Liverpool Banter Archive August 10 2015

10 Aug 2015 21:42:12
". It looks like we will have company in UTD for the 4th place trophy this season.
City are thumping west Brom. "

10 Aug 2015 20:20:12
Anyone see Liverpool travel away and pick-up three points yesterday?

You would think not considering some of the bobbies on here!!!!!!

10 Aug 2015 23:38:31
You know there's a difference between moaning for no reason and staying grounded and realizing it took something special to win Sunday. We won. I'm happy like many of these so called "moaners" but can we please stop with the OH EM GEE WUT IS UP WITH ALL THESE MOANERS!?!?! can't U JUST BE HAPPY!? Posts. Some people remain skeptical, including myself.

11 Aug 2015 00:22:49
Bad tactics from the start almost cost the match and we only won because Brendan changed the game and coutinho scored a cracker.
So Brendan did good and bad in that game.

11 Aug 2015 04:01:09
Spot on, Mikey!

11 Aug 2015 06:49:10
Going to be tough to keep all this moaning up all season lads.
Good luck lol

10 Aug 2015 21:57:18
John Stone ?
We keep hearing that Chelsea or Manchester want's him, so maybe he would be ready to leave our blue nosed cousins.
However why are we not in the market for him. Fits all the bills - young strong and talented. And we have historicaly been pretty good with born Everton supporters in our side ;-)

10 Aug 2015 22:24:37
1/ he is average

2/ we have billions of defenders

10 Aug 2015 22:27:26
Agreed.

The "we're overrun with Centre Backs" brigade will tell you that we already have too many.

But if you believe that argument we should have stuck with Lambo and Balotellli.

10 Aug 2015 22:46:40
Is he even a blue?

10 Aug 2015 23:29:33
We need more cover at centre back

10 Aug 2015 23:47:34
Yea that's right Ron. Sakho, Gomez, Ilori, Lovren, Toure, Skrtel. No where near enough numbers

10 Aug 2015 23:54:14
We have six cbs or is that not enuff cover for you, Ron?

11 Aug 2015 06:49:50
Definitely a few bites there lol

10 Aug 2015 21:02:01
Man city look by far the best team of the weekend. Away at the hawthorns too against a tony pulls side.

11 Aug 2015 13:02:15
West Brom were absolutely awful. lambert came nearest for them.
Don't make city something they aren't. Fernandinho is garbage and lucky not to see red after a few challenges. City were not tested at all.

11 Aug 2015 13:04:16
In fact I'd say Swansea looked a better team. they should of beat the champions.
West Brom will be lucky to survive this season. Maybe rondon can help them.

10 Aug 2015 20:04:00
I can't believe I've logged in to moaning. Stoke are not an average team anymore. In fact it wouldn't suprise me at all if they get a top 10 finish. They have a solid home record and have added sone quality this summer.

We were never going to roll up in the first game of the season and slaughter them. Early season is all about grinding out results; like when we came 2nd. We won our first 3 games 1-0. Mingolet had to stop a penalty in one of them. Chelsea drew at home. Arsenal lost at home. Man United scabbed a home win thanks to an own goal. Obviously Spurs lost. Man City haven't always started seasons well.

I mean come on guys, we played sone greatffootball. Our final ball was just off the pace yesterday. Benteke was so nearly picked out running in behind on numerous occasions. Give it a couple of weeks and those passes will be coming off and we'll be running riot. Gomez and Clyne were brilliant. They managed to cover Skrtel and Lovrens flaws almost entirely. Lovren btw had his best game since he's been here, and hopefully Rodgers will now realise that Can behind Hendo and Milner is far more useful than Lallana making identical movements to Coutinho.

People need to chill out. Arsenal are bottom of the league and yet we're moaning about grinding out a win at one of the hardest grounds to take points from in the league!

I honestly give up on some of you.

10 Aug 2015 21:14:41
Really agree. Some people like to moan. A win is a win.

10 Aug 2015 21:24:31
How about Westbrom Adam?

10 Aug 2015 21:46:47
Isn't 10th an average position? i mean it's slap bang in the middle. Stoke lost 6 home games last season,that's 1/3rd hardly stoic.

We didn't play''great football'' It looked horrendous at times simply hoofing it up to Benteke,Ibe constantly getting tackled trying too much,Skrtel being his usual self and gomez losing out to Walters constantly. This wa snot a decent performance by any stretch of the imagination. we never even really looked like scoring till coutinho pulled off a wonder finish which he did a few time for us last season. The litmus test is pretty much straight upon us thankfullyand we will see whether this is simply coutinho papering over the cracks,or we genuinely have something to build from. My take is that it's the latter.

Arsenal have done what they always do and started abysmally. 1 win in 6 seasons of league openers. Citeh have absolutely battered West Brom.

Liverpool under BR will not finish in the champions league again.

10 Aug 2015 21:47:27
oh and gomez and clyne certainly weren't brilliant

10 Aug 2015 21:50:13
To be fair stokes side was inferior to last seasons as a starting side . Arnautovic was injured and he's a handful . Nzonzi gone shawcross injured and Glenn whelan ginkel and Adam wasn't great opposition in midfield . They will be better when their new boys step up and I feel we got them on their patch at the right time . I'd like to think we will play can from now on in . And Milner Henderson advancing more or one of the 2 starting

10 Aug 2015 22:56:53
Totally agree bobatron, in his arrogance he refuses to accept that we need an experienced dm, even after the bitter lessons of the last 3 seasons and all the stats showing how much more solid we are when lucas starts.
This club cannot afford to throw away yet another season whilst this arrogant jackass learns his trade on the job, and yet that is what we are doing.
Without a top dm such as lucas we will not get near to a CL spot this year- or any other year.
Can will be a great player soon, but he isn't there yet, not as a dm anyway.
My prediction is that- unless Can develops his dm game at an unprecedented speed- dropping lucas will be the single biggest factor in us not getting top four this year, and in br thereby getting himself sacked.
Sorry but i've totally lost patience with him, and I want him gone before he ruins the season.

