May 6 Matchweek Thread

OCST

Sunny von Bulow
SoSH Member
Jan 10, 2004
24,483
The 718
Near perfect weekend for Everton.

LEI 1-2 EVE
BUR 1-3 AVL
ARS 2-1 LEE #

View: https://twitter.com/MelaniePrentic2/status/1523317088768561152?s=20&t=D6Bxsrvj0H5KQ26FEJR34A


Leicester fans started leaving with 10 minutes left. Everton away section still 100% full with singing fans 10 minutes after the whistle

Fans and team 100%united and on board behind Lampard. 10/15 points in the last 5. Pickford, Richarlison, Iwobi, Mykolenko all in top form.

Mykolenko scored his first PL goal today, a stunning volley that any striker would be proud of:

View: https://twitter.com/ZoryaLondonsk/status/1523289431934918657?s=20&t=D6Bxsrvj0H5KQ26FEJR34A
 
Last edited:

OCST

Sunny von Bulow
SoSH Member
Jan 10, 2004
24,483
The 718
I’m not convinced that Southampton are safe, especially since they only have two games left to Leeds/Burnley 3 and Everton 4.
 

teddykgb

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 16, 2005
11,016
Chelmsford, MA
Credit to Newcastle they didn’t just show up and play a back 9. It’s been a good watch and sorely needed to have a 3-0 after the midweek debacle
 

Morgan's Magic Snowplow

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 2, 2006
22,345
Philadelphia
I’m not convinced that Southampton are safe, especially since they only have two games left to Leeds/Burnley 3 and Everton 4.
Leeds would need seven points to jump them. I don’t see it happening.

Im not sure when/if Liam Cooperreturns from injury but losing him and Dallas to injury and now Ayling to red card suspension is a body blow. That Is likely the three best defenders on a team that isn’t good defensively to begin with.
 

OCST

Sunny von Bulow
SoSH Member
Jan 10, 2004
24,483
The 718
Leeds would need seven points to jump them. I don’t see it happening.

Im not sure when/if Liam Cooperreturns from injury but losing him and Dallas to injury and now Ayling to red card suspension is a body blow. That Is likely the three best defenders on a team that isn’t good defensively to begin with.
If Burnley could get a result against Spurs they could get 7/9.

I agree that Leeds is hurting.
 

teddykgb

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 16, 2005
11,016
Chelmsford, MA
Credit to Newcastle for choosing a suicidal gameplan? That may be good for the neutrals - and Manchester City fans - but certainly not for Liverpool.
Disagree. Newcastle aren’t going to learn anything about their level just turtling and trying to limit damage. They’re safe from relegation and won’t make a European place. This is precisely when they should really push their players to try to take it to one of the leagues standard bearers and see which players hold up. I understand that that sucks for Liverpool but I earnestly think they did what was best for Newcastle
 

67YAZ

Member
SoSH Member
Dec 1, 2000
8,729
Chelsea won the WSL today by downing ManU 4-2. Sam Kerr volleyed home a sick golazo in the process.


Arsenal also won their match today, but finish a point shy of the champs. The big question is if they can convince Miedema to return this summer. If they do and add a bit more depth, we could see another great title chase.

If Miedema does run off to Barca, then City looks next in line to make a challenge. They were fantastic during the back half of the season. They’ll need to recruit well to push on, but it’s a strong core to build around.
 

Kliq

Member
SoSH Member
Mar 31, 2013
22,669
Klopp is such a baby. Imagine getting upset you couldn't crack a defense that was starting Ben Davies and Ryan Sessengon?

I'm sure Klopp was complaining just as vocally when Spurs took six points off Man City this year using largely the same tactics.
 

Morgan's Magic Snowplow

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 2, 2006
22,345
Philadelphia
Klopp was definitely being a bit salty.

I think he was genuinely surprised that Conte closed up shop and played for a point after the equalizer. He likely figured both teams would be going for the win in that situation and that it would be more of an end to end scramble.
 

Kliq

Member
SoSH Member
Mar 31, 2013
22,669
Klopp was definitely being a bit salty.

