Bournemouth (H): Post Match

[SK]

Some great performances last night, mainly Clyne, Milner and Benteke. Coutinho was also good first half but then understandibly faded due to having zero preseason.

The midfield has to change against Arsenal, Lallana should not start and a three man midfield is a must, either we'll get run over.

Ibe i'd keep in the team for his pace alone, and what i'd like to see is more balls played to him behind defeneders and not to his feet where he has to stop and then has two defenders on him. We have to start using his pace to scare the **** out of defenders and force them to play a deeper defensive line.

edit: forgot to mention Gomez, he had a great game aswell

[Lecter]

Some really valid concerns and points good and bad raised.

I must admit I thought we rode our luck last night. They deserved a goal and ours shouldn't have stood. For 10 minutes we let Matt Ritchie have about 5 shots on target, one which hit the post and you wonder how a team with more options up front might have got on against us. Defensively we look nervous, ok 2 clean sheets, but I just don't see the 2 centre backs or goal keeper as long term solutions you can build a trophy winning team around. I am happy to give Lovren, but all of the signs and habits that were his undoing last season seem to still be present. He is rash at times, uncertain at others. He still looks an accident waiting to happen.

I also agree that it is challenging to work out how to post on here currently if you don't share in the general optimism. It's too early for me to say either way. Bournemouth had so many players I've never heard of and the game felt quite like a cup tie, but one we should be expecting to win. Easily.

The jury remains out for me.

[RichC]

Don't see why we shouldn't make changes between games, would have wanted Can and Firmino get some minutes at home.

But I agree with Redreet, the pressure is all on Arsenal on Monday, even if we lost we are level with them and have played two tough away games, and ahead of Chelsea no matter what

It's the 2nd game of the season we need stability at the moment which has worked so far.

The Arsenal game I think we'll need to change things up a little bit but the pressure is on them rather than us.

[kewellnthegang]

Some great performances last night, mainly Clyne, Milner and Benteke. Coutinho was also good first half but then understandibly faded due to having zero preseason.

The midfield has to change against Arsenal, Lallana should not start and a three man midfield is a must, either we'll get run over.

Ibe i'd keep in the team for his pace alone, and what i'd like to see is more balls played to him behind defeneders and not to his feet where he has to stop and then has two defenders on him. We have to start using his pace to scare the **** out of defenders and force them to play a deeper defensive line.

Really ?

[The_weatherman]

Some great performances last night, mainly Clyne, Milner and Benteke. Coutinho was also good first half but then understandibly faded due to having zero preseason.

The midfield has to change against Arsenal, Lallana should not start and a three man midfield is a must, either we'll get run over.

Ibe i'd keep in the team for his pace alone, and what i'd like to see is more balls played to him behind defeneders and not to his feet where he has to stop and then has two defenders on him. We have to start using his pace to scare the **** out of defenders and force them to play a deeper defensive line.

That's my fear, but since Rodgers wont use Lucas we wont have a central mid on the bench.

[Chris]

I also agree that it is challenging to work out how to post on here currently if you don't share in the general optimism.

[RichC]

One good thing is that winning our first 2 games, no matter the performances eases the pressure against Arsenal. We should be relaxed and able to go there looking for a result.

Yup, going to the Emirates is never easy but I think they need the win more than us. I'd be made up with a draw against them

[RichC]

Really ?

He was excellent last night

[Lecter]

One thing that was interesting last night is when Mignolet was kicking out from the back how far up the pitch the defence pushed

The play was condensed into a very small area maybe 20-30 yards, we clearly must be confident that balls over the top wouldnt hurt us

Equally Bournemouth pushed right up also

[kewellnthegang]

He was excellent last night

I was on 2/0

you will forgive me for disagreeing

[RichC]

I was on 2/0

you will forgive me for disagreeing

So was I with him scoring the first

[kewellnthegang]

So was I with him scoring the first

He will bomb big time i reckon
I may be wrong but i rarely am fella

[RedReet]

The point I'm making is against Brendan's outlay. There's nothing wrong with Gomez at the moment, I think he's doing really well, Ibe on the other hand had a very poor game and I'm not sure he should be starting at all. However, based on our expenditure, we really shouldn't be relying on a couple of kids to start premier league games in key area's. At this stage in their career they should be filling in. It simply exposes Brendan's transfer history.

Well IMO, it’s not a very good way to make it. Basically you are implying that players shouldn’t be picked on merit, but if Rodgers paid big money for them then they should be starting. So you are basically going against what the majority are moaning about, with Rogders having his favourites (ie. his alleged signings) and sticking with them.

And again, we are not relying on anybody at this stage. We are two games in, Gomez has been excellent in both games and Ibe has been playing because Firmino and Can aren’t fully fit yet. At this stage in Ibe’s career, he should be starting if good enough. If not, drop him to the bench which is what inevitably will happen. At his age, Sterling was a first team regular and key player for us.

[SK]

Really ?

yeah, his work rate was amazing, he held the ball well, it's not just about goals, his overall play was far more than i expected from him.

That's my fear, but since Rodgers wont use Lucas we wont have a central mid on the bench.

i think he'll play lucas, he has to really, either that or go with three at the back again with two holding mids in milner and can.

[kingfunk]

Watching the game last night when we had a single goal lead for so long, I had the feeling that our defence was safe, I thought it would take something special for them to score. That is a feeling I have not had for a few years, the defence really does look way more solid.
Having said that, there were a couple of occasions where Mignolet's positioning was really poor and had a couple of their shots actually hit the target he would have been beaten.
All in all defence is more solid, but I do worry for us next Monday we will need even more energy in midfield to break up their rapid play, can't help but feel a draw would be a good result. If we are to get anything more we need a massive improvement in the defence to attack transition phase. If we think we are going to defend all day against arsenal they will destroy us. Attack will be our best form of defence.