EFL Cup Final Match Thread: Liverpool v Newcastle

[RedMagic]

I would have waited till it was over before proclaiming that the international break had come at a good time for us. We already have issues with injuries and fatigue. Nobody will be surprised if some of our players get injured or become even more fatigued whilst on international duty.

[Daffydd]

It has come at a good time, whether it's a disaster injury wise is another matter.

If the players are at breaking point then they'll get injured whoever they play for

[Jenson78]

Winning the league not good enough? I know it's not done yet but yeah...

Who cares, arsenal won't catch us unless we completely collapse, and utd winning? well yeah of course they was playing leicester I'm sure utd fans are so happy with the result and celebrating perhaps getting into the top half by end of season although still a 7 point gap.

It could be worse, pretty much every other team would raher be us, even after a shit week..... and fans.,. cheer up.

God help you next season.

I will let you know if the league is enough, if we manage to drag our knackered arses over the line.
Ive already got my head around the fact, the next few seasons will be a slow total rebuild. All other teams will be in much better place to compete.

[teesred]

I will let you know if the league is enough, if we manage to drag our knackered arses over the line.
Ive already got my head around the fact, the next few seasons will be a slow total rebuild. All other teams will be in much better place to compete.

Based on what? Arsenal had their best season in decades last year and have dropped off,City have fallen off a cliff and are no quick fix. United are just well United and Chelsea are utter shite.
So seeing as we are 12 points clear at the moment and Slot hasn't had any of his own players in yet what are you basing your "All other teams will be in a much better place to compete" than we will?

Lots thought we were going to drop like a stone this season, myself included but maybe this squad is a lot better than some give it it credit for.

[Insidious]

Lots thought we were going to drop like a stone this season, myself included but maybe this squad is a lot better than some give it it credit for.

Feel largely the same.

- A couple of good additions
- Rotate a bit more
- Tied with rotation, trust "fringe" players a touch more next season.

Lads like Quansah, Elliott, Endo and Chiesa may not be key figures under Slot, but the difference in bringing, for example, a midfielder off (for Endo or Elliott to come on) after 70 minutes instead of 85 is the sort of thing that stacks up as a season goes on, especially given the risk of injury that comes in the closing stages of games. Szoboszlai does not need to play all 90 minutes almost every week.

Or indeed trusting certain lads to start now and then when the rest of the side is at full strength. I refuse to believe that Endo is incapable of starting a match and giving a good 60 minutes or so with any two of Mac Allister, Szoboszlai and Gravenberch so that one of them gets a rest - or that Elliott is basically told he starts zero (?) League games.

There are always opportunities where you can "get away with" starting 9 or 10 of your preferred XI rather than trying to play your default XI over and over.

[JockStrap]

I will let you know if the league is enough, if we manage to drag our knackered arses over the line.
Ive already got my head around the fact, the next few seasons will be a slow total rebuild. All other teams will be in much better place to compete.

Here's an idea, enjoy the current season while it's happening and stop moaning about what might happen in the future.

[Insidious]

Ive already got my head around the fact, the next few seasons will be a slow total rebuild. All other teams will be in much better place to compete.

Well, we'll see.

I don't think anyone backed us to be in our current position this season, so next season might be another pleasant surprise overall.

Some of our rival fans will be having a chuckle over how the last month has transpired, but I find it strange that they act as if Liverpool have "f**ked up" a Quad attempt, when the reality is that Quads don't get won regularly in England, are next to impossible and are open to all sides who have European footie.....yet those sides aren't managing the feat either......

As to some of the sides around us, yes we will see money pumped in, but it's been

- 7 years since Chelsea won the league.
- 11 years since Man United won the league.
- 20 years since Arsenal won the league.

The rise of sides like Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest adds some interest to the competitiveness of it all, but I am not (yet) despondent about next season, plus am accepting of the cyclical nature of football and that a drop-off for us will come at some point.

A couple of weeks away from thinking about the League campaign will do some of our players the World of good and we don't have to do anything mad like win all of our remaining games. A breather (even though it will be a mental one for some players, rather than physical) is massive in a League campaign. It also gives Slot a time to think about a tweak or two or to mull over the rotation side of things to see us over the line and think ahead to next season.

Get over the line, celebrate, strengthen, prepare. We'll be grand. I don't see a return to the 09/10 - 15/16 spell for us just yet.

[Daffydd]

Losing out on a quadruple is a tier 1 problem, one that average mid table teams who get knocked out early seem to happily avoid. It's not that long ago that all we had going for us was a crack at top 4.

[justme]

If you offered me a league title out of 4 trophies each season.I know which one i'd take.Its not over yet but win our home games and we have Leicester away that should be enough to do it..

[Kev0909]

Losing out on a quadruple is a tier 1 problem, one that average mid table teams who get knocked out early seem to happily avoid. It's not that long ago that all we had going for us was a crack at top 4.

I don't get where the quadruple talk has come from????

Soon as we got PSG that wasn't going to happen, especially as real madrid will probably win it.

Maybe if was wasn't "tired" we'd have beat PSG but yeah, and certain players didn't suddenly go to shit and worse than Nunez (Jota) then obviously 120...... then league cup, yeah it was predictable.

Hopefully next year we go out league cup asap rather stay in the fa cup for a bit.