Stoke (A): Post Match

[captainfog]

Weren't Henderson and Milner still on the pitch when Can came on?

Yes.

[Fredo]

Weren't Henderson and Milner still on the pitch when Can came on?

Yes, moved Coutinho from the middle to the left, in a 4-3-3. That's probably the formation going forward at some point.

[Bender]

You realise it's the first game of the season right?

We started similarly 2 years ago, but we were solid and grinded out games, which allowed us to keep in touch in the league and obviously our form improved the more games we played.

There's absolutely no reason to be negative as such after a win on the first day of the season, unless your hatred of Rogers is negating your ability to think.

we stayed solid kept ourselves in the game,BR made the changes and it paid off.

[frank the tank]

Next game should be -

-----Benteke-----Firmino
------------Coutinho
-----Can-----Milner-----Henderson
Gomez--Lovren--Skrtel--Clyne

Mig

Almost agree 100%........think Mig should be in front of the goal though.....as opposed to hogging the left hand touchline

[Bender]

Almost agree 100%........think Mig should be in front of the goal though.....as opposed to hogging the left hand touchline

Mig is the Manager

[kingfunk]

Hopefully the Stoke City fan who went into cardiac arrest in the main stand makes a full recovery. prospective.

[Exiled_red]

First of all a great result, thanks to a moment of magic from Coutinho

The performance itself was quite flat, I thought we were trying too much to play everything to Benteke, but the other attacking players were too far from him alot of the time meaning he was quite isolated, I think what he did was fine but we didn't get him involved enough that was the problem of the midfield. Ibe is still quite raw and his decision making at time could be better but that will come. Lallana seemed to be involved alot first half in particular but didn't really do much. I am unconvinced that the midfield of Henderson and Milner is the right way to go I thought we improved when Can came on and joined them in midfield. Firmino's cameo apperance showed alot of promise.

Defensively we kept a clean sheet but the defending didn't inspire confidence. That said Lovren was of our better defenders, Skrtel made quite a few mistakes, Gomez was decent but caught out a few times due to inexperience, I think we needed to play a defensive minded player at LB Moreno bombing forward would unbalance the side and leave us exposed. Clyne had a solid debut.

Hopefully we can work the problems we saw today and the improve the performances for the coming games.

[vonk]

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 didn't see how Can replacing Lallana changed the game entirely then? You see what you want to I suppose. When we win its the players, when we lose its the manager.

[ronanm]

The game totally changed when Lallana was replaced by Can. Take heed Brendan.

Lallana useless as per usual. Won't get any better. Good result.

[vonk]

Emre Can has to be in Rodgers thinking now surely? We looked immediately better and he's brilliant..

He was in his thinking when he brought him on.

Can by all accounts (TAW mainly) was rubbish v Swindon, so few had him in their lineup today. But we were losing midfield until he came on. Maybe Can, Milner, Hendo for the away games and a more attacking line up for the homes.

[SB]

Considering we got humiliated in our last league game at the same place this win cannot be overstated. It's ****ing massive. Rodgers has the fans back for the week. Here we go

[BrooklynRed]

Thoughts:

Tactically, we made a mistake starting Lallana- second best to every ball, always bringing his defender with him into Coutinho's space. Lallana should be Coutinho's sub, period. Like for like, and he is second best by a long way.

Ibe had the same issue with Lallana and with the fact that no one was dedicated to the LW in the formation- almost everything came down the right via Clyne and Ibe and Stoke pinched that way the entire match crowding the ball along the touchline. We did not reverse field at all, and played the ball far too slowly against their pressure. But Ibe was isolated because we had no one running the left wing. Gomez/Lovren on that side and no attacker- this threw us way out of balance, coupled with Lallana drifting.

Relieving pressure by throwing it up to Benteke, but no one running off of him or his headers in midfield, so constant turnovers to relieve pressure as Hendo and Milner did the right thing and pushed back to help the defense, but it meant we did not have enough outlets to launch a counter.

Can on, Firmino on as a RW in a 4-3-3 (Coutinho on the left) and suddenly we were much, much better through the middle. This HAS TO BE our base formation or a diamond with Can - Hendo/Millner- Coutinho with Firmino playing off of Benteke and dropping deeper in support, with Lallana a sub for Coutinho and Ibe a sub for Firmino.

Also, huge props to Lovren. Best CB by a mile, his best game for us? and to Clyne, whose headed clearance (blink and you miss it) on Diouf saved the day today. Amazing debut for Clyne, who is a much needed signing.

Last, I wonder if Stoke have training sessions dedicated solely to shoving people in the back and grabbing their shoulders and arms. Watching the match again, it was INCREDIBLE how much holding/ grabbing they do. Watch Coutinho's goal again as he tears free of a two handed pull back. I hate Stoke- absolute hacks.

Great to win it, but if BR wants to "win back my faith" he will look at this match and see what is required moving forward. Onwards and upwards!

[SB]

Next game should be -

-----Benteke-----Firmino
------------Coutinho
-----Can-----Milner-----Henderson
Gomez--Lovren--Skrtel--Clyne

Mig

No Ibe?

[The_weatherman]

Thoughts:

Tactically, we made a mistake starting Lallana- second best to every ball, always bringing his defender with him into Coutinho's space. Lallana should be Coutinho's sub, period. Like for like, and he is second best by a long way.

Ibe had the same issue with Lallana and with the fact that no one was dedicated to the LW in the formation- almost everything came down the right via Clyne and Ibe and Stoke pinched that way the entire match crowding the ball along the touchline. We did not reverse field at all, and played the ball far too slowly against their pressure. But Ibe was isolated because we had no one running the left wing. Gomez/Lovren on that side and no attacker- this threw us way out of balance, coupled with Lallana drifting.

Relieving pressure by throwing it up to Benteke, but no one running off of him or his headers in midfield, so constant turnovers to relieve pressure as Hendo and Milner did the right thing and pushed back to help the defense, but it meant we did not have enough outlets to launch a counter.

Can on, Firmino on as a RW in a 4-3-3 (Coutinho on the left) and suddenly we were much, much better through the middle. This HAS TO BE our base formation or a diamond with Can - Hendo/Millner- Coutinho with Firmino playing off of Benteke and dropping deeper in support, with Lallana a sub for Coutinho and Ibe a sub for Firmino.

Also, huge props to Lovren. Best CB by a mile, his best game for us? and to Clyne, whose headed clearance (blink and you miss it) on Diouf saved the day today. Amazing debut for Clyne, who is a much needed signing.

Last, I wonder if Stoke have training sessions dedicated solely to shoving people in the back and grabbing their shoulders and arms. Watching the match again, it was INCREDIBLE how much holding/ grabbing they do. Watch Coutinho's goal again as he tears free of a two handed pull back. I hate Stoke- absolute hacks.

Great to win it, but if BR wants to "win back my faith" he will look at this match and see what is required moving forward. Onwards and upwards!

I'd be tempted to try Moreno out on the left to offer width, in midfield though, him and Lovren don't mix well.

[BigChief]

No Ibe?

Big fan of Ibe, but if we're going to fit Can and Firmino into the starting XI (which I think is right) then Ibe has to be sacrificed. What a great sub to bring on against tiring legs though.