No such thing as a ‘free hit’

[Dickov22]

I don’t remember a time where there has been such a collective writing off of a football match from supporters and players.

 

I have read so many posts from supporters along the lines of

‘pleased it was only 3-1’

‘better than expected’

‘season won’t be defined by how we do at Anfield’ 

 

How have we become like this? We were in the bloody lead until the 45th min. Every chance of scrapping out a result if the supporters and players even half believed (or cared). Everton just got a point at Arsenal away from home. Is the gulf between those two sides much bigger than it is between us and Liverpool? I wouldn’t say so. 

 

There are no such things as a free hit in professional sport. Particularly when you lose a 6 pointer 0-3 at home the week before. 
 

The club really is at rock bottom. Soumare walking in the box, watching Jones run past him to score. Winks being easily brushed off the ball time after time in the second half. Daka being Daka, the bloke is atrocious. Yet another goal down our right, Justin seemingly incapable of just showing a player down his weaker side rather than selling himself (again). Allowing their back 4 to play keep ball more than ten minutes from full time, just watching and admiring them. We have no clue what to do with the ball when we have it. We can’t defend. Too many of them don’t care or believe enough and some of our supporters seem the same. 
 

[VLC86]

I think the question at the start of paragraph 3 is answered by paragraph 5. In short, we are shit.

[AKCJ]

I think going away to a team that has won all but two games when you're missing your four best players is a free hit but i'm not going to stop you if you're delusional.

[WoodyFox]

I’ll let the big man take it from here 

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/16579686.amp

[FrankieADZ]

1 hour ago, Dickov22 said:

I don’t remember a time where there has been such a collective writing off of a football match from supporters and players.

 

I have read so many posts from supporters along the lines of

‘pleased it was only 3-1’

‘better than expected’

‘season won’t be defined by how we do at Anfield’ 

 

How have we become like this? We were in the bloody lead until the 45th min. Every chance of scrapping out a result if the supporters and players even half believed (or cared). Everton just got a point at Arsenal away from home. Is the gulf between those two sides much bigger than it is between us and Liverpool? I wouldn’t say so. 

 

There are no such things as a free hit in professional sport. Particularly when you lose a 6 pointer 0-3 at home the week before. 
 

The club really is at rock bottom. Soumare walking in the box, watching Jones run past him to score. Winks being easily brushed off the ball time after time in the second half. Daka being Daka, the bloke is atrocious. Yet another goal down our right, Justin seemingly incapable of just showing a player down his weaker side rather than selling himself (again). Allowing their back 4 to play keep ball more than ten minutes from full time, just watching and admiring them. We have no clue what to do with the ball when we have it. We can’t defend. Too many of them don’t care or believe enough and some of our supporters seem the same. 
 

well Liverpool are probably the best side in Europe atm

i wrote it off cos its Liverpool 

as for Everton, they played an Arsenal team who couldnt score for love nor money then etc

even when we won the league, had a decent squad we still lost there and did shite, even the stats show that

think the last time we got something there was 2019*, but that liverpool team cant be compared to the ones after

 

Of couese we'd like to get something but got to be realistic with it, then again i guess thats too much for some to grasp 

yesterday was more about the performance more than anything and it was a step in the right direction compared to the wolves shitshow

 

*corrected

Edited 27 December 2024 by FrankieADZ

[Dickov22]

19 minutes ago, FrankieADZ said:

well Liverpool are probably the best side in Europe atm

i wrote it off cos its Liverpool 

as for Everton, they played an Arsenal team who couldnt score for love nor money then etc

even when we won the league, had a decent squad we still lost there and did shite, even the stats show that

think the last time we got something there was 2014/15, but that liverpool team cant be compared to the ones after

 

Of couese we'd like to get something but got to be realistic with it, then again i guess thats too much for some to grasp 

yesterday was more about the performance more than anything and it was a step in the right direction compared to the wolves shitshow

 

 

The performance was largely shit though. That’s the problem. No shots since the 10th minute of the match. We were only better because we didn’t have Danny Ward in goal. 

