Topic: RAWK Preview Liverpool v Stoke City 12:45pm August 17th

[TheVeg]

Forum - (noun) a medium for open discussion

And do you know what I can remember when these threads were that.  Suggestions, counter arguments, nuances, each following on from the contributions made by previous posters.  Taking those points on board and either developing them or dismantling them. 


Add in ten years of Facebook updates and five years of Twitter and you get what we have above.  A page of unrelated thoughts with hardly any discussion whatsover. It is tedious beyond belief. 


So, home debut for Simone Mignolet, can he start with a clean sheet?  Can he start to form the sort of bond with the Kop that Pepe had?
Who do we think will be partnering Toure at the back?  It seems strange seeing a Liverpool side start a season without Jamie Carragher in the squad somewhere.  I think the full-backs pick themselves, but after that it starts to get complicated.  I have hardly a clue from pre-season how Brendan sees us lining up.  Lucas and Gerrard are presumably shoe-ins in midfield but will he then go for four attacking options or will he bolster those two with either Allen, Henderson or Alberto?


Up front, is Sturridge ready to start?  Will he play both Aspas and Coutinho?  Will Sterling get a chance?  Or Ibe?


Fuck knows but I am going to throw my dart at Tony Adams' tail with this


                                     Mignolet


Johnno                 Toure               Wisdom             Enrique


                            Lucas      Gerrard            Henderson


                                      Coutinho


                             Aspas           Sturridge

Looking forward to seeing Mignolet's first competitive game for LFC. Always rated him as a shot stopper at Sunderland, but will be interested to see how he adapts to the different system. Think he will do well, but doubt he will have too much to do today, other than make a few passes

I'm hoping, as you put in your formation, that Henderson starts in the more advanced LCM position that he did a few times last year. He seems to play as a LM when defending but comes inside a lot when we are attacking. Giving lots of space for Enrique to run into.

Hoping Agger will start, but if not, I would be happy with the XI that you gave

For the first time in a long time, there seems to be competition to make the squad. Not too sure who will be on the bench. But assuming we go with the XI you put, I would suggest:
Jones, Skrtel (Wisdom if agger plays), Kelly, Allen, Alberto, Stering, Borini

Looks like a really strong bench to me, with plenty of options if we are struggling to break them down


EDIT: One large advantage of having Henderson in the LCM position is that it gives Coutinho a lot more freedom in his role to find space

[Upinsmoke]

Excited and nervous in equal measure. Really looking forward to it but always apprehensive on the opening day. I don't wanna put too much stock into our pre season, I think the manager will have a better idea from seeing the lads than us.

I have confidence in mignolet, I think he's a big presence and somebody who installs confidence in the back four. Think the crucial thing today will be how we operate as a midfield 3, I think its imperative for Allen to support the forwards if he's that most advanced midfielder. I'd personal prefer Alberto there today because I feel he can unpick the defence a bit better than Allen and also be a threat at goal round the box. We should have enough to win by a couple of goals today but I'm still nervous.

[has gone odd]

so optimism is back on the agenda, the season begins!

i didnt follow the team in pre season as close as previous seasons, too much suarez drama which frankly consumed all debate. no doubt Brendan has been given a sizeable pot of gold to compile a new team capable of top 4 and i think hes done well. toure, in the games i seen him feature, is looking quite vocal and that was my biggest concern when pepe was punted off to Napoli. 

hopefully lucas has shaken off all his rust and is ready for a full return to form. our newest signings are looking great and the goal scoring problems of the past are hopefully behind us.

the opener should be a win, wont take anything for granted tho and just hope we can bag all the 3 points for a solid start to boost confidence.

[CHOPPER]

LETS FUCKING TWAT THESE RUGBY LEAGUE WANKERS

PS RAWKS BACK AND FOOTYS BACK 

This is exactly what the food and drink laureate of RAWK is on about.


Right now, he'll be like Jilly Goolden after being offered a bottle of Le Vin De Merde, thats not at room temp and hasn't been allowed to breathe.

FURIOUS!

[clinical]

Allen and sterling will start I reckon.

