Aston Villa (H) Post Match

[McDermotX]

Has anyone else mentioned Sktrel's horrendous positioning for Villa's 1st goal yet?
Yes Gestede lost Can but Skrtel is next to Sakho beyond the near post leaving a good 5 yards smack bang in the middle of the goal unattended.

It's not ****ing rocket science Marty, if the LCB is in the near post space you defend the centre of the goal and cut out the cross.

Unfathomable how Gomez cannot get a game ahead of Can or Skrtel.

Another game, another big error, another goal conceded but everyone talks about Sakho and Can again, I have no idea how Skrtel gets away with it.

Bloody hell.

Y'know....it is alright to criticise other players for individual errors that lead to goals.

The positioning was actually fine from the three of them to begin with, shifted across the goal as the left side is exposed.....Sakho might have been able to get a head on it, though if he heard a shout that could explain it, and its Mig acting the bollocks, and Can was naive to not following the man and anticipating the chance being created.
You're gonna be hard pushed placing the blame elsewhere.

[Buzzo]

His distribution is horrendous I've lost count the number of times he catches the ball has a defender free for an early ball yet he dithers around letting the opposition regroup and eventually decides to play it to the same defender who was free but is now marked

That reminds me of Sander Westerveld, I always think of him catching the ball - then racing through a crowd of players to the edge of the box - then, he'd get his cigs out, pop his slippers on - alight cigarette. Check clock. Hold ball looking around frantically doing dummy throws to players running forward.

Wait until opposition team have all filtered back into preferred positions.

Finish cig, then roll ball 3 metres to Sami or Henchoz.

[Daniel 7]

I remember when Westerveld signed and Houllier invited the press in to show them that Sander could throw the ball from one end of Anfield to the other. Said he was the new Schmeichel.

[Buzzo]

A keeper so good we replaced him twice in the same day.

[DannyMan2006]

A keeper so good we replaced him twice in the same day.

For the most part Sander was pretty good, just the odd cock up.

After him Jerzy had one good season & then aside from Istanbul was ****e. Kirkland was made of biscuits, Carson was average. Only Reina stands out. Imagine having him now, perfect for that passing game.

[Slinky Skills]

Mignolet is utter cack, been saying it for ages.

He's ****.

[RichC]

For the most part Sander was pretty good, just the odd cock up.

After him Jerzy had one good season & then aside from Istanbul was ****e. Kirkland was made of biscuits, Carson was average. Only Reina stands out. Imagine having him now, perfect for that passing game.

Well apart from the inability to actually make a save

[Red_Polo]

Well apart from the inability to actually make a save

My favourite was when he got away with kicking into Hutchison's back and it looping into goal.

[RichC]

That was hilarious, the ref did us a massive favour blowing the whistle that day

[frank the tank]

I wouldn't at all be surprised to see us go back in for Victor Valdes in the Jan transfer window on a free transfer. I think United are at the stage where they wouldn't have any problem letting him go to LFC and to be honest VV would be a good fit for us.

What I can't understand is how Mignolet hasn't been able to improve his distribution. For a goalie to be a top player, he needs 3 key attributes - shot-stopping, coming for high balls / crosses and good distribution. Mignolet is great at the first one - which is the most "natural" attribute. The other 2 - especially distribution - you would think he could work on.

One time during the Villa game, the KOP really got on his back. He claimed a ball and the counter was on. It was ****in on - all he had to do was roll it quickly to Sakho - who in turn had a release ball to Moreno down the left and he was in there. Mig just took ages, decided to scope out the pitch, and it was over after 5 seconds of his hesitance. The dope.

Getting back to the Villa game in general, for me we were better going forward but i can really sense a nervousness in the team. We got the goal after a minute but i got the feeling that had we not scored so early, then we would have got shakey, the ground would have as well and thats when there is a draw or a defeat in the post. I think that the 2 goals will do sturridge the world of good but the defense is a much bigger worry than the attack being okay. Aston Villa scored 2 goals but we gave them a couple of free chances where they should have scored 2 more.

So in a game where we could and should have been out of sight, where we had most of the ball, and where our opposition basically sat back and thought "we can have a go at them at the end of the game and they will **** it up" then we are a Sakho / Skrtel / Emre Can / Mignolet (delete as appropriate) **** up away from another dropped 2 points.

The positives - definately attack wise. We looked so much better with Sturridge. His strike rate is class but he also works the channels pretty well too. Him and Ings both did that brilliantly. The guy next to me was giving out about the wing backs not having anyone to overlap with but for me both strikers taking turns to peel off and go wide was great. Milner also played really well. And you would have to say when we get henderson back in the team then our midfield will get more and more pressing.

The negative - the defense. All day long. I genuinely think that it doesnt matter who we put in there, the team is just not set up to defend. And can't be either because every one of them has an individual error in them (even Sakho who i think is very good). The fact that Lovren was out got me in a good mood before the game but he is just the lesser of the evils. I think the 3-at-the-back formation is to do 2 things - get Emre Can into the team, and also counter the fact that Skrtel cannot cover for a full back. Skrtel is grand in the centre of a 3 (or at least he was last season) because he doesn't really have to think about anyone else but himself holding a line with the other 2 lads.

In reality though, although he played very well at the weekend, Lucas shouldnt be needed to play in front of 3 centre backs. Our full backs should be able to play like wing backs anyway against Aston Villa at home. And in reality, Villa sat back with loads of men behind the ball and only Gestede up front (with Sinclair sometimes joining the party) we shouldnt need 3 centre backs to counter that.

Going forward, i would like to see Gomez at least tried out in CB in the europa / capOne games.

[Snigger]

Give Bogdan a go, or the tea lady - anything would be an improvement.

[Kenneth]

Mignolet is fine.

[dww]

I don't get your attachment to Mig Kenneth. He's not as bad as some make out but he has made significant mistakes and has obvious weaknesses to his game.

I'd actually like to see Bogdan thought of as a genuine challenger for his place. Mignolets best form came after his place was under threat last season.

[Kenneth]

When I look around the league I see goalkeepers who make mistakes and significant ones at that. He's been in a team that finished second and is no more error prone than England's #1 who has multiple titles to his name. And his weakness in distribution has never cost us a point. He is just not a significant issue for us.

He was utter ****e early last season, there was something wrong psychologically and he was a wreck, but he got over that and has been genuinely good since, not just good enough.

He made a mistake and the cries of 'he's ****' come back. Keepers make mistakes, all of them. If he goes on another disaterous run then it will need addressing, but chances are that this won't happen. Bringing in Valdes has been suggested above, but chances are we'd just be the next club to reject the aging has-been.

I've no issue with wanting competition for his place, we should obviously welcome that.

[Fredo]

I don't really mind about his distribution. While it's not great, it's not horrific. He is prone to indecision though and that causes panic to the defence time and again. He does look like shouting a lot, but whether the message is communicated I'm not so sure.