I think he was genuinely surprised that Conte closed up shop and played for a point after the equalizer. He likely figured both teams would be going for the win in that situation and that it would be more of an end to end scramble.
This is such a dumb thing to complain about. If Hoj properly squares the ball to Kane in the final moments, Tottenham win the game. Would it have been "playing for a draw" at that point? What constitutes playing for a draw, and going for the win? This has been Tottenham's best strategy for taking points off of top, possession-heavy sides for a number of years and it has worked out pretty well, given the issues the team has had over that time span.
 

scott bankheadcase

I'm adequate!!
SoSH Member
Nov 1, 2006
3,057
hoboken
This is such a dumb thing to complain about. If Hoj properly squares the ball to Kane in the final moments, Tottenham win the game. Would it have been "playing for a draw" at that point? What constitutes playing for a draw, and going for the win? This has been Tottenham's best strategy for taking points off of top, possession-heavy sides for a number of years and it has worked out pretty well, given the issues the team has had over that time span.
Honestly both Pep and Klopp have been doing this for a while now and it's so tiresome. If they beat a team 4-1 they'll compliment that team on how courageous they are and how good they are. If they can't beat them, they complain about how they play. It's not like Tottenham didn't play this exact way when they took 6 points off City.

Heck, to your point, they played this exact way when they beat Real in the Champions League under Poch. It's suicide to go toe-to-toe with them.
 

Zososoxfan

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 30, 2009
9,209
South of North
This is such a dumb thing to complain about. If Hoj properly squares the ball to Kane in the final moments, Tottenham win the game. Would it have been "playing for a draw" at that point? What constitutes playing for a draw, and going for the win? This has been Tottenham's best strategy for taking points off of top, possession-heavy sides for a number of years and it has worked out pretty well, given the issues the team has had over that time span.
I can't like this post enough. Ye olde "defensive Spurs" almost took all 3 points, and probably should have. Even if Hoj just takes a good header shot it either goes in or is a potential rebound for Kane, and the center for Kane was also open, Hoj just missed it. Which is a real shame too, because he had a terrific match. Betancur continues to lag behind him in terms of recent form IMO.

In true Spurs fashion, they will win a stunner against Arsenal, Arsenal will drop other points before the end of the season, but Spurs will still miss 4th.
 

OCST

Sunny von Bulow
SoSH Member
Jan 10, 2004
24,483
The 718
If I had Kane and Son, I'd sit back and counter too. Son is absolutely lethal on the break. I don't watch enough of the other top leagues to know about any players there, but there's no player I know of that excites me more (or scares me more, depending on my rooting interest) when he picks up the ball in space at midfield. I don't have stats in front of me but I wouldn't be surprised if he literally scores more often than not. Then add Kane to that.

Leicester won the league playing this style, with a great defense with Schmeichel and Wes Morgan who was a monster, Kante as the ball winner, and Mahrez and peak Vardy on the break. Watch highlights. They didn't play a high line and try to string 50 passes together. They sit back but then as soon as they win a ball it goes *immediately* up top to Vardy and Mahrez. 24 goals for Vardy, 17 for Mahrez, 27 for the entire rest of the side with no one else higher than 6.

with those horses it's managerial malpractice to do anything else.

So yeah, I like Klopp more than an Everton fan should, but it's really unattractive the way he whines on the rare occasions when they drop points.
 

Morgan's Magic Snowplow

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 2, 2006
22,345
Philadelphia
This is such a dumb thing to complain about. If Hoj properly squares the ball to Kane in the final moments, Tottenham win the game. Would it have been "playing for a draw" at that point? What constitutes playing for a draw, and going for the win? This has been Tottenham's best strategy for taking points off of top, possession-heavy sides for a number of years and it has worked out pretty well, given the issues the team has had over that time span.
I would say that Conte's substitutions after the equalizer were clearly geared toward protecting the point rather than increasing his odds of winning. Sanchez for Sessegnon and Winks for Kulu were both pretty defensive changes - the team that ended the game included four CBs, a defensively oriented wingback in Emerson, and three defensive midfielders. They ended up getting a good chance right at the end but the strategy was clearly to defend the point first and foremost.

