Mignolet and the defence

[mark1975]

Just quick post. He looks a very good shot stopper and a big improvement in that respect over the Reina of the last couple of seasons, but is he commanding enough?

It's early days, he's getting used to the system and we all know we have flaws with setpieces and balls into the box anyway (that's been going on since Rafa), but anything that's not been dealt with by the back four so far, he's flapped at.

I hope it's not an issue and that teams won't start to exploit this as a weakness. Defensively we need to wise up. Wisdom isn't a fullback and recent form has raised question marks over his inexperience, Agger and Skrtel aren't commanding enough, while Toure now has a knock and won't be relied upon forever. Johnson again highlighted why people question his consistency, too many times against mediocre opposition do players manage to get beyond him or turn him, when they shouldn't really be afforded the space to.

We still need to buy a big centre half, that much is obvious, Toure has gone some way to remedying that, but we need more and hopefully that will stem the initial jitters we're seeing from our new guy between the sticks.

 

[keniget]

I can't say I watched much of Mignolet during his time at Sunderland so can only judge him based on his time so far at Liverpool and as you say, his all round game looks a bit iffy at the moment. I hope that is just initial jitters because there are a lot of good shot-stoppers out there - the top quality keepers are able to command their area and these days their control and passing needs to be good too.

As for the defence, I think there are probably quite a lot of problems going on there but yeah, getting in a Vidic type in would be a big start.

 

[Hansern]

I've always thought of him as having good aerial ability and commanding his area when watching Sunderland.
He'll be fine.

 

[RolandG]

Mignolet has done enough to earn our respect and will continue to confound his critics with improved displays. His form will improve. I feel much safer with him behind the back 4.

 

[nealmac]

He made a couple of blunders in the first half against Stoke too. Most notably trying a punch, when he should've have caught it. However, he saved a penalty and made some other important stops. He was fucking boss against Villa. And he did well again last night.

I totally accept Mark's point that he might not be commanding enough, and he needs to learn that our defence is going to let him down on many occasions. But for now, I think he's done more than enough for us not to be too critical.

 

[Dreambeliever]

Sunday is massive both him and the defense without Toure and if was nervous about Stoke god knows how jittery he will Sunday.
Hopefully we'll be singing his name for making it 3 points and not 1 again next weekend

 

[amber cabs]

I'm a bit worried about Mignolet to be honest. The saves he has made I would expect from pretty much every premier league keeper, bar the penalty where he had clearly done his homework on Walters. Has been awful at crosses/commanding his area, and his pass completetion went rom a terrible 54% against Stoke to 31% against Villa. That is incredibly poor. I fear he is going to cost us points, sooner rather than later.
I haven't read updates on Toure or Skrtels injuries yet but if we have wisdom at centre back on Saturday with our seemingly nervous keeper in behind then I really worry for us

 

[gkmacca]

I think the more he and the back four get to know each other, the less inclined he'll be to flap. He's settling in well.

 

[Red Bird]

Just as players like Allen, Downing and Henderson were overwhelmed with expectations at Liverpool, so has he. I think Mignolet has done well so far but he is going to have to accept that weekly pressure is part of being at Liverpool, and that there will be matches when he will do nothing for long spells and then be called upon to make one crucial save. Now, Downing singularly failed to rise above big-fish-in-a-small-pond syndrome, Allen is struggling but Henderson is thriving.

Like Mark says, he needs to work on his decision-making-- far too often he is often rooted to his line.

 

[Rosco]

Not only is his pass completion rate shit, he really doesn't score enough goals.

Why did we sign him ?

 

[Hansern]

Yet, so far he's done exactly that though. Against both Villa and Stoke he did his job and saved the shots that were coming his way.
If he needs to improve his aerial ability or with the ball at his feet then so be it. That will come. For now he's saving shots and contributing to points on the board.
He's made the same amount of saves in 2 games that Reina needed 5 games to reach. 0 conceded vs 10 aswell....

He's had an excellent start and will only get better. I'd focus on other issues rather than Mignolet.

 

[the_dude]

he's already earned us four points, so i'm happy

 

[localny]

I'm sure if he was a full time flapper there would be plenty of evidence on YouTube, and he'd have the rep of a flapper. I don't get the impression that either is true? Anyone got proof from Sunderland?

Most likely nerves. He's done enough to win quite enough patience.

 

[mark1975]

I'd just like to clarify, it's only really an initial concern. Getting used to the system, the expectation and his team mates will help, but I'd be lying if I said I was wasn't concerned about his decisiveness when balls are played in. Reina lost a bit of his agility in the end, but he bossed the box and played the sweeper role better than any other keeper around, I hope we haven't sacrificed that for David James.

 

[gkmacca]

Didn't Reina flap a bit to begin with? I can't quite remember.

 

[mark1975]

Didn't Reina flap a bit to begin with? I can't quite remember.

Yeah he did. And Dudek hit the ground running (as did Westerveld), so it's early doors and too soon to read too much into it. He's young and we need to be patient to a degree. It still raises questions over our defensive coaching though, which is arguably even more pressing a concern.

 

[hamstrung_pigeon]

Didn't Reina flap a bit to begin with? I can't quite remember.

Yes he was. The key weakness in his game when he first joined. Took him a season or two to really improve on that.

 

[OLD_Lewy]

wasnt rosco meant to be giving somebody an ipad when we conceded? i want my elephant! i mean ipad!

 

[Leo]

wasnt rosco meant to be giving somebody an ipad when we conceded? i want my elephant! i mean ipad!

Here you big softie.

 

[OLD_Lewy]

thats horrifying, she looks like some kind of lesbian borg mum from an 80s kurt russel film

 

[mark1975]

thats horrifying, she looks like some kind of lesbian borg mum from an 80s kurt russel film

She looks like she ran into Uma Thurman.

 

[gkmacca]

thats horrifying, she looks like some kind of lesbian borg mum from an 80s kurt russel film

Lezza to lezza squirtage. Always requires an eye patch. They never, ever, learn.

 

[mark1975]

Requiem-esque!