We’re running it back today. I’ll be in the thread, responding to questions and dropping in comments for the duration of the afternoon Champions League matches. Ask me whatever you’d like — Champions related, non-CL, even non-soccer — and I’ll try to get to as many questions as I can. But for now — and even once I’m in there — feel free to chat amongst yourselves!
Theory: Klopp saw his old teams -- go crazy, win every game 4-3 -- in Marsch's Salzburg. It made him jealous. Rather than shutting it down at halftime, he told his D to play an even higher line than normal in hopes of increasing the fireworks on both sides. This is what he wants, you guys.
I think Liverpool will get their bearings again in this, but Salzburg just ruthlessly exploited LFC's biggest weakness as well as any team has in the first 20 minutes of the second half. Seems really easy for teams to get on the ball behind the midfield and in front of the back line. Fun game! Sorry if you're watching Inter-Barca instead!
Think this is the best half Liverpool have played this season. No Haland is a big downgrade for Salzburg, but you rarely see a team dominate possession like this while also creating super-high-quality chances.
In light of VAR, could some explain for me why there’s not more serious talk about changing the offsides rule from “if any part of player is ahead of as defender, they’re offsides” to “if any part of a player is parallel with a defender, they are still ONSIDES”? Does Razz Sterling’s shoulder being a millimeter in front of a defender actually give any more of an advantage than if one boot is?
Given the success of Ralf Rangnick, Ralph Hasenhuttl, and Julian Nagelsmann, is Leipzig the right next stop for Jesse Marsch? Or could he cut the line to a bigger job?
Given that Countinho seems to have very quickly become a nailed on started for Bayern, can anyone explain what Barcelona did to make him look significantly worse than world class? Is it as simple as the fact that he is a not-as-good-Messi and a team can't support two of that kind of player?
Ryan has written before about LFC (unlike a team with seemingly limitless resources like City) will need to sell some valuable assets because it cannot afford to retool its soon-to-be-aging front three without the significant cash infusion that a high-profile sale brings. I think that's probably right - I figure LFC would need to spend around $250-$300 million to completely replace its front three in this market. I wonder, though, that if instead of selling-to-buy, LFC is taking more of the waiting-to-buy approach. In just the champs league alone, LFC banked around $100+ million last year. And even if LFC goes out in the early knockout stages, it will still bank $50-$75 million this year just for the champs league. When you add in the ridiculous EPL money, this is all a long way of asking, "With a negative net spend this year, do you (Ryan) still think that LFC will need to sell a prized asset next summer to help with the rebuild?"
Maybe this is something Brett would be better able to answer, but do you think that the increased fitness capacity of athletes has allowed for teams to play with attacking fullbacks (How often did you see a RB cross low to a LB for an in-front-of-goalmouth score 10 years ago???) who can still get back and cover defensively for 90 mins. Are there any other tactical shifts that you could see coming about as a result of increased fitness and athleticism?
Agree or disagree re. Liverpool's front three: Mane is the most talented Liverpool attacker, Salah is the one with the most metrics-friendly playing style, and Firmino is the most irreplaceable to Klopp's system
How does Barcelona not have another option at CB other than Pique? He played the 2nd most minutes on the team last year despite his advanced age. It does not seem ideal.
Are we sure Bayern are not CL favorites? Squad depth is incredible, prolific striker, solid midfield. Neuer is the only question mark for me, he’s been questionable the past few seasons in big games.
OK! That was fun. Thanks all. Love the atmosphere in here; rare to see discussions like this on the Internet anymore. We'll do it again soon.
Theory: Klopp saw his old teams -- go crazy, win every game 4-3 -- in Marsch's Salzburg. It made him jealous. Rather than shutting it down at halftime, he told his D to play an even higher line than normal in hopes of increasing the fireworks on both sides. This is what he wants, you guys.
I think Liverpool will get their bearings again in this, but Salzburg just ruthlessly exploited LFC's biggest weakness as well as any team has in the first 20 minutes of the second half. Seems really easy for teams to get on the ball behind the midfield and in front of the back line. Fun game! Sorry if you're watching Inter-Barca instead!
