Liverpool Banter Archive August 18 2015

18 Aug 2015 20:16:24
Ed 01, can we tell yet how much influence o driscoll will have on br

{Ed001's Note - he has certainly influenced the set pieces, both defensively and offensive ones. He was also providing clear advice on subs. I think there are a lot of signs that O'Driscoll is having an effect.}

18 Aug 2015 21:30:23
I liked the thoughts with the set pieces but it annoyed me we didn't cross occasionally. I would rather save some for other games and actually try and hit benteke a bit more

18 Aug 2015 21:46:48
We have t got a player than can put a decent ball into the box!

18 Aug 2015 22:22:16
was that milner special one of O'Driscoll's? :)

18 Aug 2015 22:55:53
That's a positive end to today!
Good to here it, here's hoping that continues.

19 Aug 2015 07:19:53
Ron Keane? As famous as Hansen's? I will happily bet you a £1000 Swansea will not get top four football in the next decade. Another fan who dwells on early season glimmers, whilst attempting to be shrewd with their predictions. Swansea are playing well, but hardly reflective of top 4.

{Ed001's Note - I think you have replied to the wrong thread, but I also think this season Swansea have a chance of top four. Probably the best chance they are going to get, but it would require a lot of luck in avoiding injuries. They are better placed than Spurs, as of now, to challenge for the top four, though I expect Spurs to bring in a couple of players and change that. Swansea have a team good enough, though Taylor, their left back, is a glaring weak spot, they just don't have much in the way of back up. Injuries and suspension will cost them dear this season, but if they can avoid those, then they are a major threat to the top four places.}

19 Aug 2015 09:18:33
Taylor at least makes an effort which is not what can be said of Naughton though, is it Ed001. Naughton has got to be one of the poorest full backs in the PL.

{Ed001's Note - he does try, he is just not very good. You are right, I should have included him as a weakness, but I couldn't remember who their other full back was when I was typing it. The advantage they have is that their attackers get at the opponent down the flank, so their fullbacks tend to get a lot of protection from that.}

19 Aug 2015 10:33:48
Fencey maybe they've decided to use a lot of them in early season so as to to keep everyone guessing later on. That way they could potentially leave some gaps in their defending of set pieces against us, which we could then exploit. Last year we were too predictable from set pieces and that is never a good thing. I'm only guessing though.

18 Aug 2015 19:26:16
I have a question for the the few people who aren't keen on Lucas.

Let's assume for a minute that Lucas isn't all that good and doesn't do anything special. This is wrong, imo, but let's assume. Jordan Henderson played at DM against Bournemouth instead of Lucas yesterday. What did he do from open play that Lucas isn't capable of doing?

Cos apart from set pieces (he doesn't need to play DM to take corners) I saw nothing from Henderson that Lucas can't do. He basically did no defending, because after the 10th minute he didn't really need to. Most of his passes were backwards or sideways. He didn't drive forward with the ball. So all in all, he was restricted to staying deep and passing it around the back.

So what was the point in having Henderson at DM? He didn't do a bad job at all, but by my reckoning, Lucas would've done at least as well if not better. Meantime, Milner and Lallana were further forward and didn't effect the game in anything like the way Henderson would have had he been in their position. I actually think that part of the reason Hendo played most of his passes backwards or sideways is because no one else was showing for the ball in the way that he would have had been playing in Milner or Lallana's position.

When Can came on he made one 40 yard run with the ball, but otherwise it was the same thing. He just did Lucas' job slightly worse than Lucas would have done it himself. Everything about Can's play screams that he's an attack minded player to me, and I don't think he'll ever be completely comfortable at DM, so why not let him develop in his more natural role?

Now if we take into account that Lucas anticipates danger better than both Can & Hendo, then leaving him out and effectively wasting Hendo or Can in a DM role instead is the height of madness, even if you don't really rate Lucas. I'm hoping that Arsenal don't give us a painful demonstration of that fact.

18 Aug 2015 19:53:52
1.It's a straight case of Manager falling out with a player mate and they ain't a new thing. But every time a manger fall out with a player he has a reason , Unfortunately we have no reason known so far.

2. BR has promised players game time and positions to certain players. To achieve this stats, he ll have drop / out of positions players.

I am not a fan of any player and all matter is position and we need a genuine player to stop the opposition coming to us. And ATM its Lucas.

18 Aug 2015 20:21:42
I posted a reply on the banter page Something.

18 Aug 2015 20:50:46
My thoughts exactly something red, its really not rocket science. Lucas is probably the most comfortable passer under pressure we have at the club and most accurate. The only criticism you can aim at him is his injuries but assuming he will be fit for 50% of the season Can can learn the role in the other games. Its all a pipe dream however, were getting rid of one of the best footballers at the club and its no surprise teams like Juve and PSG are interested in him.

18 Aug 2015 21:03:56
I think it is well documented that BR is a numbskull where Lucas is concerned. Him along with Sakho saved us big time last season and their rewards were to be immediately replaced by Allan and Lovren when they got fit. the likes of Henderson, Allan, Lovren can have numerous bad, ineffective, below average )or what ever you want to call it) games but will still feature for a run of games. God forbid Lucas, Markovic or Sakho has one of those, we won't even see them for at least 4 weeks apart from training pictures.

18 Aug 2015 22:04:58
I'm not a huge fan of Lucas but I agree he's the best DM we've got.
What did Henderson and Can do that Lucas doesn't? Nothing
They also didn't give away very dangerous free kicks around the box

18 Aug 2015 22:10:29
We stockpiled on midfielders and bought milner who is actually a winger and promised him gametime in midfield. When he does the exact same job as hendo in the middle. but you can't mention milner was unnecassary because peopke will say milner brings experience. Sometimes i just can't get my head around it.

18 Aug 2015 22:11:52
To argue the other side Something I disagree with some of your conclusions. Lucas is certainly better than breaking up play but he doesn't have Hendo's range of passing, vision, or ability on the ball. Just because Hendo hasn't been great in that position yet doesn't mean that he hasn't got the potential to positively effect the game more than Lucas.

As for the falling out thing EG I'm not convinced it's even that. Rodgers wants Lucas to be a squad player, they'll be times this season when he will want to use him, but Lucas, completely understandably, wants more than that. Rodgers will have told him that if a sensible offer comes in he can have his wish.

18 Aug 2015 22:18:22
SR,
During Liverpool's brilliant run after Xmas in 2013/14, Lucas did not start (m)any League games at all.
Rodgers went with the deep lying playmaker.
That still seems to be the ambition, and that was the role that Henderson was tasked with. Not defensive midfielder.
If Liverpool could have afforded Kovacic, there wouldn't be any of this.

By the way, Sakho only played in 18 League games during that season too.

