Match Day Thread Pre-season

  • Please bear with us on the new site integration and fixing any known bugs over the coming days. If you can not log in please try resetting your password and check your spam box. If you have tried these steps and are still struggling email [email protected] with your username/registered email address
  • Log in now to remove adverts - no adverts at all to registered members!
Status
Not open for further replies.
jonnybaws said:
Indeed, if you're good enough, you're old enough!
Granted.. its Pre-season, teams haven't been that tough.. but I like what I've seen so far from the lad!
Can has the attributes and can and should play as the base of the Diamond, if that's our chosen formation to start the season with..
Until Sturridge is fit, I'd start with...

------------- Ming
Clyne, Skrtel, Sakho, Moreno
-------------- Can
---- Milner ------- Henderson
------------- Coutinho
---------- Firmino
---------------- Benteke
Bench from the likes of Gomez, Lovern, Ings, Origi, Lucas, Ibe, Lalana, Allen..
Click to expand...

I agree I see no reason why not.

We are "told" firmino is different to coutinho in that he gets in the box. why not play him off benteke if thats whats happening. Milner has shown already he will get in there to.

The only debate as of now in my mind is who is going to be on the bench day one not what the first 11 will be: I reckon gomez has played his way close to the 7 man bench, ings and ibe too.

theres going to have to be a few dissapointed this year.

bogdan will be gk there
CB option: there has to be one.. it will be lovern it seems so far, ilori has not yet come back so how can he force his way in.
full back? Gomez for me. wisdom played lb first game and never got forward. gomoz has been very good.
DM: lucas has got a small bit of time.. allen more. neither for me thanks <laugh> allen
AM: Lallana
AM: Ibe
ST: Ings.

If i was origi i'd be no t too happy about that of course. Ings or origi.. i think origi needs a bit of work but looks talented. ings as a go to is worrying but he's a hard worker.
 
moreinjuredthanowen said:
I agree I see no reason why not.

We are "told" firmino is different to coutinho in that he gets in the box. why not play him off benteke if thats whats happening. Milner has shown already he will get in there to.

The only debate as of now in my mind is who is going to be on the bench day one not what the first 11 will be: I reckon gomez has played his way close to the 7 man bench, ings and ibe too.

theres going to have to be a few dissapointed this year.

bogdan will be gk there
CB option: there has to be one.. it will be lovern it seems so far, ilori has not yet come back so how can he force his way in.
full back? Gomez for me. wisdom played lb first game and never got forward. gomoz has been very good.
DM: lucas has got a small bit of time.. allen more. neither for me thanks <laugh> allen
AM: Lallana
AM: Ibe
ST: Ings.

If i was origi i'd be no t too happy about that of course. Ings or origi.. i think origi needs a bit of work but looks talented. ings as a go to is worrying but he's a hard worker.
Click to expand...

Brod seems to like having a couple of strikers on the bench. Swap Ibe for Origi (I'd rather Ibe be involved but this isn't what I'd do)
 
Gerrez said:
Brod seems to like having a couple of strikers on the bench. Swap Ibe for Origi (I'd rather Ibe be involved but this isn't what I'd do)
Click to expand...

You are not wrong there as either ings or origi could fill in wide.

the ideal would be one defender but you can't ask a 18 year old cover all 3 slots.

milner offers flexibility too to cover wide area so if you wanted a cm could come on and he could go wide.

in the end someone is missing out here regularly out of guys we want to push on. the positive is they all have to work harder to get a slot. the down side is development becomes an issue.
 
moreinjuredthanowen said:
You are not wrong there as either ings or origi could fill in wide.

the ideal would be one defender but you can't ask a 18 year old cover all 3 slots.

milner offers flexibility too to cover wide area so if you wanted a cm could come on and he could go wide.

in the end someone is missing out here regularly out of guys we want to push on. the positive is they all have to work harder to get a slot. the down side is development becomes an issue.
Click to expand...

As does Hendo, Coutinho and Firmini. One of the first things Brod said when he arrived is that he likes players to be flexible, he likes them to be able to play more than one position because it allows for easier in game changes.
 
Gerrez said:
As does Hendo, Coutinho and Firmini. One of the first things Brod said when he arrived is that he likes players to be flexible, he likes them to be able to play more than one position because it allows for easier in game changes.
Click to expand...
And the one player who isn't flexible, the goalie, was a big problem last year.
 
Gerrez said:
And soon to join him, Benteke. He's not a flexible player.
Click to expand...
Then you make him more flexible or ................................. play to his strengths. He's going to score lots of goals flexible or not and that can only be a big improvement on last season.
 
johnsonsbaby said:
Then you make him more flexible or ................................. play to his strengths. He's going to score lots of goals flexible or not and that can only be a big improvement on last season.
Click to expand...

Not every player needs to be flexible. Often, flexible players are good (or even very good) in certain areas but rarely specialise in one position. Sometimes you need that specialist.

I wasn't keen on Benteke and he still wouldn't be my preferred choice but I'll admit that the idea is growing on me. Clyne and Moreno can provide the width, Milner has a decent dead ball and in play delivery. Hendo can pick a pace to too. Coutinho will see Benteke's runs. Plus we'll have Ings and Origi as other options making us less predictable than last year.
 
