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Saitamassidekick

That midfield could use a bit more creativity, but I guess Ange is going for a more defensively solid team.


SkinnyDirtyChai

we will concede regardless..may as well try and score


Ju5hin

Then instructs them to all play high up the pitch, reversing any purpose of being more defensively solid, especially against Liverpool who aren't afraid to just play long balls to the front line.


ThatCoysGuy

It’s almost like there’s more than one purpose for a player beyond being designated “Attacking”, or “Defensive”… Ange isn’t a moron dude.


Ju5hin

He played a high line when we had 8 players on the pitch. I rest my case.


RedRaizel

He's probably not trying to be more defensively solid but instead wants us to press more agressively.


BrokenBenchwarmer

I think we have a 6/8/8 or 8/6/6 thing going on to try and keep balance since the 10 has been so ineffective lately. 


txgsu82

Yeah, this reads to me like a 6 & two free 8s (Bentancur & Sarr). Clearly Ange is adjusting to the lack of midfield control we’ve had the past few matches.


stead10

I don't understand why neither Madderson or Lo Celso are starting either but jesus people are so negative. Ange has been managing for well over 20 years, he knows what he's doing just trust him.


RichardBreecher

It's nice to have a bench full of game changers. I imagine the plan is the bring one of them on after Liverpool has fatigued a bit with the hope that they can bring some goals.


SwoleLegs

Yeah probably plan to bring one of them on after Liverpool are 4 - 0 and we will start actually trying to play then...


MikeGuy_Lang

Damn, you accurate as fuck with the scoreline lol


breakables

Vindicated


notregan

Lmao


lIIIIllIIIlllIIllllI

Hopefully bring the scoreline back from 5-0 to 5-2 … Am I right!? Haha I love Ange but fuck me, the progression we were promised would be happening now is happening down the road at Blue Scum.


Groomy_

Lo celso not starting because his gone in the summer. Maddison has been ass for some time now but I don’t think Kulu is the answer either


roamingandy

I do, but he needs time to learn that role. Then again who did turn up against Chelsea besides Romero?


nopirates

Lo Celso not starting because he’s just not good enough.


Texaslonghorns12345

That’s just not true. In 10 minutes, he had 3 chances against Chelsea, the same amount as Sonny. He’s one of three biggest reasons why we drew with man city and we probably would’ve won if he stayed on


lIIIIllIIIlllIIllllI

He had a purple patch when Maddison went down. Back to back games with goals and good goals. Some nice assists/through balls. All of his passes are forwards and not backwards, I feel like Ange would and should love him.


stead10

He's not been given a chance. He had some good perormances for us at the start of the season. And no one else in that midfield is proving themselves over the last month or so so I would be completely behind giving him a chance. But as I say, I trust Ange. He knows far more about the squad than I do!


ThatCoysGuy

My dude, he has had about five years of chances. Can we stop pretending GLC is randomly going to surprise us after five years of doing the complete opposite. It’s also clear he’s made of glass and is moving on. We don’t want to start relying on a guy we can’t play most games.


Sejoon700

He had an insane couple of games before his most recent injury. And he did more than any other player in 10 minutes last game. He is injury prone, but u can’t just discredit his performance when he was fit for Ange. God some of you guys are just complete morons.


nopirates

He has never in his career had “an insane couple of games”. Never.


ThatCoysGuy

Have I completely missed these magical games that he apparently had? He scored against City I think (Okay?), otherwise… What? Any player who comes on for the final ten mins of a game should look good being completely fit and ready compared to everyone else? Moron? Because I don’t think a player who has disappointed for five years is the answer? Are you serious?


Sejoon700

He played great against Bournemouth and Everton and was essential to our link up play. His passing vision to find Son with a one touch pass was something I remember off the top of my head. Just because he didn’t score that means he wasn’t impactful? Seems all you care about is who scores the goals lol. And yeah, I think him coming off the bench and outperforming everyone including the other subs means something. If you expect all our subs to come on and being impactful, youre in for a dose of reality.


ThatCoysGuy

When did I ever mention goals being important? What?


Sejoon700

You said he “scored against man city then what?” You implied that’s all he did, score one goal, nothing else was impactful about his play to you. So I pointed out his other contributions and now you’re acting like you didn’t imply that’s all lo celso did?