Is Haland faking an illness because he's scared of VVD?
In what season does Erling Braut Håland win the Premier League with Leeds?
Wow. I love Salzburg. What a freaking team. Experiment time: What do you guys think the xG tallies were for LFC and Salzburg?
Liverpool's defense is still very much not looking as good as it did last year.
Think this is the best half Liverpool have played this season. No Haland is a big downgrade for Salzburg, but you rarely see a team dominate possession like this while also creating super-high-quality chances.
All right -- I'm here. Let's do this! I've got LFC-RB on my TV.
forza inter
Ryan, do you ever attend MLS matches and will you when Messi is playing in the States next year?
In light of VAR, could some explain for me why there’s not more serious talk about changing the offsides rule from “if any part of player is ahead of as defender, they’re offsides” to “if any part of a player is parallel with a defender, they are still ONSIDES”? Does Razz Sterling’s shoulder being a millimeter in front of a defender actually give any more of an advantage than if one boot is?
Given the success of Ralf Rangnick, Ralph Hasenhuttl, and Julian Nagelsmann, is Leipzig the right next stop for Jesse Marsch? Or could he cut the line to a bigger job?
Who wants to start a huge thread about the Pros/Cons VAR to force Ryan to respond to it against his will?
AND DORTMUND ON THE COUNTER!
Given that Countinho seems to have very quickly become a nailed on started for Bayern, can anyone explain what Barcelona did to make him look significantly worse than world class? Is it as simple as the fact that he is a not-as-good-Messi and a team can't support two of that kind of player?
What does yesterday's result mean for Spurs given that it was an unlikely result xG wise?
What is going on with tottenham...
never in doubt
Other RB not looking great
Naby Keita really died didn't he
Hi, Ajax fan here. Is our boy Sergino Dest getting any love in the US?
Ryan has written before about LFC (unlike a team with seemingly limitless resources like City) will need to sell some valuable assets because it cannot afford to retool its soon-to-be-aging front three without the significant cash infusion that a high-profile sale brings. I think that's probably right - I figure LFC would need to spend around $250-$300 million to completely replace its front three in this market. I wonder, though, that if instead of selling-to-buy, LFC is taking more of the waiting-to-buy approach. In just the champs league alone, LFC banked around $100+ million last year. And even if LFC goes out in the early knockout stages, it will still bank $50-$75 million this year just for the champs league. When you add in the ridiculous EPL money, this is all a long way of asking, "With a negative net spend this year, do you (Ryan) still think that LFC will need to sell a prized asset next summer to help with the rebuild?"
How does a club as big as Barcelona not have a better second CB than Clement Lenglet?
Maybe this is something Brett would be better able to answer, but do you think that the increased fitness capacity of athletes has allowed for teams to play with attacking fullbacks (How often did you see a RB cross low to a LB for an in-front-of-goalmouth score 10 years ago???) who can still get back and cover defensively for 90 mins. Are there any other tactical shifts that you could see coming about as a result of increased fitness and athleticism?
Agree or disagree re. Liverpool's front three: Mane is the most talented Liverpool attacker, Salah is the one with the most metrics-friendly playing style, and Firmino is the most irreplaceable to Klopp's system
How does Barcelona not have another option at CB other than Pique? He played the 2nd most minutes on the team last year despite his advanced age. It does not seem ideal.
Thoughts on Pulisic not making the bench for Chelsea?
Is Hakimi the next Marcelo?
ha what even is this Napoli lineup
Are we sure Bayern are not CL favorites? Squad depth is incredible, prolific striker, solid midfield. Neuer is the only question mark for me, he’s been questionable the past few seasons in big games.
Champions league dark horse and why is it Inter?
are you team FavreOUT, Ryan?
dude, Dortmund look lethal on the counter attack. They need to capitalize soon or they'll start to lose momentum
do you think there's a chance Liverpool punts on the champions league if they lose this match?