10 Aug 2015 23:26:29
3 points is 3 points. Of the top 4 hopefuls, only City really turned on the style. It's all about racking the points up leading up to December and then seeing where we are.

Would you take an ugly 1-0 win over Stoke or a beautiful dominant display 3-0 loss to Man Utd like last season?

I thought our defensive play was much better on Sunday though I'm sure the attacking play will improve with the introduction Firmino and Sturridge.

10 Aug 2015 23:30:10
It's harsh to say that Gomez lost out to Walters constantly. On the whole he did well. Yes walters used his experience to win a few cheap free kicks but I thought it was, all things considered, a solid debut.

Clyne was never really tested but what he had to defensively he did without much fuss.

Attacking wise we were poor and we did struggle to get any sort of rhythm. However, my bug bear for the last few seasons has been the appalling defending. In that respect it was a good performance. They defended well on the whole and did not allow themselves to be bullied about like they have done over the last few seasons.

Things to improve on obviously but it's the first game of the season. Far more positive than negatives.

10 Aug 2015 23:36:40
What did you expect Bobatron? The fact is we were defensively solid against a good stoke team, and although we lacked attacking impetus, if you play Stoke away its always going to be tough to play the nicest football. it was a gritty performance on the opening day, and I'm sure the large majority of fans are pleased with the win. Clyne and Gomez both played well, I don't know what game you watching mate.

11 Aug 2015 04:40:41
The point here is, we did nothing last season when we were scraping points with wonder goals and clean sheets. I for one do not want a repeat.

11 Aug 2015 05:29:05
@EMS

I don't agree with your contention that Stoke are not "an average team" - I would say that is exactly what they are. They are playing a different type of football under Hughes than what they did under Pulis but, for all intents and purposes, they are average. As for their home record? Sorry but if we have any aspiration/ambition then Stoke, home or away, is a team we should be looking to beat - you're talking like we just flogged Chelsea at Stamford Bridge - get real.

Early season is not about grinding out results it's about winning, plain and simple. Some teams start slow, some don't - the truth is both teams, us and Stoke, started out slow and lethargic.

"we played some great football"??? You're so blinded by the perceived superiority of your own opinion that you make statements like that. The only 'great football' to be seen, from either team, was Coutinho's goal. Apart from that it was slow, turgid stuff in which neither team either looked like, or deserved, to make the break through. Fair enough EMS have your opinions but don't try and pump them up with ridiculous statements like that.

Benteke was woeful, in my opinion. Slow, lazy, didn't make any runs, attacking or pressing, that I saw and got what his play deserved which was nothing. Gomez and Clyne I agree with you played very well and in fact the defence actually looked like a unit - it was an unexpected surprise. Would agree with you about Lallana as well - it has to be either Coutinho or Lallana not both - Lallana was so peripheral, as he was for much of last season - I like the lad but he needs to start making himself known. At the moment Coutinho is ahead of him every single time.

There is a difference between moaning and being realistic about what happened in the game. You're raving about the result like it was one of the best we've ever seen. It was a poor game, a slow game, lacking in quality which was settled by a moment of magic - without that it was certain to end 0-0. Scraping a 1-0 result is fine, its something we failed to do last season, but let's not pretend it was some amazing performance. The team, as well as certain individuals, need to improve considerably.

11 Aug 2015 08:16:14
Shrewbury,what I expected was a football,not a sunday league kickabout. Which is what it looked like. Hoofing the ball up to benteke,without a thought of the second ball. Ibe running down the wing,getting surrounded by 3 players and losing possession. Gomez getting outmuscled at every long ball by walters with Lovren not covering and making 20 yard dashes to get across leaving a 20 yard gap between him and Skrtel.
We kept a clean sheet but the defending was far from spectacular.Any one who thinks a clean sheet mean you defended well needs to re watch that match for the gaps between our 2 central defenders,clyne getting caught up the pitch constantly when Ibe lost possession Skrtel doing his usual of dropping deep and rashly lunging into challenges. As I say we got the clean sheet,but the defending certainly wasn't exemplary.

I know it's the first game and people will be rusty,but we should be thankful we didn't play chelsea or city like that on the opening day,we'd have been mauled.

Like I say I wanted some form of a premier league match to start,not what I can go see in my local park on a sunday

11 Aug 2015 08:48:31
I personally think Stoke will finish higher than 10th (median point, not average). They have a chance of 7th imo. Not sure what game some people were watching to say Benteke was woeful and didn't make runs, there were numerous times he turned the defender and pulled into space, we just couldn't get the final ball right. I've seen a few people mention all we did was lump it forward, I wouldn't say that I thought we mixed up our passing well, we looked for diagonal which is hardly hit and hope stuff.
We were better when Can came on as it gave Milner and Henderson the chance to get forward, as seen when Henderson centred the ball instead of pulling it back to Benteke (who had made the run into space despite apparently not doing this all game).
The press constantly referring to the 6-1 would have added pressure on the lads so I thought they coped well and won ugly, which as we all know was a hallmark of Ferguson ' Utd sides

{Ed001's Note - the hallmark of the Fergie sides was that they could ALSO win ugly, not that they won ugly. I wish people would stop that obvious mistake.}

11 Aug 2015 12:42:16
Sorry ed I wasn't clear a meant had the ability to win ugly when required, not that they did it all the time. I think it shows a mental strength we sometimes lacked in previous seasons so I hope it is a sign of improvement there. Obviously we need better performances

{Ed001's Note - not sure it does, not unless you do that against a team that are playing well against you. Otherwise it was just two teams having a bad game and one getting the result. If we faced Stoke playing like they were last season, then yes, grinding out a 1-0 would be a sign of mental strength. Right now it means nothing, other than two teams were poor in their first game of the season and both need to raise their game if they hope to compete over the course of the season.}

10 Aug 2015 17:48:36
Play with Henderson and Milner in the middle and you will get exactly that. We will be a bit more solid but our build up play will be uninspiring. These same 2 players have been playing in midfield for England recently with the same result.

