't us. So slow and ponderous when we had the ball and without it.

We need fresh players in this window because our lads look fucked, they have put so much in to the first half of the season I fear it's catching up with them.

Next league game is massive.

The energy the defence was expending tracking their front three was pretty phenomenal. Basham put in an unbelievable shift as it was like Rourke’s Drift at times.

When we won the ball we gave it away too hastily or we tried to overcomplicate things. Do agree a few players are looking leggy - we’ve had a lot of fixtures in the last 2-3 weeks.

 

[Ainsley Harriott]

Do you think Wilder will criticise our lack of composure and inability to retain any type of possession? It's being critical that's enabled him to get the best out of this side.

What's the betting he's telling them now that they've now seen what excellence looks like and they'll need to get a lot better against 'big' opposition...

Wilder will criticise that tonight because he has to to the media. On the bus what do you think he will say? Every single one of their players is better than ours by a margin. We were never in the game and rightly so as they're far better than us.

 

[LJBlade]

Lost the first ball, lost the 2nd ball, wasn't us today was what Wilder said.

Oh ok then

 

[Houston_Blade]

I’m just waiting for the thread calling our players “spineless cunts”. It must be coming soon.

 

[DronnieBlade]

At last a comment full of substance

In your opinion.

.

UTB

 

[A Storm of Blades]

Plenty of energy? Are you sure?! Two things can be simultaneously true. Liverpool are a fantastic team and can carve through teams at will. BUT. We still played at 40%, looked star struck, no urgency, no needle, no rush no composure. Liverpool’s play didn’t make us jog about and not work to close down space.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

I think it was more that their defenders have also got pace.

Their defenders had no bearing on Fleck/Norwood/Lunny losing every 2nd ball to Milner/Henderson/that dutch player name I can't spell

 

[IdLiketoRogerMoore]

Wilder will criticise that tonight because he has to to the media. On the bus what do you think he will say? Every single one of their players is better than ours by a margin. We were never in the game and rightly so as they're far better than us.

I just think he'll be disappointed we didn't step up to the challenge.

No disrespect in the result, but the manner will give him food for thought.

 

[Rojoyblanco]

Their defenders had no bearing on Fleck/Norwood/Lunny losing every 2nd ball to Milner/Henderson/that dutch player name I can't spell

No they didn’t but it’s what made Moose look slow.

 

[Darthblade]

Its fair to say that Liverpool caught us on an off day ...…

UTB & FTP

 

[HodgysBrokenThumb]

We have competed in 20 games thus far. Failing to compete away v Liverpool is a disappointment, but hardly surprising. Imagine coming up from the lower leagues, and on Sunday coping with Sterling, De Bruyne, etc., and then on Thursday coming up against Salah, Firmino, etc. Give the lads a break, and leave the worrying to CWAK.

 

[blademark]

We were so outclassed tonight I wonder how we managed to run them so close in September. I think tonight was the price we had to pay for doing so. They paid us full respect for our performances thus far.

 

[Top Cat]

Plenty of energy? Are you sure?! Two things can be simultaneously true. Liverpool are a fantastic team and can carve through teams at will. BUT. We still played at 40%, looked star struck, no urgency, no needle, no rush no composure. Liverpool’s play didn’t make us jog about and not work to close down space.

When was the last time that you spent 90 minutes chasing shadows on a football field? I've been there in the early qualifying rounds of the FA cup. We were a good side, but got hammered 5-0 by a team three levels above. Why? Different class. Nothing that you can do about it. Liverpool are different class to everyone else at the moment.

 

[A Storm of Blades]

When was the last time that you spent 90 minutes chasing shadows on a football field? I've been there in the early qualifying rounds of the FA cup. We were a good side, but got hammered 5-0 by a team three levels above. Why? Different class. Nothing that you can do about it. Liverpool are different class to everyone else at the moment.

We weren’t chasing anything. That’s the point.

 

[Igor]

The chances of getting 3 points on their own patch whilst on an amazing run, very small indeed. The chance of a draw, well maybe, but we’d have to work damn hard and probably risk injuries, bookings or sendings off. So realistically, is it worth all the risk for a point. The team can now regroup with a clear head knowing they got through the last two games pretty unscathed. We have more important games to win starting with West Ham.
Look at the bigger picture, we’ve played 21 and lost 6. The teams who went down last year played 38 and lost 24, 26 and 28.

 

[Eels]

They'd been told how to play against us. Hurry Norwood's and his passes often fall short. Track Fleck and Lunny when they try to join the forwards. Go wide with pace and move the ball quick in front of the back three. I'm sure other managers/coaches will have told their teams these sort of things but to do that they need to be very good and very disciplined.
They were.

 

[Top Cat]

We weren’t chasing anything. That’s the point.

You've never played the game have you. The Blades are having a great season, but, and I understand that 21st century armchair managers feel the need to apportion blame for some reason, but few teams, if any, could have lived with that tonight.

Sometimes you just have to sit back and admire the opposition.