Topic: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

[mickeydocs]

He faded badly yesterday in the second half but he was fine in the first half and, given his relative lack of football, that second half dip was much more explicable than that we saw from a teammate or two.

He's clearly an exceptional professional and well liked by him team mates. Doubt we'll see an enormous amount of him between now and the end of his contract but I certainly won't dread or begrudge him any minutes he can generate.

A good utility player to bring on in the second half.

[SamLad]

what you guys are describing is the performance expected of a footballer who is trying to play himself back into form and fitness after a horrendous run of injuries. 

which is exactly what he is!

of course he didn't excel in the game. but he did a good job in the first half.  in most of the second half Villa were superior to us in all areas of the pitch.

[JasonF]

what you guys are describing is the performance expected of a footballer who is trying to play himself back into form and fitness after a horrendous run of injuries. 

which is exactly what he is!

of course he didn't excel in the game. but he did a good job in the first half.  in most of the second half Villa were superior to us in all areas of the pitch.

He's getting over an illness too, same as Trent and Henderson. Klopp mentioned Hendo and Trent being ill yesterday and Ox in the post match conference after the City game. It's understandable all 3 looked tired second half.

[Gerry Attrick]

what you guys are describing is the performance expected of a footballer who is trying to play himself back into form and fitness after a horrendous run of injuries. 

which is exactly what he is!

of course he didn't excel in the game. but he did a good job in the first half.  in most of the second half Villa were superior to us in all areas of the pitch.

Which is why we’ve fucked up because for a player to get back into form after those injuries they need to play. A lot. Not League Cup and a few minutes off the bench in garbage time. The big injuries here happened to him years ago but we’ve just let him fester and do nothing pretty much for ages. Same is happening with Gomez. If we plan for them being here long term, even after a bad injury we need to loan them out for half a year or something because we’ve not done well. Not even a little bit.

[Benimar Col]

1st half yesterday on the left flank, he kept dropping to get the ball,, he should have moved into space and tried to use the space n front of him,, second half faded is an under statement,

no excuses to get fit,, had 6 weeks like others,, you could tell we generally looked sharp,
Salah was so fast last night,

[Red Beret]

Match fitness is not the same as game time. It takes time for most players to get back in the groove. The issue for Ox is will he feature consistently enough to play himself back into form?

Probably not is the answer. But if he can offer flashes of brilliance in a series of cameos that might still work for us and him.

[Realgman]

In my opinion, he hasn't been good for us overall, not for his lack of trying, just didn't work out.
And he's had a bad time with injuries, not his fault, but...
We need him replaced.

[mickeydocs]

In my opinion, he hasn't been good for us overall, not for his lack of trying, just didn't work out.
And he's had a bad time with injuries, not his fault, but...
We need him replaced.

In my opinion he helped us dump city out of the champions league, a set of games that gave the whole club belief.

It is very much a case of what could have been.

[Realgman]

In my opinion he helped us dump city out of the champions league, a set of games that gave the whole club belief.

It is very much a case of what could have been.

he did, fair point, but I don't think he can give any more of those great moments.
We shouldn't retain a player as an outfield option based on nostalgia.

[sheepfest]

In my opinion, he hasn't been good for us overall, not for his lack of trying, just didn't work out.
And he's had a bad time with injuries, not his fault, but...
We need him replaced.

Harsh. Watching him hit the turf against Roma in agony, then be carried past us in the Kop we all knew it was not a regular bad injury but a cherry on top of an injury. Even yesterday in the first half there were glimpses of what could have been and what we were seeing before the injury.

[Too early for flapjacks?]

Made a valuable contribution as a squad player in our Premier League winning season. In a 38 game season he started 17 games and made 13 sub appearances.

[Realgman]

I don't intend to be harsh, but he cant perform for us now in my honest opinion, grateful for the times he did of course, and won a lot with us. he wont ever lack for a pint if there's a Liverpool fan around when hes older

[macmanamanaman]

I still harbor a faint hope that he can be more than bit part this season.
If he changes his game slightly to be more disciplined in CM and use his physicality and what acceleration remains as a defensive force, he would really help our porous "no legs" engine room.

The old Ox was all about vertical runs, getting forward,  thrust.
Can this new older Ox be about horizontal covering, filling holes, quick short passing to retain possession?

