Liverpool v Bournemouth

[JimJams]

...as a former admin would word it...
...as the same former admin worded it...

Do you have a fear that if you say his name 3 times in a post he's gonna come out of the mirror and slit your throat or something?

 

[AFCB_Mark]

The disallowed goal is open for debate you'll see that kind of thing go both ways in a season, it's open to interpretation. The offside goal though is just shite officiating.

This, concisely put!

With reference to Bilo's thoughts on Liverpool's improved defence, obviously I can't comment how it might have changed since last season. What I would say, is that it's incredibly rare that Bournemouth cause any problems in the air from set pieces. We're just not very good at it. Yet we have one disallowed and 3 other headers at goal from set pieces. To me, it suggests Liverpool have an issue there, because a side like bournemouth with our lack of any overly tall or strong players, shouldn't be causing that many problems in the air.

Liverpool and their full backs / defensive midfield did do very well winning the ball and breaking down our attacks and counter attacks, in the areas that we would normally be most effective. So credit there certainly.

 

[Abertawe]

I think Bournemouth need to bite the bullet and spend a significant figure on a proven forward player. They just look a bit blunt in the final 3rd.

The disallowed goal was correct by the letter of the law but it was very very soft. The ball was below head height by the time Elphick headed it, so for Lovren to cry that his jump was hindered is a bit of a pisstake.

 

[Pagnell]

With reference to Bilo's thoughts on Liverpool's improved defence, obviously I can't comment how it might have changed since last season. What I would say, is that it's incredibly rare that Bournemouth cause any problems in the air from set pieces. We're just not very good at it. Yet we have one disallowed and 3 other headers at goal from set pieces. To me, it suggests Liverpool have an issue there, because a side like bournemouth with our lack of any overly tall or strong players, shouldn't be causing that many problems in the air.

We have had issues from set pieces for years, in particular from headers, and still don't appear to have sorted it. Every time there is a corner or free kick coming into the box I worry. We haven't been comfortable dealing with set pieces in the air since Hyypia left in 2009 and that's ridiculous.

 

[TractorBoys]

I think Bournemouth need to bite the bullet and spend a significant figure on a proven forward player. They just look a bit blunt in the final 3rd.

The disallowed goal was correct by the letter of the law but it was very very soft. The ball was below head height by the time Elphick headed it, so for Lovren to cry that his jump was hindered is a bit of a pisstake.

Early morning here without much sleep so apologies if we're both essentially saying the same thing, but, without question the goal shouln't have stood. Keeper was directly impaired irrepsctive of whether t 's not clearly blocking the view, the attackers movement will have had had an impact on Boruc in terms of his decision making to some extent and it really shouldn't ever stand.

Feel for B'mouth after last night.I want to see them stay up this season but as somebody messaged above, I tihnk they a big striker signing.

 

[AFCB_Mark]

One thing that struck me, was that after both big decisions, none of our players went up to surround the ref or shouted at him. We kept calm and didn't really object / appeal a great deal once the call had been made. Post match our comments from captain and manager were equally calm.

Maybe that is to our credit as professionals, but I can't help thinking you sadly gain more by kicking up a fuss Chelsea style these days.

 

[Cheese & Biscuits]

Apart from the player in question calling the ref a wanker*, yes.

*may have been something else but I'm sure I lip read some obscenity from him as he was jogging back.

 

[SALTIRE]

Two horse race between Liverpool and City for me.

 

[SALTIRE]

Was so tired last night that I went to bed the second the final whistle was blown, but lots of interesting opinions in here.

First of all, before I go on the quite negative rant I'm about to shove down your throats, three points is three points, always. Only "odious little c***", as a former admin would word it, spend too much time worrying when the points are coming in. But there are a few things to consider from last night, certainly.

But, the positive first: the back four. They receive more protection than ever and to no one's surprise, they're looking significantly better. Lovren is one who's much more comfortable being protected rather than pushing up, and it shows as his performances have taken a turn for the better even though I'd rather have Sakho in there. Also Clyne is really doing wonders for Skrtel just by his defensive presence. He was very impressive last night, and at one point during those first 20 minutes when Bournemouth were pushing up I think he broke up four attacks in a row. Johnson didn't break up four attacks in total all of last season. So there's that, and that's certainly a good thing to see going into "the fixture list from hell" as the same former admin worded it.

Then there's everything else. 4-2-3-1 just doesn't work for us, and it hasn't since Alonso fucked off to Real Madrid all those years ago. I'll avoid the captain hindsight urge here and admit that I thought playing Lallana behind Benteke rather than Coutinho was a good idea, but it just didn't work out at all. We just can't seem to get the basics right when it comes to 4-2-3-1. It's usually a system relying on controlling the middle and getting the number 10 to turn with the ball in various ways, so it's quite telling that almost all of our attacks are down the flanks (especially the right flank).

For a system so heavily reliant on the combinations of the nr 9 and the nr 10, it's quite amazing that we're going for 4-2-3-1 when we do happen to have a good nr 9 (Benteke), and a very good nr 10 (Coutinho), just that they don't work especially well together. Compare that to the plausible combinations of a 4-4-2 diamond and it makes infintely more sense, even though we'd give up a few crosses to Benteke.

Aside from that, I agree with most of what's been said in the thread already. Bournemouth deserved a point, but I thought that was more down to us than them. I fear for them this season to be honest, but I've been wrong before, believe it or not.

I was impressed by Clyne and the lad Gomez who made one or two small errors but otherwise was excellent.

