You can't put 1 clip down to his whole season. What about all the saves he produced throughout the year?
[video=youtube;sd0h_YR1tdI]https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=sd0h_YR1tdI[/video] The first v Stoke in a 1-0 win. The one from Benteke in last 5 mins in a 1-0 win. The penalty save and then the rebound against Stoke in 1-0 win. The 2nd one against Southampton at 39 seconds, making the save then clawing it away in our 3 or 4-0 win when the score was at 1-0. All very important saves that could have easily easnt us 6 points.
Mignolet bashing is getting a bit silly now. Very few keepers have great seasons in their first year at a new club. He's also young (for a keeper) and was playing behind an unsettled and constantly changed defense with a player new to the DM role who isn't really great at covering either. What did you all expect? Like someone above mentioned, judge him after this season now that he's hopefully settled in, now that Gerrard has experience in the role, now that we've (hopefully) got our commanding CB in Lovren AND some fullbacks who can, you know, defend. I think he'll be fine this season and we'll get 10 great years from him. Goalkeepers mature later, take time to command their box and distribution is just practice. His shot stopping is brilliant though and something really promising to build from. Well I think Mings is not good enough. Selling Pepe for £2 m is a farce when he would have been a fantastic champions league keeper. Also think Gerards time has come. He is not a DM. Lucas half fit is twice as effective and he is past his prime. Defence will be our failing this season.
Pepe has to go. For whatever reason, his relationship with Rodgers clearly isn't going to be fixed and a keeper who's heart isn't here, nor committed to the manager, isn't a keeper we want. Don't underestimate the influence a proper CB leader has on a defensive unit. Lovren I have massive hopes for. Reina would have been awful with Carragher infront of him, constantly talking(shouting) and leading.
For me it is neck and neck as to who is better out of Reina and Migs. But Reina is much older and will be higher wages. I must be in the minority that doesn't have a problem with mignolet. I don't think any keeper would have shone for us last year given how exposed we left our defence when we bombed forward
It's not a personal thing about Ming himself (sure he's a lovely fella) but he was NOT good enough last season. He wasn't the only reason we lost the league but he played his part but then as you say that decision is one I do lay at BR's door. He may well have been right to shift Pepe out but he was wrong with the replacement because he wasn't ready for it last year (and he looked like nothing's changed against Utd the other night). I don't overlook his good side mate he's a great shot stopper but as I said before I see plenty of keepers at various levels who are great shot stoppers. In the long run that is nowhere near enough to stay in a team that consistently challenges for Prem titles. If we become consistent challengers there's no way we'll do it with Ming at last seasons level. Either he improves or Rodgers won't have any choice but to look elsewhere....which was my point in the first place.
To be fair, besides his many mistakes, Mignolet is a good shot stopper, but thats about it. His poor distribution and play with the ball don't suit our style at all, Pepe did, but he has gone for other reasons.
I know it isnt personal mate we all want the same thing which is success! Lets see if he improves then with his weaknesses, time will tell. And thank God its looming, only just over a week to go And imo we're better sticking with Ming as it seems Reina has forgotten how to dive either side of him. Saw a bit of him at Napoli but im talking for us as well before he went
Hey Billy...How cool is it we might be arguing over whether it was the manager, midfield , defence or keeper that juuuusst lost us the league?
To me it isn't just a question of "should it have been Reina or Mings" though. It's about the fact that Rodgers decided to get shot of Reina (he's the boss so that's his call) but replaced him with a player who wasn't ready. Replace Reina by all means but replace him with someone who's more than just a good bloody shot shopper. The lad may well get better...he certainly needs to.
I notice you have total faith in Sturridge, Lambert and Borinio there DF Surely we'll all just end up blaming Suarez anyway The irony eh
But look at the bigger picture. Reina was whoring himself out to Barca. Do you want a player in the team that is doing that? Everyone though that Valdes would be off and Reina was the replacement (we thought it, Reina thought it and Rodgers obviously thought it as well). In that case, the only thing that he could do was look for a replacement and going by the our transfer policy, that was to get someone young (for a keeper he is young) who could be here the next 10 years. If we had waited, Reina could have been off, we could have been left with Jones as the first choice and everyone in World football know we are desperate for a keeper with £5m being added to everyones value. Best thing was to buy a replacement there and then to cover yourself for when Reina goes. Whether he was the right of wrong choice remains to be seen (you can't judge a player after 1 season) but it was the only choice to find a replacement for Reina at that point.
Calm down, calm down, I think we're all suffering from a bit of Pre-Season Tension. It's just that Time Of The Year. It'll all be over soon.......
PSG trying to raise money for some big deals before the window closes (Di Maria, for example), so maybe there's some truth in the Cavani and Lavezzi interest. There's also Pastore, although he would just add to our CAM selection problem.
You obviously didn't get the bit where I said "it's not about Reina or Mings" I respect Rodgers for ditching Pepe (even if I think he went about it in the wrong way). My problem is bringing in a keeper who even his most ardent supporter admits needs to improve. Last season was essential we had confidence and experience there and that didn't have to be Reina. It could've been a whole number of keepers....bring Mings in to the squad by all means but don't play him until he's ready.
Interesting to see Pelligrini saying today they have severe financial restrictions and that lumplard cost nothing Maybe FFP will be more effective than we think. Luiz for 50 mill though, something doesnt meet the eye there
