Really hope he can get the second goals in both City and Chelsea out of his head and kind of snap out of this rut he is in. I am not here to slag as there are plenty of other games in which he kept us in it/won us the points. I also think that having a back four that keeps rotating ( some of this on Rodgers, a lot on injury) hasn't helped either and there has to be a sense of confidence and comfortability with the GK and the back four as well. Still think he was a class signing but that is back to back games where he could/should have done better and hope he shows the mental character needed to be a top GK at LFC for many many years. Also note that in GK years, he is very young and still has much to learn but I still see him coming good and being one of our best.
I hear you. But he still made some great saves which kept us in the game. Whilst he could do better, we should also look at the source. The ease at which players can run into our box without any pressure, the poor defending at set pieces. He has won us a lot of points this season.
He made two top saves yesterday too don't forget; - He tipped Lampards twenty yard effort over the bat at full stretch - The one on one with Eto'o (that should have been offside)
He has still done more good than bad for us and can only get better. Some parallels with Hart at City, he came through that bad spell, Mignolet just needs to keep looking forward and not dwell, sure BR and coaching staff will have that covered.
Of course, why I put the importance of the back four in front of him, understaning, trust, etc. I also put that he saved us points BUT as a player, when you make those critical mistakes ( GK should have saved, Striker should have scored, Midfielder lost possession that led to the goal, etc) it does go to the head of the player and I just hope he gets a clean sheet at hull and maybe even makes a vital save to just boost that confidence a bit more. Think about the start of the season with Mig, JE, Agger, Toure, GJ and the confidence that was there to now we have had in front of Mig all four of those and Cissokho, Flanno, Kelly, Sakho, Skrtel all of which pretty much rotating due to various reasons. Hard to get a decent understanding with that backline.
Oh and he can always improve the footwork. That will come with time though, Don't think he was ever asked to play with his feet as much as he has since coming to LFC. That should come good and with some of the pace we have in the team, we could be even more dangerous on the break if he can clean up that distribution. Again, not slating him here, more of just want to see his mental strength come through.
In fairness to him he's made some top saves in those games he's made mistakes in but my issue with Ming is still the same as it's always been. His distribution with his feet is **** and Rodgers style is to play to feet EVERY bloody time....always seemed a strange thing to do getting rid of Pepe despite the wages. The best keeper in the league with the ball at his feet and we loaned him out. I can't help but feel the Mings nervousness on the ball is seeping through to the others (although I definitely concur that the ever changing back 3/4/5 hasn't helped him either).
I actually think the error for yesterdays goal was Skrtel. He was to square to his man and got caught ball watching too. Sure, Migs should have saved it but I also think he did well to get anything on the ball at all considering Eto'o was only two yards from goal.
Hull at home could be the perfect antidote for Mig, the back four, clean sheet and just getting back to winning ways. They will come with a lot of enthusiasm after smashing Fulham but think we should be able to do the job.
as long as we don't give away any free kicks in dangerous positions or give away too many corners, open play hopefully have too much for them, but set pieces scare the ****e out of me now days, and i always fear the worst.
Btw, when did we get so bad at set pieces? You look at some of the bodies we have in the team: Skrtel, Agger, Sakho, Toure, GJ, JE when he is in and there should be enough strength, height, athletic ability there to deal with that? I think it is just concentration and GJ and Agger are two of the worst for just dozing off and leaving their man to just run free.
others may feel differently but i feel its since Rafa went, used to piss me off they used to make an issue out of zonal marking when mistakes happened, but when it worked **** all said, yet man marking( normally what is poor from a defensive point of view) they dont make as much of an issue of. looked ok under Kenny as i think he told them to just clear the ****a, but now we are trying to play our way out from the back and the players well i don't know, not used to it, not good enough for it?
From set pieces? We are losing aerial battles, not following our marks, getting beat to the loose ball, in the box from the initial set piece. Playing out of the back is fine by me tbh think it is just a mental and concentration thing with marking and not being confident when the ball is whipped in. Maybe organizational issues?
Our marking yesterday and pressing off the ball wasn't up to scratch, gave them too much space and time, they both contributed to the goals we conceded.
I wish we a Hyypia-type player. Watching the ball not the man like Skrtel with the Kompany goal, Hyypia would have got the ball instead of worrying about the man. Goalies errors are always glaring and costly, there's no second chance for a team mate to clear up for you!
