The FA cup 16/17

no thread on this seasons so far so thought id start one, be rude not to gloat a little bit at liverpool

klopp got to take some stick for the team he's put out, i know the first team isnt exactly firing at the moment but its their best chance of a trophy and he's playing kids

His full team should be out.

They are really missing mane it seems.

Their defence is just awful. Absolutely woeful whoever they put out

Why they haven't gone and signed Van Dijk and someone who can play left back I dunno

Leaving aside the fact we are about to be on the receiving end of another embarrassing result/performance, it really is sad to see kids diving the way woodburn just has. Should have been booked.

Klopp, much like Guardiola, totally out of their depth when they don't have an array of world class players. Liverpool lucked out early doors this season. They'll be lucked to end the season in 5th place

Liverpool just look clueless when trying to score, not even sure what their tactic is

dont buy klopp is out of his depth, liverpool simply cant attract the top tier players. they have to pick up after utd, city, chelsea, arsenal and spurs have finished. thats not to mention other teams abroad like psg hoovering up as many players as they can.

To be fair to Klopp he signed most of those players for Dortmund.

Need mane back to offer that threat in behind and for others form to pick up.

They'll continue to haemorrhage points if they don't tighten up at the back. Bodvarsson beat 3 men from the touch line and had a shot cleared off the line, can't be allowing that sort of thing.

Dive from woodburn was pathetic.

Liverpool aren't capable of signing the top tier players, but as Ranieri showed with clever investments you can unearth world class players for little money e.g. Mahrez and Konte. Whereas Klopp is pretty inept as scouting players. He signed many duds whilst at BVB

I don't think that's fair he signed a lot of brilliant players for not a lot whilst at Dortmund - they were young and needed time to develop and the market has changed since then.

Mahrez had a good season but he's playing like a ligue 2 player now.

Got to remember that Klopp has never ever been in charge of scouting either at Dortmund or at Liverpool. Don't think he can be judged on the quality of signings. Unlike Guardiola, Klopp has proven himself at lots of different levels with Mainz, Dortmund and no Liverpool. I don't buy that he's out of his depth, it's just a poor run of form. He needs to do more though to get us out of this slump.

I thought a left back was a signing desperately needed but James Milner has genuinely been top quality this season. Moreno has been really disappointing when brought in, he was actually gone backwards from his first two years where he was already inconsistent. 

As for going out signing a top class centre back, that is exactly what we did. Joel Matip is top class. I think the defence has looked weakest when Matip isn't there. Lovren and Klavan are obviously a tier below but do generally do quite well when paired with Matip who is very good. Saw somebody on here suggesting that Sakho was an improvement, which is ridiculous. Sakho was good, but incredibly inconsistent, really injury prone and more of a liability than Lovren (bar Lovren's first year where he was genuinely terrible.)

That was a really really disappointing game to watch, so many players are afraid to take risk and to go for it. Wijnaldum is the player that sums it up the most, just not inventive enough, plays easy pass after easy pass and doesn't make good runs. This has to improve, everything was so slow. I was impressed with Woodburn in the second half, dive aside I was really impressed with his positivity and his quality on the ball. He shouldn't be that far out of Klopp's thoughts for a run in the first team, especially with how clear it is that the side lacks pace when Mane isn't there.

The hope now is that the busiest part of the season is over, the league is the only focus and most first team players are fit. Mane is back either next game or the game after as well. After that we should be able to start putting together a run of form again and cement top four. After how well the season started, if the season doesn't end up top four that'd be really disappointing. A win against Chelsea would be a great start...

Jermaine2015 wrote:Liverpool aren't capable of signing the top tier players, but as Ranieri showed with clever investments you can unearth world class players for little money e.g. Mahrez and Konte. Whereas Klopp is pretty inept as scouting players. He signed many duds whilst at BVB

Steve Walsh, pal.