18 Aug 2015 22:37:23
Hyach, spot on! I have posted the ver same parts of your post a few tomes already. The man is just vindictive and cruel for no reason. He doesn't fancy Lucas as a player but can't make a case for him not playing because his replacements are nog in his class as a DM so, he makes all this stuff up and engages in fake bust ups to make him and Sahko look bad. That is just cowardly and wrong.

18 Aug 2015 23:10:13
So let me get this right.

You say regarding Hendo:
He basically did no defending, because after the 10th minute he didn't really need to.

Yet, you still think we should've played Lucas??

What!?!?!??!? . Shaking head.

19 Aug 2015 00:27:51
If we're going to consistently change for titles, we need to do better than Lucas. Same goes for Skrtle and Lallana

19 Aug 2015 00:28:29
redohio did u learn engleesh bi washing allo allo. i shell post dis onlee oonce

19 Aug 2015 07:59:50
Im not a massive Lucas fan anymore,

Agree with everyone on Lallana - Weirdly I think going forward he slows everything down and haven't seen him make that killer pass just yet although not sure if any seen against Bournemouth when he did swap into one of the 3 in midfield with milner and Can i thought he was 10 times better getting back and defending making really good tackles and playing the ball out really calmly - i'm not saying this is his position but if you didn't notice just have a look back through the highlights he really done a good job once hendo came off

19 Aug 2015 09:23:05
If we are going to consistently challenge for the tittle, first thing we need to do is do better than Rodgers.

19 Aug 2015 11:06:32
Rodgers just has his mind set on the way he wants the team set up. He doesn't want a defensive midfielder, but a deep lying playmaker who can play the ball long. Lucas isn't that type of player. He is an intelligent player who breaks up play brilliantly and initiates attacks with fast, precise, low balls.

Same with our centerbacks. He wants a deep defense and doesn't seem to care much for employing the offside trap, otherwise Skrtel would never play. We have a complete team for a high press, bar the offensive sweeper keeper, but that is not his style.

I believe he'll destroy every single player at the club to make his dream system a reality. Hendo has the potential to be the best box to box player ever (I'm perhaps a bit biased). He definitely has all the required attributes. This should be probably be left for the conspiracy page, but I doubt Hendo was taken off because he was injured. He seemed livid to be taken off and anyone who can lip read saw the "Yeah right" reply to Rodgers. Brendan never liked him and if true we'll continue to see him exposed in a position alien to him until he's pushed out. Along with Sakho, Lucas, Ilori and everyone else who's better suited to the high press.

18 Aug 2015 19:07:48
No one will agree with me on this one, but I think one possible solutions to our midfield problems can actually and paradoxically be adding another striker near, or even in front of Benteke, Ings for example. Benteke is strong enough and have good enough control of the ball to head or pass balls in the last third but at the moment there is no one to do anything with them.

Adding someone like Ings will make the opposition thinking and dividing defenders between him Benteke an Coutinhou and they may think twice before they commit defenders to their forward game.

And it will make us play more around the box, yes even high balls, rather than trying to pass players in unsucessful dribbling again and again in midfield.

I know, if Ings come in someone from our midfield which already isn't functioning well has to sit on the bench, but I think that the contribution of Ibe an Lallana was marginal anyway so far. You have to try something different. Just a thought.

18 Aug 2015 20:23:12
Reply on the banter page fanobip.

18 Aug 2015 20:54:42
Which is why Firmino will play as second striker.

19 Aug 2015 08:02:12
Ive been really surprised by how many balls bent eke wins in the air - Probably never noticed it that much when at Villa but the amount of flick ons he gets is unbelievable - Put Sturridge, Ings, or Firmino alongside him and we will look very dangerous going forward.

I would like to see wings get a chance soon - I have a feeling he's going to be great for some reason

18 Aug 2015 18:41:43
Do people expect Sturridge to play up top with Benteke when he returns or out on the wing?

I'd like to see them both playing off each other as think there styles would compliment each other. Studge loves to run in behind and would feed off any flick ons that Benteke would no doubt win.

Think that though means either Coutinho or Firmino as all four may be a bit of overkill attacking wise.

I'd actually like to see us play 3-5-2 with Clyne, Moreno as wing backs, move Gomez centrally and then a trio of Henderson, Milner and Coutinho/Firmino in midfield.

Granted this may stifle Ibe though.

Thoughts/comments/outright abuse welcome

18 Aug 2015 19:35:46
Ed01 says BR has NEVER fancied playing 2 up even if he did it w/ LS and Studge. There were even times where LS played out wide esp in the Arsenal game where we rocked them for 5. I hope he does tho.

18 Aug 2015 19:45:01
To be honest I don't see Sturridge being fit for any length of time, and I think the club think likewise hence signing the players they have!

18 Aug 2015 21:33:54
Benteke middle sturridge and firmino off him right and left, coutinho number 10.

18 Aug 2015 23:13:08
I don't really care because it's going to be awesome!!

19 Aug 2015 09:27:29
Sturridge is not going to play out wide. He disagreed to playing wide when Suarez was here, what makes anyone think he will agree to it now?

A diamond with Benteke and Sturridge is the way forward. First, we need him to get fit though. And then, to stay fit.

18 Aug 2015 17:42:46
This is how i would like us to set up.
Since it became clear that Brendan is intent on using this formation, I've been wondering how we could maintain a similar shape and fit Lucas (or Can) into the team. Here's what I came up with.

I think given the last two games Lallana who I rate hasn't been at his best and that's who I would drop for Lucas.

I'd then ask Henderson to play in that inside right midfield role he's played before to great effect.

This will give him that license to roam if you like that term and move him ten or fifteen yards closer to goal. he can drop in alongside Lucas and Milner when we've lost the ball too making up a three in the middle.

I like Henderson playing anywhere but Lucas could do that job better and Henderson would be much more effective in that role than sitting deep.

This shouldn't mean Brendan ripping up the blueprint, we won't lose any attacking impetus and Lucas will shore up the midfield. It's very hard to stamp your authority on a game in which the central midfielders are struggling.

18 Aug 2015 19:20:37
My team for Arsenal would actually be a 5 at the back, with Can, Skrtel and Lovren as the centre backs. Clyne and Moreno work well as full backs, so throw them in for that job. Then I would have Milner holding, with Coutinho and Firminho just in front. Benteke would be joined in attack by Ings or Origi. It would throw Wenger off a bit and will be a team that is hard to score against.

18 Aug 2015 20:00:40
Pile driver

Can is not a defender by any means

If you persist with 3 at the back against Sanchez and Walcott we are in big trouble on the flanks

When you play with 3 CB, you need a world class passing player in your holding role as good as Gerrard or Pirlo. That's not Milner.

