Bournemouth (H): Post Match

[RichC]

I've been just as objective as you, yet am accused of peddling an agenda

Carry on your arse licking and might I suggest if you dont like my posts dont ****ing read em

Yup, of course you.

I'll do just that big fella!

[Buzzo]

Jeez you guys - get a room

[RichC]

I think we are allowed to view things differently.

There is probably a ball hair of difference between what you both think.

For my money Lovren shows no signs of being a long term CB for us, he is far to agricultural. The clean sheets are great, but we're not without a lot of flaws. I'll take no pleasure in viewing should he go on to cough up opportunities to more savy opposition.

The biggest thing he has done is remove the spotlight from Skrtel who I used to view as an I composed error prone agricultural Centre Back

Perhaps.

I think the thing is, for me you have to look at things as they are, Lovren is the first choice CB rightly or wrongly (Sakho should be playing IMO) and based on the two games so far he's done his job and actually better than his partner who's served up a few more errors so far.

Neither of them fill me with confidence tbh but as I said based on the two performances so far we've actually done well at the back, that though I am sure is also down to the improvements made at both fullback areas as well.

Will the run continue doubtful as we'll conceed at some point but for all of the faults of last season of not being able to keep a clean sheet against almost anyone using a back 4 we've become more compact, harder to get at and as shows with the stats allowing less opportunities for teams to punish us. On the flip side the attack looks a bit disjointed at the moment with Benteke alienated from midfield which makes it hard to create decent chances, hopefully this is down to early season fitness, nerves and getting used to playing as a team and hopefully the introduction of Firmino and Sturrdge (if he's ever fit) will also improve that.

I think I said it in an early post it's good to see that there are players still to come in that actually improve the first team rather than see us going backwards in terms of quality.

Of course it could all not click and then I think we'll see a change at the helm, Klopp is still on the sidelines.

[Fosterbloke]

We have 4 or 5 new first teamers so they're building their patterns of play, it will take a few games. You can see why Man Utd were so gash last season, they were building a new style, readying themselves to upgrade players this season. Except they're still gash

[Muddled]

We have 4 or 5 new first teamers so they're building their patterns of play, it will take a few games. You can see why Man Utd were so gash last season, they were building a new style, readying themselves to upgrade players this season. Except they're still gash

And this isn't going to be an instant return for us. I think we've seen a blend of Rodgers' trusted 4-3-3 with last year's 3-4-2-1 so far. We seem to revert to three at the back for the majority of the game and shore up with Clyne's pace in the recovery. It means our centre-backs are no longer split and we usually have Lovren almost slap bang centre as Gomez comes over.

I believe Rodgers had identified a weakness in defence and he's making us resolute in the hope we can nick a goal or two. Once we have mastered these new tactics, I believe he will then look at how to incorporate Benteke.

As it stands, Benteke is currently the easy outball and whilst it's good he drops deep and wins the majority of these long balls, there is nobody running past him. Our best play came when we built through the midfield; Not when we lumped it up.

As you've said, we have a number of players getting used to Rodgers' tactics and getting used to playing with each other. This will come with game time and match sharpness.

A concern I had with the Bournemouth match as how we played Lallana almost as a central midfielder. Henderson was dropping back, Milner went right to support Clyne, but I felt Lallana was reduced to staying central. Maybe this was to the credit of Bournemouth's midfield, but it certainly nullified his attacking threat and with Ibe offering little in end quality, we were a bit one dimensional.

[Buzzo]

Perhaps.

I think the thing is, for me you have to look at things as they are, Lovren is the first choice CB rightly or wrongly (Sakho should be playing IMO) and based on the two games so far he's done his job and actually better than his partner who's served up a few more errors so far.

Neither of them fill me with confidence tbh but as I said based on the two performances so far we've actually done well at the back, that though I am sure is also down to the improvements made at both fullback areas as well.

Will the run continue doubtful as we'll conceed at some point but for all of the faults of last season of not being able to keep a clean sheet against almost anyone using a back 4 we've become more compact, harder to get at and as shows with the stats allowing less opportunities for teams to punish us. On the flip side the attack looks a bit disjointed at the moment with Benteke alienated from midfield which makes it hard to create decent chances, hopefully this is down to early season fitness, nerves and getting used to playing as a team and hopefully the introduction of Firmino and Sturrdge (if he's ever fit) will also improve that.

I think I said it in an early post it's good to see that there are players still to come in that actually improve the first team rather than see us going backwards in terms of quality.

Of course it could all not click and then I think we'll see a change at the helm, Klopp is still on the sidelines.

Hard to dispute any of that either

Idealism v. Realism. It's going to be an intriguing start to the season. Brendan is balls out on team selection which will make or break him.

I have a feeling Monday is going to be a goal fest.

[Fosterbloke]

If we play well but get a draw against Arsenal I'll be delighted.

[RichC]

As will I. a point at Arsenal would be a very good result.

[Lecter]

[Shaggy]

What the **** does that mean?

"Rough xG sum: 1.7 - 0.5"?

What the ****?

[Alex]

Its actually incredibly insightful.

[Alex]

Been staring at it. Is it attacking touches? Or Shots? Or key passes?

Come on Lec. Dont leave us hanging.

[Lecter]

What the **** does that mean?

"Rough xG sum: 1.7 - 0.5"?

What the ****?

Its chances created and rating them in terms of the quality of chances (larger the dot the better the chance)

As the graphic clearly shows most of Bournemouths best chances came down Lovrens side

[RichC]

Interestingly seeing where are players spent most of their time Lallana clearly ended up playing pretty much the Henderson role against Bournemouth leaving a lot of space down our left and Clyne was playing a much higher line that Gomez but Milner was supporting that area far closer than on the left.

[RedReet]

Its chances created and rating them in terms of the quality of chances (larger the dot the better the chance)

As the graphic clearly shows most of Bournemouths best chances came down Lovrens side

If they targeted that side, it's hardly unsurprising, but surely encouraging that according to that graphic they didn't have a decent chance all game, whereas we had numerous despite many complaining we were lucky to win the game.

Confirms what the lad from Anfield Wrap said, that we had 5 good chances and they had none, therefore we should have won by a bigger margin, despite not playing well for a lot of the game.