Gerrez said:
Not every player needs to be flexible. Often, flexible players are good (or even very good) in certain areas but rarely specialise in one position. Sometimes you need that specialist.

I wasn't keen on Benteke and he still wouldn't be my preferred choice but I'll admit that the idea is growing on me. Clyne and Moreno can provide the width, Milner has a decent dead ball and in play delivery. Hendo can pick a pace to too. Coutinho will see Benteke's runs. Plus we'll have Ings and Origi as other options making us less predictable than last year.
Click to expand...
Agreed <ok>

He's going to be a handful alright - at his best he's unplayable .................. so I've heard <whistle>
 
johnsonsbaby said:
Agreed <ok>

He's going to be a handful alright - at his best he's unplayable .................. so I've heard <whistle>
Click to expand...

The only question is (and I think most are asking it), how does Brod change things to get the best out of him? Or, in other words, is Brod capable of such a thing?
 
The big question/dilemma for BR now is does he play two up top or Benteke/Sturridge as a lone striker?

My own personal opinion is that Benteke has been brought in as a partner for Sturridge. I honestly think that we get the best out of our team and players when we have two up front. Sturridge can lead the line but Benteke would be far too static, and would end up dropping deep.

We'll probably aim to put Firmino up with him untill Sturridge is fit, which is a gamble because they'll both be newcomers. Put Coutinho in behind and I think that'll be a potent mix. Milner has been brought in for that extra work horse in midfield to accommodate the more attacking players. Can/Allen/Lucas, Henderson and Milner will operate in behind, high pressing with quick turn over, Clyne/Moreno providing the width.

Sturridge and Benteke has the potential to be devastating, much like Balotelli and Sturridge did.. It has everything as a partnership, Sturridge can stretch the play and run the channels while Benteke can hold up play, drop deep, and most importantly both are great finishers. It remains to be seen whether or not Benteke will press, but I do think BR will be opting for high intensity pressing game, just like he did 13/14.. two up top, Coutinho in behind in the tip of the diamond.
 
Magic said:
The big question/dilemma for BR now is does he play two up top or Benteke/Sturridge as a lone striker?

My own personal opinion is that Benteke has been brought in as a partner for Sturridge. I honestly think that we get the best out of our team and players when we have two up front. Sturridge can lead the line but Benteke would be far too static, and would end up dropping deep.

We'll probably aim to put Firmino up with him untill Sturridge is fit, which is a gamble because they'll both be newcomers. Put Coutinho in behind and I think that'll be a potent mix. Milner has been brought in for that extra work horse in midfield to accommodate the more attacking players. Can/Allen/Lucas, Henderson and Milner will operate in behind, high pressing with quick turn over, Clyne/Moreno providing the width.

Sturridge and Benteke has the potential to be devastating, much like Balotelli and Sturridge did.. It has everything as a partnership, Sturridge can stretch the play and run the channels while Benteke can hold up play, drop deep, and most importantly both are great finishers. It remains to be seen whether or not Benteke will press, but I do think BR will be opting for high intensity pressing game, just like he did 13/14.. two up top, Coutinho in behind in the tip of the diamond.
Click to expand...

I'd prefer to see a front two but I don't think we have the CM's for it. Our midfielders all suit a central three so only way to have a front two would be to play 4312 / diamond. How do both Firmino and Coutinho then fit in? Coutinho in the three doesn't work. Firmino could go up top leaving one of Studge or Benteke out (not to mention Origi and Ings, **** the rest). Good to have options <ok>
 
Gerrez said:
I'd prefer to see a front two but I don't think we have the CM's for it. Our midfielders all suit a central three so only way to have a front two would be to play 4312 / diamond. How do both Firmino and Coutinho then fit in? Coutinho in the three doesn't work. Firmino could go up top leaving one of Studge or Benteke out (not to mention Origi and Ings, **** the rest). Good to have options <ok>
Click to expand...

Someone is going to have to miss out, as assuming Benteke is nailed on to start, IMO he has to have a partner or at the very least, someone to run beyond him.

Coutinho in the #10, Benteke up top with Firmino just behind. Only problem with that is that Firmino and Coutinho would end up in similar positions. Henderson and Milner are also I suspect nailed on to start, which leaves DM, a position where we don't have an out and out option of real quality. We could put Lucas or Allen in there (I largely think BR will start Allen against Stoke), I think injuries permitted that will be the midfield and attack.. Though I think Lallana may get in there soewhere.
 
Magic said:
CM will be fine, just need a DM, wondering if Rodgers sees Can as that man? And more importantly, can he play there?

Again, things that stick out to me from this pre-season so far -

- Gomez can compete for a spot in the team
- Clyne is a massive upgrade on Johnson, and Milner for Gerrard
- Origi and Ings are far better options than Lambert and Borini, but not ready yet to start
- Is Sakho out of favour with Rodgers?
- Big season for Ibe
Click to expand...

I have been behind BR for his whole tenure, however if he ditches Sakho and keeps DL I will be very disappointed. Sakho has so many more qualities that DL does not have.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Magic Ted
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top Bottom
Back