18 Aug 2015 15:43:00
Petition to change site name to Liverpool-whinging.co.uk?

Could have pages titled "Have we signed everyone available yet?" and "back in my day, Liverpool tickets were free and every game was a champions league final"

18 Aug 2015 17:07:20
At this rate the next 36 games ain't any lesser than cup finals.

18 Aug 2015 17:18:08
Harry

Your obsesseion with Kovacic is reaching dangerous levels imo. I wouldn't be suprised if i read the headline " man breaks into kovacic house to have an autograph ". 😂 .
I wonder if ed001 has still plans to expose you.

18 Aug 2015 17:39:10
Made me think ov the scene in Ted2 there reet. Harry as Mark whalberg

18 Aug 2015 17:41:13
Real Madrid page ??
Well I had one big on my wall. oh my boy. Mateo my boy.,

18 Aug 2015 17:49:50
Harry you're more obsessed with Kovacic than I am with Brendan

18 Aug 2015 17:54:55
Ron,

Well mate, I have reason and it's his pure quality, what about you lols 😄😄😄

18 Aug 2015 19:28:54
I'm pure quality too H

18 Aug 2015 14:23:46
Two games, two wins flatters to decieve.
I was very, very impressed with Bournemouth last night and I'm extremely impressed by their manager.
However, I'm getting that same deja vous feeling about our football that I've had for a while now.
We are better defensively but still lack that cohesion going forward which was a problem last season.
Bournemouth won last night 1-0 but poor refereeing has papered over the cracks and at some point (probably next Monday) we'll be reminded why Rodgers isn't the right man for the job.
I genuinely wish Bournemouth all the best for this season and predict a very bright future for Eddie Howe. Good football, no ego and talks sense.

18 Aug 2015 14:52:46
Spot on Pete!

18 Aug 2015 15:06:26
Excellent post,agree totally

18 Aug 2015 15:30:39
Bournemouth are a good footballing side and should finish above Liverpool this year once some decisions actually go in their favour.

18 Aug 2015 15:33:54
Ok so what if we DO beat the Gooners on Monday? Haa

18 Aug 2015 15:58:21
Posted the exact same thing after the game. It was painful to watch how Bournmouth ran rings around us not because they had better player BUT because they had a plan and we did not.

18 Aug 2015 16:17:56
I take it muok is a united fan.

I wouldn't get to carried away with your team pal there no better than us.

18 Aug 2015 16:19:56
When other teams play badly and win its the mark of champions etc when we play badly and win its the end of the world?

18 Aug 2015 16:35:01
Bournemouth will probably finish above Man Utd (mu) but they won't finish above Liverpool.

Ok, mu ok?

18 Aug 2015 14:05:02
I'm going to wait until after the team sheet next Monday for judgement because if he goes to arsenal with Milner and Henderson deep we really are screwed the two of these need to play with can/Lucas behind as has been said regularly here but at home against Bournemouth and at home in general I don't mind dropping can/Lucas for one of the more attacking Ibe/lalanna/firmino as I feel it should allow us to play more on the front foot as we should be. I just think Henderson and Milner need to do better when playing these roles. They haven't been atrocious but it does need work and hopefully they will improve as I believe they do have the attributes in games where we should be on top to do this.

On paper if this does work out and again it will take time with just one change from week to week as needed we should be able to go from a much more solid team to a more threatening side. On paper sounds great to me Chelsea do this under mourinho superbly.

Obviously as I said I'm reserving judgment because if Rodgers does go to arsenal with the two just playing then we could be laid to the slaughter and I will be getting and closer and closer to standing next to Mr. Waro ;)

However for the moment 6 points from 6 just have to be happy with that for the moment I guess!

18 Aug 2015 14:20:41
Milner best position is to continue play where he played for City. On the wings. He scored and assisted. Y do you change something which was successful?
He is a hard worker and would provide stablity on the flanks along with Moreno. No brainer to me.

18 Aug 2015 14:44:07
Shane, they don't work together do they! But here's yet another example of the managers incompetence, he makes Henderson captain ( can't really drops your captain unless he's continually awful ) he promises milner game time centrally to make sure he signed ( so again, he won't be dropped unless he's continually awful.) So now watch him persist with them two until results start to go against us when he will then put Henderson out wide, there's one of the many reasons this snake oil salesman shouldn't be anywhere near our club any longer.

18 Aug 2015 14:49:09
Yes Harry we know very well your opinions as they're on every single post here.

18 Aug 2015 15:36:28
Man to man we should dominate arsenal's midfield if we set up properly. Coquelin will be chasing coutinho's shadow and ramsey/cazorla/oxlade are hardly defensively strong.

18 Aug 2015 16:11:15
Thanks Shane, you are very sweet.

18 Aug 2015 18:09:34
Neither are we in midfield with no true DM, Forza.

18 Aug 2015 20:50:54
Same team take out Lallana for Lucas

18 Aug 2015 21:48:55
At the moment yes waro completely agree but do you think that both of these players do not have the qualities to play this position well in games where we should dominate possession? I do but perhaps we disagree. Against teams like arsenal and in general away from home and in the big gams where we will not have a lot of the ball I completely agree we need more balance in the middle which bringing in can/Lucas for one of the offensive players would provide.

Realistically in games where we should have a lot of the ball Milner and Henderson should be able to start attacks as they are both good passers and they should be able to learn that if one pushes on the other drops in and visa versa. We wouldn't get away with it against top quality but should give us more creativity in dangerous areas against lesser sides which is something we've continuously struggled with for a good few Yeats now bar two years ago obviously.

18 Aug 2015 13:38:00
Milner Henderson do not work. They are not creative enough, a agile skilful midfield would run rings round them.
Kovacic off to Madrid, should of been with us. Too let now.

Unless firmino turns out to be a 15 goal a season guy, we are in trouble. Lallana is a show pony and he'd be one I would get rid of immediately. Seriously if I was playing against him i'd let him do a twirl or two then follow him into the corner and watch him play the ball out.

On the plus side benteke is a beast, coutinho is world class. And although he loves the club, Brendan's schoolboy tactics may force him to leave to a bigger club.

I honestly believe many managers would put in a title challenge with our current squad. Let's hope Rodgers flukes a season and we finish top 3

18 Aug 2015 13:59:24
We started two seasons ago with three 1-0 wins. We were poor in all of them. That year two we started with two teams but had a big game in the third week against Manchester United. See the coincidence? Ok. Now forget about it. We need to up our game against arsenal 😉

18 Aug 2015 14:15:58
We are not going to buy any more players, So we have to use what we have with us. Play Henderson alongside Lucas and that's our Midfield IMO. Play Milner and Firmino either side of Countinho behind Benteke.
I doubt Milner would agree to that role which he was playing at city anyways.
Lets see What BR does against Arsenal.

18 Aug 2015 14:19:15
The problem is not that we don´t have creative midfielders, but that we don´t play to the players strengths. Look at Henderson and Milner, both are machines and will run til their legs falls off, which for instance could be a nice trait to have if we pressed collectively. Instead BR says that both may share some defensive duties, hence they can´t both press at the same time. When a single player presses the ballholder it´s easy for him just to pass the ball on, and a press is "wasted".

