Simon Mignolet

[Shaggy]

How can he not kick a football? This slicing it out of play malarkey is a joke. He spends his entire life with footballs, kicking footballs, every day. How can he not kick a ball? Just slicing it all the time is inexplicable.

[Pablo]

How can he not kick a football? This slicing it out of play malarkey is a joke. He spends his entire life with footballs, kicking footballs, every day. How can he not kick a ball? Just slicing it all the time is inexplicable.

It's mad isn't it. It's all he does day in day out

That sliding tackle on Costa was ****ing epic though!

He's basically back to how he was last season, which I'm fine with. Long term he needs replacing but if he can keep up his current form that will do just fine until we find another Courtois!

[BobTheCharmer]

Brad Jones is a catastrophe, even for a reserve keeper he's beyond **** with the reactions of a sloth but Mignolet took the biscuit at the weekend, a walking calamity waiting to explode. If we don't have a keeper lined and ready to go in January we are well and truly up **** Creek

It's the 28th Jan today and I don't think we are anywhere near **** creek. In fact he's getting better with each passing game.

[Vermilion]

How can he not kick a football? This slicing it out of play malarkey is a joke. He spends his entire life with footballs, kicking footballs, every day. How can he not kick a ball? Just slicing it all the time is inexplicable.

Take it to the Balotelli thread!

[Lecter]

He's fine but he just can't kick a ball. The pass from the left that he allows across his body, slices them every time. Ridiculous. Time and again gave it straight back to Chelsea.

Not only is his kicking inaccurate but he cant kick it very far either

[meffin]

Credit where credit's due- looks a different player from earlier in the season.

More shouting and now dominates the area/air when high balls are coming in. Either caught or punched everything last night

Apart from the pen (can't really blame him for not saving, despite it being a **** pen) they never looked like scoring

[Norbs]

We're much more organised at the back, he's under far less pressure as a consequence. This is giving him more confidence which will filter through.

I can live with his poor distribution if he keeps clean sheets

[meffin]

Is dropping Lovren and bringing back Sakho the reason Mig looks better, or has Mig stepped up do we think?

[Norbs]

Opposition aren't getting the chances they were so the goalie's not as exposed. I'd fathom a guess that any goalie would look dodgy playing behind the defence we had in the first half of the season.

I'd like to think that Lovren could slot in in place of Sakho and that the formation and tactics will accomodate him but, after seeing how the guys drafted in last night underperformed, I'm not so sure. It's been highlighted how poor Lovren is positionally and so I would think he would need to play in the middle of a three so that he can't drift or be dragged out of position. Looking goalwards the back three would need to line up as Skrtel - Lovren - Sakho but I don't think Skrtel warrants being moved from the middle.

[baitman]

Is dropping Lovren and bringing back Sakho the reason Mig looks better, or has Mig stepped up do we think?

Opposition aren't getting the chances they were so the goalie's not as exposed. I'd fathom a guess that any goalie would look dodgy playing behind the defence we had in the first half of the season.

I'd like to think that Lovren could slot in in place of Sakho and that the formation and tactics will accomodate him but, after seeing how the guys drafted in last night underperformed, I'm not so sure. It's been highlighted how poor Lovren is positionally and so I would think he would need to play in the middle of a three so that he can't drift or be dragged out of position. Looking goalwards the back three would need to line up as Skrtel - Lovren - Sakho but I don't think Skrtel warrants being moved from the middle.

id say that the more solid dm of lucas [without gerrard] has allowed more time for the defence to step out and intercept without over committing. this means mignolet is less panicstricken.

the three at the back is a better option for the GK too. three proper CBs know better what to do, rather than two CBs and gerrard flitting in and out on a whim. look how rarely lucas crosses the CBs lines. lucas makes himself the first line of the defence, ensuring the CBs are then able to step in and challenge for or collect the loose ball.
he now has an option to play it left or right without it being a big panic. can skrtel and sakho have been decent at bringing the ball or playing it between them without too many brain farts.

it wont be too long before we see lovren brought back so we can then move can into midfield. i wonder if brendan will first play lovren alongside can so he can ease lovren back into the swing of things without flapping mignolet too much.

[danperkins]

Didn't have much to do but when he did, he did it like a pro....solid.

Been a big critic of his but he's done well lately & credit where credit it due.

[BigChief]

Didn't have much to do but when he did, he did it like a pro....solid.

Been a big critic of his but he's done well lately & credit where credit it due.

[Norbs]

id say that the more solid dm of lucas [without gerrard] has allowed more time for the defence to step out and intercept without over committing. this means mignolet is less panicstricken.

the three at the back is a better option for the GK too. three proper CBs know better what to do, rather than two CBs and gerrard flitting in and out on a whim. look how rarely lucas crosses the CBs lines. lucas makes himself the first line of the defence, ensuring the CBs are then able to step in and challenge for or collect the loose ball.
he now has an option to play it left or right without it being a big panic. can skrtel and sakho have been decent at bringing the ball or playing it between them without too many brain farts.

it wont be too long before we see lovren brought back so we can then move can into midfield. i wonder if brendan will first play lovren alongside can so he can ease lovren back into the swing of things without flapping mignolet too much.

If the end game is getting Lovren performing well and getting Can playing in midfield then I think dropping Can for Lovren and keeping Lucas in midfield to settle Lovren in, would be the first call, otherwise you need to drop Sakho for Lovren which is counter productive. Lucas being potentially out for a few weeks is going to piss on that idea though. Logic tells me that in Lucas's absence Can should step in to the midfield and be replaced by Johnson or Lovren. We know though that the likelyhood is that Brendan will draft in Allen or Gerrard and that the midfield will lose it's dynamic. Could be a couple of frustrating weeks ahead

[RichC]

Solid performance yesterday, didn't have a huge amount to do but what he did have he dealt with well.

[Exiled_red]

Is dropping Lovren and bringing back Sakho the reason Mig looks better, or has Mig stepped up do we think?

I think the system 3 CB's and Lucas offering protection has helped but I think Mignolet has upped his level too, I think it's a case of confidence breeds confidence.