[SlowRap]

Is Dan injured? As would definitely start with him and Kolo together. Really looking forward to seeing Sturridge, Coutinho and Aspas play together. The question has to be Allen or Hendo and the pre season indications would surely be that Brendan prefers Joe at the moment.

He's fit according to BR

[careful on these streets, I've heard stories]

Don't care how we do it, how we play just want us to win our opening match, been a while we did

[Melbred]

Henderson will get the nod over Allen I think. We need that physical presence in midfield.

[sgt bilbo]

We need a good start and this is the test we need, we usually struggle playing stoke most teams do but we need to be beating these teams and need a good start cant be playing catch up from day one, we have the players to beat them lets get it done.
Come on you red men

:-) :-) :-)

[lessthanmatt]

So, home debut for Simone Mignolet, can he start with a clean sheet?

Absolutely. I do not expect Stoke to set up to attack us. They will operate mainly on the counter and set-pieces I would imagine. I haven't seen any of their pre-season or anything like that though - perhaps they are demons of the Brendan Rodger's Death by Football^TM nowadays.

Who do we think will be partnering Toure at the back?

Surely Agger, unless I'm missing something? I think Wisdom as you put in your team would be most likely if Agger is unfit.

Up front, is Sturridge ready to start?

He looked sharp enough versus Celtic. If he can only play 45/60 minutes or whatever, I'd rather give him the opening 45/60 than sub him on second half.

I would love Henderson to start, but I think there will be a trio of Lucas, Gerrard and Allen.

[size=78%]Gerrard    [/size][size=78%]Henderson[/size]

That said, if Henderson is only 78% of his size, I'd leave him on the bench.

[paddysour]

Michael Owen on BT Sport says hes been told Henderson, Sturridge and Aspas will all start today

[tommy LFC]

Michael Owen on BT Sport says hes been told Henderson, Sturridge and Aspas will all start today

What a dickish thing to do. No doubt that'll be the last time he'll be told.

[Melbred]

Michael Owen on BT Sport says hes been told Henderson, Sturridge and Aspas will all start today

Interesting. I can see Henderson playing on the left if true.

[redintweed]

Well here we go! Another season of no doubt many highs, plus a few lows. I'm always really optomistic at the start of every season and this one is no different. We are being written off by all the pundits and that suits me fine. Takes a bit of pressure off.

I actually believe we can get top 4 and play some attractive football. the squad that BR is assembling is exciting. Yes it is probably a couple of quality players short to challenge, but when I think about the second half of last season, I see reason for optomism.

Yes I'll be sitting watching todays game and be praying for a first half goal to settle things a bit, but no doubt with 10 minutes to go I'll have that knot in my stomach as the scoreboard reads 0-0. But I believe we are a much better side this season. A full pre season with BR and the side is starting to become his. The players should be really starting to come to grips with the way he wants them to play.

Have faith fellow Reds, we will come marching in!!

Oh, and 2-0 to the lads with Aspas and Countinho on the scoresheet.

[youll never walk alone it]

wonder who the little twat will really want  to win today?

[tommy LFC]

Some team news before the 11.30 fantasy football deadline would be delightful...

[Yorkykopite]

We have three advantages over Stoke. It's not cold. It's not Wednesday night. And it's Anfield.

Thinking about it, we also have a fourth. Our players are twice as good as theirs. And if you like, we have a fifth too. Our manager is also better. Much better.

Clean sheet for Mignolet. 3-0 to the Reds.

[Azi]

What a dickish thing to do. No doubt that'll be the last time he'll be told.

is any different to what djphal or any other poster does ?

i know how some folk like to batter owen with a stick but thats taking the piss he was asked what his opinion and was and he told it hardly shocking

[youll never walk alone it]

Yep  been a while since ive been this excited about  a new season,  any win will do lets just get that, and march on...

[Djibriliant]

I hope it's true that Henderson is starting, if we want to get at them early, his energy is key.

[tommy LFC]

is any different to what djphal or any other poster does ?

i know how some folk like to batter owen with a stick but thats taking the piss he was asked what his opinion and was and he told it hardly shocking

No need to bring djphal into this.... 

