Stoke City - Home - 17th Aug

[Evil_Ways]

Maybe this is a good sign, the last 4 seasons we'd have for sure dropped points here, the way the game turned out. Dominating the game but not killing them off with a second despite creating a shitload. And some sort of meltdown from one of our players. I actually think this was better than if we'd have killed this game early. This can't have done Mignolet any harm, nor the rest of our squad.

[ClassyScouser]

Need to start taking our chances, could of easily won the game by 4 today as long as we got the 3 points and dominated an inbred Stoke side that's the main thing.

 

Need as many 3 points as we can against mediocre sides and at least push on for a point against the top sides until Suarez is back, when he's back I think and Arsenal are still in downfall I think we are well up for that top 4 finish we've been waiting for.

[Evil_Ways]

Was very impressed with Toure as well, he's been good all pre season, but that means nothing. Today though meant something and i thought he slotted in great. Calm with the ball at his feet, a dominating presence and very quick, before we signed i thought he was finished as a top player to be honest, but if he can play like this consistently i was very wrong about that.

[Newport]

Mignolet already earned us more points than Reina last season

 

Explain the logic behind this.

[clangers]

Yeah Toure was terrific I thought, good performance from us considering first game of the season with the obvious rust and lack of match fitness early in the season. Stoke look ahead of us in fitness terms and it showed over the last 25 minutes. Not a surprise as even after a change of manager you can see how they're going to spend a disproportionate amount of time on fitness training.

[MLB]

Can't complain too much about that. We were excellent with the ball at times and probably should have scored 4. The set piece defending was a bit of a worry but that's always going to be the case when we have so little height in the team and Mignolet is still finding his feet.

 

Can't think of any bad performances today. Great team spirit. Onwards and upwards.

[Xherdan]

As others have said this was dropped points in previous seasons. Some positives and negatives from today like most matches, but much more positives that negatives; Aspas, Hendo, Mignolet, Toure, Lucas.

[Gym Beglin]

I think today highlighted why we need someone like Papadopoulos to stop the incursions by big shithouses like Huth and NZonzi and co. We need a big mental fella to give them a death stare and smile at them, and then elbow them in the throat on the sly.

 

Also, where is Borini? Why? What? Need to sort that out ASA fucking P, because otherwise we're light up front, as today showed. Stop hitting shots at a perfect height for a top keeper.

[moof]

What do you mean 'where is Borini?' He was on the bench you loon.

[MLB]

One of the most encouraging things is that this is still obviously a work in progress. A lot of the players are new, even including Sturridge and Coutinho. Once they actually click properly we will be a joy to watch.

[ZonkoVille77]

I think today highlighted why we need someone like Papadopoulos to stop the incursions by big shithouses like Huth and NZonzi and co. We need a big mental fella to give them a death stare and smile at them, and then elbow them in the throat on the sly.

 

Also, where is Borini? Why? What? Need to sort that out ASA fucking P, because otherwise we're light up front, as today showed. Stop hitting shots at a perfect height for a top keeper.

 

Borini couldn't score in a brothel.

[therevivalist]

Add Suarez to that mix?

 

He was in the crowd; I would've liked to see his face when Mignolet made the save.

[SCOUSE TAPAS]

That ended up being nerve wracking and it shouldn't have.

We played really well.

Thought Lucas looked sharp, quick into the tackle. Aspas never kept still, loads of movement.

Toure was very good, constantly talking, encouraging. He wont be bullied.

Coutinho is absolute class. He was the only person in the ground who saw the pass to Henderson.

Lets keep it going

Lucas was the best I have seen him since he came back from injury.

[therevivalist]

Thought Benteke is fucked. Didn't he break his leg or something in a friendly?

 

Benteke dd fuck the Arse up. Wenger now to step up his pursuit of Suarez.

[Batigol]

Our finishing really is brutal. For all the dominance and chances created today only Henderson (twice) really tested Begovic, other then the goal. Every other shot was hit right at or they shit themselves when he closed the forward down. Need to sort this out or wont get so lucky the next time.

 

Need to follow it up with a good result at Villa too. With any luck we've got a new signing on the bench for that one.

[Guest Numero Veinticinco]

That's just not true. He made more saves than he ever has before. We tested him many times. He was just superb.

[therevivalist]

champions.....

 

Shhhhhhh don't jinx it.

[DanDanShaw]

Best atmosphere inside Anfield for a long time (excluding United and Everton games). Hope it's like that all season, I'm looking forward to singing the Mignolet chant very loudly in Birmingham next week.

 

We should have won by at least 3 today though.

[Batigol]

That's just not true. He made more saves than he ever has before. We tested him many times. He was just superb.

 

I don't really care about the times Aspas and Enrique etc decided to hit the ball right at him with no direction nor height. He made two great saves, that's all.

[therevivalist]

I guess Begovic deserved something, cause he was the only thing preventing them from being totally destroyed. Stoke deserved !@#$%^&* all though.

 

Outstanding personally was Begovitch. He should get out of a crappy team.

[therevivalist]

We were surprisingly dangerous at set-pieces today. Amazing turnaround from recent seasons in that area.

 

But still can't head the ball for our lives. A dozen or so corners yet no threat. We need to work on that.

[Paco]

But still can't head the ball for our lives. A dozen or so corners yet no threat. We need to work on that.

 

Toure hit the bar from a corner

[Saintslfc13]

Lucas was the best I have seen him since he came back from injury.

 

Agree with this whole heartily. Great game by Lucas today, also loved the way him and Coutinho didn't take shit off of that twat N'Zonzi.

 

Overall I thought we were good but not great. We definitely need to sort out the finishing but as others have said this was a draw a best for the past few seasons. Personally I thought we were fucked once the pen was given but Mignolet had that double save which was amazing. You can definitely see how we'd benefit from a couple more signings though and I wasn't particularly happy with Enrique today, mostly going forward but a win is a win anyway.

[MLB]

Begovic was brilliant for them. He should be at a much bigger, better club. No doubt about it. I just hope that Wenger is too much of a tight arse to try and sign him.

[RazorBack]

We still need a few new quality singnings. Hopefully Sakho and Willian rumors are true and they do, thanks to some kind of a miracle, join us. Anyway, a good win but should put those chances away.