Swansea (H) 29th Dec.
- Thread starter rurikbird
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And the excuse for the last month when he hasn't been playing?
Erm, isn't it Gerrard next on the "why we suck" list?
So we've worked out we play better without both of them
Now we need to play balo without Gerrard to see if it is indeed both
half time thoughts:
* Another very good game from Coutinho - he's on a really good spell and I just hope he can continue this. A joy to watch.
* Sakho had one dodgy pass but you can see why his passing is so underrated. Our goal came from a great pass from him to set Moreno free on the left.
* I like Moreno and Manquillo as wing backs more than Hendo and Markovic.
* Shelvey should have seen red for that - dirty play.
* Can playing well - I like what he adds @ RCB.
* Best moment of the half - watching on NBC sports, it's focusing on Can and a VW ad comes up, "perfect german engineering" or something like that ... Here's hoping! 😉
* Another very good game from Coutinho - he's on a really good spell and I just hope he can continue this. A joy to watch.
* Sakho had one dodgy pass but you can see why his passing is so underrated. Our goal came from a great pass from him to set Moreno free on the left.
* I like Moreno and Manquillo as wing backs more than Hendo and Markovic.
* Shelvey should have seen red for that - dirty play.
* Can playing well - I like what he adds @ RCB.
* Best moment of the half - watching on NBC sports, it's focusing on Can and a VW ad comes up, "perfect german engineering" or something like that ... Here's hoping! 😉
Don't know about the not trying hard bit (actually I do, it's bollocks), but the fact is he has been shite this season, giving the ball away countless times and piss poor delivery from set plays.
He's certainly looking much more like the Henderson of last season tonight,
Best player in the first half, Coutinho.
I think it's been a decent game so far. We could do better in the box but it's expected due to our lack of strikers.
Get Balotelli on in the 2nd half.
First half ratings:
Mignolet 6.5 - nothing to do really, but no mistakes so far
Manq - 7
Skrtel - 7
Can - 7
Sakho 6
Moreno - 7 Mainly because of the goal, would have been a 6 or a 5 otherwise.
Lucas 6.5
Hendo 7
Coutinho 8
Lallana 6
Sterling 6
I think it's been a decent game so far. We could do better in the box but it's expected due to our lack of strikers.
Get Balotelli on in the 2nd half.
First half ratings:
Mignolet 6.5 - nothing to do really, but no mistakes so far
Manq - 7
Skrtel - 7
Can - 7
Sakho 6
Moreno - 7 Mainly because of the goal, would have been a 6 or a 5 otherwise.
Lucas 6.5
Hendo 7
Coutinho 8
Lallana 6
Sterling 6
The pressing from our front players has been magnificent.
Well, not dominant as we'd like.
Can has been good.
Sakho has been very good.
Manquillo hasn't been in it much but he's kept that side pretty quiet save for the last 5 minutes.
Moreno has also been quite good defensively and a lovely goal.
Lucas and Skrtel have been good and bad. Lucas particularly has done a lot of great stuff but he's undone it on a couple of occasions by either not knowing what his team mate wanted or being cute too close to the area. He's harried them everywhere though.
Lallana - couple of great efforts but, otherwise, has been pretty well marshalled after that.
Coutinho - was quiet to start with but, as they got to grips with Lallana he started to come into his own. Lovely bit of play down the left and a sneaky shot which he was unlucky to see saved. A great run down the centre and let go probably the most powerful shot I've seen him hit in his career.
Henderson - typical game from him. Has given the ball away, looked out of step with several team mates and then pops up with an assist. It's uncanny.
Sterling - he's run hard but he's been blunted by Fernandes who is holding on to everybody who gets near him.
Finally, if Markovic deserved to go in the CL game then Shelvey should, 100%, be off right now.
Can has been good.
Sakho has been very good.
Manquillo hasn't been in it much but he's kept that side pretty quiet save for the last 5 minutes.
Moreno has also been quite good defensively and a lovely goal.
Lucas and Skrtel have been good and bad. Lucas particularly has done a lot of great stuff but he's undone it on a couple of occasions by either not knowing what his team mate wanted or being cute too close to the area. He's harried them everywhere though.
Lallana - couple of great efforts but, otherwise, has been pretty well marshalled after that.
Coutinho - was quiet to start with but, as they got to grips with Lallana he started to come into his own. Lovely bit of play down the left and a sneaky shot which he was unlucky to see saved. A great run down the centre and let go probably the most powerful shot I've seen him hit in his career.
Henderson - typical game from him. Has given the ball away, looked out of step with several team mates and then pops up with an assist. It's uncanny.
Sterling - he's run hard but he's been blunted by Fernandes who is holding on to everybody who gets near him.
Finally, if Markovic deserved to go in the CL game then Shelvey should, 100%, be off right now.
Of course Henderson is playing better, we're playing at pace. He suits that game to a tee.
Whether we're playing at that pace due to the opposition, lack of Gerrard, or some other reason I have no idea, but the pace of the game is why he looks so much better.
Whether we're playing at that pace due to the opposition, lack of Gerrard, or some other reason I have no idea, but the pace of the game is why he looks so much better.
We looked good against Arsenal as well, and Bournemouth and at times against United. Burnley we didn't .. so there's a massive fucking clue !
Actually Sterling has done little so far though with his pace against those CBs there's always a chance, however taking him off and putting Balo on, since it's Coutinho, Lallana, Moreno and Manquillo that are doing the most damage, would be an interesting switch.
The midfield's been the difference.
For a fucking change anyway.
Lucas looks untroubled, and they're not pressing him when he's in possession either weirdly. Henderson is being allowed to roam, which was evident for the goal, and Shelvey and Britton aren't sure whether to press or drop when we start the link-play through midfield. We effectively play with two banks of 2 in midfield, and those two Swansea lads are getting stuck between them.
Helpfully, Sigurdsson is offering fuck all either way, so we're bossing the midfield and being totally allowed to do so. I'd imagine Monk will get into them at half time and they'll start pressing, but that should leave room around the corner for Lallana and Coutinho again.
We'll score again here cos Swansea's midfield will break up again. I'll go for Henderson to make it 2 with an untracked run.
For a fucking change anyway.
Lucas looks untroubled, and they're not pressing him when he's in possession either weirdly. Henderson is being allowed to roam, which was evident for the goal, and Shelvey and Britton aren't sure whether to press or drop when we start the link-play through midfield. We effectively play with two banks of 2 in midfield, and those two Swansea lads are getting stuck between them.
Helpfully, Sigurdsson is offering fuck all either way, so we're bossing the midfield and being totally allowed to do so. I'd imagine Monk will get into them at half time and they'll start pressing, but that should leave room around the corner for Lallana and Coutinho again.
We'll score again here cos Swansea's midfield will break up again. I'll go for Henderson to make it 2 with an untracked run.
4 years since we lost a league game when leading at half time?
Bloody hell. I did not know that.
Bloody hell. I did not know that.
Unless it was a fitness issue for our Spaniards
Partly to justify Gerrard in the midfield, partly for energy & running/covering I expect.
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