Match Day Thread PL: Liverpool v AFC Bournemouth

Not sure how you can say Lallana wasn't awful but Firmino was?

 

I dunno cos Firmino looked busy but not in tune with the team systems and players.

Lallana looked utter tosh. You could find me 92 players... one from every league club in the country who could do as well as he did v stoke.

 

Be the best player pre season?

 

not hard seeing none of our best front 3 (IMO) were even on tour.

 

And not fit enough as a result so Lallana got to start.

Not difficult is it.

 

We did look better when Can came on and switched the formation but will Brod go with the 433 we changed to or stick to the 4231 he started with and has persisted with for some time? We know Milner is going to play centrally and we know Hendo will play so where are you playing Can...? Or are you kidding yourself that something completely different will happen?

He had a decent pre-season (apparently) too. But training should be where players earn the right to start a game. Train hard and work their way into the managers thoughts. However, I also agree with the more serious point you made; Brod does have his preferences.

Well, Lallana wasn't great but he did manage to control the ball and pass it to a teammate most of the time. Firmino was struggling to control the ball and when he did he was caught in possession. Obviously Firmino isn't used to the league yet so he needs to get up to pace.

 

This is the kind of game Lallana plays well as the opponents are not top 4. Keep Lallana out of the big games and he delivers better performances.

The only change I'd make from the stoke game is move Lallana central behind Benteke and shift Couts to the left. He is more direct centrally and reduces his Cruyff turns to a minimum 3 per move

 

To be fair, he along with a few others played more matches than others so had more opportunities to 'shine'.

 

i think thats fair.. give him shed loads of space to do his one trick in and he looks decent... give coutinho that space and he looks world class.

this is the thing.. will bournemouth provide us space tonight... fi they do we will win.

I don't agree with playing him central or anywhere else... I'd send him off on a worldwide nivea campaign and get a real player in there.

 

Completely agree.

We have a large squad now and should not expect a set 11 for every game.

I think tonight is a game Lallana will have joy in, but agree he is overrun with better opposition.

 

"shine" is a great way of putting it.. we played nobody either.

 

I think the Echo alluded to Can and Firmino starting tonight.

Hopefully true - put Firmino in my fantasy team!

 

going to look at that now.. a good news story that.

 

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/spor...s/can-outstanding-liverpool-fc-talent-9869116

Sounds like it was just a fitness thing with Can and he will be heavily involved this season.

Really exciting talent

 

Not his fault is it? He can only play well in pre season, if he plays well and the others don't because they have come back late then it's only right he plays.

 

Future captain IMO. Very good player already, physically imposing and already carries an authority.

 

That's fair enough but I'm merely pointing out the fact that he was given more of a chance than say someone like Markovic - which would imply Lallana was always going to start regardless of his performances during pre-season.

Same applies to Lovren who ironically was poor during pre-season.

 

Should be the easiest home game of your season.

Bournemouth are going to be this seasons Burnley

 

in fairness to lallana..... markovic was sloppy as **** in preseason so doesn't deserve a start

IMO.

Mingolet
Clyne
Skertl
Lovern
gomez
Henderson
Milner
benteke
Coutinho

those are all 100% assured of a starting place. lets not get into the sahko bolloxology now thats tired.

thats 9 players

that means lallana and ibe are the final two who hold jerseys now. Firmino.. 29mil mega buy to be left out for a 19 year old who's glused ot the right wing? hmmmmm.. don't think so.

these two places leave room for formation change and flexibility.

I think 4-3-3 is the way to go here.

even 4-1-2-1-2 is possible with right selection.

I would start with can here for sure. that would be 10 out of 11 spots filled. after that the only question that comes to mind is what to do about ibe v firmino..

 

Gomez is 100% assured of a starting place? I don't think so.