Simon Mignolet

[Norbs]

Last night wasn't the best of games for us in the end but unsurprising when you consider all the changes we had to make both prior to the match and during as well.

We've let in 2 goals in 4 games so far this season when we're clearly not firing on all cylinders.

It certainly feels like some try to find fault for the sake of finding fault.

3 irregulars in a 4 man defence, it's hardly surprising that we shipped 2 goals. In fact, it's a game we should've lost.

One thing that stood out to me was how much pressure Sakho invited on us. He repeatedly headed the ball softly and back in to the middle of our own half inviting them to build again. It's something we will need to address. If it's glaring when playing a team that keeps the ball on the ground, it'll be a nightmare against one that plays the ball over the top.

I'd prefer to see Sakho bloodied at left back while he gets to grips with the game, I think his skill set is better suited to that position.

[Neil Young]

I'd prefer to see Sakho bloodied at left back while he gets to grips with the game, I think his skill set is better suited to that position.

I guess though that's a typo and you meant 'blooded'.

[Norbs]

I guess though that's a typo and you meant 'blooded'.

Oops, yes I probably did

[Chris]

Instead he is forced to do save after save like he did at Sunderland.

He should be forced to make two or three saves a game, no more than that. Now it is almost five a game.

Hardly, he was busy last night but other than that he's not had a lot to do, a couple from Benteke and the pen and rebound v Stoke. Utd created **** all. But you know all this and are just making up criticisms now.

[Neil Young]

Oops, yes I probably did

I like a good typo.

[RichC]

3 irregulars in a 4 man defence, it's hardly surprising that we shipped 2 goals. In fact, it's a game we should've lost.

One thing that stood out to me was how much pressure Sakho invited on us. He repeatedly headed the ball softly and back in to the middle of our own half inviting them to build again. It's something we will need to address. If it's glaring when playing a team that keeps the ball on the ground, it'll be a nightmare against one that plays the ball over the top.

I'd prefer to see Sakho bloodied at left back while he gets to grips with the game, I think his skill set is better suited to that position.

Yup one defender from the opening game of the season starting - no Toure, Agger or Johnson. Having a settled back 4 is so important IMO and it showed to extent last night.

I think for me looking at the interceptions and clearances he made he did ok, his positional play was certainly lacking but no real shock seeing as he's not played for some time and he probably wasn't expecting to start until over the weekend when Agger got the injury.

I do think in time we'll see a far more composed performance from him and he'll show why he was brought in. I remember Skrtel's first game for us - a complete shocker

[RedReet]

As already been mentiond. It is a building process. It takes time to make it work.

Mig have probably been our best player this season and if the keeper is that then you have a problem to sort out.

We asked before the season how important it is that Mig can cope getting very few finishes against him, concentration etc.

Instead he is forced to do save after save like he did at Sunderland.

He should be forced to make two or three saves a game, no more than that. Now it is almost five a game.

Exactly, Mignolet is still adapting, plus we’ve already played 4 different CB’s and now a new RB ahead of him. Of course things aren’t going to click right away but there are definitely a lot more positives than negatives.

I would also say that the reason we went out and spent £9m on Mignolet was to make these types of saves and stop us dropping unnecessary points, so again I don’t see the problem. With a settled defence, we’ll hopefully see less shots on target, but as has been previously mentioned, most of them were routine saves and it’s not as if we’re consistently letting forwards through one on one which would be a worry.

It’s also worth noting that we have been up against 3 of the leagues top scorers last year in Van Persie, Benteke and Michu, so 2 goals in 4 matches really isn’t a bad result.

[RedReet]

We've let two goals in because we've got a good keeper and the team has been playing well for the most part - we've actually been pretty comfortable for the most part this season with Mignolet making a few good saves but probably not many that you think he shouldn't have made (I think our expectations were lowered in the end with Pepe who let far too many in over the past few seasons).

We're not quite there yet as a side but we've certainly moved forwards since the turn of the year which is shown by being unbeaten in something like our last 12 league matches.

So I'd say being top of the league whilst not have been brilliant is a great thing to see as it shows there is plenty of room for improvement of which I am sure we'll see.

[Fosterbloke]

It’s also worth noting that we have been up against 3 of the leagues top scorers last year in Van Persie, Benteke and Michu, so 2 goals in 4 matches really isn’t a bad result.

Very good observation. I wonder what our next defensive line up will be?

[Slinky Skills]

Can people stop calling him Mig FFS. He's not a jet fighter.

His name is MIGNOLET not Mig.

[RichC]

Yup, I hadn't actually realised that until now.

Getting us back to having a settled back 4 in front of The Mig will be a big help for us, I guess the big question is who to play at RB whilst Johnson is out

[Muddled]

Can people stop calling him Mig FFS. He's not a jet fighter.

His name is MIGNOLET not Mig.

Sure thing, Slinks.

[McDermotX]

Mignonette plays havoc with predictive text......(as you can see)......so Mig is an appropriate quick handle in the likes of match threads etc.

In fact, it'd be easier if Simon were just to change his name for us. Thanks very much.

[Neil Young]

Obviously El Slinkerino isn't into the whole brevity thing.

[Norbs]

Yup one defender from the opening game of the season starting - no Toure, Agger or Johnson. Having a settled back 4 is so important IMO and it showed to extent last night.

I think for me looking at the interceptions and clearances he made he did ok, his positional play was certainly lacking but no real shock seeing as he's not played for some time and he probably wasn't expecting to start until over the weekend when Agger got the injury.

I do think in time we'll see a far more composed performance from him and he'll show why he was brought in. I remember Skrtel's first game for us - a complete shocker

And Enrique is the weakest of our back four, so we really were backs against the wall. We're in the midst of a defensive crisis and this is our first test of the season. Other teams' fans think we've been lucky, I think the opposite could be said