Match Day Thread Pre-season

Ibe denied

This keeper has kept Roar in the game

 

Milner 2-1

 

Milner nutmeg (second of the game in the opposition box) and curls past the keeper

 

Really nice goal from Milner. Think he's been pretty good today.

 

Ibe rips open the entire team on a dribble the length of the pitch

Denied by a good save

 

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Milner goal first of many to come.

 

I really hope Gomez gets a chance to play this season.

 

In his first game for the reds he had Ryan Giggs in his pocket all game. looked liked he'd been playing for us for a decade. Such a shame ccareer ruined with shin splints.

 

Blimey, you feeling ok jimmy?

 

left the match at half time however Gomez looks good

 

Is it paining you to say that?

 

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Rodgers says gomez is not going on loan and has basically jizzed his pants over the kid after today.

 

Yep! I have no problems with praising players when they actually deserve it.

 

ill wait to see if the same is said to Lallana and benteke

 

Mignolet
Clyne Ilori Sakho Moreno
Can
Hendo Milner
Coutinho Firmino
Benteke​

subs: Bogdan, Skrtel, Lucas, Lallana, Ibe, Markovic, Ings

Im actually pretty excited to see that team. Still have players like Lovren, Wisdom, Origi, Flanno, Sturridge that aren't even included in that list.

 

Absolutely - Lallana scored some nice goals in pre-season which I was quick to mention. He scored some good goals last season as well.

 

On face value, I really like the personnel in that team.

I have two concerns though:-

1) Midfield. Henderson and Milner lack creativity I think. I think Can will add more intelligence and technique but I'm not sure this is a midfield that can dominate games and dictate tempo.

2) Benteke. We have two really good creative players playing behind him who prefer movement ahead. They won't get that with Benteke - so it feels like a square peg in a round hole. Not sure how it will work.

I really hope we give Ilori more game time this season - he won't start ahead of Skrtel given he was offered a new contract at £100k a week. But give Ilori cup games at least.

Speaking of cup games, I don't want Sturridge to play any cup games. Keep him fresh for the league.

 

I disagree with 1. Based on what I've seen Henderson and Milner are two of the PL's most intelligent players, and their good decisions backed up with good technique and runs from midfield are very creative.

In previous seasons Henderson didn't always get forward, but when he did we usually scored (or Sterling missed a tap-in).

 

Hendo and Milner might not be a Coutinho/silva but that doesn't mean they can't create. Milner created plenty in city shirt and showed he can play with intelligent players like Coutinho and Firmino by doing it with silva, ahistorical etc.

Hendo got plenty of assists, and areasy set up two for Lallana with nice passes in pre season (pre season I know but shows he can play that final pass).

Horses for courses though, those 3 can be a bit more solid and allow count and firmy do the attacking or can switch, play Lallana cout and firmy behind an Origi/Ings which will offer creativity and movement.

I like how we have actual options in those attacking places now, not including Ibe and Markovic who could play wide in a 433 offering pace.

We we both have our opinions on benteke so not going to go over that again and again but he offers something no one else does and that's a real presence. More than just a plan b as well, and I know we haven't played to his strength with crosses in last few years but we haven't been able to. We can only guess but maybe Rodgers wants to move to that kind of play by having a central target with creative players behind and to the side. If so, benteke is best in the league at being that central target man imo