Henderson's first touch is backwards 9 times out of 10. He seems scared to lose the ball. He wants to knock the ball into the space behind him. This slows our play down. He also waits too long before releasing the ball. Emre Can showed him how its done yesterday.

Playing in that position is just no not Henderson's game. He's much more effective when he's running on to the ball and has less time to think about what he's going to do. The perfect position for him was when he was playing on the right of a diamond in 13/14.

10 Aug 2015 18:07:59
agreed! - if rodgers plans to play two CM's, it has to be emra can with either milner or henderson.

10 Aug 2015 18:18:19
Houns,
Agree, not sure there was a great many alternatives but Mr. Rodgers may find his hands tied having to pick JH now he is named captain. He didn't perform particularly well last season [granted his ban at end of season before that may have had some part in losing the title]but he will now be a guaranteed starter although a better option may be a combination from Milner/Can/Lucas.

10 Aug 2015 18:54:57
Henderson is not a holding player at all.

10 Aug 2015 19:02:02
Milner, Henderson works well in a 3-man midfield. A DM behind them let's them get forward where they can dictate the attacking tempo. Defensively, they are both suited to pressing and blocking passing lanes. We saw in preseason how effective this can be.

10 Aug 2015 19:53:32
Yes Hendo needs licence to roam. Can should play from now on and we slightly alternate our formation to let Milner and hendo press

10 Aug 2015 21:33:32
Nobody should be undroppable,, captain or not

11 Aug 2015 00:03:21
Kitt is spot on! BR messed up again by not playing a DM in the first half which shackled Milner and Hendo. Only when Can came in did we get better and take the game to them. He still has not learnt and I hope he has because vs better teams, we will be shown up

11 Aug 2015 01:15:24
Redohio them two shackled themselves, more so Henderson because Milner actually got involved in positive play. You have to be clever enough to know when you can/should play to the opportunities that come in front of you, but then again henderson doesn't even know what is going on around him when he gets the ball.
Before the pass comes to him he just thinks about the ball and keeping it safe where others will have a quick glance to see what is on. This then forces him to receive the ball in a negative way because he doesn't know he has time and space on the ball and doesn't have a maker on him.
Hopefully Gary Mac can have a positive impact on that aspect of Henderson's game and give him pointers on how to be more spatially aware & to be calmer when receiving the ball in certain situations/positions.

11 Aug 2015 04:09:26
Hyach, you missed the point. A player cannot hold himself back if the coach doesn't tell him to play against his nature. Hendo is not a DM and playing him there is just stupid. He dis strength is pressing the ball up the pitch and the fact that BR changed the system with Can coming on as the DM, it freed him and Milner up to press Stoke and provide more help to Benteke. Blaming players for the coach's mistakes is just baseless and disingenuous. You cannot blame Hendo for doing what BR told him to do and that is as pathetic an excuse to absorb BR of his initial screw up as there is. And the fact that BR made the switch proves my point and debunks yours, completely.

11 Aug 2015 09:30:00
there will be games soon when a Defensive Central midfielder will be needed or if not exclusively defensive someone that can screen and play (playmaker) which we unfortunately in the premier league and country as general lack. Spain and Germany/Italy have them such as Alonso, Pirlo was, Busquets, Kroos etc.

maybe and hopefully Rossiter will get a chance and step-up as Brenda doesn't fancy Lucas. At the end of the day, boring game, few chances, you get them, we won and got 3 points so let's go again get 3 in the next one, keep happy and positive everyone.

10 Aug 2015 17:19:53
Firmino scored a hat trick in a friendly today ings and markovic also scored, bogdan, can, Lucas, Moreno,origi, rositer, sakho and kolo all played,

10 Aug 2015 22:29:09
I agree with most of your post gforce couple of players on there that iwould like to keep and give a shot too but yes BR hopeless with transfers and players who have won trophies ( let's see how long for milner to be offed)

10 Aug 2015 16:46:48
Ok I think everyone needs to put yesterday's game into perspective. This was the first game of the season and baring city none of the potential top four teams played particularly well. If anything we should be grateful that we didn't end up like arsenal which could of easily happened playing a team like Stoke away.

Also I don't think you can judge players of the back of 1 competitive game so all those bashing Milner should at least reserve their judgement until we've played around 5 games. We are clearly playing a different system with altered tactics and these take time to come to fruition.

Two things I was encouraged by yesterday was firstly our organisation defending set pieces. There has clearly been some work gone into this on the training pitch with visibly a lot more communication holding the defensive line, particularly from Milner. Now I'm not saying we were perfect at defending at set pieces as the was one or two that could of ended badly but definitely an improvement. I have my suspicions that O'Driscol has something to do with this rather than "defending can't be coached" Rogers!

The other encouragement for me was the introduction of Can. Clearly his intro made a significant impact and I personally loved seeing a midfielder demanding the ball and dictating the play with it. I believe this could be a huge season for him as long as he's given the opportunity. Anyway here's hoping things only get better!

{Ed001's Note - the holding on to each other and talking to set a line is something I have seen O'Driscoll work on his players doing while he managed Doncaster, so you are probably right it is his doing. But, credit still has to go to Rodgers for giving him the chance to do so.}

10 Aug 2015 17:06:49
No credit for introduction of Can as it was insane stupidity to start an away game with out a DM.
It took BR 60 mts to realize we ain't doing anything on the pitch.
We were fortunate stoke were without Shaquiri and Bojan the results would have been different.