Its the first time I've seen the side play this season (I was out for the Stoke game and the preseason stuff was on at funny hours), and there is a lot of adjusting needed to be done. If they can knick one-nils and draws in the big away matches to come whilst still adjusting then that is a good sign. I think they'll get in Illarramendi and ship out Lucas as well (sorry Bilo) before the window closes and that will help in protecting the back four and stop the midfield getting bullied so much as they have been at times last season.

I disagree about Benteke and Coutinho though, every time they went forward, I felt both were looking to find one another and they linked up fairly well. Its early days of course but there was some promising signs between the two I thought.

 

[Bobbin']

I was impressed by Clyne and the lad Gomez who made one or two small errors but otherwise was excellent.

Its the first time I've seen the side play this season (I was out for the Stoke game and the preseason stuff was on at funny hours), and there is a lot of adjusting needed to be done. If they can knick one-nils and draws in the big away matches to come whilst still adjusting then that is a good sign. I think they'll get in Illarramendi and ship out Lucas as well (sorry Bilo) before the window closes and that will help in protecting the back four and stop the midfield getting bullied so much as they have been at times last season.

I disagree about Benteke and Coutinho though, every time they went forward, I felt both were looking to find one another and they linked up fairly well. Its early days of course but there was some promising signs between the two I thought.

One or two stray passes and a silly booking, other than that I still can't believe how good this kid is.

You would not believe he is an 18 year old who has only played 2 top flight games, out of position too, so composed on the ball and comfortable anywhere across the back four, Liverpool have a gem on their hands.

 

[Abertawe]

I disagree about Benteke and Coutinho though, every time they went forward, I felt both were looking to find one another and they linked up fairly well. Its early days of course but there was some promising signs between the two I thought.

Agreed, Benteke did some nice stuff and looked to be on his game. You could tell he had a pre-defined role drilled into him by Rodgers & co, I thought he linked up play quite well in all fairness and executed what was asked of him. Still don't believe he's the man for a club like Liverpool though, especially at 30 odd mill.

 

[AFCB_Mark]

I don't see Liverpool getting the best out of Benteke with the narrow side they used last night. Ok the likes of Coutinho and Lallana pop out wide now and again, but there's no one consistently supplying those balls in from wide. I didn't think Clyne or the left back did nearly enough, which I assume is what Liverpool are planning on to provide width with the narrow system they use.

If however, they drop Lallana and stick two genuine flying wingers either side with Coutinho OR Lallana just behind Benteke in a 4-2-3-1, bang the crosses in and let Benteke charge around the box causing chaos and leaving space for Coutinho, and they'd be laughing I reckon.

That certainly would have taken us apart way more efficiently, but then we can't defend crosses!

 

[Abertawe]

Problem is they haven't got a proper wide winger. I didn't quite appreciate the gulf between Ibe & Sterling until last night. I had thought Ibe looked quite decent in the little cameos I'd seen of him but his game is lacking massively, destined for the championship. If only you had Montero eh boys

 

[merseyboyred]

The win will do... The two new lads at full back are just boss. Gomez is a hell of a find, there'll be times he needs to be rested & he'll have his downs but he looks a real prospect. Clyne has fitted in so smoothly, dependable and I've actually seen him tackle his winger and block crosses! Anticipate him having a similar effect as Finnan. My MOTM last night.

I'm not keen on the balance of the side with Henderson deepest, it dilutes the best aspects of his game too. Also Benteke is a bit too isolated with the personnel atm around him, but then again it's only the first couple of games so still finding their feet together. Coutinho & Firmino buzzing around him would work much better, Phil & Big Ben already do seem to be starting to form a connection, and there's always the possibility that we may eventually have a sighting of the lesser-spotted Sturridge...

Have a slightly different balance in the midfield/forward set up if we're playing 1 up top (I'm not sure Can is the ideal man deepest & I think Allen would be more effective there in a lot of games, but Can is more suited than Henderson or Milner) and performances will improve.

 

[G-Dragon]

I don't see Liverpool getting the best out of Benteke with the narrow side they used last night. Ok the likes of Coutinho and Lallana pop out wide now and again, but there's no one consistently supplying those balls in from wide. I didn't think Clyne or the left back did nearly enough, which I assume is what Liverpool are planning on to provide width with the narrow system they use.

If however, they drop Lallana and stick two genuine flying wingers either side with Coutinho OR Lallana just behind Benteke in a 4-2-3-1, bang the crosses in and let Benteke charge around the box causing chaos and leaving space for Coutinho, and they'd be laughing I reckon.

That certainly would have taken us apart way more efficiently, but then we can't defend crosses!

Agreed. We definitely are relying on our lb and rb to provide the crosses since we don't have any genuine wingers. Ibe always tries to beat the man, while Lallana is one of the most ineffective player I have seen play for us. Apart from tracking back he provides nothing for us in terms of going forward. Instead of Lallana I would bring in Moreno, especially for Arsenal game.

 

[herbert hellraiser]

Bournemouth need a proven premiership striker asap, 2 games, 2 defeats and no goals means trouble, sentiment to last seasons championship players will take them back there next season.

 

[Humongous Fungus]

http://www.skysports.com/football/n...goal-should-not-have-stood-say-premier-league

Confirmed officially that it shouldn't have been allowed. Be a shame if they go down by one point.

 

[AFCB_Mark]

Im a newcomer to this league obviously, but this seems pretty unusual /unprecedented for the league to come out publicly with a press statement commenting on a referee decision and ruling it incorrect.