[Ratboy3G]

I wonder if the club are considering renewing Chamberlain for a year or two and want to see how he does with a run of games.
If he breaks down again, he goes in summer and if not (and agrees to a reduced wage) he stays.
Helps with the 'homegrown' quota if nothing else and is clearly well liked around the squad, can play in a few positions etc etc

[Samie]

We're not, he's off in the summer.

[Red-Soldier]

I wonder if the club are considering renewing Chamberlain for a year or two and want to see how he does with a run of games.
If he breaks down again, he goes in summer and if not (and agrees to a reduced wage) he stays.
Helps with the 'homegrown' quota if nothing else and is clearly well liked around the squad, can play in a few positions etc etc

It was time to stick a fork in him a long time ago

[Chakan]

I wonder if the club are considering renewing Chamberlain for a year or two and want to see how he does with a run of games.
If he breaks down again, he goes in summer and if not (and agrees to a reduced wage) he stays.
Helps with the 'homegrown' quota if nothing else and is clearly well liked around the squad, can play in a few positions etc etc

If we offer him another contract it would be one of the stupidest things this club has done for a very very very long time.

[Ratboy3G]

I'm not saying I think we should, but he's started his third game in a row and I was trying to rationalise that decision.

[Chakan]

I'm not saying I agree with the decision, but he's started his third game in a row and I was trying to rationalise that decision.

We don't have anyone else to play there. That's why he started.

[farawayred]

I'm not saying I think we should, but he's started his third game in a row and I was trying to rationalise that decision.

Lack of options. He hasn't lit the world alight.

[Aldo1988]

I'd like to see him back in midfield, maybe rest Elliot and play the Ox there.

[farawayred]

I'd like to see him back in midfield, maybe rest Elliot and play the Ox there.

And who's going to play on the left? Carvalho os the only option.

[Ratboy3G]

We don't have anyone else to play there. That's why he started.

We could've started Carvalho or Elliott in the front 3, with Keita in midfield tonight.
As I said, I was trying to rationalise it and then ended up overthinking it.

[Aldo1988]

And who's going to play on the left? Carvalho os the only option.

Some Dutch guy

[Ratboy3G]

And who's going to play on the left? Carvalho os the only option.

Nunez looks really dangerous there, then have Salah in the middle or play a 442 diamond?

[farawayred]

Nunez looks really dangerous there, then have Salah in the middle or play a 442 diamond?

for which we don't have the midfield.

And Gakpo is not available until Wolves?

[Rush 82]

2nd half has started

[Ratboy3G]

for which we don't have the midfield.

And Gakpo is not available until Wolves?

We do though, we could've started that formation with the same players we did tonight.

I didn't mention Gakpo.

[Trump's tiny tiny hands]

Would be nice if Gakpo is available for Brentford, we will need Ox’s energy in midfield.

[farawayred]

We do though, we could've started that formation with the same players we did tonight.

I didn't mention Gakpo.

We could have started with any formation, we don't have midfield either way.

Sorry for Chambo, but he is done for us. Just filling a big gap at the moment.

[Ratboy3G]

We could have started with any formation, we don't have midfield either way.

Sorry for Chambo, but he is done for us. Just filling a big gap at the moment.

At least with Keita on the pitch we had some form of control, Chamberlain offered us nothing and hasn't really done for a long while.
Personally I think he needs to move on in the summer and most likely will

[MonsLibpool]

He was anonymous.

[Dougle]

He was anonymous.

Laid on the ball for the Nunez "second" own goal. A bit timid but feeling his way back in.

[RedBec1993]

If we’re not signing a midfielder in January we might aswell put chamberlain in there, he’s got more energy than most of our midfielders, well all of our midfielders.

[harryc]

Might as well start Carvalho ahead of him at least he will try.

Unfortunately injuries have finished him at this level.

[macmanamanaman]

Might as well start Doak if we have to resort to the Ox in the front 3.
At worst, maybe be might be marginally better as part of the central 3.
At least, cannot do worse than the 3 we had there today.

[SamLad]

Would be nice if Gakpo is available for Brentford

he is.

[farawayred]

he is.

Not certain.

[SamLad]

Not certain.

it is

[Simonm1982]

Offers absolutely nothing anymore. Beyond finished.
Would be better with nunez left, salah middle and doak starting.
We need to start being ruthless