Vs. Newcastle United (A): Match Thread

[Muddled]

Yeah and there's us on the other side

I understand our form has been hit and miss this season (okay, mostly miss), but everybody seems to think Newcastle are in a rich vein of form, but they've picked the same number of points as us in the last six games. Pardew seems to be crowing about how great he is after a couple of wins on the bounce and maybe they'll be complacent.

If we start finding our feet I think we'll have more than enough to take the three points, but I don't think it will be pretty.

[Fierce]

Brendan proving a point by playing Balotelli as he was signed against his wishes

And purposefully not playing Borini who refused to leave

Dangerous game Brendan, hope you know what you're doing

[Glenn Hysen]

Jesus wept on a bicycle, anyone would think we had already lost reading this thread. Ffs.

Embarrassing...

[danperkins]

Wonder will Gerrard be pushed further forward? If that is the case then i will feel a bit better about our set up.

[danperkins]

As Muds mentions though, hes bound to go two up top once Sturridge is back, so why be so reluctant to do it now? I don't quite get it.

Definitely rotating far more than last season, but that's the reason we improved the squad size so much in the Summer. I don't think he's mastered rotating players yet, it's a skill in itself.

definitely two up top with Sturridge back. I'm no fan of Borini but surely his movement would be good foil for Balotelli at the this moment in time with things being so stagnant up there?

I think us looking for a compact midfield around Gerrard and ahead of the defence is impacting on our decisions elsewhere. Limits our options when we have to have legs around Stevie IMO.

Agree that Rodgers is on a bit of a learning curve with the rotation side of things alright.

[Camble]

Queue another frustrating afternoon.

The team I would have played (from the buildup thread):

I would play:

Mig
Man-Skr-Lov-Mor
Can
Hendo-Allen
Cout
Sterling-Borini

Can and Hendo covering each other.

Coutinho at the tip of the diamond as he seems to be in decent form.

Sterling up top with Borini as they can press high and stretch the opposition's defence. Ballo to come on as a sub if needs be, Lallana too.


I say it again, Rodgers needs to be brave and make a big call in his setup or selection. Whether it's dropping Gerrard or playing Borini & Sterling up top or something else.

[Daffy Duck]

We'll ****in murder them

[kingfunk]

Jesus wept on a bicycle, anyone would think we had already lost reading this thread. Ffs.

[Daffy Duck]

Really? It's Newcastle United.

Yeah and there's us on the other side

[Pablo]

It's a strange alright. He clearly wants to stick to this one up front & it relies heavily on our midfield which has been below par this season. Love for it to click but hasn't looked even remotely likely thus far.

Definitely a hell of a lot more rotation this season too with the champs league.

As Muds mentions though, hes bound to go two up top once Sturridge is back, so why be so reluctant to do it now? I don't quite get it.

Definitely rotating far more than last season, but that's the reason we improved the squad size so much in the Summer. I don't think he's mastered rotating players yet, it's a skill in itself.

[Muddled]

I think it's pretty stupid of Pardew not to play Aarons, what I've seen of him so far makes me think that he'd have a field day along our right side.


Not expecting anything from this match really.

Really? It's Newcastle United.

[danperkins]

On paper you would think we'd ****ing destroy them but they have a workmanlike midfield and will press against us... we haven't been able to deal with that type of play too well this season. Always unsure of how Allen will play, maybe saving Lallana for Madrid, maybe Manquillo too?

Newcastle have an unpredictable bench too. Some talent on there.

[Daffy Duck]

Paul ****ing Dummett.

I think it's pretty stupid of Pardew not to play Aarons, what I've seen of him so far makes me think that he'd have a field day along our right side.


Not expecting anything from this match really.

[G]

Manquillo getting dropped is a joke. I'd even say Toure and Jones getting dropped is too

Borini I can understand because you need Sterling and Coutinho deserves a start.

[JohnDoe]

Allen over Lallana is

Yeah, Lallana hasn't been playing well lately, but Joe Allen on a good day is still pretty useless.