Crimey wrote:Got to remember that Klopp has never ever been in charge of scouting either at Dortmund or at Liverpool. Don't think he can be judged on the quality of signings. Unlike Guardiola, Klopp has proven himself at lots of different levels with Mainz, Dortmund and no Liverpool. I don't buy that he's out of his depth, it's just a poor run of form. He needs to do more though to get us out of this slump.

I thought a left back was a signing desperately needed but James Milner has genuinely been top quality this season. Moreno has been really disappointing when brought in, he was actually gone backwards from his first two years where he was already inconsistent. 

As for going out signing a top class centre back, that is exactly what we did. Joel Matip is top class. I think the defence has looked weakest when Matip isn't there. Lovren and Klavan are obviously a tier below but do generally do quite well when paired with Matip who is very good. Saw somebody on here suggesting that Sakho was an improvement, which is ridiculous. Sakho was good, but incredibly inconsistent, really injury prone and more of a liability than Lovren (bar Lovren's first year where he was genuinely terrible.)

That was a really really disappointing game to watch, so many players are afraid to take risk and to go for it. Wijnaldum is the player that sums it up the most, just not inventive enough, plays easy pass after easy pass and doesn't make good runs. This has to improve, everything was so slow. I was impressed with Woodburn in the second half, dive aside I was really impressed with his positivity and his quality on the ball. He shouldn't be that far out of Klopp's thoughts for a run in the first team, especially with how clear it is that the side lacks pace when Mane isn't there.

The hope now is that the busiest part of the season is over, the league is the only focus and most first team players are fit. Mane is back either next game or the game after as well. After that we should be able to start putting together a run of form again and cement top four. After how well the season started, if the season doesn't end up top four that'd be really disappointing. A win against Chelsea would be a great start...

You appear to have redefined what top quality and top class mean crimey - they've been good, but not top class or quality.

Liverpool need to get Van Dijk so so badly. He is exactly what they need, would improve them massively

I don't think buying yet another centre back is the solution. Lovren-Matip is a good partnership and I'd rather for once, the club tries to stick to a stable back four and build upon relationships rather than jumping to throwing money at the problem.

Fifth Round Draw - Lots of good ties tbf

Burnley v Lincoln City

Fulham v Tottenham Hotspur

Blackburn Rovers v Manchester United

Sutton United v Arsenal

Middlesbrough v Oxford United

Wolverhampton Wanderers v Chelsea

Huddersfield Town v Manchester City

Millwall v Derby County/Leicester City

I'm gonna say I'd be happy to miss all of those

Do think that teams like Sutton should be given the option to play away/home in ties against "bigger sides" so to speak. As ticket sales are split, sometimes fully given up by the larger side, for them playing at the Emirates could keep them going for years

Fantastic draw for Sutton. Could/should be a very tasty last 8.

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:Do think that teams like Sutton should be given the option to play away/home in ties against "bigger sides" so to speak. As ticket sales are split, sometimes fully given up by the larger side, for them playing at the Emirates could keep them going for years

Hi Olly - can't non league teams drawn at home opt to play at their opponents' ground these days? They certainly used to be able to.

Back in the early '90s, Woking - then one league below the Conference - reached the 4th round and were drawn at home to Everton but chose to play at Goodison. The club got a lot of criticism for ''letting down the fans'' but I didn't see it that way. By making the switch, Woking safeguarded their future for the next few years and enabled improvements to be made to both the playing staff and the ground. Add to that, more Woking fans were able to attend the game than had it been been a sell out at home and we all had a wonderful day out. We narrowly lost 1-0 but who is to to say the result would have been different had we not switched the venue.

Does Tom Ince still get hype?

GSC wrote:Does Tom Ince still get hype?

Its not 2012

This is a **** game.

Hard to sell the FA Cup as meaningful when a 2nd tier team wont even put out a first XI for a local game.

yeah even championship teams play thier reserves now. pretty much sums up whats wrong with football now. its all about money (championship teams trying to get into the prem, prem teams sole interest of staying in there). they couldnt care less what the fans want

That decision should be the posterchild for using replays.

