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West Ham v Liverpool Pre Match Thread

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I reckon we should just stick with the diamond when starting games right now, with maybe switching to 4-3-3 when we're leading to let the players learn that formation if Rodgers insists on implementing it.

Anyway, most players pick themselves,
---------------------Ming--------------------
Manquillo--Lovren--Sakho--Moreno
--------------------Gerrard--------------------
-------------Hendo--Allen\Lallana----------
--------------------Sterling--------------------
----------Balo-----Lambert\Borin-----------

Another thing we could try is Streling up top alongside Balo, that's the only way we could field all our AM's at the same time(Coutinho, Lallana, Sterling) although after yesterday that seems too much of the same for one side.
 
Right now, I think the lineup almost picks itself. I'd favour Skrtel coming back in to partner Lovren; if it does happen, it might give us a little bit of insight into whether his hiccups these last 3 games are due to his form, his comfort level with his CB partner, or playing on his preferred side.

Borini did his chances no harm against Ludogorets, and hopefully given a chance to fight for his LFC career, he can now use that as the motivation to put in some good performances. If Allen is fit, I'd prefer him to start over Lallana at this point due to his better sharpness.

Sterling up front, when necessary, was something I was advocating before the season started, but that was assuming Coutinho, Lallana or Markovic was sharp enough to provide the bullets from the AM spot. None of that is evident right now for various reasons (form, sharpness/fitness, familiarity / settling in, etc.) so for now, I'd rather have Sterling at AM.
 
After seeing Skrtel - Lovren vs City I beg to differ. Continue with Lovren - Sakho. They need games.
The rest of the defence picks itself.

4-1-2-1-2

Gerrard
Hendo Allen
Sterling
Borini Balotelli

Yes, I know its Borini but he brings workrate and running to the attack. Think we'll get the best out of Mario and Sterling with him starting. He's shite but Studge is still injured.
 
3rd game in 8 days.
Gerrard looked done and dusted after 75 mins against Ludo.
Ludo was one of Coutinho's worst matches in memory.
West Ham won't just sit with 10 men behind the ball.

--------------------------Ming--------------------

Manquillo ---- Lovren-----Sakho-----Moreno

------------------------Gerrard--------------------
------Hendo-----------------------------Allen---

------------------------Lallana--------------------
----------Balotelli-----------------Sterling-------

Bench : Jones, Enrique, Skrtel, Lucas, Markovic, Lambert, Borini

Gerrard to come off after 60 mins. Markovic, Enrique and Lambert or Borini to see game time.
Coutinho gets a rest from the squad to practice by himself.
Flanno /Toure/Suso to miss out on the match day squad.
Could also go 4-4-2 with : Markovic ---- Hendo --- Allen --- Lallana and no Gerrard (or switch to this when Gerrard comes off).
 
Mignolet
Manquillo
Skrtel
Lovren
Moreno
Lucas
Henderson
Allen
Lallana
Sterling
Balotelli
 
I'd be surprised if he plays, tbh. We need to get him upto speed, he'll get the shit kicked out of him at their place.

I'd go with Froggy's lineup, but the diamond at the back worries the fuck out of me.

Shouldn't you worried about "terrible" Moreno though?
 
I'd want to see:

------------Mignolet------------
Manq--Lovren--Sakho--Moreno
-------------Lucas------------------
--------Hendo--Allen-------------
------------Sterling----------------
------Balotelli---Lambert---------

The problem with the diamond is that we have 2 No.10s on the bench and a winger who doesn't fit in this line up unless he replaces Raheem but I think it gets the best out of the attack.

Having a DM in that isn't Stevie with another capable CM can release Hendo a bit more too.
 
Given the shakiness at the back right now, the adventurousness and pace of our new full backs, and the fact we're playing an Allardyce team, perhaps the 3-5-2 isn't a bad alternative for this game.

I know it isn't anyone's favourite, but part of it was because we couldn't use it properly the last two seasons with the full backs at our disposal. Manquillo and Moreno are a different breed and would make this work. The extra CB means that either Gerrard can have greater peace of mind to push up further when we have the ball, or one of the CBs can have the freedom to take the ball forward when he fancies. The trick, of course, is getting the 3 CBs at the back to play as a unit, but even if they can't, hopefully we can find a bit more safety in numbers with this.

