Gareth Roberts hosts this week’s show and is joined by Mike Nevin and Andy Heaton to try and make sense of a week in which Liverpool have gone from joy to abject despair.
In a no-holds barred hour long discussion, every aspect of Liverpool’s performance is pulled apart as the reds chances of silverware took another dent after defeat to West Bromwich Albion in the FA Cup.
The show is followed by a sneak peek of our first ever ‘TAW Moment In Time’ audio documentary.
The Anfield Wrap is in association with Redsbet, to open an account click here.
Joe Hart
Fucking hell.
Agreed the keeper situation is a mess. But no.
I’m a bit lost with all this winning trophies v top 4 debate.
When we lost to Leicester the debate was perfectly valid because we sacrificed it. We didn’t sacrifice the FA Cup, we got beat. We put almost our strongest side out. No one complained pre kick off that we weren’t taking it seriously. In fact, it was the opposite.
The reason we lost is because we have issues that have been visible for time and until they’re addressed we can’t realistically challenge for anything. The keeper is wank. That’s not up for debate. What is up for debate is the way we put our players on pedestals. We’ve seen it with Gini, the 1 in 6 player. Can is the same. I can’t wait for the little rat to go. Then there’s Matip. I get laughed at regularly because I say Matip is garbage and Lovren is far better. But, Lovren isn’t good enough and more to the point he’s not fit enough for various reasons. We need another centre half. Then there’s the full backs. Again, I seem to be the only one who seems to think Gomez is completely overrated. Trent too. Moreno certainly isn’t. Ok, I get there’s potential there for 2 of them but we’re not playing them now and again. They’re playing every game. Would they be playing for City? Chelsea? No chance. Would Ferguson play them in difficult games they need to win? No. In games where they sit deep against us one could argue they can play but the reality is in those games we need fullbacks that create. If we want to be serious we need to strengthen in all those positions. We need a better keeper, a centre half, decent fullbacks and more creativity in midfield. Until then, forget it. Keita is one. We need more. I still think we need a number 9 for certain games. Not all games are the same in the Prem. If we play City or we play in Europe then I’d play Firmino in the centre all day. Against Everton I wouldn’t. Ings looks a better option. Firmino could drop behind him but we don’t deviate. I want better than Ings though.
Regarding transfers, everything is put onto Klopp. He doesn’t want to do that and he doesn’t want to do this. Well, there are things I want to do or not do at work but my boss over rules me for the greater good. Someone needs to take responsibility and stop putting it all on Klopp. We have teams for recruitment. Nothing is going to happen in this window and as was said on another show today, someone needs to give us an explanation. What have we tried to do? Why didn’t it come off? Were they reluctant to come a few months before the World Cup? Did we feel we were being ripped off price wise? Just give us an explanation other than we have to work with the tools we have. The truth is we don’t.
On your last point – at Dortmund there were times when klopp stated he was happy with his squad and didn’t need or want recruitments, he’d work with his players blah blah blah… and he was promptly overruled by Zorc. Lewandowski was one such signing. Didn’t have immediate impact and fans were wondering if it was just better to allow the head coach to make all the transfer decisions, like in England. Then he scored 94 in 144. Zorc signed other players Klopp had no clue about, like Kagawa for £250,000. His success rate was outrageous.
I’m not advocating a DOF. I still prefer the old system – you know exactly who is accountable. But sometimes the European model might suit certain coaches better than others. I like my managers to have self belief and a touch or arrogance, but the gamble Klopp is taking this month is astronomical. Even if he gets 4th and a heroic loss in a semi final of the CL, people would still have the right to wonder “what if we didn’t do this in January, what if we did that instead.”
Klopp personally scouted Lewandowski before greenlighting the deal due to a lack of resources. Google it
“not to have a go at Klopp but”
*has go at Klopp*
We need:
– 1 x goalkeeper
– 1 x left back
– 1 x right back
– 1 x center back
– 1 x defensive midfielder
– 1 x attacking midfielder
– 1 x striker
This club is screwed!
slightly harsh.
Did you watch the City game?
Just going back to this putting it all on Klopp. It’s his choice etc.
I’ve said before I know someone high up at Utd. They said they deliberately paid over the top for Pogba to inflate the market on the back of the tv money. It’s played out that they were the only ones who could afford Sanchez. Again, some have laughed at the fee. But, up until 2 weeks ago I had high hopes that Utd could still miss out on the top 4. If Sanchez is on the reported 500k a week then his wages from now until the end of the season are about £10m. Any PL team getting to the CL quarters gets over £80m now. You get nothing for the Europa. I know some don’t like money talk but if he’s the difference between top 4 and no top 4 then it’s a very good buy. I say that though because I know Utd have changed tact on how they buy now. They’re abolishing the middle layer. Your Herrera’s, Mkhitaryan’s, Mata, Blind and Carrick will go and they won’t buy players like that. The new policy is two fold. Buy superstars like Ibra, Sanchez, Pogba (and Lukaku was bought with that intention) plus youth players. I can see it being beneficial rather than having 11 average players. Have 6 brilliant and 5 youth in any given 11. Utd are a very well run club. I just hope we have a long term vision that’s as bold as Utd’s.
