Your line up away to Stoke..

[Frogfish]

Dont know about starting both Coutinho and Firmino after 1 pre season game and 9 days of training.
Coutinho will probably start though, but if he isnt fit enough it will be Ibe.

Both of them having been playing in the Copa America, they will hardly need much time to get back to peak fitness and will more than likely be as far along as most of the rest of the squad. Both will be spending this week training with Benteke so it's more than likely that is an advantage over e.g. Lallana and Ibe.

 

[My_Blood_Bleeds_Red]

------------Ming
Clyne Skrtel Sakho Gomez
------------Lucas
------Hendo-----Milner
Ibe----------------------Lallana
------------Ings

Benteke, Firmino and Coutinho to come on as subs.

 

[Brizzle]

-------------Mignolet----------------
Clyne----Skrtel---Sakho---Gomez
---------------Lucas------------------
------Hendo-----------Milner-------
-------------Coutinho---------------
---------Benteke---Ings-------------

I think we'd need 2 up front against Stoke, and i'd back Ings to complement Benteke very well in a physical forward attack.

 

[SummerOnions]

I don't think I'd start Gomez but apart from that I like the look of it

 

[ibromurph]

-------------Mignolet----------------
Clyne----Skrtel---Sakho---Gomez
-----------------------------------
------Hendo---------Milner---------
--Ibe-----------Lallana------Markovic--
-----------Benteke---------------

 

[thekop_101]

------------Mignolet-----------
Clyne---Skrtel---Sakho---Gomez
---------------Can--------------
------Hendo---------Milner-----
-------------Coutinho----------
-----Benteke------Firmino-----

 

[scousemouse]

not sure how anyone can put Firmino or benteskey in without seeing them play for us yet!
surely all places must be on merit not some idealistic theoretical selection.....

 

[Gerry_A_Trick]

not sure how anyone can put Firmino or benteskey in without seeing them play for us yet!
surely all places must be on merit not some idealistic theoretical selection.....

The alternative is to play Balotelli or Ings or something...

 

[scousemouse]

The alternative is to play Balotelli or Ings or something...

id play a 40yo robbie fowler before balotelli.

 

[Rosco]

not sure how anyone can put Firmino or benteskey in without seeing them play for us yet!
surely all places must be on merit not some idealistic theoretical selection.....

So we shouldn't play them until they play for us?

How does that work?

 

[Mystic]

-------------Mignolet----------------
Clyne----Skrtel---Sakho---Gomez
---------------Lucas------------------
------Hendo-----------Milner-------
-------------Coutinho---------------
---------Benteke---Ings-------------

I think we'd need 2 up front against Stoke, and i'd back Ings to complement Benteke very well in a physical forward attack.

Although I started Firmino in my line up above which was pretty much the same, it might well make sense to start with Ings and then bring Firmino on as a sub.

 

[scousemouse]

So we shouldn't play them until they play for us?

How does that work?

maybe by watching them in friendlies etc...which we haven't yet. do you wish to continue this one?

 

[Rosco]

maybe by watching them in friendlies etc...which we haven't yet. do you wish to continue this one?

Because playing with a red jersey on is so different, we couldn't possibly already know about them from previous scouting and what goes on behind closed doors at training?

 

[Gerry_A_Trick]

Hopefully they are back in time for the last friendly, otherwise we won't get to play them until next year.

 

[Ryan]

------------Mignolet-----------
Clyne---Skrtel---Sakho---Gomez
---------------Can--------------
------Hendo---------Milner-----
-------------Coutinho----------
-----Benteke------Firmino-----

I'll bet anyone $1000 that Can doesn't start as our defensive midfielder.

Who wants to take that bet right now?

 

[rurikbird]

--------------Mignolet-----------
--------Skrtel--Can--Sakho--------
Clyne---Hendo--Milner---Gomez
-------------Coutinho----------
-----Benteke------Firmino-----

I'm OK with Ings starting as well if Firmino doesn't build up fitness in time.

 

[Frogfish]

not sure how anyone can put Firmino or benteskey in without seeing them play for us yet!
surely all places must be on merit not some idealistic theoretical selection.....

