so we won, seems like last time we won got 2 points for it but apparently now that now gets us 3 points in the league , is this true?
He's made more than 'a few' mistakes for me tbh. If we hadn't paid so much for him and if he wasn't so good last season, I'd be benching him and playing Sakho and Skrtel right now. I'm still confident he'll turn up trumps, but I didn't think his bedding in period would be so troublesome. I do wonder if Mignolet isn't helping him in that aspect..
Tell you what I thought today - Berrahino (sp): tremendous forward. The tens of millions wasted this summer, and surely £10-15m would have got this lad. Be £25m at the end of this season, minimum. Really, really impressed.
Lovren made mistakes for Soton as well but they weren't picked up because he was at a smaller club with less coverage. He was also voted one of the worst players in France during his time at Lyon. He looked half decent for Soton because they played with two holding midfielders in Wanyama and Schneiderlin who can make any defence look solid. He's a very aggressive defender who needs to rein it in at times. He goes for everything and whilst it looks good when it comes off, it can really cost us when it doesn't. The problem I have with Skrtel and Lovren is that they make basic defensive errors in terms of their positioning and judgement. These are the two most important attributes that a defender needs to succeed but they're not that easy to pick up or measure with stats.
Yep, we wanted a leader, some one to pull the defence together. Its what we were missing last season. For me Lovren is not much better than or different from the players we already have/had. I know it might be a pipe dream but what we need is Hummels or someone similar to marshal the younger defenders, make sure they know where to be and hold the line. Look at Kompany, not just a great defender but also a great leader.
Y'all know what made the biggest difference today? That Gerrard wasn't the focal point of our passing from the back. Lovren largely bypassed him and on to Coutinho. Skrtel, same to Hendo. Gerrard had a good day overall. Whilst he wasn't constantly picking up the ball from our CBs, he had time to position himself better and get the ball in calmer spaces.
Hummels or Subotic would be immense signings if we can pull them off. And Liv - hardly anyone has mentioned Gerrard today. And that's a good thing! That means he's doing his DM role quietly and efficiently. What was encouraging is knowing that he can have an impact as an AM for the last 10-15 mins, coming off the bench.
If we can get either Balotelli and Borini hitting proper goal scoring form or signing a decent striker in January, I'd like to see us going all out and signing a top top level CB, holding player and keeper. Just the three signings. That is our course judged on Current form. I'd love for our current players in those positions to settle and reach that level.
Liked Gerrard being pushed upfield a bit more. Linked up well with Balotelli. Great goal from Lallana, lovely turn and quick movement. That's one thing we've been missing in recent weeks, quick 1 touch passing in and around the box. It's all been too static playing infront of the back 4.
Watching Lallana, he's very "un-English" in the way he takes control of the ball. He's like a lot of Spanish/Brazilian players who take the ball on the half turn. Coutinho does it really well as well. Henderson doesn't do it enough for me, he stops the ball and then turns most of the time. If he can work on that (and hopefully playing with Coutinho & Lallana he will) then he could become even better Also, how the hell was that not a penalty on Sterling Ref can't say he was playing advantage FFS.
Right, now I can et this all off my chest! Glad we got the win today. Not only did we need the points we also needed the psychological boost of both a win and a home win against the Baggies! Still concerned about the pace of our attacks. Apart from a few pieces of play our attacks were slow and predictable. If you really want to look at the biggest change from last season it's this - our attacks are one-paced and easily read. Some aren't going to like this but Sterling desperately needs a rest. He can't run with the ball, he can't shoot and he certainly can't pass the ball! The last point seems to apply to out team in general. Even when we are not being pressed we some how appear unable to pass the ball to within a few feet of the player that we want to pass to. We make other sides like good defensively and create attacking opportunities for them solely by being so sloppy when passing. Lovren needs a break too. To me it appears that the pressure of 'leading the line' is effecting his all around game. Let's give Skerts and Sakho a few games together. We are presently a defensive accident waiting to happen so we wouldn't weaken our situation any by giving them a try. Gerrard had a good game. It was good to see him move forward effectively when Lucas was brought on. Wonder how long it took Rodgers to get his foot back out of Balotelli's arse? Pinch me but I did see him closing their players down and generally chasing about or was I dreaming? Finally, was their goal a penalty? Haven't seen the replays but it appeared outside of the box for me. Secondly I hate this iterpreattion of the laws. If the defender does not make the contact with the attacker but the attacker causes the 'offence' by not taking any avoiding action then for me it's not a penalty - only saying.
Yes their goal was a penalty cause he took it from the penalty spot after the ref had given a pen However should it have been a pen? **** no. It was a good yard outside the area and didn't even look like it was inside the box, even at first glance it didn't look inside the box. How it was given as a pen is utter incompetence. As to the contact, yer there was contact and would probably been a freekick. But a freekick a yard outside the box is never a great position to be in as its often too close to the keeper to really do anything with.
It was decent but not much more. It was after all west brom!!!! Decent because: A. Rodgers tried something with coutinho so bet didn't deserve a game. He played ok, not great but ok. In defense he was very average B. we saw several players focusing on the basics and also decent work rate C. Sorry but it's only decent cos for large parts of first half west brom bossed it D. Decent goals but yet more errors at the back I was happy to see a bit more effort, I think dropping two least busy players for workers help and maybe coutinho got a rocket I dunno only time will tell that... And I was happy Lucas came on and Gerrard was pushed well up, finally a better tactic and honestly it did work a bit At home, v a lesser side and in general.... An easy game. It's to be built on but I can see inconsistency ahead. But the only thing that gets my goat is player not trying. So I say do that away from home next