10 Aug 2015 17:27:29
I was wondering about the holding hands thing and surprised no one had mentioned it. Have to admit I'm not sure what to make of it. I guess it helps you know where your team mates behind you are but it looks a bit weird.

{Ed001's Note - it works because you can't drop off if you have someone holding you. I also read somewhere that it also helps with having the mental confidence to hold when you would want to drop normally, as the first one to drop can be felt by everyone and held accountable.}

10 Aug 2015 17:43:00
Yes EG, we were lucky Stoke weren't playing that guy who's not a a Stoke player.

10 Aug 2015 17:49:12
To say Stoke was without a player they haven't signed yet in Shaqiri is wrong, how can they be without him when he is not there's?

10 Aug 2015 17:49:49
That makes sense. I hope we make it work, we're in for a hell of a ribbing if it doesn't.

10 Aug 2015 18:30:43
We were without Sturridge too, that's just football basically all teams lose first 11 players throughout the season.

10 Aug 2015 18:47:57
Sarcasm is an art, Just like mastering the deep lying playmaker role, it's very difficult 😄😄😄.
I gave you all an excuse if stoke gets a point at Anfield in the second leg.

10 Aug 2015 18:48:23
We were also without Pogba

(Shaquiri reference)

10 Aug 2015 20:18:00
'Dm's' haven't always existed you know.

Its a trend of football, just like the sweeper position.

Teams should play to their capabilities.

10 Aug 2015 22:22:06
If we had Messi, Ronaldo & Suarez playing we would of battered them as well European Glory - We got 3 points full stop.

11 Aug 2015 00:23:49
EG is right. Starting that game without a DM was just stupidity coming from a manager who seems to have learnt nothing. He may have rectified and we may have gotten away with it vs Stoke. Vs better teams without a DM, we will struggle big time.

11 Aug 2015 00:55:39
Ed that's like giving BR credit for allowing Coutinho to score screamers :P

{Ed001's Note - I have known managers who instruct their players not to shoot from outside the box....}

10 Aug 2015 15:23:24
New season, new players, however same manager with same embarrassing quotes, don't get me wrong absolutely delighted with the 3 points, but to say we were " outstanding "in any respect yesterday is a complete embarrassment to himself.
But the worst thing he said, which proves he is naive and doesn't understand football fans at all - to say a 1-0 win at Stoke City has " put to bed " the 6-1 defeat is staggering. I still have nighmares when I think about our 5-1 defeat to Ajax in the " Fog " match in 1966.And I'm sure we all have other results that haunt is.
So wake up Mr Rodgers - you are manager of LFC, don't say things that embarrass yourself and our club.

10 Aug 2015 16:02:48
I think the only thing embarrassing is you still having nightmares about a football match 48 years ago.

10 Aug 2015 16:04:46
Well stoke were without Shaquiri and Bojan. lols.

{Ed001's Note - and their captain and his usual central defensive partner Wilson.}

10 Aug 2015 16:12:16
Obviously the people who ticked disagree think we were "outstanding" yesterday, and because we won 1-0, the 6-1 defeat is now forgotten.
And please don't say that defeat is now history, all fans recall Istanbul, but that was history, and I also bring up our greatest ever game ( in my opinion of course ) the 3-1 win against Milan in 1965. And all LFC fans love telling people we have won Big Ears 5 times - HISTORY.

10 Aug 2015 16:38:51
No, the people who ticked disagree just think you're desperately trying to seek affirmation in your view that Rodgers is 'embarrassing' and are rejecting it.

We're over the 6-1 and want to look forward instead of wallowing in the petty finger pointing of last season.

10 Aug 2015 19:17:10
All I can say to Muscatred and Irish Rover - if you are over a 6-1 defeat to Stoke City - you seriously lack a passion for all things LFC.
You can bet your life it will live with the players for the rest of their careers and longer, footballers and fans remember the embarrassing days as much as the good ones.

And you don't think BR's comment that we were " outstanding "yesterday isn't delusional and embarrassing?

10 Aug 2015 20:18:17
Grow up John B, stop trying to be a martyr.

11 Aug 2015 00:31:08
You better get over the loss and quite frankly, yourself because that game is in the past and there's nothing anyone can do about it and your comment shows you have a very overinflated op of yourself.

10 Aug 2015 14:04:48
looking at the formation we played and personnel used the team playing against stoke isn't going to challenge for anything this season. Benteke was isolated and i'm yet to see Lallana be particularly effective playing wide. Making milner and henderson cover the back 4 is not utilising either of them to get the most of there abilities. Ibe provides some width but didn't seem to really be running and commiting the FB. I have no worries about that however, he's a young player and needs game time to develop. If your not playing 2 strikers you need an attacking player to get beyond Benteke regularly in central positions to provide some sort of goal threat. Sure a win was a great result, delighted for the team and for Couts. I just hope that the obvious failings are addressed for the next match.

10 Aug 2015 15:50:26
First game of the season and already you think we won't challenge for anything! Did you see any of the top teams play particulary well over the weekend. I thought we played reasonbably well and most improtantly the defence was solid.

10 Aug 2015 16:59:36
I thought Spurs played really well against UTD, considering they spend nothing this season apart from a defender.

10 Aug 2015 18:00:54
With respect, I didn't see a solid defence out there. I saw a disaster waiting to happen against any team with any attacking quality.

10 Aug 2015 19:22:12
Harry, they spent nothing? Just like Chelsea spent nothing? Oh yeah apart from Alderwield, Delli Ali, Trippier and Wimmer. Oh yeah and Falcao amongst others.

10 Aug 2015 13:52:05
Hi Eds,

Just curious, where was Markovic? Is he injured or was he dropped. If so its a shame, he had a decent pre season

{Ed001's Note - left out.}

10 Aug 2015 17:11:35
Another victim of BR stubbornness. The team will cry out for width and Markovic ll not be in the squad.
I hope the kid moves out and prove people wrong.

