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Wednesday vs Arsenal, 8pm

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I'd mix it up vs Arsenal. They're expecting a floaty 4-3-3 so I'd sock e'm with a narrow 4-4-2 / 4-4-1-1 like this...

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

Clyne------------Toure-----------------Sakho----------Smith

Milner-------------Can---------------Henderson------Moreno

----------------Lallana/Firmino----------------------------------
----------------------------------Benteke--------------------------

We'd be strong / high energy down the flanks with plenty scope for overlapping full-backs. Both full-backs and wide midfielders are capable of decent crosses so a chance to make the most of Benteke's supposed strengths. He'd benefit too of having a strike partner/support to pick up knock downs etc. Ibe to come on for last 30 minutes and Texeira another late option for the 2nd striker role.
 
We really dominated large sections of the game at the Emirates and should really have won. Despite not scoring, it was probably Benteke's best game, where he held the ball up brilliantly, and brought others around him into the game. Fingers crossed Benteke can recapture that kind of performance.
 
Buddha said:
I'd mix it up vs Arsenal. They're expecting a floaty 4-3-3 so I'd sock e'm with a narrow 4-4-2 / 4-4-1-1 like this...

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

Clyne------------Toure-----------------Sakho----------Smith

Milner-------------Can---------------Henderson------Moreno

----------------Lallana/Firmino----------------------------------
----------------------------------Benteke--------------------------

We'd be strong / high energy down the flanks with plenty scope for overlapping full-backs. Both full-backs and wide midfielders are capable of decent crosses so a chance to make the most of Benteke's supposed strengths. He'd benefit too of having a strike partner/support to pick up knock downs etc. Ibe to come on for last 30 minutes and Texeira another late option for the 2nd striker role.
Click to expand...

If we could get that lineup on the pitch I wouldn't be too unhappy, although I'd probably tweak the formation a bit.
 
Yeah, I like the idea of the Smith/Moreno combo, my big worry would be that we might get swamped in the middle on the counter, it's difficult to press too in a 442.
 
dmishra said:
I'd go with:

--------------Mignolet
Clyne---Toure---Sakho--Moreno
----------------Can
-----Henderson---Milner
-----Ibe----Firmino----Lallana
Click to expand...

If Henderson is fit and ready to start, that gets my vote too. though maybe tweak it to Henderson - Can behind Milner but regardless, that is the trio we should go with. The only nitpick I have is that Ibe doesn't trap and press hard enough still - I wouldn't say he's lazy, but he doesn't seem to press and trap as hard as Lallana, for example. We need him to kick up a notch so we can press the fuck out of Arsenal with those midfielders and forwards and shock them.
 
mark1975 said:
Yeah, I like the idea of the Smith/Moreno combo, my big worry would be that we might get swamped in the middle on the counter, it's difficult to press too in a 442.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I think a 4-4-2 is just asking to be shredded by Arsenal. They love space and 4-4-2 gives them just what they want.
 
4-4-2 (4-4-1-1) can actually be a very strong defensive system if the two banks of 4 play close to each other, countless managers from Hodgson to Capello used it this way.

That's an interesting suggestion, Buddha; if we were going in this direction (trying to be more like West Ham for some games) I would maybe consider Ibe as Benteke's strike partner instead of Firmino/Lallana. I think Benteke needs to play with someone fast and direct and not someone more intricate like Firmino, Coutinho or Lallana – at the moment Ibe is the only fit player we have that potentially fits that criteria.
 
Last edited:
rurikbird said:
I would maybe consider Ibe as Benteke's strike partner instead of Firmino/Lallana. I think Benteke needs to play with someone fast and direct and not someone more intricate like Firmino, Coutinho or Lallana.
Click to expand...

Yup, that's why he and Gabby had such a good partnership (or Weimann too)
 
rurikbird said:
4-4-2 (4-4-1-1) can actually be a very strong defensive system if the two banks of 4 play close to each other, countless managers from Hodgson to Capello used it this way.

