Match Day Thread Pre-season

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 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.

 

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)

 

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.

 

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.

 

And the one player who isn't flexible, the goalie, was a big problem last year.

 

And soon to join him, Benteke. He's not a flexible player.

 

We are all Managers at heart and think we know best

 

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.

 

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.

 

Agreed

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

 

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.

 

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

 

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.

 

So what positives can we take from pre-season so far. if any?

 

Won 100% of our games and all our new signings have shown their ability to improve our team.

But aside from that like...

 

Go and ask Jimmy and Jaffa

 

Looking at the replay of the Ings goal, it is the sort of goal we were sorely missing last season - with an attacker bursting past the defensive line and scoring. We had it for those 2 games Sturridge was not injured and unfit.

 

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.