Of course, its Conte's right to make whatever decisions he wants in the perceived best interests of his team. I'm just pointing out that I think Klopp was genuinely surprised by the late game tactics. Spurs had a lot of incentive to try to win that game given the broader situation with the top four race. So I imagine when Klopp and his team prepared the game plan they figured that both teams would be taking a lot of risks at the end if the score was tied, and that didn't end up being the case.
 

coremiller

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 14, 2005
5,846
Klopp needs to stop whining. It's not like Spurs were playing Atleti-style cynical anti-football -- they weren't overly physical, they weren't engaging in time wasting or faking injuries, etc. If anything, the most cynical player on the pitch was Fabinho, who repeatedly got away with tactical fouls to break up Tottenham counterattacks. Liverpool ended up with more fouls and bookings than Spurs did.
 

Jimy Hendrix

Member
SoSH Member
Jun 15, 2002
5,846
I would say that Conte's substitutions after the equalizer were clearly geared toward protecting the point rather than increasing his odds of winning. Sanchez for Sessegnon and Winks for Kulu were both pretty defensive changes - the team that ended the game included four CBs, a defensively oriented wingback in Emerson, and three defensive midfielders. They ended up getting a good chance right at the end but the strategy was clearly to defend the point first and foremost.

Of course, its Conte's right to make whatever decisions he wants in the perceived best interests of his team. I'm just pointing out that I think Klopp was genuinely surprised by the late game tactics. Spurs had a lot of incentive to try to win that game given the broader situation with the top four race. So I imagine when Klopp and his team prepared the game plan they figured that both teams would be taking a lot of risks at the end if the score was tied, and that didn't end up being the case.
Spurs’ squad doesn’t really have many gamechanging players he could throw on to do anything other than what he did. All wingbacks who were not starting the game are hurt, as is the only other actually solid midfielder remaining in the squad.

The only attacking choice he could’ve made but didn’t that doesn’t involve an academy kid is squeezing Lucas Moura on there (instead of Winks probably), and with Moura’s consistency lately that’s like hoping to get a 6 on a die roll.
 

67YAZ

Member
SoSH Member
Dec 1, 2000
8,729
Klopp needs to stop whining. It's not like Spurs were playing Atleti-style cynical anti-football -- they weren't overly physical, they weren't engaging in time wasting or faking injuries, etc. If anything, the most cynical player on the pitch was Fabinho, who repeatedly got away with tactical fouls to break up Tottenham counterattacks. Liverpool ended up with more fouls and bookings than Spurs did.
I love Fab, but he made 3 or 4 bookable offenses in that match. “Tactical” is a very polite way to describe a elbow to Son’s cheek and spiking Kane’s ankle.


I wish Klopp hadn’t whined. Just tip your cap to an opponent who excited an effective match plan. There’s so much left to play for.
 

coremiller

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 14, 2005
5,846
I don't think Fabinho would have been sent off for multiple yellows, because he knew exactly what he was doing. Had he been booked early, he would have toned it down and not committed the later fouls. He was testing the ref to see how much he could get away with. It's smart in a very cynical way.

The issue isn't complaining about VAR, it's that it's fucking rich for Fabinho to go around clobbering people and then for Klopp to get up on his high horse and moan that Spurs don't play the "right" way. Klopp's holier-than-thou attitude is obnoxious.
 

SocrManiac

Tommy Seebach’s mustache
SoSH Member
Apr 15, 2006
8,634
Somers, CT
Isn’t it the exact same as Liverpool fans (and their media people) complaining for more than a week about Kane not being sent off? Because that very specifically happened.
In any tight title race you rue and review lost points constantly. That was one of the most egregious calls this season- of course it comes up frequently.
 

Kliq

Member
SoSH Member
Mar 31, 2013
22,669
In that same game Salah batted a ball down with his hand that led to a goal, but you won't hear Spurs fans still whining about it...
 