Appoint the defensive duties that Henderson and Milner shares to a holding midfielder, and you´ll get the best out of our midfield. You would have to take a player from another position to make this happen, but as we´ve seen the last couple of matches Lallana and Ibe haven´t had that much of an impact on the game. The main thing is that we start to press collectively again (and counter attack), because it´s much more efficient and it will suit our players a lot more than possesion based footy.

18 Aug 2015 15:35:11
Coutinho is good but he is not even close to world class!

18 Aug 2015 18:14:21
We already have a DM ready to lay his career on the line for us everytime he plays YET the Guru himself, wants shot of him so he can prove a stupid point just as he spent the whole of last season doing which almost cost him the sack. Well, if he plays that way vs the Arse, then Bournmouth will be nothing compared to what they will do to us

18 Aug 2015 12:12:28
What do you guys think about Mohammed Cissoko at Newcastle as a holding midfielder. He's got strength, energy, can run up and down like hendo and can score goals from midfield.

Just putting it out there as I think he would suit our system.

{Ed001's Note - he is not a holding midfielder, quite the opposite, he is an attacking one.}

18 Aug 2015 12:34:04
Regardless of Lucas departure, We ain't bringing another Midfielder. So Y not play him then?. what's the Eggo holding up? I am not a heavyweight fan of Lucas and have my reservations for the player, But he is a must in normal world. We need to be more ruthless and agressive in the middle and Lucas would help Henderson to perform.

18 Aug 2015 16:46:51
You spend half the summer telling us all that LFC need to buy Kovacic, Illaramendi and Schneiderlin, and now you realize LFC aren't going to buy one?

If only you had thought for couple of seconds before sending in all those posts all summer, Harry.

18 Aug 2015 18:25:37
EG, BR is the one who is too stubborn to play a DM when every man, pundit, and his dog knows we need to so he hasn`t learnt a thing from last season`s debacles so your questions or concerns can ONLY be answered by BR

18 Aug 2015 11:47:15
Well despite some negativity i actually felt that last night was a positive performance in some respects.

Of course, if it weren't for decisions, we shouldn't have won. We didn't create enough clear chances and lovren conceded a stupid goal that should have been given. The team set up was still wrong, but what do you seriously expect anymore with milner, henderson and lallana all out of position and no firmino?

However, it was the first game in about a year where i felt we looked like our old selves. We pressed, we had intensity, we always went forward, we wanted it more. Even benteke, who i believed would be the end of all things if we signed him, looked really good and fitted straight in, playing very comfortably up front with excellent centre forward play.

It seemed as though while we didn't blow bournemouth away, every player really put a shift in and all of them wanted every loose ball more than bournemouth. We did also miss a fair few sitters so that could be taken into consideration as well. Overall a more positive shoiwng than i expected.

{Ed001's Note - when did we press? I didn't see a press.}

18 Aug 2015 12:06:00
Ed01, Are you ready for the new Podacst. lols

{Ed001's Note - nearly mate, though bit disappointed as Jason McAteer kind of stole my thunder last night a bit on one of the subjects I want to discuss. Still, lots of people won't have seen his comments so it was not a complete waste of my time trying to prepare some notes on it.}

18 Aug 2015 12:18:27
Second half we dropped far to deep. We were desperate for a Lucas type player to brake the play up and settle things down.

18 Aug 2015 13:51:34
I did see signs of a press throughout the match. By no means fantastic or anything but especially down the right hand side we pressed on a good few occasions causing us to win the ball back.

18 Aug 2015 14:00:59
I don't know what you would call it then ed it just seemed there was an intensity and sharpness to our game that we missed last season, just not in the goalscoring department. I would also mention that clyne looked bloody excellent.

{Ed001's Note - there was certainly not a press, intensity and a couple of players harrying the opposition is a completely different thing from a press mate. It was an improved performance, but it was not that because of the press. Clyne did do well, but Gradel is a bit average, in my opinion, and he wasn't tested at all against Stoke, so his first real test is Arsenal. Fingers crossed he plays just as well when it is Alexis Sanchez he has to deal with.}

18 Aug 2015 18:32:41
If you want to see the press, go watch barca because EVERYONE does it when they lose the ball because they play a high line hence, the press starts from the back line up. Last night, a few players did it while the rest dropped deep. that is not a press. i disagree on the improved perf bit, Ed. We were outplayed for decent spells of the game because we had no one to put a foot on the ball in midfield hence, just watched Bournmouth play around us even tho, mingo had no true save to make and Boruc only had one. All in all, our probs are still there and come Mon, we will see what happens

18 Aug 2015 10:58:25
More points than I was expecting from the first two fixtures, ill leave my summary at that.

On a different note, looked like we used all out training ground set plays up! Effective or not glad to see each set play had a "plan", too many times last season it just looked like players were going through the motions on corners and free kicks.

18 Aug 2015 15:46:54
Yes our set pieces last year were probably the worst in the football league so its nice to see some invention. If we keep working hard at it, it will come good so it should be a valuable outlet towards getting goals this season.

18 Aug 2015 10:54:14
3 points!!! Woohoo

I thought benteke was great last night. His touches to bring Ibe and coutinho into play were good as were his knockdowns from mignolet's kicks. Could have easily scored a hattrick, he made a chest down in the box in the second half and the ball just got away from him. Plus in the last 20 minutes when we were under pressure, he brought the party tricks out. Happy for the big guy.

Mignolet again for me was indecisive about coming out or staying put. The disallowed goal, he was hesitating to come forward and was looking awkward. Then in the second half, for a corner where Tomlin got his head to it, mignolet was stranded.

The Moreno substitution looked really weird to me. But apart from the awful freekick, I thought he was superb. Running at defenders, getting back to defend, drawing fouls, he did them all. In fact within the first 1 minute when he came on, he had been budled out over the touch line, won a header and tackle and ran a little with the ball.

All in all, a little better than the stoke game but no where near to going-away-to-arsenal-winning performance.

18 Aug 2015 10:42:11
Well I gave Rodgers the benefit of the doubt after Stoke, thinking he went there purely to not get beaten, which was only to be expected after the 6-1 game, but last night goes to show, this clown has learnt absolutely nothing!

No pressing hard from the front putting the opposition under pressure, just the same pointless slow build up and passing for passings sake, and if anything it's worse because at times now were just lumping it up to Benteke!

We got lucky last night big time, and this is what we got away with in the middle third of last season when we went on a decent run, scraping wins when we didn't deserve it and ultimately we paid the price.

If this idiot persists with this sterile football were in for another s#&£e season, with the only bright spot being that Swiss Tony will be dispensed with and sent back to his natural environment selling used cars.

The nucleus of a decent team are there, but are being held back by this manager.

