Rory Fitzgerald

Chelsea just left our half of the pitch empty, both when they had the ball and when they didnt. When we had it, everyone retreated to let us out. When they had it, they kept it so deep so that our defenders were pulled to the halfway line. They basically put all their faith in Timo Werner's pace and did there best to leave our half empty so he could break into it. I went on to a Chelsea forum that I had been looking at before the game (trying to see if their fans though it would be 4231, 433 or 343) and some were giving credit to Leeds and RB Salzberg for coming to Anfield and giving Liverpool a game and losing narrowly. Some were not impressed how they conceded the territory and possession to us. I'd say at half time, none of that team would have been unhappy to get subbed and saved from the 2nd 45mins.

I’d forgotten Lampard is family with him so gets a bit protective when there’s questions asked.

I let out an exasperated spontaneous "What !!" when I saw the yellow, I was devastated ! A yellow card and a free kick 35 yards from goal is not what I wanted from that.

If that interview had gone on longer, he would have tried to convince everyone that Chelsea could actually have won the game.

The bit I heard was Carra questioning where Havertz fits in with the Chelsea team given he's a #10 and hasnt fitted in naturally so far given the system Chelsea have so far played. Carragher was clear not to question his general ability but focused on square-peg-round-hole issue, Redknapp went off on one about how he's quality player and that shouldn't be questioned - he needed a bang on the head ! He was asked again about where that quality will play in this team and reverted back to the quality point and not the position ! Christ - its a big issue for Lampard, where does he play them all and Redknapp offered platitudes and cliches.

I knew I didnt like his droning on but never pained my head to think why he rubbish, thanks for nailing it so succinctly !

I think Bobby has been very poor - even in terms of energy levels and pressing. There was a moment when Keita ran past him to put the press on which was unusual and maybe why say they occupy the same space. Havertz has been poor for them too. Klopp and the coaches need to think how to use this extra man. Havertz will come off for a defender and they'll play Mount and Werner in a 4-3-2 with the solid midfield 3 still shielding. Can we push the full backs even higher now ?

Looking at us, I'd be sending the play down our left and let Robertson run the legs off Havertz and Mane up against James. Keita will be on that side too I'd imagine. But yeah, Mount will be on the left and Werner will also drift to that side, so if we loose it down our right, they'll naturally try get it to those 2 and come in against Fabinho. But that Chelsea midfield 3 is more designed to keep us out than dominate possession. So it will be a case of getting more balls behind our defenders.

Even with a midfielder in defence, ours is better than theirs - Kepa, James, Christiansen, Zouma, Alonso is not as strong as Alisson, TAA, Fabinho, VVD, Robertson. However, Fabinho against Werner is a big mismatch - but at the same time, our wide forwards against their full backs and cutting in on those central defenders is also a problem for them - probably why they've gone with defensive midfielders to help provide cover/numbers.

Chelsea gone 4-3-3, Havertz again kinda out of position on the right of the attack. Kepa keeps his place. Have to be getting at those full backs and defence. Kepa James Christiansen Zouma Alonso Kovacic Kante Jorginho Havertz Werner Mount

I assume you are talking about Fabinho partnering Van Dijk and that its not Van Dijk thats the casualty ? EDIT - Just went checking Twitter and seen that its Gomez that is injured.

In the last 24hours I have convinced myself we are going for Ruben Neves He will be 24 next year and also will have 2 years left on his contract. As a player with a higher level in him, its at that point Wolves will be wanting to know if he is signing a new contract or if they have to get value for him. Before we played Porto in the CL in 2019, Lijnders gave an interview to a Portuguese publication given he was coach there for 8 years. Neves was also in their youth academy at the time Lijnders was there "I know him very well, his ambition, his passion for the game, his professionalism. I know what he gives to the team and this type of player always interests us. I recognised him when I saw him at Wolves. I saw technique, professionalism. I saw the 2013-14 player I knew." Good age, good PL experience, will be looking to prove he can play at a higher level. Maybe this Hoever and Oxlade Chamberlain negotiations are part of a strategy/relationship by both clubs to be ready ahead of such a transfer next year. Blind ramblings on my part though mostly

Decent shout. They were absolutely rubbish at playing through midfield yesterday (when it was 11 v 11 at least)- I was very surprised given the main investment was in midfield. However, when they did get up the pitch, it was mainly crosses and corners that were causing WBA the problems.

Yeah, he got caught in the transition. Klopp changed us massively and we ultimately pinned teams back with our growing dominance. Origi I think found it harder to operate from out wide with little space. Minamino and Joto (it could be argued) represent players that have quicker feet and might suit us better - but that whole ideology remains to be seen how it transpires.

