S-Clarke

He's talented, but seemed a little too static in the 1st half. He's going to be a typical player of his type though, he will frustrate but he seems to be able to produce moments of class. The potential partnership of himself and Bertrand looks very exciting indeed.

Even though it was a defeat, it was a performance which should raise the momentum once more. In the 2nd half we played a tactical game to limit the space in midfield, and it did work as their midfielders struggled to get onto the ball. The issue was that the attacking area didn't really function, it was all a little static and Pelle was very isolated up front on his own with very little support in and around him. Liverpool weren't playing very well and we were limiting them. In the 2nd half, we played with a purpose. We seemed to have a lot more fluidity in the attacking third and JWP came into his own in the space behind the striker, which is somewhere I don't think many of us have ever seen him play! Tadic wasn't as static on the left, and as we saw with the goal, he floated all over the front line and pulled their back line all over the show. We were picking up more and more loose balls as the 2nd half went on, Wanyama and Morgan growing more and more into the game as we went and we really, really should have had more than the 1 we got - which was an excellent bit of attacking intent by Clyne, provided by a wonderful assist from Tadic. Davis should have put his laces through the chance he had, he seemed to want to pass it into the back of the net, and Shane...I don't really want to call it a sitter, because if you look back at it he's jumping at something...he can't really see the ball as there are 2 Liverpool defenders in front, so he's hoping he can get a touch and see where it goes. It wasn't a sitter in my eyes and we were damn unlucky not to get anything from that. Overall, it was the first game and there's still a long hard season to go - but as I've always said, I don't believe we'll be struggling. We're not going to be as good as we were last year, but we're a solid enough outfit who will cause teams problems over the course of the season. I like what Koeman is building and I like the tactical way he approached the game in both halves. After a summer of real uncertainty, I think we can move forward with a bit of excitement about what may be ahead.

Even though it was a defeat, it was a performance which should raise the momentum once more. In the 2nd half we played a tactical game to limit the space in midfield, and it did work as their midfielders struggled to get onto the ball. The issue was that the attacking area didn't really function, it was all a little static and Pelle was very isolated up front on his own with very little support in and around him. Liverpool weren't playing very well and we were limiting them. In the 2nd half, we played with a purpose. We seemed to have a lot more fluidity in the attacking third and JWP came into his own in the space behind the striker, which is somewhere I don't think many of us have ever seen him play! Tadic wasn't as static on the left, and as we saw with the goal, he floated all over the front line and pulled their back line all over the show. We were picking up more and more loose balls as the 2nd half went on, Wanyama and Morgan growing more and more into the game as we went and we really, really should have had more than the 1 we got - which was an excellent bit of attacking intent by Clyne, provided by a wonderful assist from Tadic. Davis should have put his laces through the chance he had, he seemed to want to pass it into the back of the net, and Shane...I don't really want to call it a sitter, because if you look back at it he's jumping at something...he can't really see the ball as there are 2 Liverpool defenders in front, so he's hoping he can get a touch and see where it goes. It wasn't a sitter in my eyes and we were damn unlucky not to get anything from that. Overall, it was the first game and there's still a long hard season to go - but as I've always said, I don't believe we'll be struggling. We're not going to be as good as we were last year, but we're a solid enough outfit who will cause teams problems over the course of the season. I like what Koeman is building and I like the tactical way he approached the game in both halves. After a summer of real uncertainty, I think we can move forward with a bit of excitement about what may be ahead.

We don't need another striker.

We don't need another striker.

We've looked ok, tactically out numbered Liverpool's midfield, they can't really get on the ball in there which is because of us. Wanyama is a danger sniffing machine, beast. Morgan OK, but felt he could have done a bit more to prevent the goal. Out a bit quicker to the ball and a little more intent with the intention to win it, but Clyne's positioning was well off for the goal. Took fonte right out of the game and you're relying on Clyne to clean up there, but he was too far away. Yoshida has been incredibly dodgy, does look like an accident waiting to happen. There's not really much of an attacking threat about us though, we're keeping the ball well enough at the moment but there's not a lot going on up top. Pelle isn't getting any joy winning anything in the air and Tadic keeps getting caught offside, best chance came from Morgan. Lots to take in terms of positives on the overall shape and discipline of the side, but we need to do a hell of more as an attacking unit.

We've looked ok, tactically out numbered Liverpool's midfield, they can't really get on the ball in there which is because of us. Wanyama is a danger sniffing machine, beast. Morgan OK, but felt he could have done a bit more to prevent the goal. Out a bit quicker to the ball and a little more intent with the intention to win it, but Clyne's positioning was well off for the goal. Took fonte right out of the game and you're relying on Clyne to clean up there, but he was too far away. Yoshida has been incredibly dodgy, does look like an accident waiting to happen. There's not really much of an attacking threat about us though, we're keeping the ball well enough at the moment but there's not a lot going on up top. Pelle isn't getting any joy winning anything in the air and Tadic keeps getting caught offside, best chance came from Morgan. Lots to take in terms of positives on the overall shape and discipline of the side, but we need to do a hell of more as an attacking unit.

I think he meant in the past, finding and developing the likes of Shaw/Lambert/Lallana/Chambers etc.

I think he meant in the past, finding and developing the likes of Shaw/Lambert/Lallana/Chambers etc.

It's really poor punditry and an easy way of shortening a feature to just say we'll struggle, our success will be staying up etc. It's like they've not even considered who we've brought in, just who we've lost and because of that the players coming in won't have even close to their same impact. I think we'll be alright. I'd love us to shove it up a lot of these pundits arses this year and show their laziness up. The same pundits come January will probably be recommending Tadic to Liverpool.

It's really poor punditry and an easy way of shortening a feature to just say we'll struggle, our success will be staying up etc. It's like they've not even considered who we've brought in, just who we've lost and because of that the players coming in won't have even close to their same impact. I think we'll be alright. I'd love us to shove it up a lot of these pundits arses this year and show their laziness up. The same pundits come January will probably be recommending Tadic to Liverpool.

I never quite understand why people wonder if a keeper can make the step 'Up'' from SPL football. Are the balls down here bigger and harder or something? He was a good GK for Celtic and he'll be a good GK for us.

I never quite understand why people wonder if a keeper can make the step 'Up'' from SPL football. Are the balls down here bigger and harder or something? He was a good GK for Celtic and he'll be a good GK for us.

He's always been there though, was NC's closest pal during his time.

He's always been there though, was NC's closest pal during his time.

A massive pause before he said anything though, obviously had to bite his tough 10 or so times first!

A massive pause before he said anything though, obviously had to bite his tough 10 or so times first!

A very interesting and revealing interview by Rickie.

A very interesting and revealing interview by Rickie.

I'm ITK!!! took a knock in the Saturday session apparently. Didn't travel.

I'm ITK!!! took a knock in the Saturday session apparently. Didn't travel.

No it doesn't.

No it doesn't.

Boruc has lost his head somewhere, and Gaston is injured.

Boruc has lost his head somewhere, and Gaston is injured.