Hoffenheim (A): Post Match

[BigChief]

Lovren and Moreno, I mean, that just summed up our need for a CB and a possible Robertson scenario.

I can't say I'm a fan of Mane and Salah as inverted wingers. It does become very predictable, and for me, you have to be exceptional for it to work i.e. Robben and Ribery, Ronaldo, Messi when he broke through.

I think Mane and Salah would do so much damage if they were played on the right and left flanks respectively. They can penetrate between full back and centre back, and stretch the play even further. Having them strike the ball across goal with power would be good.

This is a bizarre comment. Mane, albeit in dispatches, was sensational cutting in from the left. Without him coming in from the left we wouldn't have gone 1-0 up. And with Salah ready to finish off 2-0 he was very effective on the right. Mane in particular was as good as, or better than, Ribery with his constant p*ss take tricks against the LB. How could Firmino not score that chance he created on a plate?

With those two able to take on men on the outside on their 'weaker' foot or come inside onto their stronger foot teams have to re-assess how to play us. Personally I don't care which wing either plays on they are just as effective (not more effective or less effective, just as effective).

[Lecter]

I think it's six of one half a dozen of the other with Lovren and Moreno I think with the right player next to them they can be effective however together they're a bit of a disaster. For me solely for his ability to get forward and that having a solid CB is more critical to the side I'd rather see Lovren replaced

Its like playing Russian roulette with Lovren, Moreno & Mignolet together

Each time the opposition attacks one of them will blow their brains out and gift the opposition a chance

[Chris]

If we refer back to the team that was tearing up the Prem last season (until xmas 2016), it was as follows:

Karius
Clyne
Matip
Lovren
Milner
Wini
Henderson
Lallana
Coutinho
Mane
Firmino

I'm a big fan of Can but since he's come into the team, our midfield has been ****e but strangely enough seems like our best midfield player. Maybe it's a lack of discipline?

Can played when we hammered Watford 6-1 and were sensational, Can played when we hammered Palace and were sensational etc etc, Can, Hendo, Lallana as a 3 were great in those games, things fall apart when someone from our attack is missing and/or our link between the midfield and attack is missing like Lallana or Coutinho right now, it ends up a bit of a disjointed mess. Hopefully we are addressing this in the tranny market but probably not, if not them we need the rat to get over his "bad back" asap.

[labourRed]

Can played when we hammered Watford 6-1 and were sensational, Can played when we hammered Palace and were sensational etc etc, Can, Hendo, Lallana as a 3 were great in those games, things fall apart when someone from our attack is missing and/or our link between the midfield and attack is missing like Lallana or Coutinho right now, it ends up a bit of a disjointed mess. Hopefully we are addressing this in the tranny market but probably not, if not them we need the rat to get over his "bad back" asap.

There's little difference between Can and Wijnaldum but they're a waste playing together instead of a more creative player.

[Maxiedge]

Can played when we hammered Watford 6-1 and were sensational, Can played when we hammered Palace and were sensational etc etc, Can, Hendo, Lallana as a 3 were great in those games, things fall apart when someone from our attack is missing and/or our link between the midfield and attack is missing like Lallana or Coutinho right now, it ends up a bit of a disjointed mess. Hopefully we are addressing this in the tranny market but probably not, if not them we need the rat to get over his "bad back" asap.

We've been completely hampered by injuries but, imo, the team I posted had the best balance and we looked pretty solid for it.

[Exiled_red]

I don't like this approach but if we are going beyond the transfer window with Lovren as a first choice centre back we need either a full back who won't leave him so exposed, someone more defensively minded (or at least more defensively aware) or we need someone in midfield who will do a proper DM job and fill in space and cover for people when they get caught up field (Mascherano, Hamann etc).

A big problem with the team for me at the moment is that it seems fairly unclear who is responsible for what for example who in the midfield is supposed to be the DM (I am guessing Henderson), who is supposed to be supporting the attack etc at the moment in our midfield it seems as though they just do whatever they feel like or figure it out amongst themselves or something, the three in there are too similar. With Coutinho or Lallana you can at least see what they will do at the moment it feels like there are 3 jack of all trades in there.

For me it is a similar thing with Firmino up front, I like him as a player but he isn't a number 9, a number 9 should basically be told you are in there to score goals, yeah creativity and link up play are great but that player should be our main goal threat and I just don't see him as that the way he is playing, at the moment, yes he will get goals but not having a 'proper' striker in there unbalances the side.

[PTP]

Its like playing Russian roulette with Lovren, Moreno & Mignolet together

Each time the opposition attacks one of them will blow their brains out and gift the opposition a chance

and the risk is multiplied because we don't seem to have anyone in midfield

those three would prob get away with a lot of things if we had peak mascherano in the side steaming round

[Exiled_red]

Its like playing Russian roulette with Lovren, Moreno & Mignolet together

Each time the opposition attacks one of them will blow their brains out and gift the opposition a chance

[Fosterbloke]

I wonder how we'd fare with Clyne on the left?

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[Glenn Hysen]

Can needs a bit more time to reach form. He was back late this summer. Henderson also needs some time to get back in form. But those three are too similar to play together. Two of them together with a more attacking midfielder with quick feet is the best combination.

[SB]

I'm starting to have concerns too but we do leave him exposed a lot of the time and he's got a ****ing idiot next to him. I guess we'd find out if it's personnel or set up if we sign VVD.

And he's not getting any cover in front of him from Henderson either.

[gratziani]

Its like playing Russian roulette with Lovren, Moreno & Mignolet together

Each time the opposition attacks one of them will blow their brains out and gift the opposition a chance

Them three are not good for your BP

[Cormack74]

I wonder how we'd fare with Clyne on the left?

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Was thinking the same last night. He did play there for a while didn't he or is the mind playing tricks?

[Fosterbloke]

Was thinking the same last night. He did play there for a while didn't he or is the mind playing tricks?

Pretty sure he did and did it well.

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[baitman]

clyne was fairly solid at LB but he was even less adventurous in his attack play than he was on the right.
he isnt going to overcommit to his attacking contribution and then compromise his defensive duties.