[FrankieADZ]

27 minutes ago, Dickov22 said:

The performance was largely shit though. That’s the problem. No shots since the 10th minute of the match. We were only better because we didn’t have Danny Ward in goal. 

it was better than the wolves one, 

no shot since the 10th min, oh well, its not like we've not done that before there is it

be real ffs, as I SAID check the stats about us and going there, we did the same last season in the cup, we seem to have a habit of being shit there, last time we got something there was 2019

 

but of course, we should go there and batter the best team in europe atm, who are miles better than we are

oh yeah not forgetting we had at least 5 players who probably would have started out too, but hey ho, we should beat liverpool regardless

I honestly dont know what some in our fanbase want, like truly

 

Edited 27 December 2024 by FrankieADZ

[drofmor55]

1 hour ago, WoodyFox said:

I’ll let the big man take it from here 

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/16579686.amp

Good post...and four years later we were winning the premier league!   

"its a funny old game"

[Dickov22]

37 minutes ago, FrankieADZ said:

it was better than the wolves one, 

no shot since the 10th min, oh well, its not like we've not done that before there is it

be real ffs, as I SAID check the stats about us and going there, we did the same last season in the cup, we seem to have a habit of being shit there, last time we got something there was 2019

 

but of course, we should go there and batter the best team in europe atm, who are miles better than we are

oh yeah not forgetting we had at least 5 players who probably would have started out too, but hey ho, we should beat liverpool regardless

I honestly dont know what some in our fanbase want, like truly

 

Didn’t expect a win. Just more effort, more clue when we had the ball, more pressing when losing and they’re passing it around the back like it’s a practice game. To have a shot in the last 85 mins of the game? To have more than 1 corner? 
For Soumare to actually bust a gut when it’s 1-1 to chase Jones in the box, rather than let him stroll past him with ease?

The squad lack ability, and that isn’t their fault. But to lack effort is unacceptable. 
Tossed the game off before it began and sounds like you did, too. 
 

[leicesterlad1989]

1 minute ago, Dickov22 said:

Didn’t expect a win. Just more effort, more clue when we had the ball, more pressing when losing and they’re passing it around the back like it’s a practice game. To have a shot in the last 85 mins of the game? To have more than 1 corner? 
For Soumare to actually bust a gut when it’s 1-1 to chase Jones in the box, rather than let him stroll past him with ease?

The squad lack ability, and that isn’t their fault. But to lack effort is unacceptable. 
Tossed the game off before it began and sounds like you did, too. 
 

I think you've answered the question regarding the write off by fans with your responses regarding the players. Simply we aren't good enough. We were going to the best team in the country and possibly the best in Europe, off the back of a humiliating defeat at home. I don't think anyone realistically expected a sudden change in performance. 

 

What I will say, to counter your comments regarding our lack of shots or allowing them to keep the ball - how else were we supposed to set up? Look at the Spurs result and they have more quality than we do. Our game plan was to soak up and hit on the counter. Sadly we aren't good enough when we get the ball back. We wasted a few opportunities first half. Overall though, our plan worked first half. We just didn't see out the last couple of minutes. 

 

You also mentioned Everton above. Have you seen how they setup? Ultra defensive. Hit on counter or set pieces. Very similar to what we tried today but clearly more successful. Dyche is criticised by Everton fans and most of the media dont view him as a long term manager of the club due to his style. 

 

[Dickov22]

8 minutes ago, leicesterlad1989 said:

I think you've answered the question regarding the write off by fans with your responses regarding the players. Simply we aren't good enough. We were going to the best team in the country and possibly the best in Europe, off the back of a humiliating defeat at home. I don't think anyone realistically expected a sudden change in performance. 

 

What I will say, to counter your comments regarding our lack of shots or allowing them to keep the ball - how else were we supposed to set up? Look at the Spurs result and they have more quality than we do. Our game plan was to soak up and hit on the counter. Sadly we aren't good enough when we get the ball back. We wasted a few opportunities first half. Overall though, our plan worked first half. We just didn't see out the last couple of minutes. 

