Not enoigh quality or variation in the final third from ourselves.
The final ball has let them down on occasions but City are just loading the box all the time. It's been quite cowardly by them considering their talent.
Don't really have a problem with it, it's an away game against one of the better teams they'll face. Up to us to be good enough to break them down
That was really bad from Koumetio.
The boys are talented but in games like this where the opponent came to win, talent alone will not be enough. We lacked aggression and that little bit of snideness. City were like rapiers. Indeed they were defending in numbers but they were up for it. Their smaller size players were knocking our bigger players off the ball. Even Koumetio and Balagizi appeared “soft”. Hopefully they will learn from this ...
Think it’s a bit silly to use the term soft to describe us here, particularly Balagizi. He was really the only ‘forward’ player sprinting back to support the defence, bodying up and winning the ball back on multiple occasions. He also had a few strong runs carrying the ball forward despite some physical challenges from city.The real issue with us today for me was how static we were in the final third. We didn’t make runs in behind or shift their lines at all. We simply pinged it around the perimeter of their box with no real intent. With the amount of quality we have in this youth side I think we need to emphasize taking more risks and trying to create.
I really hope this is not a change in direction with the new coach coming in, we just didn't look anything like ourselves today.
I see Bobby Duncan is eating humble pie in public.
https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/bobby-duncan-liverpool-transfer-breaking-19000955
If he's being asked to head the ball too frequently - which isn't exactly his specialty - it could affect his ear and cause an infection. Especially if the ball hits him on the ear directly.
How is he joining Derby's u23 squad? He should be further advanced than that at this stage. He should be aiming to get lots of games at his age now.
Is Hardy Injured?
He has been, yes. I think I heard them say is would be for that much longer, but that might have just been about Paul Glatzel