10 Aug 2015 20:37:57
How many players do you want in a matchday squad???

10 Aug 2015 20:48:11
Decent pre season???? He's got a lot to learn and needs to bulk up. Sure he used to play second striker at benfica. He's not a rm and personally don't think he can cut the premiership. More suited to Italy.

10 Aug 2015 13:26:32
Br has got to encourage clyne to cross the ball not one cross from him yesterday, mignolet kept pumping long balls to benteke but when he won the header no one near enough to benefit

10 Aug 2015 15:47:03
Clyne was one of our best players.

10 Aug 2015 18:00:17
I don't have an issue with pumping it up to benteke from time to time. It's means we aren't under immediate pressure on 18 yard line

10 Aug 2015 12:45:04
i see we're being our usual positive selves on here lads.

we didn't play briliantly but came away with three points but apparantly that isn't good enough. 3 points is 3 points at the end of the day and I'd rather we grow into the season than start with a bang and fizzle out.

i also can't beleive people are suggesting hendo and milner together don't work after one game where for a change we weren't hopelessly exposed.

as long as we're picking up points can people just show a bit more patience?!

bobatron, i saw further down you mentioned that we won't be able to keep picking up points playing like that. first of all, I'm sure we will improve as the season progresses. second of all, i seem to remember united somehow managing it week in week out last year. fyi, they were pretty poor and relied on a fluke OG this weekend.

10 Aug 2015 16:02:48
Its getting quite depressing just reading the same negative posts to be fair and BR bashing and now its the Sakho and Ilori should be starting - I watch Liverpool religiously and have never seen them play a game together yet so yeah seems a great idea to pair up centre halves who haven't played together yet!!

Great Post nice to see someone backing instead of bashing

10 Aug 2015 23:57:01
Cialbray, Okay but I don't think the fact that someone has never played before is a valid reason for them no playing. That makes no sense.

10 Aug 2015 12:14:28
Similarity between Stevie G and Henderson.
I could never understood what Stevie was saying in a post match interview.
After listening to Henderson yesterday I realized the situation remains unchanged.

10 Aug 2015 15:00:34
Stevie's accent was very difficult. The scouse accent is just so different. I can understand Henderson pretty well.

10 Aug 2015 16:14:52
If you can understand Carra then fair play to you!

10 Aug 2015 17:15:32
Essex

Well i really struggle with Carra 😂😂 doesn't even make any emotions on face either. 😂😂

10 Aug 2015 11:10:05
I read that Sakho missed a few days training last week because of the birth of his child, just wondering/hoping whether this is the main reason he didn't even make the squad for the game? Surely he must be rated ahead of Toure, the only other reason I can see him being dropped completely is that he's made more of a fuss about leaving than thought or they've decided he is definitely going to go so there's no point him being involved. What do you think eds?

10 Aug 2015 12:01:38
I would assume that to be the reason. Otherwise he would have at least trained with the team

10 Aug 2015 12:14:27
I check player's twitter, it sometimes gives an insight into their mentality. Yesterday Sakho posted a positive message ahead of the game, doesn't mean he's deliriously happy but if he was miserable I doubt he would have posted it.

I also expect he missed training last week so it could well explain why he wasn't in the squad.

On a semi-related subject Ilori seems to be enjoying himself.

10 Aug 2015 10:58:58
I keep seeing posts saying that Henderson and Milner are attacking midfielders, and I don't understand them at all. I know that they aren't natural DM' s , but box to box players. Milner may have played more forward for city, but he has always been a CM. I've even seen some posts saying that Henderson should be played on the right wing! So what should we do with Ibe, Lallana, Firmino, Origi, or even Markovic. Perhaps I misunderstood what you were saying, but I certainly wouldn't put Henderson in the same bracket as Coutinho etc . I do agree that Can should start behind these two, as against top opposition, we may be found out in Midfield.

{Ed001's Note - Milner has spent most of his career out wide, so how do you figure he has always been a central midfielder?}

10 Aug 2015 11:55:28
Also who has said Henderson right mid?

10 Aug 2015 12:26:41
People never get what truly a CM offers. I have never seen both Milner and Henderson offering anything which a true CM offers.
Yohan Cabaye is an example of Central midfeilder. Just because you play in the middle doesn't make you a Central Midfielder.
So what's Ramirez then at Chelsea?

10 Aug 2015 12:33:10
Milner started his career as a striker

10 Aug 2015 13:07:22
When Milner went out wide right and Can came on we started to control the game but the team will need to be set up differently every game based on our opponents. We got bailed out a bit by Coutinhos wonder strike but going to Stoke and keeping a clean sheet is no small accomplishment. Proud of our boys for that performance.

10 Aug 2015 12:53:36
At Aston villa, Milner was played mostly as a CM, with Petrov ED 001, I may be wrong though

{Ed001's Note - he alternated at Villa, but before that he was at Newcastle and Leeds in the wide areas. He certainly played as often out wide, at least, for Villa, as he played in the centre.}

10 Aug 2015 14:58:08
Milner did not go wide right! He moved further forward in a midfield 3. Hendo and Milner are CM's like Wilshere, Herrera etc. Cabaye plays(at Newcastle - haven't watched him at PSG) DM with the odd charge forward like Yaya or late-career Gerrard. Do you people even watch football?!

{Ed001's Note - Cabaye is at Palace.....

10 Aug 2015 10:28:29
So the game yesterday. Was slating Coutinho all game and he ended up scoring haha. A few points:

-Our defence was only good because we had Hendo and Milner in front of them most of the game. So let's wait and see.


-Put Milner out wide instead of Llallana, don't care where he wants to play. He's better out side.

-Benteke, decent but isolated. Couldn't win the second ball.