 

You also mentioned Everton above. Have you seen how they setup? Ultra defensive. Hit on counter or set pieces. Very similar to what we tried today but clearly more successful. Dyche is criticised by Everton fans and most of the media dont view him as a long term manager of the club due to his style. 

 

The possession we allowed their back 4 was nothing short of a disgrace when 3-1 down. No press, no nothing. Let’s keep it to 3-1 lads eh. Similar to when Cunha held onto the ball for an eternity in the centre circle last week. IT IS A LACK OF EFFORT!!
 

I did not expect us to win, but I expected more fight. Liverpool never got out of second gear. Neither did Chelsea, neither did Wolves, neither did Newcastle. So sick of watching this bunch of players. 
 

 Over and out. 

[Dickov22]

14 minutes ago, leicesterlad1989 said:

I think you've answered the question regarding the write off by fans with your responses regarding the players. Simply we aren't good enough. We were going to the best team in the country and possibly the best in Europe, off the back of a humiliating defeat at home. I don't think anyone realistically expected a sudden change in performance. 

 

What I will say, to counter your comments regarding our lack of shots or allowing them to keep the ball - how else were we supposed to set up? Look at the Spurs result and they have more quality than we do. Our game plan was to soak up and hit on the counter. Sadly we aren't good enough when we get the ball back. We wasted a few opportunities first half. Overall though, our plan worked first half. We just didn't see out the last couple of minutes. 

 

You also mentioned Everton above. Have you seen how they setup? Ultra defensive. Hit on counter or set pieces. Very similar to what we tried today but clearly more successful. Dyche is criticised by Everton fans and most of the media dont view him as a long term manager of the club due to his style. 

 

Soumare at times in the first half looked really good but watch him for the Jones goal. Bloke couldn’t care less. That isn’t a lack of ability, it’s mentality. And it’s throughout this squad. 

[whetstonefox]

We can longer afford to treat games as a free hit, at some point we will have to win a couple of games we wouldn’t have thought we’d get anything from. Without a surprise result here and there I think we’ll struggle to get what we need. 

[FrankieADZ]

34 minutes ago, Dickov22 said:

Didn’t expect a win. Just more effort, more clue when we had the ball, more pressing when losing and they’re passing it around the back like it’s a practice game. To have a shot in the last 85 mins of the game? To have more than 1 corner? 
For Soumare to actually bust a gut when it’s 1-1 to chase Jones in the box, rather than let him stroll past him with ease?

The squad lack ability, and that isn’t their fault. But to lack effort is unacceptable. 
Tossed the game off before it began and sounds like you did, too. 
 

yeah i did, why did i, well its Liverpool, they are top of the league and we was awful last game

and your saying more clue when they have the ball? like WTF are they meant to do when they are pressed back then get the ball with like 1 person ahead of them? come on be real

tbf it sounds like even if they burst a gut etc it will never be enough tho for you, but i guess they should run about like headless chickens and dive into challenges too yeah

 

do i expect us to get anything away from home against a top 6 club with VAR about not a chance, these games i will right off, but any others i wont

Edited 27 December 2024 by FrankieADZ

[Kasey Keller]

We finish 19th sandwiched between Southampton 20th and Ipswich 18th

[leicesterlad1989]

20 minutes ago, Dickov22 said:

The possession we allowed their back 4 was nothing short of a disgrace when 3-1 down. No press, no nothing. Let’s keep it to 3-1 lads eh. Similar to when Cunha held onto the ball for an eternity in the centre circle last week. IT IS A LACK OF EFFORT!!
 

I did not expect us to win, but I expected more fight. Liverpool never got out of second gear. Neither did Chelsea, neither did Wolves, neither did Newcastle. So sick of watching this bunch of players. 
 

 Over and out. 

The Wolves incident was infuriating. There's certainly been games where I've felt we've lacked effort. Last night wasn't down to a lack of effort in my opinion. 

 

We've been poor off the ball since game one this season. This is where my criticism of Cooper stems from. We aren't setup to press. We weren't suddenly going to start last night, whether we were 3-1 down or not. Especially against a team who are so good on the ball. 

 

First 43 minutes last night wasn't the nicest to watch but it was disciplined and frustrated Liverpool. Unfortunately we can't maintain those levels. 