18 Aug 2015 11:01:59
I agree that I have no idea why we've dropped the "3/4 press" and seems like we are half baking the plan, if we are going to be more conservative why havr full backs half pushed up and midfielders floating. Commit to one or the other! Lovren being given a lot of help having a defensive lb, wonder what sakho will look like next to homez

18 Aug 2015 11:34:44
It definitely is a very cautious start and it does remind me of that time last season where we picked up "hard fought points". It is almost like he is backing our forward players to score regardless of the service to them and the oppositions and then setup to defend. The problems is, we rarely scored more than 1 or 2 last time when we played like this and it doesn't look like we will score many this season either. And as such, we are one defensive mistake or a good corner from the opposition, away from backfiring, and ending up with a draw or a defeat.

18 Aug 2015 12:35:21
I would say we have no choice but to drop the press as we have a severe lack of pace at CB
In a press everyone squeezes high up the pitch - a ball over the top and a dawdling keeper presents an easy chance.

18 Aug 2015 15:20:12
Warp,agree totally pal,but who come Watford and reading saw through him yet we still cant

18 Aug 2015 16:03:06
"Warp".

Lol, absolute classic!

18 Aug 2015 16:39:12
You gave him the benefit of the doubt after the Stoke match?
Hmmm must of missed that Warp.

18 Aug 2015 17:58:24
Look after the stoke game Ronald, did i make any comment about him or how he set the team up? NO! Hence as I have said I gave him the benefit of the doubt for the reasons stated above, but having watched a similar if not worse performance last night merely confirmed what I already knew, he's a clown with no clue about football or man management of players. You don't catch on very quickly Ronald do you son😕, come on think about it fella!

18 Aug 2015 18:53:26
Spot on, Waro! Don`t worry tho because his acolytes will be here trying to convince us that the shambles we are seeing is only a figment of our imagination instead of using their eyes and brains to draw rational conclusions after watching games.

18 Aug 2015 10:11:21
Moreno was excellent yesterday when he came on. I've been his biggest critic on here but fair play to him. Perhaps he can mould himself into a cracking little left winger. I'd certainly drop Lallana for him after last nights performance. Moreno on the left and Ibe on the right would give us genuine pace and width out wide. It allows Coutinho to stay more central. I can't wait for Firmino to settle in.

Can has to start for me now though if Henderson is injured. He worked well with Milner in the second half.

18 Aug 2015 10:28:28
Moreno is an offensive full back who has immense pace. he could reach the byline and cut inside, would provide width something which we lack.

If you have a proper DM. Moreno is a starter for me. We need to exploit the flanks and constantly jump up and down using our full backs and wide players. That gives space in the middle for countinho and henderson to push forward.

Its very easy when you see Cty plays this ssytem.

Swap Korolov for Moreno and Navas for Lallana.

Nailed it Adam.

18 Aug 2015 10:36:23
Personally, I thought Can was ineffective last night, giving the ball away and conceding too many free kicks. It seemed he came off the bench with some serious anger, wasn't his usual composed self

18 Aug 2015 10:39:41
Id rather have Moreno at left back than Gomez as he offers tremendous attacking intent but Moreno could do an excellent job on the wing. Riise did that job well too remember.

18 Aug 2015 11:36:44
I see no reason not to use Moreno as an auxiliary left winger at times, but I wouldn't make it a regular thing. At Arsenal next Monday, I would consider him there ahead of Ibe, who has so far struggled.

18 Aug 2015 11:37:52
Not on the wing per se but as part of a three man midfield with Can In the middle Milner on the right and Moreno on the left to offer protection to gomez

18 Aug 2015 12:06:50
I don't really ge the criticism of Lallana,he was forced into a midfield role,and asked to be almost everywhere. He got in the box constantly in dangerous positions,bailed gomez out a fair few times getting back. He was literally everywhere on the pitch. I feel any criticism from his performance last night isn't deserved. There were much much worse players on the pitch.
Moreno came on when Bournemouths legs had gone,they had no run left in them hence he simply ran past their defense with ease,they looked like they were running through mud.

Sure there may be better equipped central midfielders but in no way did Lallana disgrace himself with his performance.

18 Aug 2015 12:58:47
I'm with Bobatron here, I think Lallana's attacking role was limited due to the position he was having to play, more often than not he was in between the 2 cb's having to play it to Clyne or Gomez.
I think the problem lies in central midfield, with Milner to me not looking fully equipped for the DM role and Lallana having to drop back to try and add some solidity to the midfield, which looked rather light in a 2 without a natural DM, especially when under large amounts of pressure.

I do agree he has to offer more in attack and try and stay in front of coutinho to offer forward support but I think the criticism of his performance last night was harsh.

18 Aug 2015 16:40:28
Lallana is as effective as Joe Allen

18 Aug 2015 09:59:31
Just glad we won!!!!! My worry is who replaces Jordan now? I love big can but he is a bit away from being a holding mid. We need to play two up top at arsenal because I don't think we are scaring the opposition defence, as good as big ben has been. We need the diamond against arsenal. Just my opinion.

18 Aug 2015 11:17:11
I think Arsenal may have a few problems against us, especially with the battering ram Benteke and their glass defenders, one of which has the turning circle of a jumbo jet.

It's a game in which Coutinho should have a field day, especially if they don't play that defensive midfielder, Cucumber or something, I can't spell his name >_>

18 Aug 2015 12:40:53
big stu
If we play 2 up top against any top class side we will get mullered
Our pressing game has gone which means more time on the ball for the opposition and easier to play around what I imagined would be a 2-man centre midfield.
The way forward is 4-2-3-1 but that obviously had implications for several forward-thinking players
Preferred 2 seems to be Hendo and Milner, back up being Can and Allen
3 would be Coutinho in behind, with Ibe one side and Firmino other?
That leaves:
Lallana
Markovic
Ings
Sturridge
Origi

18 Aug 2015 09:45:59
Yeah i know the performance was bad last night. Lots of problems still persist but imo there were some improvements from last week. Looking on the positive side of things
Clyne looked fantastic.
So did Gomez. Some people are going to blurt on about him not doing anything forward but for me a defenders primary job is to defend and he has been doing it well.
Benteke really showed promise last night. Chasing lost balls and pressing. I thought the attack was much better than last week. But the center back pairing showed frailties. What i would give to have Sakho back. Mignolet was in no man's land on a couple of occasions but had little else to do for me. Coutinho he is wasted out wide. Needs to play centrally. Bentekr amd Him are showing encouaging signs. Lallana needs to be dropped for me. Though firmino didn't inspire last night. Hopefully he'll get better.
One last thought I thought Moreno looked good last night.Might be a controversial thought but i wouldn't mind seeing him in midfield left of a 3 if hendos injured. He could provide cover to Gomez against the likes of Sanchez Ozil and Chamberlaim if he plays.

