Match Day Thread vs Stoke (A)

This is what we mean by movement. Even Firmino, who seems to totally lack composure and quality when needed, is still everywhere, tbf, getting a foot in and closing . Not sure about Lucas at c/b again, but Can is running the midfield. Word of praise for Allen, and he's getting forward (though he's dogshit in the box). If Stoke bring on Crouch and/or Walters we'll struggle, as though people are saying what a save by there in the end by Migs, what the **** is Lucas doing heading a corner in the centre of his goal? Where is Migs? He's anchored on his line again, and though it was a good save by Migs, he should have caught that corner in the first place.

Lucky for us that Bojan and Shaqiri are having a **** night. That'll either change, or Hughes will throw the big lads on (he will anyway toward the end) Johnson is putting in some quality.

Far from over yet, and we may well rue not making more of those opportunities (like Firmino being cear and nor knowing whether to stick or twist again), but whatever the score tonight THIS is how we should play away from home - this is what our players are good at.

 

Cheer up you grumpy batard

 

Where what......


Teams gave us loads and loads of space.

In Southampton game midfield was can lucas Allen
In city game it was can lucas milner
In Chelsea game.... can lucas milner

So what is the real story


Is it simply no benteke or is it a more of a hard working midfield getting control of the game and enabling the press....

Could itv be over simplifying things to simply say benteke can't but rather we need more control of the midfield

 

Or maybe it's because the way we played we created more space for ourselves?

 

Klopps not brought a sub cb so we have to

This is quite a change by stoke.... affelay at cm... will he control it?

 

Maybe it's a case of both?.. Just a thought. If you have a front three who press in unison, interchange when on the ball and therefore create space for a midfield to press behind them. Hand-in-hand.. The midfield three are marshalling the space well, but if you have a mobile front three it's much more dynamic than a slow CF standing on the CB.

 

FFS! See what I mean about lack of composure!

 

Either way lets have more of both lol

 

I meant putting Can at CB.

 

Yep - the pressing from the front is crucial.

The midfield has been very good today - Allen and Can have been brilliant.

 

Maybe... but it is interesting just looking back at the games it seems we've had more ability or confidence to press with 3 in centre

 

Good point that. Klopp has done it twice now too.

 

Have we played in a 3 with Benteke? Or has he only played as a lone striker with 3 behind?

 

Pretty good anyway.

They've taken stokes two apart... as I said functional players

 

You can tell Johnson has been told just cross as soon as possible....

 

I would say Allen is functional but to be fair, he's done a lot on and off the ball today.

Can is hands down our best CM.

 

I hate Walters with a passion.

 

Hmmmm. Need to look. Recently is 4231 clearly.

Need to look back at games.

 

What a tackle by Moreno! Another good performance by him.

 

For all Firmino's faults, he offers movement. If Benteke was on he'd just go and stand next to Shawcross.