-Can changed the game

Happy with the win obviously. But if we keep playing like that we aren't going to get Top 4. Simple as.

10 Aug 2015 11:14:59
I am not sure Milner would agree that role after being promised a central role.

10 Aug 2015 11:57:17
And even if he does play better out wide, he's not our best option out there.

10 Aug 2015 13:47:26
United struggled with Tottenham and got the 3 points. Would you say they aren't going to make the top 4 playing like that? Yes we must improve but I will take that result all day all week all month and all season. Players are returning to fitness. Can changed the game without making that many touches. Nothing was going well for Coutinho and he scored the goal of the season so far. Our solidarity at the back was much improved and I was impressed with Clynes debut. We must get Benteke more involved but there are a lot of positives to take from that game. Most of the favorites for the league struggled this weekend.

10 Aug 2015 14:50:11
who's better? Lallana…. I'd agree with you if we got Adama Traore or another wide player but for me its logical to use to there with Firmino in CAM and Ibe on the other wing.

Also Henderson needs to pull the finger out. Every start of a new season he reverts back to his old negative playing ways of passing sideways/ back, running around telling players to pass back to the CB who credit to them didn't linger on the ball. Point being he only wants to play positive when players around him play positive. Very much unlike a captain should

and no I'm not questioning his captaincy i just don't get way he can't have confidence in his own ability early on in the season. I hope he doesn't wait until Dec to start playing like the player he should the later half of last season.

10 Aug 2015 09:42:25
If it's ok with the Ed's, I'd like to post my opinion on the game yesterday.
Some are saying Skrtl played well, which he did, for him. But he was still caught out of position on several occasions, also putting Migs under a lot of pressure with his back pass. Lovren was better. Gomes did very well for his debut I thought. Walters is no push over!
Migs, I thought, looked very assured and confident, claiming balls into the box with authority and his distribution was excellent.
I felt for Benteke, did not really receive the best service. Pressured their defense well at times. Be interesting when Sturridge is fit as I think it would benefit both players to play together.
Overall, a bit rusty, first game of the season, nothing spectacular but a great result. Away to Stoke is no easy task, and I guarantee top teams will drop points there. Pleased we were able to get the result. and we are above United in the table ;)

10 Aug 2015 13:41:49
That Skrtel yellow card just really sums him up. He has a reputation of being a hard man for some reason but what it really is, is his stupidity. He sees the ball and he just wants to throw himself at it, he was never ever going to win the ball but he goes for it anyway clattering Diouf. It's so frustrating watching him do it time and time again, not using his noodle.

10 Aug 2015 08:17:36
Tempo of our play changed when Emre Can came on and looked more of a 4-3-3 we actually looked like we wanted to keep the ball and played some intricate stuff!! 4-2-3-1 looked way too disjointed first half. Hope when we play Bournmouth we start with can/Lucas as DM with hendo and Milner running things, coutinho and firmino/Ibe either side of benteke.

10 Aug 2015 10:34:28
I agree except for Hendo and Milner, Can came on and shows it how to be done. i'd rather have Can and Hendo or even Can and Milner. He carries the ball forward and wants to make things happen! Hope the kid gets proper gametime and starts this season. He will develop into a very nice player.

10 Aug 2015 07:48:49
What the hell is up with you guys? First game of the season with new players yet to bed in and an away win at a tough place to go and you are so so negative. Are we now at a stage where we have to win games in style? Does it really matter how we win? 1 game doesn't make a season I know but it is 3 points on the board already. Get your heads out of your backsides and give it a wobble. You can analyse and dissect every second of the game and come up with positives and negatives but it will still end up the same. 3 points from a tough away game. I will be very happy if we play like that in every game and win 1-0. Where is the rule that says that every player must be brilliant in every game and we can only be good if we win 5-0 ? Chelsea came to anfield not long ago and parked a bus. They got pelters for that didn't they. Who won? Contrary to popular belief it is about winning games, not how we play. The mind boggles at times with our fans complaining. If you want entertainment, go to a circus. Support the team no matter what. During the successful 70s and 80s do you think that we were fantastic all of the time? We scraped through some games and played crap but we still won. Some of you need a good dose of reality. Real Madrid or everyone's favourite, Barcelona don't play magnificent football all of the time but they win.

10 Aug 2015 08:52:38
If you think we can play that badly and get 3 points every game this season,I suggest it is you that takes the head out of the ass and gives it a ''wobble''. We play like that vs top 4 teams we will get shafted

10 Aug 2015 09:01:54
I remember last season when we played fantastic in both legs of the Capital One Cup Semi-final against Chelsea.
We were the better team and deserved to win.

However

Who won the game? Chelsea
Who won the cup and ended the season with trophies? Chelsea

Doesn't matter how you play, its all about the result.

10 Aug 2015 09:11:52
Top post Robbie

10 Aug 2015 09:15:19
Now that would have been true, but for the fact that Rogers is in his 4th season and the team still lacks an identity. He also doesn't seem to get the fact that players should always play in their best positions and not shoe-honed into new positions except it's an emergency.

10 Aug 2015 09:30:03
Robbie, the negativity comes from the fact that we were absolutely terrible in just about every facet of the game. Sure, its great we came away with the three points, but you can't honestly say you would be happy to see that performance every week, winning games or not.

10 Aug 2015 09:37:44
Jax

Well that's what happens when you buy players after players on the same position over and over again.

We have 1 DM, 1 CM, 10 Attacking Mids and 5 Strikers.

10 Aug 2015 10:05:40
Brisbane.
I,ll guarantee that if we played that badly every week and won 1-0 playing crap you, along with many others will be ecstatic at the end of the season watching Henderson holding a trophy above his head. In an ideal world we would win every game 5-0 playing fantastic football that has everyone on their feet. Is this an ideal world? Got to get real sometimes and as a long standing fan who started in 1971/2 season and still goes home and away, I am a realist. At the end of a season no-one remembers the drab 1-0 wins. They do remember the games where we lost 1-0 in games we should have picked up points when we played fantastic. Those games cost us a title season before last. Do you want trophies or do you want plaudits? It's silver for me not ink.