I did wonder about Jota's contract. He had 2 years left and is now bordering 24 in a few months. I wonder if a contract was on the table or they'd started or whether his Agent had attracted interest. 23/24 with 2yrs on a contract is a moment for a player that wants to move up a level to really consider his future. It can force a club's hand to accept a bid that still represents value. In that regard, Ruben Neves turns 24 next March and will then also have 2 years left - he also has another level him and would a natural point to move and still for Wolves to get value.

What I like about him mainly is his fast/busy feet in tight spaces and then combined with alot of strength/resilience - traits we need in games against tight defences. Something Origi is less tailored to whilst Jota is PL-resistant whilst Minamino continues to settle in. What I didnt notice too much about him and what came from that video, was one or two moments when he was on his toes and like a hare onto a loose ball in the box. It's not a million miles away from how Luis Garcia used to react in the box. I just listened to the TAW reaction show and the lads were viewing him as ready to contribute but room to grow. He has that league experience and regular in a team that is viewed as a really strong unit in how all players impose their style on other teams so well despite being relatively new still to the PL. We've sprung Origi, Minamino and Ox from the bench more in hope than any expectation. We'll still be in the "hope" phase with Jota but I'd be hopeful he can to mix well with the other lads and give confidence that his energy can make an impact in the last 20mins of games.

It was absolutely wages Dan Him and his agent have probably had this move in their mind for months and their plans were thrown by the lockdown and talks about TV money being cut, players asked to take pay cuts etc etc. They went and locked in a deal very early and on good money too by all accounts. He wanted a step up and had earned a move - I dont think he wanted to play a waiting game. Sancho knows he can come back to England when he wants - if Liverpool were going cold and City weren't interested, then who else is there ? Chelsea and Utd can spend, whilst Arsenal and Spurs are lower down the progress scale and not overly flash with wages.

I wasn’t giving a considered opinion on the valuation - rather an off the cuffe impression I would have upon hearing it without further thought. Building in context and thinking about it further - and correcting some wrong impressions I had (such as his age) - it’s better value than Watkins and also Sarrs quoted price tag, but doesn’t seem to carry any CV19 discount ie what would his value have been if there was no question marks over gate receipts and TV money etc (£50m ?) But then again, I’d never have penned Hoever at £10m now either on that basis so wonder how the “net fee” was a factor in both valuations. Forgetting about money and whether it seems a little high or a little low (then netting Hoever), I like it that he’s PL ready, versatile and has that speed of thought & feet in the key areas of the pitch and then try take that to the next level by playing with our squad and under Klopp

Has to be wages with Werner - kinda like Aguero and Andy Carroll both costing £35m transfer but the wages were worlds part. EDIT - this reply is like a copy & paste of the other responses @Cobs

It seems high also to me. I would have had him pegged around £25-30m. Maybe £35-40m in a pre-CV19 world. But then again I thought he was older than 23. I’m not sure where the “regular” stuff is coming from because Wolves ran their team into the ground last year as they were all regulars. He played 33/34 games of the last 2 league campaigns. I like him and hopeful he can be the tricky nimble striker to come in and link up with the lads in tight areas to unlock defences if we need freshness on 70. He’s also played with Jiminez up front when they’ve gone 352 and gets really narrow as a wide forward in a 343 so not a lad alien to the 6 yard box. Seems an energetic lad to put in an industrious shift off the ball too.

Or we can buy him back at a 15% discount

Went on a Chelsea forum to see what they thought given Lampard could go with anything from 433, 4231 to 343. I came away seeing Hudson Odoi in almost every team at right wing/forward which surprised me. Other thoughts were that Kovacic comes back in and it’s a 2 then it’s to partner Kante with Jorginho dropped and if it’s a 3 the. Mount drops into a 3 and Jorginho sits out again. A lot of the formations were with a back 4, not a back 3 (or 5). They are also not very confident and Kepa’s rep is shot on the forum I saw. They really don’t like their defence.

Get Xabi on the coaching staff to play cross field passing on the training ground.

Initial responses are as you’d expect

So do I - with all 3 strikers hitting 29 next season, getting big money for one of them makes sense especially if we are reinvesting it in a younger promising player like Sancho, Haaland etc. We'll have had the front 3 from 25/26 through to 29/30 winning at least 1 league and champions league and hitting the post on another league and champions league. We need the next rotation coming through to keep that level up of league challenges and CL Finals.