Dejan Lovren

[G]

Could have been worse - could have spent £32m on Mangala who has looked like dog ****. Demichelis light years better than him

Demichellis was muck when he first arrived too. He's much better now though so there's hope for Mangala and Lovren. I think he's ****e though.

[Slinky Skills]

Someone should have dropkicked Lovren out of the plane en route to Madrid today, would have done us all a favour!

[DannyMan2006]

I looked at the video Lec posted. It's like watching a car crash, and I'm not talking just about Lovren. They were all over the place. Skrtel was marking the goalscorer as the ball came across. Because of this Lovren thinks he's free to go to the ball I guess. I understand why he moved forwards as the player was directly ahead of him. Issue is too many of them go for the same ball and we lose complete shape. If Dejan goes he needs to call it as his and Moreno stay where he is. Don't know if that's happening.

[DannyMan2006]

I looked at the video Lec posted. It's like watching a car crash, and I'm not talking just about Lovren. They were all over the place. Skrtel was marking the goalscorer as the ball came across. Because of this Lovren thinks he's free to go to the ball I guess. I understand why he moved forwards as the player was directly ahead of him. Issue is too many of them go for the same ball and we lose complete shape. If Dejan goes he needs to call it as his and Moreno stay where he is. Don't know if that's happening.

EDIT

I watched it again. It's a little better. Lovren calls Skrtel across, Lovren goes to intercept the ball and Skrtel marks Perez. Issue is Moreno follows Lovren and when the ball doesn't go where it should, it comes at Moreno at a crazy angle, and at the sametime Skrtel leaves Perez because of the strange placing of the ball. Moreno then can't get his footing and cocks it up, Perez is alive and scores.

[Kenneth]

It all looked fine to me in a positional sense. Everyone was covered and even when the ball came across unexpectedly we cut it out. Then Moreno spannered it to their player who shot.

[DannyMan2006]

It all looked fine to me in a positional sense. Everyone was covered and even when the ball came across unexpectedly we cut it out. Then Moreno spannered it to their player who shot.

Obviously you should just boot it in that position so that is a mistake. But the bigger mistake was him rushing out with Lovren. Only needed one, Dejan was more central so him passing Perez to Skrtel and rushing out was probably the right move. When Moreno rushed it meant he ended up being caught out by a ball that didn't follow the course of what was expected. Caught in his feet and then it's in the back of the net.

[alonso14]

Lovren has plenty of time to improve and superb last season. Hes adjusting to a new environment, new tactics so it can take a little time.

When he first joined Southampton he was probably playing without pressure because Southampton aren't a big club and not a lot was expected. As sterwart downing found out the biggest challenge isn't proving you have the talent its about dealing with the expectation and pressure of playing for a big club.

[frank the tank]

Looking at this thread & on twitter you're not the only one, so I'm guessing that its me in the wrong!

I don't specifically remember him making an error for the goal, but I'll not defend him as I don't remember it all & only watched it once.

In all honesty I've yet to fall either way on judging Lovren as I always give players a season unless they're total ****e. I've seen bits in him to suggest he can do the job, but I'll agree with those who've said he's made some basic errors.

Clearly if we're spending £20m it should be on a finished article. Especially when we already have a young LCB in Sakho who is rough around the edges but has potential. I don't see many differences in the two tbh.

Personally I'd have begged Agger to stay to rotate with Sakho and brought in a player to compete with Skrtel at RCB. If Agger wanted out I'd have kept Illori.

But being where we are now, I'd stick with Lovren and see what happens. IMO he's been making less mistakes & has looked better. But he's going to have to put in a lot of solid displays to win me and others over.

Just because they are both left footed doesnt mean Lovren and Sakho cant play together.......when i see that stated i think its crazy.......(maybe they cant be good as a pairing but its not because they are both left footed!!!)


Illori cant even get in the bordeaux team so i dont think he is the answer....another 7-10m (or whatever he cost) spunked away.....they all ****in add up

[frank the tank]

Lovren has plenty of time to improve and superb last season. Hes adjusting to a new environment, new tactics so it can take a little time.

When he first joined Southampton he was probably playing without pressure because Southampton aren't a big club and not a lot was expected. As sterwart downing found out the biggest challenge isn't proving you have the talent its about dealing with the expectation and pressure of playing for a big club.

And as Stewart Downing also proved.......if you are stupid enough to pay £20m for a **** player, then you'll end up squeezing the cheese in a year or two afterwards hoping that some ****in ape like Sam Allardyce will take him off your hands for £5m or so.....

[CAD]

Yeah he ****ed right up stopping the shot from getting off and making Moreno forget how to use his right foot.

You will only ever see him as the reason why the defence is all over the place, nothing to do with the individual mistakes or the lack of organisation across the back 5.

Back on topic Lovren has been **** so far.

Im sorry mate. You cant see anything inept in SGs positioning at that goal??? Are you serious?

[captainfog]

Have to say, I think he's a good passer and good on the ball. His long passing is normally decent. I just think on Saturday everyone was rushed and trying to force it too much. Frustration more than anything.

The stats suggest otherwise. Gives the ball away all the time. Since he has been here he has not done anything well.

[CAD]

The stats suggest otherwise. Gives the ball away all the time. Since he has been here he has not done anything well.

link?

[Chazza]

Im sorry mate. You cant see anything inept in SGs positioning at that goal??? Are you serious?

Nope and neither did Carragher or Neville last night.

A lot of issues with Lovrens positioning and the tracking back of Borini and Coutinho but nothing about Gerrard being in a poor position.

[Leyton388]

I saw a better defence at Saddam Hussain's trial than i did at the weekend.

[danperkins]

I saw a better defence at Saddam Hussain's trial than i did at the weekend.