Behave, Andy. 4-5 years ago Gerrard would’ve simply been taking pot shots from 20-30 yards out.
Try 10 years ago.
I am completely astounded that our attacking options off the bench are gonna be Ings and Solanke.
Who in their right mind thinks that’s a good idea?
1 has never scored a senior goal and the other hasn’t scored a goal in 2.5yrs.
Can anyone imagine one of the other top clubs doing what we’re doing this window?!
We’ve had a great start to the season. 2 weeks ago we were sitting 3rd.
We had one of the best players in the league tied down to a 4yr contract, no release clause and he was having his best season for us yet but we sell him mid season because it’s his “dream”.
We then refuse to replace him (Klopps words today) and then we loan out the only other player we have in the squad that could possibly fit in up front and score a goal because he was this mad idea that he might make the World Cup squad and we don’t replace him either.
We don’t shoot ourselves in the foot, we take aim with a double barrelled shot gun and blow the entire lower leg off!!
I completely agreed with Mike when he said about improving other areas of the team if you cant fix your number one priority, then he said Joe Hart, that is wild!
Anyway did also agree with him when he said he thought he had a blind spot on goalkeepers , always thought it a little strange that Weidenfeller was his preferred choice at Dortmund, perfectly decent but they were a team constantly challenging for tittles and would have expected someone better.
The Captain thing with Klopp really bothers me. I know on here there is very little store held by who is the captain, its banded about the team like a hot potato, but it again highlights the distinct lack of leadership throughout the team, Henderson has a go but as has been said it does not come natural to him.
It seems so blindingly obvious that in games where we concede needless goals a leader would pull people together, kick a few up the arse , go down to waste a little time etc, at moments like this I always reach for Souness who for me growing up was the ultimate Captain and even in a team of winners and themselves leaders was a colossus.
Put him in this team and people would see what a difference a leader can make.
Cracking show as always.
Mark Morris, you’re telling me the Bluetones lead singer is our academy director? No wonder we’re in trouble!
Joe Hart… he can’t save any shots to his left. I know the our keepers are shite but Mike Nevin must have been more effected by the Aussie fly than he thought if that’s the solution.
not sure if its been discussed but regarding rotation perhaps Klopp trains and manages the players to be all of equal understanding so with the right transfers and current players he can switch the same skilled player in and out and not disrupt the teams momentum or style? Maybe that’s why Klopp doesn’t purchase players for the hell of it and will rather wait until he’s 100% sure. Selling Coutinho was a player who wasn’t willing to participate with the team anymore as soon he’s head was turned so why keep him around. Yes we could of forced him to stay but what’s that say about how he’d would affect the team’s morale? Great show again lads!
They might have he same “understanding” but they arnt off the same quality.
Please stop blaming ‘the viewer at home’. Those of us who can’t afford to go the match, have medical issues or just can’t get a ticket that prevent us, are not responsible for the ill thought out greed of this inept FA we have in this country. That’s two shows now were derogatory comments have been made. Our support is no less than the support of season ticket holders. Stop making out as if it is. I doubt very much you’ll find a ‘viewer at home’ who thought VAR was handled well in that match.
*Moaning about Klopp
*Over critical about players
*Joe Hart
*Dig at fans that can’t get to the games
Guys really outdid yourselves with this one. This used to be place of reasonable discussion but no better than the drivel on social media.
On the VAR question, I’m surprised that people aren’t stressing more that the flaw is not in the technology but the implementation of the technology. It can be quicker. And it should be quicker. There is a middle ground but the question of whether it is needed is a non-question – it should be mandatory. You can’t invalidate VAR as a whole based on referees not knowing how to use it efficiently and effectively.
On the interpretation/subjectivity point – the argument in favour of VAR has never been that it perfects all refereeing decisions but that it gives the officials the correct tools to make a better decision. It’s never going to be perfect but it’s a false argument to claim that was ever the aim.
I would argue for patience, and a desire to get the review system right first, then criticise it’s validity, once it can be rationally judged.
From someone who listens to virtually every show for some time now, this was unbearable. Judging by the comments many people feel the same way. On to the review show!
Well that was a depressing listen, even despite the limited match analysis – fair play to robbo for trying to keep it on track.
At least that one was free.
One last one….JOE HART!?!?