First State Kopites

Welcome to the latest episode, looking back at the season and the hiring of Andoni Iraola. I’m Paul, joined by Haitham and Enrique.Arne Slot leaves, Andoni Iraola arrivesLet’s start with Slot - won a title, unbelievable adversity to deal withThe underlying numbers were referencedJames Pearce ‘What Iraola needs to learn from Slot’s failings’Don’t lose one of your players before the season starts, don’t have your most expensive striker miss most of the season and most of all don’t be Dutch.Style of football, reliance on players (Gakpo, Mac Allister, Konate)Fitness issues. Unwillingness to use younger players? Unlike in 24-25, an inability to change gamesLot of hype already around Iraola:Good points - style of football, he’s not DutchConcerns - always for an underdog teamThe recruitment - obviously our bench was limited for large parts of the seasonLooking forward to the season:Pre-season in a monthWhat do you need to see in the next month?We will be back through the off season, to talk about Iraola’s first pre-season and maybe the Reds’ acquisitions. Thanks to Enrique and Haitham for joining me, Paul. And most of all, thank you dear listener for joining us.If you enjoyed the pod, please share it with a friend. Follow us @FirstStateKopites on X  – we only tweet and retweet from sources we think are credible. Music is courtesy of Hypenotic – they are a Welsh electro-pop band – https://hyperfollow.com/hypenotic   

Welcome to the latest episode, looking back at 1 point from 3 games and now an important last game home to Brentford where fortuitously 1 point is needed to absolutely guarantee Champions League football next season. I’m Paul, joined by Daz and Enrique.Part One: Manchester United, Chelsea and Aston VillaTeam selection - limited options obviously. How much of a pass should the team get?The optimism before the United game really drained away with the Isak injuryIn each game, a period of passivity, a period of optimism and then a disappointing ending where confidence seemed to drain away (especially away from home)Lot of discussion about Szobo, Gakpo, Rio and Mac AllisterSome poor individual moments (Chiesa’s offside trap, is he really Italian?)More set piece woes James Pearce trying to buy favor with the naysayersPart Two - Brentford at home:Then there is the negativity surrounding the teamMo Salah’s unhelpful interventionXabi Alonso gone as an option, the current feelings about Arne SlotTraining and rest daysStyle of football. I think there’s been a decline across the league (which may have missed last season because we were so in control of the race).The social media noiseWho are the real options?We will be back after the season, to round the discussions about the future. Thanks to Enrique and Daz for joining me, Paul. And most of all, thank you dear listener for joining us.If you enjoyed the pod, please share it with a friend. Follow us @FirstStateKopites on X  – we only tweet and retweet from sources we think are credible. Music is courtesy of Hypenotic – they are a Welsh electro-pop band – https://hyperfollow.com/hypenotic   

Welcome to the latest episode, going to look at Sunday’s match at Old Trafford and then look at where the team is, in the light of this week’s Champions League semi-finals. I’m Paul, joined by Daz and Justin.Part One: Facing this Manchester UnitedTeam selectionAnticipation of how the game plays outUnited were overwhelmed by Leeds 2 weeks ago in the first half (conceded 2 goals). They came out and pressed really intently for 10 minutes against Brentford (had chances and scored from one of them).Defence looks very open - in each of their last 3 matches.Know, think, hope?That 3-0 win last year seems a long time ago. September 1 2024. Two Lucho goals and one Salah goal.Part Two - Everything else:Just seen the 2 Champions League semi-finalsTake aways - is defence over-rated? Speed kills.Luis DiazWhat’s been going on tactically this season:OK we don’t have that many good players yet Slot is still to blame for not getting more out of them? Which is it?Midfield gaps out of possession, inability to stretch the pitch in possession.Absence of coaching and training3 games left - Villa either at 12.30 on a Sunday or 8pm on a Friday - WTFWe will be back after the United game, hopefully with a good result to discuss. Thanks to Justin and Daz for joining me, Paul. And most of all, thank you dear listener for joining us.If you enjoyed the pod, please share it with a friend. Follow us @FirstStateKopites on X  – we only tweet and retweet from sources we think are credible. Music is courtesy of Hypenotic – they are a Welsh electro-pop band – https://hyperfollow.com/hypenotic   