10 Aug 2015 10:19:28
Bobatron
I am not suggesting that we will play that badly every week and get three points. Unlike you I am a realist but the result is all that matters. Your crystal ball is of no use when predicting how we will perform against the top 4 as you suggest. Do Chelsea or Arsenal or Man City play well every week? Do they get results most of the time? We have won against a team who are hard to beat at home. Lots of teams will come unstuck against Stoke. Enjoy the moment and worry about the next game when it happens.

10 Aug 2015 10:28:35
Robbie,what are you trying to prove with your post exactly? It's just a post of conjecture,of course we'd be happy winning the title. But quite simply put in a REAL world,you know,the one we actually inhabit,that is NOT going to happen,so what's the point in your little what if scenario?!

10 Aug 2015 10:35:08
Brisbane- we were terrible in every facet yet we kept a clean sheet in a game we conceded 6 in last season, we looked better defensively, and we won the game if we had lost but dominated creating chance after chance people would moan, we won ugly in the first game of the season so what

10 Aug 2015 10:38:24
No I wouldn't be ecstatic at all if I had to watch that performance every week, far from it. Winning games 5 - 0 doesn't interest me, but putting in good performances does. I call it as I see it, if the performance is crap I will call it that way, regardless of whether we won the game or not.

10 Aug 2015 10:39:19
3 points is what it is all about , we didn't pull up any trees but we looked reasonably solid at the back, we integrated some of our new players but we need time to gel imo . Sturridge to come back will improve us and will help benteke and lovern looked much improved so early days but top teams will drop points at Stoke and that is a decent start for us .

10 Aug 2015 10:44:29
We have 5 senior central midfielders.

10 Aug 2015 11:20:54
man utd and chelsea have games like this where they don't play all that good but win , it used to be called playing badly and still winning is a sign of champions , we never conceded and goals did we so what is all the moaning about , i know some on here want us to play like newcastle under keegan where they would play open attacking football and not worry about letting goals in as they thought they could out score every team they played , well it never worked for them , we are not barca or real madrid , we have to GRIND out results sometimes , let's be happy with the win and clean sheet , i could understand the moaning if we had won but let goals in s well but we never , we grounded out this result which showed to me any way that we are up for the fight agianst physical sides and we keep going to the end with our heads not dropping and we have players who can win us games with one bit of magic , plus Lovren had a good game which could get him back to his best which will only be good for the game ,so after all it was the 1st game of the season against a strong side and we wanted to avoid defeat , the way some are moaning you would think we never won or kept a clean sheet , in fact we won a tough game away and kept a clean sheet plus they never had the best of the game ot a few clear chances except of the johnson chance we were comfortable at the back and the way seen it they never looked like scoring , the only negative for us is that we never used benteke properly we should play with 2 up front so beteke has a runner off him or for the other striker to drag the defenders away from benteke or he can do the same for the other striker but that's just my opinion

{Ed001's Note - it was called the sign of champions when they STILL win when playing badly as well as when playing well, not when they only play badly but pick up wins. I really wish people would realise this.}

10 Aug 2015 11:31:01
Henderson played the deep midfielder role yesterday doesn't mean he is a DLP/ DM.
We did nothing with two CM yesterday in the first half and once Can was introduced Henderson pushed up.
Allen is a CM who played that role at Swansea and Liverpool.
Both Henderson and Milner could defend and put tackles, that doesn't mean they are Defensive midfielder

10 Aug 2015 12:42:21
The opposition do have a right to compete you know?
I'm sure if there were no opponents we would play swashbuckling adventurous football every week.
The fact is they are allowed to close down space, track runs and intercept passes. Something Stoke are particularly good at.
I'm very happy with the result and performance, not every team will make us fight so hard. 3 points is all that matters in such games. 11 weeks ago it was appropriate to whine, not yesterday.

10 Aug 2015 14:55:16
Can not believe there is any negativity after winning that match. Must be people's agenda to get Rodgers out. The fact is it's 3 points out of 3. It's 3 points we didn't get last season. Everyone can see we didn't play well, I didn't particularly enjoy watching the game, but I enjoyed winning it.

We might play great in the next game and wipe the floor with Bournemouth, we might scrape another victory, we might be even worse than against stoke, but in the early part of the season, it has to be about points, especially with our tough start.

I'm delighted with the start, hoping performances do improve, which they undoubtedly will, and the good results keep coming.

{Ed001's Note - why does it have to be an agenda to be worried about a woeful performance, on the back of a season of utter dross? What is wrong with wanting better? Settle for crap and you will always be crap. Do you think those kind of performances will win against a team playing well? A decent side would have buried us yesterday, luckily Stoke were awful and so we got the 3 points. Great result but we shouldn't be happy with the performance.}

10 Aug 2015 18:54:35
Fair Ed01. I did say I didn't enjoy watching it but happy with the result. I just thought it was a bit of an overreaction from a lot of people. I'd argue none of the expected top 6 would be happy with their performance. At least we turned it into a win unlike others

{Ed001's Note - and I would agree, what I disagree with is any talk of it being a good performance.}

10 Aug 2015 06:29:22
Once again serious hats off to Joe Gomez. Stoke clearly though t he was the week point as they were sending balls towards him against Walters and diouf for the whole match and he handled it about as well as any left back in the league I would say. It wasn't the perfect performance got beat a couple of times but I think that will be one of his toughest examinations of the season and he passed with flying colors for me! Keep it up lad!

Clyne as well I thought was very impressive. Really think we could have finally sorted out the fullbacks but we will see!

