Brendan Rodgers

[BG1973]

I was hoping Aspas would be a good addition and give us another option without dropping any quality but it didn't happen. I know it sounds daft to say the signing of Aspas could be costly but unless he chips in I think we're an attacking player short again this year.

EDIT: As well as not replacing Shelvey because we're really light in the middle.

Any new striker who is not playing every week, unless a superstar, is going to struggle to make any real impact to a team.

Strikers more than anyone else need games (and a couple of goals) I think. They're judged on very obvious stats and therefore they're under more obvious pressure, I feel.

[RichC]

He's showing some real progress since he's been our manager.

Last season we had 10 points after 9 games, we've 20 points this season after 9 games

Since the turn of the year I've been so impressed with him and how we've moved forwards.

Let's hope we can keep this level up for the rest of the season

[wavydavy]

I don't think Brenda's getting enough praise tbh. Imagine the ****storm if we were floundering on about 7 or 8 points at the arse end of the table? I had my doubts but he seems to be really growing into the role and appears to be running a really happy ship at the moment. Well done I say...

[Assassin]

I don't think Brenda's getting enough praise tbh. Imagine the ****storm if we were floundering on about 7 or 8 points at the arse end of the table? I had my doubts but he seems to be really growing into the role and appears to be running a really happy ship at the moment. Well done I say...

Like calling him Brenda is praising him.....

[magicalbarnes]

Like calling him Brenda is praising him.....

[Shaggy]

Very good so far. Great improvement. Bigger tests to come - in fact it starts to get pretty serious now. A result next week and I'm going to be a bit giddy.

[RichC]

23 points from 10 games would be amazing

It's going to be really tough vs. Arsenal, we'll get a really good idea of where we are vs. them

[Shaggy]

They'll have no Arteta and maybe no Flamini. I'm not that confident though but the great thing is with those two up front we have a chance in every single game we play. If they turn it on big time at Arsenal, we win.

[magicalbarnes]

Very good so far. Great improvement. Bigger tests to come - in fact it starts to get pretty serious now. A result next week and I'm going to be a bit giddy.

We've got a great chance to get a result down there.

They've got Chelsea (h) on tuesday on day, followed by us on saturday, a crunch away CL game at Dortmund on wednesday and then manU (a) on sunday.

Thats some fixture list!

[Bernardicus]

They'll have no Arteta and maybe no Flamini. I'm not that confident though but the great thing is with those two up front we have a chance in every single game we play. If they turn it on big time at Arsenal, we win.

Who'll be their DM partnership, Wilshere & Diaby?

[Shaggy]

Who'll be their DM partnership, Wilshere & Diaby?

Diaby's ****ed yet again, out long term. I reckon it'll be a half fit Flamini and Ramsey.

[RichC]

I agree, although tempting to bring Coutinho back in I think I'd keep the same starting 11 and formation for the Arsenal game.

They have some decent attacking players which will need our defenders + Lucas and Henderson getting at them but if our attacking players are on song they'll cause them all sorts of issues.

[Slinky Skills]

I don't think Brenda's getting enough praise tbh. Imagine the ****storm if we were floundering on about 7 or 8 points at the arse end of the table? I had my doubts but he seems to be really growing into the role and appears to be running a really happy ship at the moment. Well done I say...

It's only a matter of time before he does start gaining praise and rightly so.

I think we're going to do Arsenal next week too.

[Fosterbloke]

They'll have no Arteta and maybe no Flamini. I'm not that confident though but the great thing is with those two up front we have a chance in every single game we play. If they turn it on big time at Arsenal, we win.

Arteta is only banned against Chelsea in the League Cup I believe. It's the absence of Walcott and Flamini that gives me greater joy

Lucas vs Ozil
Suarez vs Mertesacker

Should be a cracking game!

[RichC]

Suarez or Sturridge vs. Mertesacker you hope would bring success for us, he's got the turning circle of the QE2