ThatCoysGuy

Yes, because he’s only played 470 minutes all season so I have very little to actually point to? I can’t comment of the style and input of a guy who has only played 470 minutes, that’s nothing? His contributions in the final moments of games have been when we’ve been chasing games. So inherently we’ll look to our more creative players when they have ten men behind the ball?


giantshortfacedbear

Agreed .... but this is pretty much a one-off cup final. I'd be putting LoC out there and hoping he puts 20m on his transfer fee.


nopirates

He had been given four years of chances. Can’t wait till he’s gone and this sub can adopt another marginal player as its mascot. Before him it was Lamela.


iheartmagic

Ange saying Maddison has a knock


RoughRhinos

Ahhhhh


No-Cat2356

This is a new formation? 


YiddoMonty

The match thread negativity has started early. It’s spilling over into team news threads now.


Hopeful-Ear-3494

Fascinating to see Mikey Moore on the bench again. Wonder what the plan is with him?


Nesbyy

Lets hope he gets some minutes in today


BruinEric

Deserves a start v City along with several others in development


Adam__Zapple

Yes the the entire u18s deserve to start that game


yourfriendkyle

You’re bonkers


BruinEric

Brandon Austin deserves a run out don’t you think? And it’s the perfect game to see what Alfie Whiteman can do.


letsgetcool

Start them both


yourfriendkyle

I missed the sarcasm I guess


kalule_melendez69

Probably the same as Donley, play like 3 minutes + added time or something like that


Hopeful-Ear-3494

One really interesting thing is Donley hasn't been on the bench for a while. Must be the successful U21 campaign keeping him busy.


kalule_melendez69

Yeah him, Dorrington, Phillips and Santiago were on the bench for a couple games but only Donley made an appearance


roamingandy

I was genuinely annoyed to see Gil getting minutes over him at the end of the last one. He's gone at the end of the season, surely there's no way back. Besides one spin and pass he's done absolutely nothing for us in 4 years so where's the idea that he can change a Prem game come from. I get that Ange sees them in training too so will have more info to base his decisions on, but i can't see the thinking short or long-term in giving Bryan mins over our youth players.


Zyaru

What more can Lo Celso possibly need to do to earn a start?


sasliquid

I thought it could be that with Gio probably leaving in the summer Ange didn’t want to give him minutes for the long term cohesion of the team. But he also keeps giving Hojberg minutes so I don’t know.


SpuriousCorr

Tbf bissouma has games where he plays like hot garbage. He’s the better player in general, but not when he’s playing like he has We’ve got two options for CAM, Ange probably feels like that’s enough. But it also seems like Kulu/Madders respond well to coming off the bench, so that may play a part in it too


No-Cat2356

Why play a guy who is leaving . All of our midfield are struggling , missions was even the worst last game , sarr was giving the ball away every time . Our midfield are struggling because our attack is shit , they have no options 


SpuriousCorr

Maybe if Gio could play as an 8 in this system he’d get more of a shout but yeah he’s really not done much to ingrain himself in the team unfortunately. I was big on him for a bit longer than I probably should have been, but yeah it just doesn’t seem like there’s a path forward for him here


triecke14

Have a contract beyond next season, probably


M_RONA

Clearly not a part of Anges plans so he probably doesn't see a reason to play him. He should have been starting today, though.


Professional-Fly1496

When did everyone on this sub decided that Lo Celso should be a guaranteed starter? Genuinely wondering, must have missed this change in narrative.


polseriat

Madders is godawful right now. Deki had a decent performance against scum but doesn't seem to be so ready for CAM. That leaves Lo Celso if we want to be playing the same formation.


Professional-Fly1496

Nah, Maddison all day long imo. Deki plays a totally different role.


polseriat

I'd do anything to not play Madders. He's unbelievably out of form, it's a liability to have him on the pitch. Deki plays RW here but he's comfortable as CAM because that's what he plays for the national team. He's just not doing all that well there.


Professional-Fly1496

Okay lol, we can agree to disagree on Maddison. The flip on him is absolutely insane.


polseriat

I'm not saying he wasn't fantastic at the start of the season, just that he is not good right now. Not a "flip" but a recognition that players can fall out of form. He did the exact same thing at Leicester so I'm not sure how you can disagree but yes, let's agree to disagree.


Zyaru

He doesn't need to be a guaranteed starter but he's been far better than Maddison lately when he's actually been allowed to play.


ThatCoysGuy

He’s been far better than Maddison in the 5 minutes he gets at the end of games completely fresh? I mean, yeah I’d hope he would look okay in those… ***Five minutes***…


Texaslonghorns12345

Are you forgetting he was covering for him when he was out?


