Leicester These Guys (a) - Pre-match Thread

[hamstrung_pigeon]

When we met at Anfield, this was the team we fielded (formation might be a bit more fluid than the one shown here):

--------------- Mignolet ------------------
Clyne -- Lovren -- Sakho -- Moreno
----- Henderson ---- Can -------------
Lallana ------ Firmino ------ Coutinho
------------------ Origi --------------------

subs: Bogdan, Randall, Toure, Allen, Lucas, Teixeira, Benteke

I think we'll probably go with the same idea - mobility as well as ability to press hard will be the preferred attributes. Henderson might be fit for this one, and if he is, I think we'll probably go with the side below:

--------------- Mignolet -----------------
Clyne -- Lovren -- Sakho -- Flanagan
----- Henderson ---- Can -------------
Lallana ------- Allen ----------- Milner
---------------- Firmino -----------------

subs: Ward, Moreno, Caulker, Lucas, Ibe, Teixeira / Brannagan, Benteke

Leaving some pace off the table, but I think it's justified - Ibe just hasn't worked hard enough this season off the ball, while Moreno will be targeted with Mahrez.

Not sure about the CB pairing but with the current guys, I think you could pretty much pick any two and still end up with a pretty similar level of performance from them.

 

[LeTallecWiz]

I'd go with your team - but would prefer Lovren-Caulker CB partnership ...

Moreno should be dropped for his NOrwich performance.

 

[willby]

Officially we're Leicester's bogey-team... Their only league loss in 2 or so months came at Anfield.

 

[Dreambeliever]

Would be some win but would settle for a draw

 

[manwithnoname]

------------------Mignolet-----------

Clyne------Caulker------Lovren------Flanagan

------------Can----------Henderson-----------

Milner----------Firmino------------Lallana

-----------------Benteke---------------------

 

[gkmacca]

That's probably the best we can send out at this stage.

 

[Frogfish]

Definitely no Benteke svp. I'd be incredibly surprised if he started.

Firmino as the false #9 with Flanno / Clyne as FBs and I'll be relatively happy. CBs and MFs are all relatively the same when it comes to performances so whatever. When is Coutinho due back ?

I've a strange feeling we could nick this one with some of our senior players refreshed.

 

[manwithnoname]

That's probably the best we can send out at this stage.

Maybe Brannagan in if Henderson's dodgy heels need resting. And maybe no Benteke at all, because that wasn't a very good performance against West Ham. Ibe's doing my head in too, we are screaming out for some pace, but he's so horribly inconsistent. I'd like to see the likes of Ojo and Brannagan at least on the bench.

 

[Best Believe It]

I thought Brannagan did enough to be in the starting line up, and I'd put Joe Allen in too.

 

[gkmacca]

Maybe Brannagan in if Henderson's dodgy heels need resting. And maybe no Benteke at all, because that wasn't a very good performance against West Ham. Ibe's doing my head in too, we are screaming out for some pace, but he's so horribly inconsistent. I'd like to see the likes of Ojo and Brannagan at least on the bench.

Yes, Ibe's having a really frustrating season. I'd like those two on the bench, which has been a pretty uninspiring place in recent games. We need some decent options to bring on.

 

[carlv]

Mignolet

Clyne Caulker Lovren Flanagan

Allen Branagan Can

Milner Firminho Teixeira

Subs: Ward Moreno Sakho Lucas Lallana Ibe Benteke

I think Allen recent form deserves a place in the first team also Branagan. Like to see how Teixeira links up with Firminho

 

[manwithnoname]

I thought Brannagan did enough to be in the starting line up, and I'd put Joe Allen in too.

I still can't quite work out where either of those two are best played. They both seem more suited to play slightly more advanced of a deeper infield two, but the issue I have is the lack of actual creativity and goal threat in that position, because it's all very well being able to string lots of passes together, but at some point somebody needs to take a chance and try and create a scoring opportunity.

 

[gkmacca]

I think Allen recent form deserves a place in the first team

Yes, but he's probably shattered at the mo.

 

[Pesam]

...................................Mignolet......................................
Clyne................Caulker............Lovren.............Flanagan
...............Henderson......Can............Allen
..........Milner.................Firmino..............Lallana

I'm tempted to drop Can because he's been a bit too casual recently and stick in Branagan to match Kante's work rate.

As long as we don't start with the Toure/Sakho partnership I'm confident of at least a draw.