So until they play for us we shouldn't select them to play for us ? And you wouldn't play Messi from the off if he signed for us ? What is different about Firmino / Benteke ? They will be at virtually the same stage of fitness, will have actually have been playing together more than the rest of the team (because BR said Coutinho/Firmino and Benteke are training together this week) and because Firmino and Benteke are two of our most expensive signings ever so naturally the bench is the right place for them yeah ?
Many of the team on tour are new too (Clyne, Milner, Gomez, Ings, Origi) and a couple of weeks in Asia/Aus playing friendlies isn't going to make them magically gel either so what you are virtually advocating is going back to the team (less 'that little cunt') that conceded six at Stoke. I wouldn't worry about picking them for the Stoke match, they'll have 9 days training together and play a friendly (in which they'll debut) before the season kicks off.

 

[Cerberus]

Ming

Clyne
Skrtel
Sakho
Gomez

Lucas
Hendo
Milner
Coutinho

Firmino
Benteke

4-4-2 diamond

 

[Bradley]

-------------Mignolet----------------
Widsom----Touré---Lovern---Enrique
-----------------------------------
------Can---------Lucas---------
--Ibe-----------Allen------Markovic--
-----------Borini---------------

The element of surprise in full swing. Take that Mr Hughes!

 

[Dreambeliever]

Based solely on the 90 mins I saw live in Adelaide Lallana should be the first name on the team sheet.

His movement was constant and excellent, his close control superb and his willingness to carry the ball forward second to none.

 

[Dreambeliever]

Ming

Clyne
Skrtel
Sahko
Gomez
Henderson
Milner
Ibe
Coutinho
Lallana
Benteke

 

[StevieM]

We've played 433 in every ore-season game I've seen - so I don't see it changing.

Lucas or Allen for the DM position. I reckon he'll not risk Gomez at LB and Moreno will get the nod. Sakho & Skrtel at CB.

Then it's a question about whether Coutinho & Benteke are fit to start otherwise it'll be Ibe & Ings.

The rest pick themselves at the moment - Mingolet, Clyne, Henderson, Milner, Lallana.

I don't see Firmino starting under any circumstance - he might get a late introduction from the bench, though.

 

[Rosco]

Based solely on the 90 mins I saw live in Adelaide Lallana should be the first name on the team sheet.

His movement was constant and excellent, his close control superb and his willingness to carry the ball forward second to none.

He found his level

 

[gkmacca]

Lallana will start

But he probably won't finish. Hopefully he's been working on his stamina over the summer.

 

[keniget]

----------------- Ming
Clyne -- Skrtel -- Sakho -- Moreno
--------- Milner -- Henderson
Ibe ---------- Coutinho ------ Lallana
---------------- Benteke

 

[StevieM]

But he probably won't finish. Hopefully he's been working on his stamina over the summer.

If Coutinho starts - it's readymade for Ibe or Firmino to come on for Lallana for the last 29 mins.

 

[StevieM]

----------------- Ming
Clyne -- Skrtel -- Sakho -- Moreno
--------- Milner -- Henderson
Ibe ---------- Coutinho ------ Lallana
---------------- Benteke

As much as I like this - I'd feel more comfortable with an extra defensive minded midfielder in the team for an away game to Stoke at the start of the season.

 

[Hansern]

But he probably won't finish. Hopefully he's been working on his stamina over the summer.

Seeing as he had just about the same ground covered per game stats as Jordan Henderson in 13/14 I doubt stamina is the problem.
Its more a not getting injured issue. Which he sadly was a lot last season.

 

[Mors]

If everyone minus sicknote are fit, then:

.....................Ming
Clyne...Skrtel....Sakho....Gomez
......Hendo...Lucas....Milner
...Firmino...Benteke...Coutinho

 

[keniget]

As much as I like this - I'd feel more comfortable with an extra defensive minded midfielder in the team for an away game to Stoke at the start of the season.

I know what you mean but Hughe's Stoke is not like Pulis' Stoke and our defensive minded midfielders are inconsistent performers.

The lack of a DM is alleviated somewhat by the fact everyone in midfield is a hard worker. Whether that's enough to cover the lack of natural defensive discipline and positional awareness, who knows, but we'll be sure to find out over the course of the season. Why not find out early!