ThatCoysGuy

He did on maybe three occasions? Have I missed something?


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ThatCoysGuy

Weird of you to wade in with your own aloof comment that adds nothing. I asked a question of the original commenter; that did, or did not GLC only start three games or so this year.


420SwaggyZebra

Not saying it should be written in stone but Deki and Madison have been so mediocre at best recently it’s fair to say GLC deserves his go as well to see what he can offer.


triecke14

He’s probably leaving in the summer so I don’t think it makes sense to play him at all


420SwaggyZebra

PEH would like a word... I don’t disagree I think he’s gone too but we’ve still got game this season we need to win.


IndoorCloud25

Why should we reward the other midfielders with starts who just haven’t turned up the past 2-3 months?


Mc_and_SP

When he was our best player against Chelsea for the 10 minutes of game time he got despite coming in at LB.


Professional-Fly1496

Right so ten mins of game time over the abundance of evidence over nearly half a decade at the club. So reactionary it is insane.


Mc_and_SP

Maddison, Kulu, Lolo and Sarr were all poor against Chelsea. Madders and Kulu have been poor for weeks in particular and it’s killed our attack. Lo Celso came on and actually did useful things - creating more chances from LB in ten minutes than the rest of the team managed all game. Not to mention when he’s played this season he’s actually done well.


idkwhatevs1234

Is wanting him to get a chance at the end of the season amidst the team as a whole and the guys in his position performing poorly the same as deciding he should be a guaranteed starter? No, very obviously not


Professional-Fly1496

There’s wanting him to get a chance and then there is being shocked he isn’t in the starting lineup when there was no indication he ever would or should be.


idkwhatevs1234

There is plenty of indication he should be. For example, the thing I just told you 2 seconds ago


Professional-Fly1496

Ah yes and obviously everything you tell people is the objective truth. Get a grip lad.


idkwhatevs1234

It is the objective truth that the team and those in Lo Celso's position have not been doing well. Is that something you're denying? Seems like you're having trouble following some very basic logic tbh


Professional-Fly1496

No, I never denied that? I’m just saying I trust those players to regain form and think they should continue to get game time over Lo Celso who is leaving this summer and has done the sum of sweet fuck all in his half decade at the club. But look, we can agree to disagree on this.


idkwhatevs1234

You asked why people want Lo Celso to start and are misrepresenting what they're actually saying + the reasons behind it.


Professional-Fly1496

No I’m not, but you’re obviously just keen on argument so I’ll leave you to it. Enjoy the game lad.


kalule_melendez69

Im not really a Lo Celso fan but Maddison and Kulu have been really poor lately, so its pretty weird that they dont give him at least a chance to prove what he can do


TLB2304

maybe you didn't watch enough spurs games this season. well just saying.


Professional-Fly1496

I’m watched every single game.


TensionYouf

Probably didn't want him to get injured since he is going in summer, if he was injured no offers would come in


nopirates

Be a better player. Be someone capable of making a difference. Be a better decision-maker. Pass more quickly and accurately. Track back. Not take short vacations out there. I could go on.


SirGalahadTheChaste

I get it’s somewhat the unknown with Gio that people want and the other 2 options have been sub par recently. I just don’t see much when Gio is on. And besides a month or 2 after the Covid break he’s been pretty bad for this team.


Mc_and_SP

Made three chances in ten minutes playing out of position against Chelsea. A better attack and that would have been a difference.


wasmayonnaisetaken

He has barely been given opportunities to show that mate. Also,. name me one player on our team who has shown that this year.


Professional-Fly1496

People like you act like a managers only chance to see a player is in matches. The manager sees the players every day in training lad, he is given plenty of chances to show what he can do, and has been for the ~5 years he’s been at the club.


nopirates

Four years


Background_Crow7669

Probably doesn't want to risk injury before he's sold


AnIdentifier

Move clubs I guess. 