 

[Pesam]

I thought Brannagan did enough to be in the starting line up, and I'd put Joe Allen in too.

I'd love Klopp to say to Branagan "here's the shirt, you've got 4 months to prove to me I don't need to buy a replacement for Lucas."

 

[manwithnoname]

I'd love Klopp to say to Branagan "here's the shirt, you've got 4 months to prove to me I don't need to buy a replacement for Lucas."

But is he a defensive midfielder? I know Lucas won't when he arrived, but still.

 

[gkmacca]

He's certainly versatile, but he's got much more to his game, in terms of attacking skills, to be shoehorned into that slot. But I'd like to see him be given regular chances. He's precociously mature and will learn quickly.

 

[Gerry_A_Trick]

I think Stewart played more of like a defensive midfielder. It's him I think we should be giving the shot to (based on that game alone)

 

[cloggypop]

Stewart needs to take less shots if anything.

 

[manwithnoname]

I think Stewart played more of like a defensive midfielder. It's him I think we should be giving the shot to (based on that game alone)

I think he actually is considered a specialist DM by the club.

 

[Pesam]

But is he a defensive midfielder? I know Lucas won't when he arrived, but still.

I was pissed by the time the game started and busy spouting shite to anyone who would listen but it looked to me that he has the prerequisites to fill the DM role. Maybe it's a waste of his other talents but he doesn't seem to shirk a challenge, seems to read the game well and spreads play well too. Maybe it's just my love of seeing young players come through the ranks coupled with my dislike of having seen Lucas's name on the team sheet nearly 300 times that I'm hoping Branagan is a DM'er.

 

[gkmacca]

You can tell even the commentators have recognised Brannagan's got great potential because they make a point of saying several times a game that he comes from Salford.

 

[Frogfish]

Like to see how Teixeira links up with Firminho

Is he our new signing then ? And no I don't mean Texeira.

 

[hamstrung_pigeon]

Stewart's surprised me in his ability to break up plays and make some nice passes, but he also needs to cut out some of the risky horizontal passes across an opponent deep in our half though. I'd like to see him play again to see whether he can maintain the quality he showed in the FA Cup, but I don't think Leicester is the game for him, and anyway, Klopp has also suggested that the young guys will probably not be fielded in this game.

Home game against Sunderland is probably the league game where some of the young ones like Brannagan and Teixeira will get their chance in the league - if they do, that is. Sunderland will sit deep and we'll need guys who're more creative and able to pick a pass to break them down; these two guys have that ability.

 

[6TimesaRed]

I hope we put a Strong line up out and beat this lot.. Save the young energy for the bench..

Smith should start ahead of Moreno.. Teixiera and Brannagon should be on the bench..

Lately with watching Liverpool as good as the kids have played, I keep thinking I will get locked up if I keep watching them..

 

[Gerry_A_Trick]

Lately with watching Liverpool as good as the kids have played, I keep thinking I will get locked up if I keep watching them..

In a Gary Glitter kind of way?

 

[Modo]

Brannagan isn't a DM.
Should be Stewart.

It's quite evident that Stewart impressed Klopp the most after the game against West Ham.
During the press conference he was asked about Brannagan's performance and replied by saying something like "if we're mentioning names, Stewart, 5 weeks ago, he was at Swindon & didn’t play too often. Brad Smith, a big step in the right direction. That’s really cool."

 

[Pesam]

What i have seen of Teixera in an LFC jersey just confirms what I saw (and what Brighton fans said) of him whilst on loan at Brighton; he's technically excellent but is too lightweight, doesn't like a challenge and can disappear from games. I don't think he'll ever have the cajones to compete for a regular place in any Premier League team.

 

[gkmacca]

 

[KopRed]

Brannagan isn't a DM.
Should be Stewart.

It's quite evident that Stewart impressed Klopp the most after the game against West Ham.
During the press conference he was asked about Brannagan's performance and replied by saying something like "if we're mentioning names, Stewart, 5 weeks ago, he was at Swindon & didn’t play too often. Brad Smith, a big step in the right direction. That’s really cool."

I'm not sure about other DMs but our DM, namely Lucas for the longest time, adds nothing to the attacks. Where are the players like Veira, Keane, Mascher?

If Brannagan or Stewart have that effectiveness to attack yet can play as a tenacious DM then it's all the better. I'll be damn if we bring in a young player and ask him to model himself after Lucas.