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Stephen Drennan (BabuYagu) @babuyagu.bsky.social · 2d

PSA: Wirtz isn't a right midfielder.

Stephen Drennan (BabuYagu) @babuyagu.bsky.social · 2d

at his peak that start happening with increasing frequency as he starts trying to solve how age affects him on the pitch and not quite getting it right

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Stephen Drennan (BabuYagu) @babuyagu.bsky.social · 2d

Just lots of those moments that you wouldn't box as a "mistake" but he's just frequently on the scene of the crime when goals are scored with a feeling he was too easily beaten, or stood off too much, or looked afraid of taking charge of the situation, or a shot goes through/around him

Rare things

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Stephen Drennan (BabuYagu) @babuyagu.bsky.social · 2d

Just a reminder of my threat of what an aging Robbo looks like.

That was another good example. Fear of being taken on 1v1 so he backs up invites the player into the box, lets him size up the situation and pick his spot and moment, curve it around him into the goal. Reminds me of Skrtel. Brutal

Stephen Drennan (BabuYagu) @babuyagu.bsky.social · Dec 15

several yards to prevent a player just nudging the ball by them and accelerating. Another is blocking shots. In the box, small distances make huge differences. Being half a yard quicker to close someone down can mean you are covering 80% of the goal instead of 20%.

Another is just a noticeable

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Reposted by Stephen Drennan (BabuYagu)

Indivisible ❌👑 @indivisible.org · 6d

After a week of ridiculous Republican smears and Trump claiming that “very few people are going to be there,” you just made history. #NoKings

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Stephen Drennan (BabuYagu) @babuyagu.bsky.social · 6d

In the EPL in 2023, he was average 0.7 shots per game. 0.15 xG per game.

His 3 shots against Brighton was the only time he had more than 2 in a match. He had 16 matches that year where he failed to have a shot. (Some were cameos ofc)

*note numbers here are averages per game, not per 90.

Stephen Drennan (BabuYagu) @babuyagu.bsky.social · 6d

In his career, going back to 2015, including the 4th tier in France - he has never had more than 7 shots in a game (Fra v Spa, Olympics | Mainz v Hoffenheim, Bundesliga 2018/19).

He averages 1.76 shots per game.
Highest xG was 2.1, Avg 0.345

Highest in EPL is 5 (vs Ful & Lei, 2024 | v Wol 2022).

James Benge @jamesbenge.bsky.social · 6d

Jean-Philippe Mateta just had 11 shots worth 3.48 xG today. I have data going back to 2020-21 Premier League and no one else has got to three xG in that time. (Jackson vs. Spurs nearest).

The only team with more xG in a game than Mateta this season is Man Utd vs. Burnley.

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Stephen Drennan (BabuYagu) @babuyagu.bsky.social · 20d

No. In simple terms, his fitness work in the past month dictates what he can do in any subsequent week. If he misses sessions, or bits of them with injury, and isn't playing many minutes, his ability to sharply increase time on the pitch without injury is low.

learn.beyondpulse.com/blog/chronic...

Understanding Chronic Load vs. Acute Load - Beyond Pulse Blog

Chronic Load and Acute Load: these two concepts serve as the cornerstones of optimizing performance while minimizing the risk of injury.

learn.beyondpulse.com

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Stephen Drennan (BabuYagu) @babuyagu.bsky.social · 20d

It might be a sports science thing. His chronic load might not be there and our sports science team might be saying to him 'no more than 30'.

He started in midweek and so maybe there was a warning that he's an injury risk if he plays again today. Therefore, was a 'break glass if needed' situation.

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Stephen Drennan (BabuYagu) @babuyagu.bsky.social · 20d

I'm sure this wasn't the plan.

Which means its something he is going with to try and get Isak, Wirtz and Ekitike on the pitch as much as he can to build cohesion with his new attackers.

&/or Frimpong and Bradley are struggling for form and fitness and Dom is holding it down until that changes

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Stephen Drennan (BabuYagu) @babuyagu.bsky.social · 20d

Yep, I think a lot of people said before that Trent - Salah link was important. And it was.

And because Salah is playing awful now, it is confirmation this is true. But if you look, he sees plenty of the ball, in good areas but he isn't executing in moments. That is nothing to do with Trent.

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Stephen Drennan (BabuYagu) @babuyagu.bsky.social · 20d

trusted to start games or seemingly play in big games like today for whatever reason.

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Stephen Drennan (BabuYagu) @babuyagu.bsky.social · 20d

everything that happened today, ultimately they created 1 big scoring chance, 1 half chance and got 2 goals from them.

We created 3 big scoring chances, a few half chances and scored 1 goal from them.

We just aren't finishing chances now. The one guy who is making most of his moments (Chiesa) isnt

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Stephen Drennan (BabuYagu) @babuyagu.bsky.social · 20d

I think two things are happening at the same time.

1. lots of new faces in attacking positions, which leads to problems while they settle in
2. the guys we hoped would be constants while they bed in (Dom, Gakpo, Salah, Macca) are either playing out of position or seriously out of form.

For

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Stephen Drennan (BabuYagu) @babuyagu.bsky.social · 20d

Parma. Caught the eye watching them and I think is HG. Could just be me being partial to Serie A players though :D

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Stephen Drennan (BabuYagu) @babuyagu.bsky.social · 20d

I don't view it as backup really. I think you need 3 starting quality players for 2 positions. Bernabe and Scott would be investments for the future.

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Reposted by Stephen Drennan (BabuYagu)

socrates80.bsky.social @socrates80.bsky.social · 20d

I am reminded of what I think it was @babuyagu.bsky.social who said that with his decline Robbo doesn’t get as tight to players for fear of being turned or run past, and it’s so noticeable in this game

socrates80.bsky.social @socrates80.bsky.social · 20d

Why the eff is Robbo always backing off his man?!!! He’s letting a lot of dangerous crosses get in #LFC

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Stephen Drennan (BabuYagu) @babuyagu.bsky.social · 20d

Still think not having a good DM to replace Endo is the only mistake we made in the window. Went into it with that as one of my top wants and nothing changed

What I would give to be able to bring on a Beleba, Tchouameni, Stiller. Even an Alex Scott or Bernabe if we wanted to go young for the future

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Stephen Drennan (BabuYagu) @babuyagu.bsky.social · 20d

Losing to 96th minute goals two games in a row is fucking murder. Maybe a bit harsh but think Robbo should have taken up a much better position to protect the back post. Guess he would have needed to sag the line to do so though.

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Stephen Drennan (BabuYagu) @babuyagu.bsky.social · 20d

Gakpo has been terrible since the goal.

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Stephen Drennan (BabuYagu) @babuyagu.bsky.social · 20d

Good example of there of Dom not checking his shoulder and getting his body orientation wrong for crosses. Had no idea Enzo was coming in behind him

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Stephen Drennan (BabuYagu) @babuyagu.bsky.social · 20d

Very slow to get out and press the ball there after the corner

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Stephen Drennan (BabuYagu) @babuyagu.bsky.social · 20d

Dom might have just saved us a goal. That is superb running to break the line to goal and get there

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Stephen Drennan (BabuYagu) @babuyagu.bsky.social · 20d

First pass is straight out for a throw so not a great start.

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Stephen Drennan (BabuYagu) @babuyagu.bsky.social · 20d

Endo's defending lately hasn't filled with confidence lately. Need a good 10 minutes out of him here.

Macca still doesn't look close to the player he was last year. Maybe just burned out?

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