2024-25 Premier League Thread

[VinatieriDefinesClutch]

My goodness was that Liverpool vs Villa match exciting. It's interesting watching Emery go with a very defensive, conservative lineup and gameplan to start against Ipswich and then against Liverpool send out the offensive firepower and a very aggressive attacking gameplan. Both teams will probably feel like they should have scored more as well and my goodness, that clearance by Martinez on a ball he had no business being first to.

I understand a bit how fans can get frustrated with Rashford, he really should have scored after doing the hard work to win the ball and get past the keeper and even at a difficult angle, he should be able to put that into the open net. Just too nonchalant on the attempt and not nearly the reaction you want from a player missing a golden opportunity. Also, interesting to see Maatsen come on as the defensive replacement after Salah decided he was going to utterly own Digne in the second half including walking by his horrible slide tackle to create the second goal. Maatsen came on and was instructed to stay attached to Salah at all times including out of possession and did a really good job turning Salah from Liverpool's biggest unstoppable threat to a bystander.

I honestly cannot wait to watch this replay tomorrow (I couldn't find a good stream at all and I don't have cable).

 

[jeffbear]

It WAS fun, but I'm increasingly weary of watching them play with patchwork back fours when they failed to make moves to address those issues in January. That defensive shell BS against Ipswich ticked me off too. They ONLY way this particular group are going to get 3 points is if they go score some freaking goals ... even if you give some up in the process.

 

[VinatieriDefinesClutch]

The Ipswich match was so frustrating. It's almost as if we got caught off guard by them playing defensively and clogging the middle and thought they were planning on being expansive and attacking. It's an issue I've had this whole season with us seeming to go into most matches with the same exact gameplan even though it has not been that successful.

As for the back four, I actually really like Disasi so far. Konsa has been having an off season (or maybe last season was the anomaly and this is more his norm, I'm not sure), and from what I've seen I rather Disasi continue to be the main player at RCB. Cash is quality at RB, but his ligaments are made of string cheese. Despite the huge mistake that gifted Liverpool their first goal, Garcia looks promising in attack, though his decision making needs to improve a bit on when to be aggressive. Defensively, he's kind of a liability so far at least. It's obviously a huge jump in competition level from the second Spanish division and I think he's used to having enough size and speed to recover from not the best positioning and he just doesn't have elite size and speed for this level (but you know who does have elite size and speed at any level for a fullback who was on our roster unused for the first half of the season... but I don't need to go into another Nedeljkovic rant). At LB I think we're slowly inching forward to my dream of having Maatsen be the starter and Digne return to his proper role as insanely overpriced backup we can hopefully move in the summer.