At the risk of sounding like Mark, I'm a little surprised at the overwhelming negativity in here. Sure, we weren't fucking scintillating, but we weren't as bad as you lot are making out either. I said this last week, and I'll say it again - starts to the season are notoriously difficult to get a gauge on. Chelsea have 1 point from 6. United look awful and yet have 6 points, Arsenal have won once and were lucky to do so, and Spurs are shite.
We've won 2 games and haven't conceded a goal. Who wouldn't have taken that?
And before you get all revisionist; the year we nearly did win the league we were fucking abysmal at the start of that season, and yet managed to continually scrape wins. That's all you have to do at this stage of the year, cos no fucking trophies are handed out in August.
Anyway, some thoughts:
- I was mesmermised by Bournemouth for that first 20 minutes. The full court press, pinning our full-backs back to esnure the ball stayed in Lovren and Skrtel's hands (feet), and releasing the two strikers as early as possible so they could go one-on-one with Lovren. I was almost disappointed they couldn't keep it up cos it was terrific to watch.
- For all the moaning at Rodgers; he, this summer, got 4 players who have instantly improved the side on the ground. Clyne, Gomez, Milner, Benteke. There's 4 upgrades right there on whomever we had playing in those roles last year. You can't be unhappy with that.
- Milner's fucking outstanding. He just is. I could pick 500 things to comment on but I guess the relentlessly high tempo that he operates and plays at is the main thing. Everything he does is with purpose. Presses, passes, moves, attacks, all with intent and all under control. Super player.
- As is Coutinho. Most threatening player on the park, most threatening player on any fucking park this weekend actually. I liked that Rodgers swopped him from left to right, thus having Clyne support him. It more or less completely freed him up from defensive responsibility, and he proceeded to take the piss form it. Should maybe have scored in the first half, and tired as the game wore on, but meh - he was sublime.
- Thought Lallana played well in the deeper midfield role. Only Milner covered more ground than him which was interesting. Won it, kept it, controlled it.
- Another clean sheet. I get that Bournemouth were pressing and had large spells with it in the second half, but I thought they were rather toothless in attack. They didn't create anything of note.
- Small things matter; 2nd game in a row where Mignolet has held onto the ball after claiming it from a corner or set-piece and not looked to release players on the counter from it. That's an instruction to clam and slow the game after being subject to pressure. I don't mind that at all. Allows us to regroup and set our shape.
- Joe Gomez. 18 years of age and smoking cigars out there. Absolute joke how talented that kid is.
So yeah, 6 points from 6, 4 new signings working extremely well, and a 2nd clean sheet.
Imagine if we actually start to play well?