[lcfc sheff]

A good team is built on their defense and ours is quite frankly shocking 

[Fox92]

It's loser mentality. 

Edited 27 December 2024 by Fox92

[BKLFox]

Doesn’t the term ‘a free hit’ come from fans and pundits with regards to on paper ‘x’ team shouldn’t beat ‘y’ team and losing this game in December won’t be the reason ‘x’ team are relegated in May & not from the mouths of a/the professional athlete(s) themselves & certainly not before KO.

 

As you, a fan, state you never expected us to win you are therefore saying this was a free hit, if we lose no real drama because of the above but if we get a point then great, no 🤷‍♂️ 

 

 

[shailen]

I don't think we played badly yesterday. We created a lot of openings. Daka slashed at that ball from Mavidid or that could have been a goal, mavididi played a bad ball into Daka in the first half or we could have gone 2 up front. If we play the way we did yesterday we'll be okay but the team was motivated knowing we're playing the best team in world football currently. We need to keep that standard every game.

[jmono84]

I agree with most of what OP has said.

 

I think Ruud has to take some flak too, that display of showing no interest and not trying to get anything out of the game was purely tactical, maybe he was worried if we pressed we’d get spanked and ruin our confidence. I have no idea what confidence the players would get from that performance. Give the fans a heads up next time so we know to do something better with our Christmas time than waste our time watching a team not trying to do anything for 85 minutes

[BKLFox]

1 minute ago, jmono84 said:

I agree with most of what OP has said.

 

I think Ruud has to take some flak too, that display of showing no interest and not trying to get anything out of the game was purely tactical, maybe he was worried if we pressed we’d get spanked and ruin our confidence. I have no idea what confidence the players would get from that performance. Give the fans a heads up next time so we know to do something better with our Christmas time than waste our time watching a team not trying to do anything for 85 minutes

Really?

This was being billed as a 6+ hammering prior to KO, the best team in Europe playing the team that have conceded the most goals in the premier league.

This was all about the defending and losing by 2 goals and not 6+ will give a huge amount  of confidence to the players regardless of losing the game.

The ‘reset’ comes from back to front, no point scoring 3 only to concede 4, of course they will be disappointed but come Sunday will be feeling a little taller than if they had been hammered 6+ for sure 

[martyn]

7 minutes ago, BKLFox said:

Really?

This was being billed as a 6+ hammering prior to KO, the best team in Europe playing the team that have conceded the most goals in the premier league.

This was all about the defending and losing by 2 goals and not 6+ will give a huge amount  of confidence to the players regardless of losing the game.

The ‘reset’ comes from back to front, no point scoring 3 only to concede 4, of course they will be disappointed but come Sunday will be feeling a little taller than if they had been hammered 6+ for sure 

Liverpool away is currently the most difficult fixture in the league, granted, but I've seen similar sentiments about "free hits" against other sides.

 

Take Chelsea and Villa at home, for example. Teams looking to survive shouldn't be writing these games off. Other teams in the bottom 6-8 will take points off top sides. You need to take occasional points off top sides to survive.

Edited 27 December 2024 by martyn

[CosbehFox]

The term free hit is nonsense agreed. 
 

But the over reaction to a result and performance I’ve seen repeatedly by a Leicester City team at Anfield with a better squad and manager is a touch tiring. 
 

Id recommend everyone to just recognise we are shit and it helps to avoid headloss 

[jmono84]

1 minute ago, BKLFox said:

Really?

This was being billed as a 6+ hammering prior to KO, the best team in Europe playing the team that have conceded the most goals in the premier league.

This was all about the defending and losing by 2 goals and not 6+ will give a huge amount  of confidence to the players regardless of losing the game.

The ‘reset’ comes from back to front, no point scoring 3 only to concede 4, of course they will be disappointed but come Sunday will be feeling a little taller than if they had been hammered 6+ for sure 

I don’t listen to nonsense like 6+ goals. Kids talk.

 

I expect to see a team trying their best in a game and a manager not content with just losing 3-1.

 

who wants to watch that? Who wants to play like that. Shocking performance.