SaintTex

Arsenal ------------Forster------------- Cedric--Fonte--VVD--Bertrand ---Davis--Romeu--Højbjerg--- ---Redmond--Austin--Boufal--- Palace ---------------Forster--------------- Cuco--Yosh--Stephens--McQueen -----Clasie----Reed----Prowse----- -------JRod----Long----Sims------- Hapoel Beer Sheva ------------Forster------------- Cedric--Fonte--VVD--Bertrand ---Davis--Romeu--Højbjerg--- ---Redmond--Austin--Tadic---

This. Palace is the game we should be playing reserves and resting players. Getting positive results in our next two mid-week games are much more important than whatever happens in the Palace game.

Love all this! keep it going!

and 5 points off 6th place. also... Top half the table 2nd in our EL Group with 2 games to go beat Inter Milan at home last 8 in the EFL Cup good season so far. lousy result today Could see this coming. Coming off a very emotional win Thursday. A string of 5 games in 15 days or so. Tired players, thin squad. The International break in the players view.. tried to coast through this game. it didn't work out.

it's been a pretty good season so far. Top half of the table 2nd in our EL Group a home win against Inter Milan Last 8 in the EFL Cup I don't understand you.

I would agree with this, but VVD has put in so many minutes and Yoshida is in form that maybe you give VVD a rest for Hull and give Yoshida the start. Or am I overthinking this?

that's a great line up if we played a 4-2-3-1, but in our 15 or so games this year have we played this formation? realistically.... -----------Forster------------- Cuco--Fonte--VVD--Bertrand ------------Romeu------------ -----Davis------Højbjerg----- -----------Tadic-------------- ----Redmond------Austin----

So how many games are we going to play this season? 38 League 3 EFL Cup 6 EL 1 FA Cup 48 games minimum. Hopefully more, of course.

i think he has managed the defense and the midfield, especially, well. I still have some creeping doubt about our offensive strategy and whether we have the right players for what we are trying to do. Now, this is not all Puel's fault, he's got what he's got; but i would be interested to see what our January and next summer transfer targets are. I will trust Les and Claude will coordinate needs. I would love to see more offensive fluidity and feel that players know their roles and are working well with each other a bit better. Most goals seem to be one offs. i hope I don't come off as negative, i think we are a really good team and i think Peul is doing a fine job, but its the final third were we need the most improvement.

how crazy is it that we get worried when our players do too well. hey, fella, could you dial it down some? Were going to lose you to a big club if people keep noticing how good you are! Could you let in a goal or two, so they will look elsewhere?

yeah, there was just a slight miscommunication as to who was going to pick up Iheanacho. VvD let up just slightly and then when he realized Fonte was moving forward to cover someone else, VvD just couldn't quite get back to Iheanacho to prevent the shot. It happens. I am still concerned about the lack of goals. Tadic is still what makes the team tick, but I wish he would put a few in the back of the net.

yeah, there was just a slight miscommunication as to who was going to pick up Iheanacho. VvD let up just slightly and then when he realized Fonte was moving forward to cover someone else, VvD just couldn't quite get back to Iheanacho to prevent the shot. It happens. I am still concerned about the lack of goals. Tadic is still what makes the team tick, but I wish he would put a few in the back of the net.

Van Dijk and Romeu are going to have to play lights out.

no sympathy either. I remember a quote from him while he was on his way out of Southampton about how he wanted "to play 2 matches a week", of course alluding to European football. well, he would have gotten that at Southampton.. but with Man U.... 4 total appearances overall. - 2' Community Shield - 5' Bournemouth (PL) - 90' Feyenoord (EL) - 73' Northampton (League Cup)

4 in 7 League matches. 22% of Liverpool's goals have come from penalties. ---- Southampton on the other hand.... 0 penalties in 6 League matches. 3 penalties against in 6 League matches. (3 matches in a row, ManU, Sunderland, Arsenal) 50% our League goals against this season have come from penalties - 3 out of 6 total.

i didn't see the match, but it sounds like a plausible strategy/tactic. Maybe the Cuco and Targett were playing exactly as Puel had instructed them to do. Don't get caught up front and let's take the point.

Couldn't have said it better. My absolute favorite player. And I also noticed Tadic's reaction on the touchline to Hesketh scoring. it was genuine. and gosh, a player and manager discussing something on the touchline? what gives? It was likely tactical or a teaching moment.. as in : next time do this, not that. No biggie. will be interesting to see how Boufal and Tadic work/play together. They seem to be cut from the same cloth. Is it going to be an enhancement or it is going to get too cute, if you know what I mean? All flare and no finish or pure football magic?

Forster always looks like that, he's got a bit of a caveman thing going on.

Worried about Clasie being intimidated but suggest starting Reed and Hesketh? bonkers.

20/10 Thur - Inter (a) 23/10 Sun - City (a) 26/10 Wed - Sunderland (h) 30/10 Sun - Chelsea (h) 3/11 Thur - Inter (h) can only imagine what that line up for the Sunderland match will be like.

I don't think Boufal, our most expensive signing ever will be fighting it out for a spot once fit. If Boufal is indeed inserted in the 10 spot, the question become where does Tadic go? I think that is one of the advantages of going to a 4-2-3-1, so that Boufal and Tadic can be on the pitch at the same time (getting Redmond out on the wing is a bonus). This suggested line up is nothing new on here, but man, I want to see it in action. -------------Austin----------- --Tadic--Boufal--Redmond-- ------Holjberg-----Romeu---- Bertrand-VVD-Fonte-Martina ------------Forster----------- Cedric would work at RB. Long could work as striker. JRod could play on the left wing or striker depending on fitness. Clasie/JWP/Davis can be slotted in the defensive midfield.

-------------McCarthy--------------- Martina-Stephens-Yoshida-Targett ---------------Reed----------------- -----JWP----------------Clasie------ -------------Hesketh---------------- ------Redmond------Long---------- Both Redmond and Long need chances to get off the schneid.

I am OK with the rotations. Puel is having to manage the squad with the number of matches we are having to play this month. What is it? 7 games in 21 days?

the finishing (lack of) will be the difference between 6th and 14th place this season.

In regards to playing a strong team vs a weak team... this is a game we really need all 3 points if we want to have a realistic chance of advancing.. Sparta (H) W (3 points) Hapoel Be'er Sheva (A) D (1 point) Inter Milan (A) L (0 points) Inter Milan (H) D (1 point) Sparta (A) D (1 point) Hapoel Be'er Sheva (H) W (3 points) A total 9 points likely gets us through, but still a chance that even wouldn't be enough. So, if we don't get 3 points Thursday, the path toward advancing gets very difficult. 9 points would likely do it