That's an interesting suggestion, Buddha, if we were going in this direction (trying to be more like West Ham for some games) I would maybe consider Ibe as Benteke's strike partner instead of Firmino/Lallana. I think Benteke needs to play with someone fast and direct and not someone more intricate like Firmino, Coutinho or Lallana – at the moment Ibe is the only fit player we have that potentially fits that criteria.
Click to expand...

Did you just use Hodgson and Capello in the same sentence?
 
manwithnoname said:
Does anyone think Caulker might get thrown straight in?

That would be quite the baptism of fire
Click to expand...
Everyone seems to assume that Sakho will start.
Seeing as he only returned to training yesterday I am not convinced.
Regardless of who starts it is hardly the ideal situation.
 
rurikbird said:
4-4-2 (4-4-1-1) can actually be a very strong defensive system if the two banks of 4 play close to each other, countless managers from Hodgson to Capello used it this way.

That's an interesting suggestion, Buddha; if we were going in this direction (trying to be more like West Ham for some games) I would maybe consider Ibe as Benteke's strike partner instead of Firmino/Lallana. I think Benteke needs to play with someone fast and direct and not someone more intricate like Firmino, Coutinho or Lallana – at the moment Ibe is the only fit player we have that potentially fits that criteria.
Click to expand...

Yeah I'd go with that, his finishing ain't half bad either when he gets a half-chance.

It was only a cameo against tired league two opposition, but Ojo looked like he'd potentially provide a similar option as back-up.
 
localny said:
Is caulker any good?
Click to expand...

He cam through at Spurs did well enough, so I was a bit surprised they sold him to Cardiff so quickly - as were a few of their fans. They were also rumoured to be interested in buying him back at one point. Had a loan spell at Swansea too, which is perhaps why Rodgers tried to buy him at one point.

Left Cardiff when they were relegated and joined QPR. Who were also relegated.

He's big, good in the air, composed on the ball and quick. Can also pass.

So far so good, but I think his mentality and temperament may be in question, and his concentration. In terms of the physical "raw attributes" he has everything.
But that's not everything, obviously.
 
Buddha said:
I wouldn't. We got the Caulker deal done fast with minutes to spare for registration for the Arsenal match.

I can see him going straight in (ie. Sakho isn't fit)
Click to expand...

Yeah, but I reckon that speed was also just in case Sakho isn't fit. Or Kolo.

I hope he does play.
 
manwithnoname said:
He cam through at Spurs did well enough, so I was a bit surprised they sold him to Cardiff so quickly - as were a few of their fans. They were also rumoured to be interested in buying him back at one point. Had a loan spell at Swansea too, which is perhaps why Rodgers tried to buy him at one point.

Left Cardiff when they were relegated and joined QPR. Who were also relegated.

He's big, good in the air, composed on the ball and quick. Can also pass.

So far so good, but I think his mentality and temperament may be in question, and his concentration. In terms of the physical "raw attributes" he has everything.
But that's not everything, obviously.
Click to expand...

Thanks. Sounds like as good a loan signing as you could get in January then? He's bounced around a fair bit, which may indicate a few problems?
 
localny said:
Thanks. Sounds like as good a loan signing as you could get in January then? He's bounced around a fair bit, which may indicate a few problems?
Click to expand...

Yeah. And there's also been a few signs of starting brilliantly, and tailing off a bit. I've seen him play a handful of times at most, and he's always looked the part (his last game against us notwithstanding) but there's an obvious issue that someone who has so many obvious attributes hasn't ever really stayed in one place that long, or showed a huge amount of consistency.

He may be one of those players who should be one of the best defenders in the league, but isn't actually that great at defending, for whatever reason.

But as I said, physically and from a technical perspective, there's a lot of good stuff there. It may be what's missing between his ears that is the problem. We shall see.
 
If he's had some attitude issues and not really fulfilled his potential, then Klopp is certainly the type of manager to get some decent performances out of him in the next 6 months.

As said in the other thread. Low risk with us not being able to get Subotic or Matip in this window.
 
gkmacca mentioned this - his lack of professionalism is probably a good reason why he's never progressed and why his stock has fallen after a promising start at Spurs. Google "Steven Caulker drunk" and you'll find a few hits on a couple of incidents at Swansea and QPR, 3 years apart.
 
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