A settled back four ... and Ming

[LeTallecWiz]

As this back four of Magic-Skittles-Dagger-Flanno has settled down - despite a hiccup here or there - you can tell how Mignolet's confidence is starting to soar.

I think he's peaking this season just at the right time ... we'll need him at his best for the next 6 cup finals, and wish his shot stopping ability and it seems excellent concentration, I'm not even remotely worried about him.

COME ON YOU MIGHTY REDS!

 

[Spaghetti Legs]

Mignolet is doing well lately, good on him and good for us.

 

[hamstrung_pigeon]

Still too early to call about the back four for me. When we're good like today, we're very sound, but we need more days like that before I can say that's the settled back four that we can rely on.

As for Mig - I'm not sure if I missed this because of our rapid progress over the season in other areas, but his clearances and kicking distribution was excellent today. As I'm thinking back of the last few games, I think we haven't had much to say about his distribution for a while now. Looks like he's improved in that area as the season's progressed.

 

[Mersey86]

Said it before, a settled back 4 makes a huge difference.

 

[Dreambeliever]

Any back four with Skrtel in it has a chance

 

[Whirly]

Agger had a really weird moment where he somehow managed to be slower AND weaker than Soldado while chasing down a long ball.

If your CB is slower AND weaker than Roberto Soldado, something is gravely wrong.

 

[Fabio]

Agger had a really weird moment where he somehow managed to be slower AND weaker than Soldado while chasing down a long ball.

If your CB is slower AND weaker than Roberto Soldado, something is gravely wrong.

This pissed me the fuck off

 

[Gary25]

Agger had a really weird moment where he somehow managed to be slower AND weaker than Soldado while chasing down a long ball.

If your CB is slower AND weaker than Roberto Soldado, something is gravely wrong.

That was really quite disturbing wasn't it.

 

[Hansern]

I seem to remember some of us saying that about Ming and a settled back 4.
They were all excellent today. Clean sheet to prove it.

 

[Leo]

Agger.

 

[Modo]

He won the ball though, didn't he?

 

[Loch Ness Monster]

Totally jammed a goal kick due to Soldado being like a lame duck. It looked like Agger was running in concrete boots. Puzzling.

 

[Spaghetti Legs]

Haha, it was really weird seeing that from Agger, he had a decent headstart and then just seemed to go in slow motion.

I think Sakho has to come in for West Ham, they have one real threat - Andy Carroll.

 

[The Slugmonster]

He won the ball though, didn't he?

Because Soldado is shit. It's a little warning though. Aguero and the likes would have left him for dead.

 

[RolandG]

Agger and Skrtel are proving solid despite the odd hiccup. Long may it continue. West Ham is going to be aen arial bombardment of note with Andy Carroll and Kevin Nolan getting stuck in. Me are going to have to be physical to stamp our authority on that game.

 

[rurikbird]

Maybe he slowed down intentionally in order to have more control over his movement. Had he be running full speed, there was more chance of him conceding a corner or even a pen. As it happened, he took the ball off Soldado cleanly, so you could say he used his experience to good effect in this episode.

Of course it would be nice to have a CB who is not nervous about winning a foot race with fucking Roberto Soldado.