Simon Mignolet

[RichC]

[Slinky Skills]

£10m for him sounds good business. I'd stretch to £11m + Mignolet to get the deal done

[Zapater]

I still can't believe that pass. It has to be on par with Aspas' corner.

[Tee]

And that's what goalkeepers do is it, 'instill confidence' into the back four? It just sounds like a meaningless sound bite. If there's a cross coming in that he can get to he comes and punches it out. What exactly are we taking about because the criticism of him seems to be mostly lazy cliche? The fact that people keep going with it after he's had a few good games on the bounce is particularly puzzling. Then there's the 'if only he was more like Reina' angle, a keeper who'd end up challenging for and losing the ball near the corner flag, and flapping a near post shots, that's 'instilling confidence in the defense' I suppose.

We've shipped a load of goals this season and very few of them have been down to the goalkeeper. His mistakes have been no more frequent than any other keeper in the division. I wouldn't say he's the best keeper around but there is no way he's as bad as this thread makes out.

Of course they do. Look at Schmeichel, Neur, Cech and even Courtois as examples. The defence know they have a commanding keeper and it gives confidence as it reduces hesitancy in decision making between them. Our CBs are **** which does not help but no doubts at all for me that the keeper is a wimp and needs replacing.

[Slinky Skills]

I still can't believe that pass. It has to be on par with Aspas' corner.

Wasn't far off!

[Corndog]

And that's what goalkeepers do is it, 'instill confidence' into the back four? It just sounds like a meaningless sound bite. If there's a cross coming in that he can get to he comes and punches it out. What exactly are we taking about because the criticism of him seems to be mostly lazy cliche? The fact that people keep going with it after he's had a few good games on the bounce is particularly puzzling. Then there's the 'if only he was more like Reina' angle, a keeper who'd end up challenging for and losing the ball near the corner flag, and flapping a near post shots, that's 'instilling confidence in the defense' I suppose.

We've shipped a load of goals this season and very few of them have been down to the goalkeeper. His mistakes have been no more frequent than any other keeper in the division. I wouldn't say he's the best keeper around but there is no way he's as bad as this thread makes out.

Spot on.

the likes of neuer aren't about instilling confidence into their defence. They are about covering those very rare moments when bayerns defence gets caught out. Same for schmeical etc.

The one glaring moment of miscommunication this season I have witnissed was mignolet screaming at lovren to leave it only for old mate dejan to blatantly ignore him and clear it long.

Mignolet could be better but if you seriously believe he is the root of the teams problems you are deluded.

[Pablo]

I get your points lads, but a good goalkeeper can definitely have a calming influence on a defence. Just knowing the guy behind the sticks has got your back can really help. Mignolet has been ok so far this season for me, but I definitely feel he's contributed to a nervousness in our defending this season at times.

I'd be delighted if we brought in Begovic personally.

[danperkins]

An assured goalkeeper, especially on set pieces & in possession can be huge calming influence on any back line..... especially one as ropey as ours.

Mignolet makes some goods saves but he looks so panicked and nervous on set pieces or in possession. Surely as a CB if you have a GK that is dominant and commanding in the box & has the presence to come out and collect balls from corners & set pieces.. that is of huge benefit to the defence? I'm sure Carragher & Neville alluded to this awhile back in a post match analysis.

[Pablo]

An assured goalkeeper, especially on set pieces & in possession can be huge calming influence on any back line..... especially one as ropey as ours.

Mignolet makes some goods saves but he looks so panicked and nervous on set pieces or in possession. Surely as a CB if you have a GK that is dominant and commanding in the box & has the presence to come out and collect balls from corners & set pieces.. that is of huge benefit to the defence? I'm sure Carragher & Neville alluded to this awhile back in a post match analysis.

We're lacking leaders all over the pitch aren't we! I include Gerrard in that too, he's always been a "leader by example" type rather than an "arm around your shoulder" type of captain. Now his form has gone, he's a particularly poor leader IMO.

Under Rafa we used to have a team full of potential captains: Reina, Agger, Macherano, Alonso, Gerrard, Kuyt, Torres.

Now who's captain material? Precious few.

[danperkins]

We're lacking leaders all over the pitch aren't we! I include Gerrard in that too, he's always been a "leader by example" type rather than an "arm around your shoulder" type of captain. Now his form has gone, he's a particularly poor leader IMO.

Under Rafa we used to have a team full of potential captains: Reina, Agger, Macherano, Alonso, Gerrard, Kuyt, Torres.

Now who's captain material? Precious few.

completely agree with this.

Yeah spot on about Stevie I know exactly what you mean & to be honest I never would of had Gerrard as a captain. He did drag us through games for about a decade, guy was incredible. So i can see why he was made captain as he's an icon. IMO he's not good enough organiser & motivator to be a captain.

We do a lack a real leader & someone who can marshall the players. We are so timid & easy to play against, that's the worst thing. There is nobody on the side nowadays with a bit of balls & that can drag us up like Stevie used to do, inspire other players & take a game by the scruff of the neck.

[Roboklopp]

We're lacking leaders all over the pitch aren't we! I include Gerrard in that too, he's always been a "leader by example" type rather than an "arm around your shoulder" type of captain. Now his form has gone, he's a particularly poor leader IMO.

Under Rafa we used to have a team full of potential captains: Reina, Agger, Macherano, Alonso, Gerrard, Kuyt, Torres.

Now who's captain material? Precious few.

Aye. And Sami too. Miss Sami loads tbh.

When we had a choice of him, Carra, Agger & a performing Skrtel....

[Tee]

We're lacking leaders all over the pitch aren't we! I include Gerrard in that too, he's always been a "leader by example" type rather than an "arm around your shoulder" type of captain. Now his form has gone, he's a particularly poor leader IMO.

Under Rafa we used to have a team full of potential captains: Reina, Agger, Macherano, Alonso, Gerrard, Kuyt, Torres.

Now who's captain material? Precious few.

Very good point that about Stevie.

Don't all laugh but someone like Kolo is a good leader, vocal and always giving it 100%. But clearly we do lack natural strong leaders.

[Pablo]

Very good point that about Stevie.

Don't all laugh but someone like Kolo is a good leader, vocal and always giving it 100%. But clearly we do lack natural strong leaders.

I think I said on here recently that in many ways Kolo is the most natural leader in our entire squad He's very vocal and offers constant encouragement to the other lads when he plays.

He does get nervous at times and that can spread to the team, but overall he's as near as we've got these days to leadership qualities on the pitch.

It's a shame he's still a bit ****

[Norbs]

Very good point that about Stevie.

Don't all laugh but someone like Kolo is a good leader, vocal and always giving it 100%. But clearly we do lack natural strong leaders.

Kolo would be a great leader but he's not on the field long enough. Best leader we have is Henderson. He covers most of the pitch, is vocal and Ive always favoured centre mids being captain.

[Roboklopp]

Not fiery enough, or conversely calm enough, or with enough gravitas.