Stoke (A): Post Match

[RichC]

Going by the match thread, you would have thought Stoke had played us off the park. It wasn't a spectacle by any stretch of the imagination, however, it's the first game of the season; match sharpness isn't there and nobody wants to get off to a losing start. It was always going to be won by a moment of brilliance.

This was always going to be a tough game as well

[Roboklopp]

Well carra said the game was dire & it kinda was but we looked solid & no one has it easy at that ****hole.

[danperkins]

The key to changing our fortunes was Can in midfield. Gave us much better balance and allowed Milner and Henderson to push up more to support the attack. Lallana was lost in transition and periphery in position and effect.

[Phoenix07]

Great strike, some glimpses of quality and rustiness. At least we have a week to work on sharpening the likes of Benteke, Firmino and co. Delighted with the 3 points, as we need to build a solid foundation. One tough away game won too.

[baronvonskidmark]

A few things for Brendan to address, but for now **** it - the sun is shining and I'm gonna crack open a few more Coronas and celebrate a win against those freaky ****s. **** you Charlie Adam you bus driver c*nt!

[redmike65]

Funny old game, some people have wild levels of expectation. I'll take a 1-0 wonderstrike victory any day of the week against Stoke.

Milner and hendo as a pair do not work that's clear, they need a DM. The new boys acquitted themselves well bar Benteke, forget the service his movement was non existent most of the time. You have to press and harry the opposition from the front - that's how errors are forced and the ball turned over in the best place to score a goal. Suarez knew that was superb at it, hopefully Firmino will add bit (ahem) in that regard.

Ibe and Gomez did well against tough opposition the former taking a fair few knocks for the cause. Countiho is Coutinho - like Luis Garcia he can be ludicrously wasteful and then do something to make you throw your tea in the air.

[BootRoom]

Well carra said the game was dire & it kinda was but we looked solid & no one has it easy at that ****hole.

Probably not enough hoofing or arm-waving to suit his tastes.

[Chris]

Probably not enough hoofing or arm-waving to suit his tastes.

Go back to redcafe you tedious bore.

[Gibbo]

Probably not enough hoofing or arm-waving to suit his tastes.

1) Any excuse

2) Not enough hoofing?!

[vlahka]

Rodgers has the fans back. Here we go

Doesnt have me back. He was about to substitute Coutinho and bring on Ings. Rodgers is not the reason we won. Had he made his planned sub a minute earlier he would of been the reason we lost, if we had the ability to time travel of course.

[cream]

****ing hell yeah

Brilliant from the lads. Coutinho is magic, best player in the leage.

[Chris]

Doesnt have me back. He was about to substitute Coutinho and bring on Ings. Rodgers is not the reason we won. Had he made his planned sub a minute earlier he would of been the reason we lost, if we had the ability to time travel of course.

You're a tit though so doubt he's arsed.

[baitman]

****ing magic to see us grind out a result and to hear the fantastic away support have something to sing about.
great choruses of Coutini-ho-ho-ho

lallana and ibe often squandered possession, ibe often charging into dead ends, one turn too much, ball not sticking, etc.
hopefully firminio and ings will get some time to spread the work load.

can coming on added some connectivity to our midfield, before that we looked hollow in the middle and the forwards were too isolated.
we need to have a midfield three of hendo, milner and can [central] to allow hendo and milner to better close down and also with them being further forward it commits the opposition further back in their own half.

benteke was far too isolated.
if we come down the right [with ibe or firminio] then the left sided guy [lallana or ingsio] will need to come closer to big chris [and vice versa].

[Slinky Skills]

Can changed that game. Terrible performance but who cares. Great 3 points out of a very tough fixture.

Cracking win, not the best of games but we played some good stuff second half.

Incredible goal by Countiho, still he should have passed it to Benteke first half instead of trying to take on the entire Stoke team and we'd have won more comfortably.

[Bender]

You can call me Foster