18 Aug 2015 08:55:12
Ok so here's my take on things so far. Stoke away. A completely different attitude and performance than a few weeks previous. A few teething problems but on the whole good debuts for our new guys and a worldie from Couts for a hard earned 3 pts.
Bournemouth home.
We were on a hiding to nothing last night. Win and hey that's what was expected but lose and its a meltdown. There were plenty of positives from our performance and plenty of negatives. I just rewatched the match again by the way. We actually created a lot more chances than I first realised watchng live by the way.
I can see O'Driscolls influence already in defensive patterns and even timing of the substitution of Moreno.
I also liked the variety of the attacking play. Granted it didn't come off every time but the signs were there and match sharpness and team cohesiveness will come. Even the free kick which Milner skyed was a change and nice to see. I wonder if Gary Mc had an influence on that one lol.
Gary Neville hit the nail on the head last night. Its a massive 6 points for Liverpool. We go now to the Emirates where even when we're flying we rarely get anything there. The pressures off for this one.
Who knows it might just let the player's relax a bit more and make that final pass etc.
We can all find positives and negatives in every performance but honestly this early in the season with new players bedding in, different fitness levels and new coaching staff to boot I'll take maximum points every time over performance.

18 Aug 2015 08:29:07
Last night we got the win and the three points that's the main thing, yes we got some luck but over a season that's always going to be the case. There will be time where we are at the other end of the decisions.

The performance wasn't great, we all know that but there were positives, benteke went after everything and was a menace. Gomez seems to have an excellent reading of the game, would love to see him in his natural position. Couts speaks for himself!. However lallana struggled for me, but firmino will replace him when he is match fit. It will be interesting to see how the squad shapes up with Sturridge back.

18 Aug 2015 07:45:22
It's the start of the season with new players, system and coaches.

2 games
2 clean sheets
2 wins
6 maximum points

It's not been smooth but problems are losing and not being able to keep clean sheets when struggling to find form. Falling points behind teams and having to chase.

It's not been great, amazing, fantastic etc. but really moaners it's not that bad a situation.

18 Aug 2015 10:00:52
You've hit the nail on the head Max if we'd have lost both games there would be uproar on here,yep were not playing great but let's wait till Sunday and see how we go could be 3 games 9 points 😉

18 Aug 2015 07:30:09
I just don't get the negativity. Results are everything, whether it's 6-4 or 1-0 a win is 3 points.
I congratulate the team and the manager on the last 2 games. Rodgers has even said in his PC's the team is growing and performances will improve as we grow.
You cannot deny the last 2 summers have seen enormous change not just in playing staff. If we can find a way to get 3 points whilst the team is growing then I'm happy.
Performances will get better especially as Firmino gets match fit. For now I'll take results over performance. Come on you Reds!

18 Aug 2015 07:41:47
Last summer was on the whole a complete disaster. So I'm not sure how you can take many positives from that.

Results are indeed all important at this stage but let's have a little context. We needed a worldie to beat a second string Stoke defence and with a different set of officials we probably would have lost tonight.

Hold your praise for next Monday. That's the test of this team.

18 Aug 2015 07:54:13
"Results are everything" - right, so you'll agree then that when we finished out the top 4 last season and lost 6-1 against Stoke, it wasn't good enough and the buck stopped with the manager. But hey, that's history in your book. So let's hold you to your word then, when we start playing tougher competition than Stoke and Bournemouth and we lose, maybe then you'll drop your holier-than-thou "I'm a better fan than you" mentality and admit you were wrong and that Rodgers isn't a good enough manager for our club.

18 Aug 2015 07:57:33
I think it's more to do with the majorly unbalanced side . And too many like for like in the side . Milner Henderson can . Even lallana . One paced midfield and no stretching of play . One up top last nite . Bmouth travelled 500 miles and looked the home side . We definitely are crying out for quick ball from deep and a player who can do it . When u havint got pace in the side u need quicker ball. Play like we did last nite at the emirates and we will be like lambs . But the 6 points are nice

18 Aug 2015 07:59:16
"Rodgers even said" oh my.

He was saying similer all last season

What else would he say? Yeah we were really bad weren't we, can't see us getting much better as I will stick with the wrong players in wrong places because I haven't got a clue as to what is best for the team!

18 Aug 2015 08:23:10
What does it matter what any of us think about Rodgers? We can bitch and moan or praise and encourage until our fingers drop off but at the end of the day, the only ones making the decisions are Werner and Gordon.

So I still don't get the negativity. You will never quote me saying last season was good enough, not once. Yet you seem to think I did. There is a difference between thinking it was good enough and thinking the manager has to go. I've always thought last season results were poor but had faith the manager would turn it around. That's where we differ, but ultimately our opinion doesn't count when it comes to hiring and firing.

18 Aug 2015 08:48:06
So you don't see a problem with being dominated and outplayed by newly promoted Bournemouth then Ron?! It was very difficult to see which side had spent 300 but on balance I'll go with Bournmouth. And that's down to the manager and how he sets the team up

18 Aug 2015 09:10:30
The negativity is because most of us Ron have no belief that Brendan Rodgers is the man to take us forward. In fact a lot of us think he will take us backwards. Sure, our opinions won't have much influence but we're still entitled to be negative when we have a wally as a manager who we don't have faith in.

18 Aug 2015 09:26:33
The weakness for me is Lallana, he is too slow to play wide, but not good enough to shift Coutinho from the middle. Also playing Lallana wide in a 4,2,3,1 means Hendo and Milner are limited in being able to burst forward from midfield. The system doesn't suit our players, but it appears Rodgers prefers it as we played it at the start of last season and the majority of pre season. Personally I feel we need to play with a midfield diamond. Can as the anchor (as I think Lucks is gone), Hendo and Milner both with license to get forward and Coutinho at the tip behind Benteke and Firmino. That gives protection to the back 4 (Lovren and Sahko, ideally), midfield support to the forward line and some pace and creativity moving in the final third.
With the current system it is too easy to defend against and leaves Benteke isolated due to limited midfield runs and poor wide play

18 Aug 2015 09:27:42
Agree with Ron Keague - Don't see what all the negativity is about,

Have Chelsea played well yet? They've played poor and haven't got results,

Have UTD played well yet - They've got the points

Have Arsenal played well yet? - They've got 3 from 6

Man City always start well everyone knows that, Nobody comes flying out the block - We have held 2 clean sheets with the least amount of shots against Migs in 2 games - That is an improvement - When we finished 2nd in the league we scraped 2 1-0 wins in both our first games - The bottom line is we've played twice and have 6 points out of 6 - Forget everything else we have 6 points, there is no way we could of got any more points regardless of how we've played so everyone just chill

18 Aug 2015 09:29:32
Also just to add we do still have sturridge to come back into the frame,

Migs,
Clyne,Skrtel,Lovren,Gomez
Can
Milner, Henderson
Coutinho
Benteke, Sturridge

With Ibe, Firmino, Lallana and Ings on the bench to choose from - I am very very optimistic about our chances this season

18 Aug 2015 10:17:21
Difference is cialbray is we finished bad last season and haven't looked to rectify any of that. We'll see how things go when we play tougher competition but personally I don't have any faith in the manager, his signings or his tactics.