There's a difference between an anonymous poster revealing the line up online and an ex-player using his connections at the club to reveal it to the world on live telly.

There's a reason the club don't reveal the line-up until an hour before kick off - it gives the opposition as little time as possible to prepare for specific threats. Huth and Shawcross have just been given an extra half an hour to research Aspas.

That's what my paranoid head is saying anyway, although yes, Michael Owen could give me £50,000 tomorrow and I'd complain that he's a tight bugger!!

[Snoopy29]

COOOOMEEEEE ONNN!!!!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

COMEEEE ONNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN

[vagabond]

No need to bring djphal into this.... 

There's a difference between an anonymous poster revealing the line up online and an ex-player using his connections at the club to reveal it to the world on live telly.

There's a reason the club don't reveal the line-up until an hour before kick off - it gives the opposition as little time as possible to prepare for specific threats. Huth and Shawcross have just been given an extra half an hour to research Aspas.

That's what my paranoid head is saying anyway, although yes, Michael Owen could give me £50,000 tomorrow and I'd complain that he's a tight bugger!!

I don't think an extra half hour would be enough to 'research' a player. I'm sure that stuff is all done through the week anyway.

[paddysour]

I have often thought Djphal is in fact Michael Owen

[lessthanmatt]

This is what the Guardian reckons, with probable starters in bold. Just as much guesswork as the formations we're posting here mind. I forgot they had Begovic. Good thing is that keepers playing blinders at Anfield is sooooo last season.

[ManchesterBlue]

Be interesting to see what impact Hughes has had on Stoke. When he was our manager, his crucial failing was his inability to organise a defence. As defensive solidity was just about the only thing Stoke had going for them under Pulis, that failing could be a problem. Also we were incredibly poor away from home under him. You really should win this today.

[tommy LFC]

I don't think an extra half hour would be enough to 'research' a player. I'm sure that stuff is all done through the week anyway.

I don't mean Mark Hughes his there scratching is head thinking "who is Aspas?".

They may have thought Aspas would have started on the bench so spent the week concentrating on other threats while paying minimal attention to Aspas. But they now have an opportunity to go through the dossiers their scouts would have prepared on him in much more detail.

But don't mind me, only the paranoid ramblings of a madman...

[amir87]

Early team news is that apparently we're going to get in their arse and make it our home.

[Kadian]

We haven't won an opening day match since 2008/09.

Five bloody years. Here's hoping that run ends today.

[thekitkatshuffler]

I have often thought Djphal is in fact Michael Owen

Fucking hell, that's harsh, mate.   

[Mercer]

Cannot. Fucking. Wait.

[Djibriliant]

Luis Alberto, Jordan Ibe and Borini will be on the bench.

[Adeemo]

Pretty sure it'll be

Mignolet

Johnson    Toure    Agger    Enrique

Lucas

Gerrard    Henderson

Aspas    Sturridge    Coutinho

[tommy LFC]

Breaking news: Colin Pascoe will be on the bench

[vagabond]

Early team news is that apparently we're going to get in their arse and make it our home.

Sounds more like a formation to me. Do we know who's playing up top yet?

[Nick110581]

Pretty sure it'll be

Mignolet

Johnson    Toure    Agger    Enrique

Lucas

Gerrard    Henderson

Aspas    Sturridge    Coutinho

If Owen is correct then that will be the team.

Surprised Allen is not starting though.

[TobyLFC]

Let's get off to a flyer!

Liverpool F.C. 2 - 0 Stoke City F.C.

Gerrard 24'
Sturridge 65'

YNWA!

[CognacBut]

This is a prematch thread.

I have nothing to moan about this early in the season so I am going to go with the fact it is a bit cloudy here.

 

[tommy LFC]

Surprised Allen is not starting though.

Stoke would literally eat him.

[mart356]

Mignolet, Johnson, Toure, Agger, Enrique, Lucas, Gerrard, Henderson, Aspas, Coutinho, Sturridge.