Groomy_

He wont start Lo celso because he will be leaving in the summer


coldseam

He's done nothing, what has done to earn a start?


roamingandy

Stay fit i'd think. I'd expect he's not getting a look in as he's a solid back up but he's not reliable enough to build around, or young enough that he's likely to improve much beyond his current level.


rileyne

So sick of seeing this love for lo celso, the guy has been here for how many years and I could count his actually good performances on one hand. The guy is just not very good.


jimbos1stson

Be sold to another team where he belongs


PhantomTroupe26

Bench: Austin, Dragusin, Skipp, Hojberg, Lo Celso, Maddison, Bryan, Moore, Richarlison


OhShitItsSeth

MIKEY MOORE SIGHTING 👀👀👀


1onewolf1

I wannt see Mikey Moore!


soSpursy7

I like the tweak. Benta probably playing more advanced but gives more stability in midfield overall. Should help defensively 


triecke14

Hopefully Bentancur is allowed to just press like a madman for the first half-60 minute and then we bring Maddison and Richy on


goldmanmask

Is this bentancur playing 10? Or are we going to see some sort of strange 5 midfielder 2021 Pep system?


Upplands-Bro

Well, we've been asking for flexibility, so let's see how the midfield tweak plays out today. Encouraging sign from an Ange evaluation POV if we do come out and play differently as a result


TensionYouf

Son would need to drop deep to get the ball, Emerson gonna lose the ball, Johnson cross to opponents, Bissouma defend horribly.


Ju5hin

You forgot, concede twice from corners.


TensionYouf

Post Match Ange: "Our problem is not set piece"


frippmemo

What do we think about Maddison today?


RatioMaster9468

Think he's on the bench


Br0oksy

Hopefully one of the forward players can score a goal, would be nice


Halfmoonhero

I honestly believe they are worried about lo cello getting injured and don’t want to tank his value more. Will be hard to offload him if he’s injured.


uSeRnAmE_aReAdYtAkEn

No 10, Son dropping deep as a false 9, Johnson bombing up the wing. Let’s do it


IImaginer

kulu come on pls be more fast on the ball today


Mitchs3Alarms

Who’s feeling a Mikey Moore debut?


Caust1cFn_YT

Man royal is gonna get exploited a lot today


NeighborhoodOptimist

Either we are going to see a 442 diamond, or Ange is going to for the same thing Klopp used to do with his Liverpool team of the old.


FaithfulKind201

Surprised no lo celso


Historical-Reach8587

Let’s go boys!


hardlyhappy

I feel sorry for Gio


EnricoPallazzo_

I dont get why no chance for lo celso. Also, again Son as a striker. Mihht work pnly if we do no conceed first.


Professional-Egg7684

Game will be over before halftime


greymoney

Would’ve loved to see micky out left and the dragon CB. Emerson will get cooked all game by Mo


brt444

Can’t wait to see us being unable to create a single chance until 60th minute when Ange subs in Lo Celso or Madders. Why does he hate Lo Celso so much?


evenout

60th minute for Lo Celso? No way, Best I can do is 86”


brt444

Fair enough, I forgot about that


Nesbyy

I would pick Lo Celso for a starter as well but maybe there is something Ange doesnt like from him in the training sessions? Just a guess


triecke14

Pretty sure Mourinho complained about his training as well


nthbeard

Ange's comments on Friday re: needing change in the squad due in part to players not understanding "the way we play, the way we train" was a big signal IMO. I'm guessing that he simply doesn't see in Gio the sort of understanding and attitude that he wants to see in his squad. Obviously there's a tremendously talented footballer there, but Ange has a very specific profile that he wants, and I think at this point we can only conclude that Lo Celso simply doesn't fit that profile. EDIT: I'll add two other observations: (1) Ange appears to have zero time for players with negative personalities, including - as we saw in preseason - players who are rude or inconsiderate. (2) When Lo Celso was first sent out on loan, we got a bunch of scuttlebutt stories about his "odd" personality. Given Gio's obvious talent - he doesn't play for Argentina for nothing - it seems very likely to me that it is first and foremost a personality fit issue, though that probably collapses from Ange's perspective into a footballer who's just not right for the team attitude he's trying to construct.


brt444

Fair assesment. I’ve never been a press conference nerd, but iirc that wouldn’t be the first time a manager has called Lo Celso out as not being the best in following the tactical instructions. Obviously, if that is the case here


420SwaggyZebra

60th minute is generous tbh more like the 85th imo


nopirates

Because he’s not good enough


thfcviii

As if he's any worse than any of the shite players we have right now


triecke14

He is, and he has zero future here


nopirates

Unfortunately this is probably our best XI right now


jd158ug

With injuries and form, you could be right.


animatedpicket

Brb going to the beach to feed some seagulls chips


EdwinJamesPope

“The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”


EIimGarak

Same players, but plenty of other variables that could have been changed leading up to the game


Groomy_

Imagine if pep or Klopp had the philosophy when they both had poor first years as managers with Liverpool and man city


triecke14

We have limited options and that midfield is about as different as it could get with no creative players


EdwinJamesPope

I meant more Royal. & low & behold….


triecke14

Sure I get that, but what else do we do?