18 Aug 2015 11:54:06
Ron i'm sorry but:

1. Rodgers has told us the team is growing, so nobody panic its all okay, rodgers said so

2. The last two summers have seen enourmous change and that's an excuse! Rodgers is the one who advocated such change, he can't help but mess around and spend money!

18 Aug 2015 07:12:25
Form after 2 games of top 7 teams of last season.
Chelsea- Dreadful and dreadful
Man City- Good and Excellent
Arsenal- Dreadful and dreadful
Man Utd- Dreadful and Average
Spurs- average and dreadful
Liverpool- Dreadful and Dreadful
Shmptn-Dreadful and most dreadful.
So performance wise we are right there with everyone else (except Man city).
Points wise we are better than most.
So not all gloomy then. I am perfectly happy if dreadful equals to 3 points for the time being.We are not going to remain dreadful as there is too much quality.
Issues and problems will always be there and they will always give reasons for people to complain. The idea is to support your team through thick and thin.

{Ed001's Note - I thought Arsenal were ok against Palace. As for the last bit, it is a pathetic and idiotic comment, if you don't want to discuss what went wrong and what went right then stay off the net. Support does not mean seeing only the positives, nor does it mean blind faith. These are people we are talking about, they make mistakes too, and those mistakes need to be pointed out so that they can be learnt from. Hiding away from them just helps nothing. It was Shankly's mistakes, in being too loyal to players, that Paisley learnt from and took us to European domination. People like you would have us still supporting Hodgson and his crap football, just because he was the manager.}

18 Aug 2015 07:43:25
Agree with ED01, If you are not concerned what you have seen from two weeks, then either you are not a normal human being or you don't care at all.

18 Aug 2015 08:22:01
actually,i thought utd where poor against villa but villa where actually worse.arsenal played well against palace,selhurst park will bring a few big teams back down to earth with a bang

18 Aug 2015 08:53:09
agree with everything ed001 said.

18 Aug 2015 06:38:57
Having just condemned EG for being negative about everything he posts I'm going to be critical mostly about last nights performance.
We were poor again, I don't understand how BR can name an unchanged side, for me lovren was poor seemed to be full of mistakes, and same with lallana who just gave the ball away most of the game.
We need Sahko and now I believe we won't see him in red again for a reason nobody on this site can explain and that makes me absolutely gutted same goes for Illori.
Regardless of what people say we need to convincingly be winning games, I'm seeing a lot of people say I'd rather us win when we are poor then lose but play well, and well who wouldn't because it's points that matter but winning poor is down to lucky and let's be honest we were lucky to beat Bournemouth, we can't carry on being poor and winning, our luck will run out soon.
I don't want to write players off too quickly but after Firimino two twenty minute cameos I haven't seen him successfully dribble past one player I'm starting to get the feeling he will be an almost there player, hopefully it's just excitement and fitness.

Positively Bentekes is definitely more than just a lump up top, looks fast and good with his feet too, and points are points we are one of only four teams to maintain 100% so performance aside it looks good.
Was it 3 1-0s in a row when we came second?

18 Aug 2015 07:03:52

{Ed002's Note - I am also beginning to get tired of your constant bleating. Most Liverpool fans don't want any of the palyers at the club - near all spew their hate over Benteke. You are a CM away from being done forever on this site with you constant BS.}

18 Aug 2015 07:27:01
Seriously Harry what's with all the negativity. I mean it's just EVERYTHING lately.
"I'm struggling to find a single positive from tonight's performance".

Here's three.
Benteke
Clyne
3 points.

I could do more too.

18 Aug 2015 07:44:33
Sorry mate. Damm. I was pissed off by yesterday match. i take the blame.

18 Aug 2015 09:09:28
Well said eds and TjRed.

18 Aug 2015 09:34:03
A CM from a ban - oh my he wanted a DM or DLP instead lol

18 Aug 2015 09:38:45
Last night we had:
Clyne
Benteke
Milner
And to all intent and purposes Ibe
All in the starting line up.

That's over 33% of the team playing only their 2nd competitive match together.

Last season we struggled with results whilst trying to integrate new signings

This year we have 6 points

So. an improvement

18 Aug 2015 10:04:04
EG tell us the role of a CM again :p

18 Aug 2015 06:30:11
I see troubling times ahead, for all of the positiveness we have to see the facts for what they are, as soon as a team mark Coutinho out of the game we will be as sharp as a rolling pin. We will lump the ball up to Benteke who will have no-one to flick it onto. We have struggled to break down 2 of the lower echelon of teams in the Premier league. Hendo dropping in between the Centre halfs to pick the ball up didn't work for Gerrard last year so why would it be anything more than wasting forward options this year. Also to take a positive Ibe off and leave an ineffective Lallana on shows the tactical prowess we are dealing with yet again. We must play 2 up top to ease the pressure off Coutinho. A wonder strike and a fortuitous goal to gain 6 points does not fill me with confidence.

18 Aug 2015 03:28:37
Guys we all know the performance wasn't the greatest (understatement I kno), few points for those lamenting performances this early in season!
First few games are about trying to gel and get the new coaches ideas implemented and getting match sharpness for the long season ahead
Points are all that matter for the time being for me anyway
As an example Leicester are playing great football and have for a while from last season, who genuinely believes that they will still be up there come end of the season? Or conversely Chelsea? They have 1point from 2 games, does anyone believe they won't be up there come end of the season?
If after 10 games were still labouring and playing awful then yes I could understand any disgruntlement but please a bit of perspective? The season we finished 2nd and played great football, from my recollection we weren't pulling up many trees football wise til at earliest nov/dec, let's give the team some credit for conceding no goals and having 6 points on the board.
Bournemouth are a good footballing side who will surprise a few teams this season I believe. I also think can sometimes be the worst time to play promoted sides so early on in season, they have nothing to lose and don't have any fear driven into them from defeats a plenty.
I certainly know we won't win the league but this squad is capable of much better football and Rodgers needs this as much as we crave this.
Final point and probably as pertinent as any, would anyone else like myself take 1 nil every week playing awful but meant winning the league or qualifying for champs league or would you prefer amazing football but 5th place? There will be great performances this season. But more likely there will be more days at the office like this, as long as if and when it happens that as we have so far still come away with the points.
Sorry for the long post guys but just generally frustrated with some moans over performance so early in season, the naysayers may well be proven correct but at least let's keep an open mind, fingers crossed for rest of season and let's get behind the lads for a tricky cpl of months ahead, if we can negotiate these with a few positive results who knows what could happen, some positives to end on, still the best of firmino to come when integrated fully, steady start from benteke and Gomez to, Sturridge to come back, reasons to be optimistic fellas, let's roll the dice and see how we go!! 👍

18 Aug 2015 05:32:53
What exactly are you trying to say. Keep aside the performance, The man cannot pick a good first eleven in 3 good years with over 35 players bought in and 300 million spend. He is still playing players out of position.