------------------- Mignolet -------------------
-------- Skrtel --- Lovren --- Sakho -------
Manquillo ------- Gerrard -------- Moreno
------ Henderson -------- Sterling ---------
------------ Balotelli ---- Borini --------------

subs: Jones, Toure, Enrique, Lucas, Lallana, Coutinho / Markovic, Lambert
 
I'd want to see:

------------Mignolet------------
Manq--Lovren--Sakho--Moreno
-------------Lucas------------------
--------Hendo--Allen-------------
------------Sterling----------------
------Balotelli---Lambert---------

The problem with the diamond is that we have 2 No.10s on the bench and a winger who doesn't fit in this line up unless he replaces Raheem but I think it gets the best out of the attack.

Having a DM in that isn't Stevie with another capable CM can release Hendo a bit more too.


IMO Markovic, Lallana, and a halfway normal Coutinho are capable of adapting to play one of the sides of the diamond. Markoovic especially, I think that might just be his best position.

Anyway, we have to play it regardless for the moment. I'm sure in the end Rodgers can get a 433 to work but needs must right now.

And Gerrard is becoming a real problem. BR has made a rod for his own back by inventing a new position for him; without that it would've been much easier to wind him down this season with a view to him retiring at the end of it.
 
I'm already dreading watching Wankobitch again.

Why ? That makes no sense. His first touch is excellent and he looks to have bags of pace in his locker. If he was a clumsy, heavy footed plodder then fair enough but he's done nothing wrong. He hasn't impacted a game yet but he's played about 90 mins in total. He played within himself and kept it neat and tidy in his previous cameos but I'm excited to see him again and see what he can do. I'm not dreading it.
 
------------Mignolet------------
Manq--Lovren--Sakho--Moreno
-------------Lucas------------------
--------Hendo--Allen-------------
------------Sterling----------------
------Balotelli---Borini-----------

This, if we get a lead by 60mins, take off Borini and Sterling for Lallana and Markovic and switch to a 433, maybe Balotelli for Lambert also. Give Gerrard a rest.
 
Line up prediction:

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

Manquillo----Lovren.....Sakho----Moreno

------------------------Lucas
--------Henderson-------------Gerrard
----------------------Sterling
---------Balotelli--------------Lambert
 
I think it's obvious Rodgers planned on playing one striker when one of Sturridge and Balotelli would be injured.
And now that it didn't work for 2 games in a row, he must have a huge headache what to do.
I think he might persist with his 4-3-3 because otherwise all of his summer business would be very difficult to explain.
 
He'll have more to explain if he sticks with a system and doesn't get points on the board after all that spending. I think he's pragmatic enough to know that it's more important for him to get wins and points, rather than to justify his outlay by insisting on playing who he bought this summer.
 
90 plus minutes of trembling every time we concede a set piece in our own half as they lob long balls into the talent-free aerial zone of Louvren, Sakho and Mignolet. I actively don't like some of our players. It's a weird feeling.
 
90 plus minutes of trembling every time we concede a set piece in our own half as they lob long balls into the talent-free aerial zone of Louvren, Sakho and Mignolet. I actively don't like some of our players. It's a weird feeling.


Hope Skrtel is fit for this one. He is our best defender in the air.
 
Sounds like Rodgers will start him on saturday.

Skrtel - Lovren then. Is Allen fit?
Edit: Rodgers said Allen is out for a few weeks. Fack!

4-2-3-1 could be decent away mid. Gives us control and we can break with the pace of Sterling and maybe Markovic.
 
Christ they're dropping like flies. OK revised again - we're going to miss Allen.

--------------------------Ming--------------------

Manquillo ---- Lovren-----Sakho-----Moreno

------------------------Gerrard--------------------
------Hendo-----------------------------Lallana---

-----------------------Coutinho-----------------
----------Balotelli-----------------Sterling-------

Bench : Jones, Enrique, Skrtel, Lucas, Markovic, Lambert, Borini
 
After seeing Lallana's tackling last weekend, I'd be a little hesitant to play him so deep.

Worth a shot though.
 
Jones
Manquill
Skrtel
Lovren
Moreno

Lucas
Allen
Henderson
Sterling

Balotelli
Sturridge or if not fit Lambert or Borini
 
Christ they're dropping like flies. OK revised again - we're going to miss Allen.

--------------------------Ming--------------------

Manquillo ---- Lovren-----Sakho-----Moreno

------------------------Gerrard--------------------
------Hendo-----------------------------Lallana---

-----------------------Coutinho-----------------
----------Balotelli-----------------Sterling-------

Bench : Jones, Enrique, Skrtel, Lucas, Markovic, Lambert, Borini


So basically the same guys who played against Ludo. Great.
 
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