I had completely forgot Vydra played for Derby.

cant believe he didnt spot the handball, could see it from the tv angle which is further than the refs view.

not for replays though, only have to look at on here half might call one thing other say its not. you will still get difference of opinions with replays. not on that one though

Oh yeah, its only for obvious stuff like that. Like the NFL, it has to be obviously wrong.

Game sparks into life as both sets of teams realise they cant be arsed with another 30.

compelling and rich wrote:yeah even championship teams play thier reserves now. pretty much sums up whats wrong with football now. its all about money (championship teams trying to get into the prem, prem teams sole interest of staying in there). they couldnt care less what the fans want

To be fair, I really enjoy when Liverpool play an entirely changed side, it gives an opportunity to see different players play and particularly to uncover any hidden gems in the youth side/on the fringes of the squad. Even last season when due to the injury crisis, Ilori and Enrique were starting centre backs was at least entertaining! I know that every cup should be taken seriously, but that doesn't necessarily mean always choosing first team players, giving players who are hungry for a shot in the side the opportunity to make a statement doesn't always mean the competition isn't being taken seriously. Those players have to play sometime.

Surprised that a decent and honourable manager like Dyche continues to tolerate the shameful antics of Barton. Hope the FA take action.

Meanwhile, Lincoln doing themselves and the tournament proud.

All kicking off again as I type ....

go on Lincoln, delighted for them. even more delighted to watch barton get knocked out by them

Magnificent performance by Lincoln - honestly would've said they were the Prem side and Burnley the non league based on that game

compelling and rich wrote:go on Lincoln, delighted for them. even more delighted to watch barton get knocked out by them  

Totally agree.

Refreshing as well to have such a strong reminder that it is not only in the Premiership and Champions League that people care about the game. Bet the Lincoln supporters enjoy their journey home just as they deserve to.

Outstanding from Lincoln, even more so, that is this was almost a full strength Burnley team (who have been doing superbly well in the Premiership)

The behaviour by Barton, Flanagan and a few others was disgraceful. Couldn't handle they were getting killed by a non league team, with an overweight striker

Lincoln to win the FA Cup

Crimey wrote:

compelling and rich wrote:yeah even championship teams play thier reserves now. pretty much sums up whats wrong with football now. its all about money (championship teams trying to get into the prem, prem teams sole interest of staying in there). they couldnt care less what the fans want

To be fair, I really enjoy when Liverpool play an entirely changed side, it gives an opportunity to see different players play and particularly to uncover any hidden gems in the youth side/on the fringes of the squad. Even last season when due to the injury crisis, Ilori and Enrique were starting centre backs was at least entertaining! I know that every cup should be taken seriously, but that doesn't necessarily mean always choosing first team players, giving players who are hungry for a shot in the side the opportunity to make a statement doesn't always mean the competition isn't being taken seriously. Those players have to play sometime.

You don't believe that for a second so why bother wasting time typing it out.

The FA cup used to mean something and is another sad sign of the commercialisation of football, growing up you wanted to win it almost as much as the League title and certainly more than any European cup. Teams putting out a raft youngsters is belittling the competition and it's belittling the opposition, the lower teams want the big teams so they can play at Old Trafford against Wayne Rooney or Zlatan Ibrahimovich, not an 18 year old who's never going to break in.

The lower league teams want the big teams so they can make the most money, and the fans want the glory.

The FA Cupstill means something to a lot of fans, the main problem is the over analysing every team played which strengthens the myth about it being disrespected. The media have done this; the media say it is being weakened every year which spreads the message that it is. If they just focused on the games then no one would care

FA Cup quarter-final draw:

Chelsea v Manchester United
Middlesbrough v Huddersfield/Manchester City
Tottenham v Millwall
Sutton/Arsenal v Lincoln

Hammersmith harrier wrote:

Crimey wrote:

compelling and rich wrote:yeah even championship teams play thier reserves now. pretty much sums up whats wrong with football now. its all about money (championship teams trying to get into the prem, prem teams sole interest of staying in there). they couldnt care less what the fans want

To be fair, I really enjoy when Liverpool play an entirely changed side, it gives an opportunity to see different players play and particularly to uncover any hidden gems in the youth side/on the fringes of the squad. Even last season when due to the injury crisis, Ilori and Enrique were starting centre backs was at least entertaining! I know that every cup should be taken seriously, but that doesn't necessarily mean always choosing first team players, giving players who are hungry for a shot in the side the opportunity to make a statement doesn't always mean the competition isn't being taken seriously. Those players have to play sometime.