Unless you don't pick your fist eleven and players in their natural positions, we wouldn't improve.

18 Aug 2015 06:11:44
What I'm trying to say Harry is that what's gone on In previous seasons isn't really relevant to this season and that bemoaning a performance so early on in the season just because were not blowing away teams with fast flowing football, doesn't mean that it won't or can't happen going forward and that we have 6 points from 2 games, can't have done more than that, wasn't to bad picking the side when we came second was he Harry? As I said the naysayers like yourself may well end up proven right but at least let's get behind the lads and let's give them a chance before we write them off, how do you kno that after 10 games we won't be playing great football and winning plenty of games? Truth is you don't Harry, because no matter what's happened, no one, certainly not you Harry can predict the future, if this is Rodgers last chance at things then he either learns or he doesn't, if he has we have a greT season, if he doesn't abd we continue being poor performance wise then hel no doubt pay the price abd rightfully so, let's give the players a chance to prove the likes of yourself wrong!!

18 Aug 2015 06:46:20
Scouse

He never picked the team two years ago. The team picked itself. Not a single substitution made any difference whole that season. It was plain and simple. Break the play and pass to Suarez.

From last two years he is trying to find that next Suarez. There is no game plan at all.

I ll give you two examples.

1. The bench which consist of 2 strikers? 99% there won't arise a situation in which you ll need to field 3 strikers on the pitch unless they could offer something different.

2. He has two left backs with him. Marcelo type and Ivanovic type. He chooses Ivanovic type yesterday but expect to do a job what Marcelo does.

Now regarding points.

We were over the moon last year with a record 10 clean sheets but in reality were utter poor in 8 of those and got lucky by wonder goals and exactly what we are this season.

I don't want another repeat mode mate.

18 Aug 2015 07:01:08
Experience tells us that we won't be playing free flowing footie john, despite those in denial suarez and a very inform sturridge made us play very attractive football two seasons ago and proper pressing of the ball in the right area of the pitch with fast breaking attacking.

Brendans footballing philosophy which he has reverted to and started his anfield career with will be his downfall its inevitable. let's be honest against stoke we got lucky with a couts special and last night we were lucky because it was an offside goal.

Happy enough to be winning but it won't last if he keeps making selection blunders and sticks with this ponderous style of play. I can understand peoples frustration because its the same old muck continuing from last season. Poor decision making by the manager and no real identity as a team. its very frustrating john, how much more time should he be afforded to get it right, one more season falling behind or 2, maybe three more seasons to try the brendan experiment!

And what makes you think that just because people express concern about the way we play that they are not behind the team. Despite the dour shite served up at the end of last season and a record breaking defeat i would imagine most are still watching, supporting and hoping we improve.

17 Aug 2015 22:48:21
Okay just want to post how well Clyne played, solid in defence won few interceptions andtackles. Good going forward, could of been little better there but still great to see in defence. Have to say benteke was class, how many times did he track the ball and won nothing balls?
I was shouting for Firmino to com. On, then was wishing it was ings instead.

One question for ed1, do you see the tactic of the new coaches defending coming through already an how big an impact in your opinion can they have this season?

Thanks in advance,

{Ed001's Note - actually it was the defending that most worried me last night, everything else was much improved, but the centre backs looked miles apart in their play. They looked to be less of a pairing than in the first game and huge gaps were opening up at the back. Thankfully these things are happening now against teams which aren't exploiting them, so, fingers crossed, the staff have a chance to fix the holes before we get hurt. I do fear Lovren-Skrtel are just too slow for the way we play though, they pushed up a bit too high at times and could have been done with a simple ball over the top. Also it was worrying how easily Migs got caught in no mans land for their disallowed goal. Still, the signs are there and we have the chance to work on it now, before it becomes an issue.}

18 Aug 2015 04:30:46
I totally agree with you, Ed001. Skrt, Louvren and Migs were shocking. I have great fear playing any team with attacking quality. Can't see us in the top-8 with a pairing like that right now. They either need to improve drastically or we need to find a pairing back there that doesn't look quasi-Championship quality (at best).

{Ed001's Note - hopefully it will come in time, the attacking play has improved at least, we now actually offer a threat, so there are signs things are moving forward. I do worry about the lack of pace at the back though, we are not playing as deep as Chelsea did, so it is an issue.}

18 Aug 2015 05:38:17
It's all happening through countnho. Ed01, what exactly was Milner role yesterday. He was mere a passenger through out he first half.

{Ed001's Note - he was drifting out to the right to take up the space Coutinho left.}

18 Aug 2015 06:03:44
saw Gomez coming in beside Skrtel with Lovren pressing on their wing couple of times. not sure if that's good on Gomez or bad on Lovren.

18 Aug 2015 00:48:28
Guys playing like we were last season after the first 2 games of this season how long do FSG give that clown Rodgers because our luck is going to run out soon & even a blind man can see our centre backs & keeper are a car crash waiting to happen + this boring football & playing lovren & skrtel together as well as knowing he's on his last legs yet still playing the same system will see him sacked before Xmas. The man is the biggest fraud I've ever seen he walks away with millions yet it's us poor fans that are left to pay the price. FSG have done many good things for the club but the need to get someone who knows something about football to advice them. To give him the job in the first place was foolish but not to sack him in the summer is going to see us struggle to make top 4 for years. His treatment of players & arrogance would be funny if he was the MAN URE manager but he's turned our great club into a running joke

18 Aug 2015 01:58:44
I think the keeper did alright

18 Aug 2015 02:24:43
I think lovrens got a little hope, he was shaky in the first half, a bit soft, but was better second half

18 Aug 2015 03:33:39
We have got 6 points out of 6 and you are calling for the managers head. You say our defence is "a car crash waiting to happen" when we have defended really well in both games and not conceded a single goal. You say we have rode our luck but have we really rode it any more than the likes of Utd who needed an own goal to beat spurs and created very little against a very poor aston villa side. Bournemouth played really well today. I would much rather be sitting on 6 points out of 6 than be sitting on 1 point right now like spurs and Chelsea who have both been dreadful so far. The same person will be calling rodgers a tactical genius if we get a result in the emirates next Monday night. 6/6 andd no goals conceded, very hard to please some people

18 Aug 2015 05:40:57
Jowens

You would have come here with the same post had 1 points instead of 6. I am struggling to find one positive from yesterday match.

18 Aug 2015 06:43:02
Two clean sheets six points and benteke scoring are 3 positives for me but we do need to improve and gel the new players in . We were lucky last night to be honest but they are a decent enough team so take the 3 points and move on .