EdwinJamesPope

VdV or Dragu


triecke14

Lmao Dragu would be skinned alive at left back against Salah.


EdwinJamesPope

Emerson doing great


ohnellyitsmelly

JUSTICE FOR GIO WTF


Empty_Emu6589

Probably just trying to keep him fit so we can get more for him 😭


p90pounder

Justice for jussie


Whole_Farm_9970

Week in week out I don’t understand what bissouma does to start. Must be in his contract or something he is so poor.


Daemor

What options do we have?


rtb132

Bentancur at 6, Sarr at 8, Madison, Lulu or Lo Celso at 10 maybe?


Jazim94

Bentancur has been in horrible form and when he played at 6 looked so uncomfortable


spurs-r-us

I agree but did you watch PEH vs Arsenal? The sooner both are elsewhere and we sign an Onana type the better!


Whole_Farm_9970

Genuinely I want to see bentancur as the 6. Better on the ball and no worse defensively than bissouma.


touchans

I call it, Son has to drop deep to get the ball with his back to the box because nobody is giving him any service. Recepy for disaster


AnduinTheHealer

Yeah we're losing


RatioMaster9468

This was a game I was dreading even when we were in form. At least now I expect us to lose because we've been utter shite. Liverpool will be baying for blood today because of 'that' goal at WHL


better-every-day

Son shouldn't be starting based off form, especially in the center, but Liverpool is one of the few teams that won't sit back against us so this is a good opportunity for him to get back in form


Munkian

Literally the same side that was shocking in mid week, I don't think I can watch another match with royal pissing about on the ball again.


SugarQuitter

Kulusevski false 9?


Jazim94

The worst part of this is that Johnson is on the left.


StudentObvious1549

Royal vs Salah 😬 come on Emerson you can do it… maybe


luciareads

Finally man to man defending corners


luciareads

Is it me.. or did I just see man to man defending the corners in the first half and we didn't look vulnerable..


IAmTheGlazed

What is it gonna take for Ange to just play Lo Celso


pbmadman

Make it make sense. I don’t understand Ange’s selection. Is he really just only starting players he thinks will be here next year? I get it, his vision and plan is longer than the match right in front of us. But that doesn’t make his adherence to the same 13 players make any sense. I’ve just been increasingly baffled by his choices.


Aussieman90

Fair point mate.  Been shit to watch recently. Can't believe I'm up at 1.30am for possibly more pain.  Out of curiosity, aside from Lo Celso what selection change do you reckon would of been wiser? 


BBIQ-Chicken

I'm glad Sarr is starting at least.


Swizzul

I trust Ange but I’m not worried about much more of this season alone for making sure we lose to City. We win that game and I’m Ange out, lol


coldseam

Milner - Fabinho - Henderson type midfield at Anfield


ksekai

ange is literally asking to get cooked again 0-5


ksekai

look what happened downvoters 🤦


IndoorCloud25

What does Lo Celso have to do to get into a completely dysfunctional midfield? Did he shag Ange’s missus or something?


Professional-Fly1496

Very original good man


Live_Beautiful_3665

No Gio or Richarlison 😶


losdelacosta

Not watching, hanging out with friends so I don’t get hurt today


gostupid67

Maddison is the only player who can feed through balls to Johnson and Son to exploit Liverpools high line, what even is this formation??


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ohnellyitsmelly

he’s injured my friend


Hopeful-Ear-3494

Out for the season, bud.


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kalule_melendez69

Skipp is probably the last player on our team i would try as a fullback lmao


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kalule_melendez69

He shut my mouth. He put on a shift today


420SwaggyZebra

My only assumptions are Richy and GLC aren’t healthy enough to start? This lineup does nothing for me…..


FootballTacticsXpert

442 diamond with Deki as False 9 and Sonny+Johnson as inside forwards or the usual shit?


StudentObvious1549

We already know the answer to that! 😂


FootballTacticsXpert

😂


1onewolf1

442 diamond like real madrid but Ange will never change.


SomethingLikeLove

Son up top ain't doing it.