Welcome to the latest episode, after a quieter week. Into the one game a week pattern now. Nice (comfortable?) win over Palace in the Anfield sunshine. I’m Paul, joined by Daz and Sean.Part One: Liverpool 3, Crystal Palace 1Palace continue to be a difficult team to play against - and they were at full strength.Although our record against them since 2017-18 is 13W, 3D and 2 losses in the league.Midfield - Allowed Adam Wharton too much space in segments of this game. Still leaving a lot of space in the middle of the field.But we did have an outball plan with the long ball to Cody Gakpo’s head.The Curtis experiment continues to yield resultsBright spots from Wirtz and Isak?Freddie Woodman and Andy Robertson - good vibes.The coverage of this game infuriated one of us. I am personally irritated by Glasner.Either Palace caused us immense problems - look at the xG! 1.14 to 2.26.Palace aren’t that bothered by the league game which is why this poor Liverpool team won this one.The response to the Palace goal… Virg and Ibou should have done more!Not one acknowledgement of us being one goal away from going 3rd (including Fulham - Villa where Martin Tyler was trying to magic up an equalizer for Villa).Part Two - Everything else:Us for Champions League - 5 points from 4 games will do it.No Salah. Need Gomez to push Curtis and Dom into midfield?United, Chelsea, Villa and Brentford to goUnited 2 points from clinching UCL. Looked really convincing against Brentford for about 10 minutes. ‘Scouse buster’ read one of their new flags.Arsenal and Spurs - they both play quite shit football don’t they?Reporting on referee watch - no one seems to have called out the selectivity and bias..Arteta gets to complain about 2 red cards in a week and funnily doesn’t mention the Gabriel headbuttMoyes goes on about 2 penalties in a week (including the Garner crumple in the Derby) and somehow misses another Pickford assault on an opposition playerWe will be back before the United game, yes later this week - with a preview of that one. Thanks to Sean and Daz for joining me, Paul. And most of all, thank you dear listener for joining us.If you enjoyed the pod, please share it with a friend. Follow us @FirstStateKopites on X  – we only tweet and retweet from sources we think are credible. Music is courtesy of Hypenotic – they are a Welsh electro-pop band – https://hyperfollow.com/hypenotic   

Welcome to the latest episode, after a big week. Tough Champions League loss, but then there was a 100th minute winner from big Virg in the Merseyside Derby. Disappointment about the result against PSG maybe not the performance, complete joy about the win at the Hill-Dicko whatever the performance. I’m Paul, joined by Daz and Enrique.Part One: PSG at Anfield, Everton in their new stadiumPSG - for 20 minutes, it felt like we had them on the ropesTeam selection drew lots of criticismNot clinical enough as has been the criticism all season?The penalty a turning point?The limits of Jeremy Frimpong and Georgi MarmadashviliEverton xG 1.45 to 0.79 2 big chances one missed by us to 2 missed by them.There was a determination about this performanceBlues wilted - big expectations couldn’t match the ‘hex’Funny to see their fans say that they were much better than us but at the same time explaining the loss because we had match winners.No shots after 70 minutesWent for it in the last 20. 6th 90th minute winner against the Blues of the PL era (most)Curtis performance, Cody, Florian and MoPart Two: One game a week, next up Crystal Palace:CP - 3rd best defensive record in the league, but maybe an eye on Thursday European semi final. Looks like they would lose to West Ham but in the end probably did enough to win.Injuries will impact selection, but we’ve got a week on the training ground to look at tactics. Glasner thinks he owns Slot…Somehow we are 6-1-2 in our last 9 league gamesPart Three: Wider context5 points clear of 6th with 5 to play - 4 to play for Brighton and Chelsea Villa and United play each other - not that either of them are pulling up trees.Chelsea in early May. Will they have made a managerial change? Looking ahead:Ibou close to resigningWe will be back after the Palace game. Thanks to Enrique and Daz for joining me, Paul. And most of all, thank you dear listener for joining us.If you enjoyed the pod, please share it with a friend. Follow us @FirstStateKopites on X  – we only tweet and retweet from sources we think are credible. Music is courtesy of Hypenotic – they are a Welsh electro-pop band – https://hyperfollow.com/hypenotic