You don't believe that for a second so why bother wasting time typing it out.

The FA cup used to mean something and is another sad sign of the commercialisation of football, growing up you wanted to win it almost as much as the League title and certainly more than any European cup. Teams putting out a raft youngsters is belittling the competition and it's belittling the opposition, the lower teams want the big teams so they can play at Old Trafford against Wayne Rooney or Zlatan Ibrahimovich, not an 18 year old who's never going to break in.

That's right I forgot you had a link to my inner thoughts.

Of course I believe that, that's why I said it. I actually enjoy seeing Liverpool playing different sides, seeing fringe players or youngsters getting opportunities to play is one of my favourite things in football. Fair enough lower league teams may be disappointed with that, but as a fan of Liverpool, the FA Cup and League Cups are entertaining for that exact reason. I also don't think it necessarily means not taking it seriously, the whole squad should be competitive and capable of beating lower league sides.

I like the FA Cup

I'm a Man Utd fan, and I was a happy as hell when they won the cup last year. I know it's not as good as winning the title, but I like it when they win something, it's another trophy to add to their history. Finishing top 4 doesn't guarantee anything, it doesn't even guarantee that the top players want to sign for you.

What would you guys prefer? Your team to qualify for the Champs League for the next 5 years even if they never win it or anything else? Or your team to win 3 FA Cups, and a couple of League Cups but not qualify for the Champs League?

crimey did you enjoy seeing your team get knocked out by wolves? cant understand why any fan would like to see weakened teams and less chance of winning a trophy. especially when your not in any other competitions

compelling and rich wrote:crimey did you enjoy seeing your team get knocked out by wolves? cant understand why any fan would like to see weakened teams and less chance of winning a trophy. especially when your not in any other competitions

No, but should that team have beaten Wolves? Absolutely. That side was not that weak, it had more than enough quality to beat Wolves. There were 8 internationals who played overall. I was not happy to be knocked out of the competition, but the weakened team is just a bad excuse. That side should have beaten Wolves regardless.

but why field a weakened side at all when you not in any other competitions? should be full strength side every game especially considering you had just been knocked out of the league cup.

a back line of moreno, gomez, klaven and randall isnt good enough even against wolves (as it proved). also had the likes of woodburn and ejaria? playing. it was a poor side, and got rightly dumped out. should of won is pointless because you didnt, therefore the team that was put out wasnt good enough

Another reason to field a full strength side is because the fans who show up and pay their hard earned money deserve to see a full strength side.

Xahka is literally the worst player in the league

I always enjoy someone misusing literally.

Alexis Sanchez currently making the rest of the Arsenal team look non league

Arsenal should play Sutton FC all the time, they look good at this level

Sutton actually didn't do too badly - should've had a goal

Arsenal had it well in hand though. Never got out of 2nd gear

Crimey wrote:That's right I forgot you had a link to my inner thoughts.

Of course I believe that, that's why I said it. I actually enjoy seeing Liverpool playing different sides, seeing fringe players or youngsters getting opportunities to play is one of my favourite things in football. Fair enough lower league teams may be disappointed with that, but as a fan of Liverpool, the FA Cup and League Cups are entertaining for that exact reason. I also don't think it necessarily means not taking it seriously, the whole squad should be competitive and capable of beating lower league sides.

I do however know that you'll say anything and everything to defend Liverpool against any sort of criticism, you don't believe what you're saying at all and I doubt you ever really do.