Zomp

Moderator
Moderator
SoSH Member
Aug 28, 2006
13,942
The Slums of Shaolin
Managers and fans complaining about tactics against them has been around forever. Pep’s Barca was the peak of it but it’s definitely carried over to Liverpool and City. I was very surprised Conte didn’t go for the win more as now they can beat Arsenal and still miss out on top 4 but that’s his prerogative. Klopp comes off as a whiner here but even as a United fan he’s been great for the league and genuinely seems like a great guy. The combination of a holier than thou fan base and a team that plays delicious football is never a recipe for humility. See Peps Barca and Klopps Liverpool.
 

Zososoxfan

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 30, 2009
9,209
South of North
Managers and fans complaining about tactics against them has been around forever. Pep’s Barca was the peak of it but it’s definitely carried over to Liverpool and City. I was very surprised Conte didn’t go for the win more as now they can beat Arsenal and still miss out on top 4 but that’s his prerogative. Klopp comes off as a whiner here but even as a United fan he’s been great for the league and genuinely seems like a great guy. The combination of a holier than thou fan base and a team that plays delicious football is never a recipe for humility. See Peps Barca and Klopps Liverpool.
I didn't miss many matches during Pep's Barca stint and I don't recall Barca complaining about opponent tactics. That's in large part because they were able to break down low blocks better than any modern side I've seen.

I also think that @Jimy Hendrix point about squad is spot on. Conte may have wanted to go for 3 points, but he literally doesn't have anyone else on the bench he trusts. Conte says that he likes to have 4 WBs because he rarely has starters who can go the full 90--he asks so much of them. Lucas is a master dribbler, but he's a headless chicken tactically and a defensive liability. If Bergwijn didn't get on I would get the criticism a bit more, but Conte's rotation is literally 13-14 deep, he's been playing the same XI for months now.
 

OCST

Sunny von Bulow
SoSH Member
Jan 10, 2004
24,483
The 718
Following on what I said earlier re: Son literally scoring more often than not, one of the FPL podcasts (forget which) said that over the last 10 games (?), Son has scored 54% of his chances and approx. 85% of his shots have been on goal.

A player like that, who is also blisteringly fast, with the ability to dribble past anyone, and then Kane on top of that... if you don't play a low block to win the ball and spring them on the counter, away at Anfield, you are literally an idiot.
 

Pesky Pole

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Jul 31, 2001
2,465
Phoenixville, PA
Lol equalizer after a total mess in the Villa box. 1-1

Probably should have been called back for a foul but it stands.
In fairness, the Villa goal started with a clear offside that wasn’t called and they scored on the recycle. If you’re not going to flag offsides, you can’t reset the offsides off a save that never was cleared.
 

Morgan's Magic Snowplow

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 2, 2006
22,345
Philadelphia
the whole sequence started with an offside chance which resulted in the first save . Does that nullify the offside?
As I understand it, the referee should have blown for the offside once the shot rebounded and Villa recovered the ball on the side of the box (Villa shouldn't be able to benefit from the offside by getting possession). Once he didn't blow for offside, however, its a new phase of play so the goal couldn't be taken back.

IMO, bad referee decisions on both goals.
 

SocrManiac

Tommy Seebach’s mustache
SoSH Member
Apr 15, 2006
8,634
Somers, CT
Came here to join the Moss chorus. PMGOL needs to make this his last match (if not half). He was never even competent but now that the decision has been made he looks like the worst type of checked out employee. Absolute embarrassment.
 

Morgan's Magic Snowplow

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 2, 2006
22,345
Philadelphia
Came here to join the Moss chorus. PMGOL needs to make this his last match (if not half). He was never even competent but now that the decision has been made he looks like the worst type of checked out employee. Absolute embarrassment.
Legitimately one of the worst refereed halves of football I can remember. Neither goal should have counted/occurred and there were easily 4-5 bookable offenses that went unpunished and another 6-7 instances of a clear foul that weren't called at all.