One thing that did upset me apart from mignolet holding on to the ball for 5 minutes every time at 0-0 with 10 minutes to go was Jordan I be and his persistence in coming in side? He showed he had the beating of both pieters and muniesa yet I think he only took both of them on down the outside once or twice. especially when you have benteke in the middle would have been nice to see him mix it up and whip a couple of crosses in?

10 Aug 2015 07:41:23
Could be Mignolet was under instruction? I have to say he was faultless, saved everything on target and collected every cross he could. His distribution found a player of ours 8/10 times.

It could be having more time meant he was able to keep calm and use the release correctly, short or long maybe?

10 Aug 2015 08:06:36
Yeah I have no problem with that and understand that max wasn't having a major go at him. But I just hate with 10 minutes to go basically wasting time just gives off the impression that we're happy with the draw which we should never be.

Overall though you're right migs did quite well with the save from the free kick that for missed by everyone being incredibly important!

10 Aug 2015 11:51:11
Clyne had a good game but never put in one cross, benteke won headers all day but no one near enough to benefit from it, CB can't be isolated or he will find it hard to score,defence looked fairly solid, lovren is starting to settle. The major problem is the speed of our play still very pedestrian.

10 Aug 2015 13:32:57
CB is going to be a confusing abbreviation

10 Aug 2015 04:07:14
Skrtel played really well, i hope no more bash on hom for one week.

Lallana should be benched, he is no winger and best position is cam, but there is too much competition from brasilin duo.

One of milner / henderson should play bit higher up the pitch.

Hopefully inclusion of can will help the cause.

Only worry was that benteke did not receive any assistance, hopefully firmino will make it happen.

10 Aug 2015 05:20:05
He nearly sold out the keeper on a couple of occasions

10 Aug 2015 06:29:28
The system suits skrtel. Sit back, Full backs keeping close to make a flat back 4.
But it's boring.

10 Aug 2015 06:30:41
Skrtel was himself. Not good enough. We all know it should be Ilori-Sakho

10 Aug 2015 07:15:11
And he nearly caused the diuof headed goal by being a yard further back than the rest if the defence. Good thing that clyne was on his toes and able to cover.
Sorry but skrtle isn't good enough and as long as he's in the team we're going to struggle defensively

10 Aug 2015 07:53:20
I love how Llori is somehow our CB saviour when I'd guarantee that 99% of us have never seen him play. He may well be that good but I don't want that tested in a tricky away game at Stoke.

10 Aug 2015 08:20:25
Thank god @johnnyR said it - Everyone saying these should be playing and these are the best?

How on earth do you know that? Are you in training everyday with them? How do you know Sakho or Ilori aren't really poor at the moment or have a bad attitude how do you know?

Im sorry but this just goes back to BR bashing - Regardless of what you think he's in this role for a reason and he is a manager for a reason but one of the best things BR does well is coach players so if someone is good enough then they will play end of - Skrtel and Lovren i for one am happy are playing - i'd like to stick with a back 4 for a good 10 games if possible and let them gel

10 Aug 2015 09:33:10
Sorry Jerrin, Skrtel did not play very well at all, almost sold Mingolet into trouble on several occaisions. Skrtel continues to be the problem at CB for us.

10 Aug 2015 09:40:04
Cialbray

I am sorry mate, But the Eds get a lot of inside information on the players and stuffs. Its your call either you trust them or not.

10 Aug 2015 10:43:10
Even when we bought him Illori was rated very highly and i've read a few of the Eds comments rating him. I've actually never been a skrts basher, i thought he's just about managed it. But i do want to see illori and sahko partnership. Especially if the coaching staff could give Sahko a right foot ;) Lallana is not a winger, Gomes pushes up and he has no one infront of him as lallana has drifted in and sometimes he's even near ibe. he's a CAM but no way is he better than Coutinho. i'd like to see a 433, usual defence unless the shako-illori partnership comes out! Can partnered with Hendo or Lucas, coutinho playing a little higher. then RF left. JI on the right and big benzilla up the middle. Get the team used to the formation. Think we could do well.

10 Aug 2015 12:06:55
Anyone who thinks sakho is better than skrtel must not watch games sakho is a accident waiting to happen a one footed defender who needs a couple of touches to control the ball, remember that he came back into the defence last game last season, hope he leaves just look at Llori instant control miles better

10 Aug 2015 00:36:30
All the negatives from today seem to come back to the manager, sorry to be a downer but its true.

Formation, team selection and style of play still need addressing after yet another summer. He better fix these issues quickly before our run of hellish away games, or we'll get pummeled and he'll be gone by christmas.

Not an over reaction, i'm not calling for his head just yet, i just remember seeing similar patterns in the first game of last season to this one, back when everybody thought it would all
work itself out, and we all know what happened there. We really need to kick on in thenext two games.

10 Aug 2015 00:08:14
One of the main things I noticed today was our organisation at the back. And who was doing all the organising. Lovren. Hats off fair play to him. He finally looked like the player we spent a lot of money on today.
Here's hoping it continues.

09 Aug 2015 23:17:50
I thought it was funny that Glen Johnson had the nerve to say we are no better off than when he left. To me the moment he left was the moment we were better.
Gotta say he worried me and then kicked a horrid pass like 4 times in a row. I breathed such a sigh of relief seeing him in stoke colors.

09 Aug 2015 17:51:07
Edd001 have you watched the game man? Looks similar to last season poor and disjointed and coutinho saving the day. I hope Kovacic interest is still there. We are majorly lacking any craft in the middle with milner and henderson

{Ed001's Note - it was very poor, but it was the first competitive game of the season, it takes a while for players to get going, so hopefully this was all it was. Both sides were just as bad.}

10 Aug 2015 06:27:28
Kovacic ll have to sit on the bench. The problem is BR giving playing and position assurance to people will come back and bite us.