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Mignolet must overcome possession panic

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Simon MignoletDESPITE making a string of awesome saves in recent weeks, there are a number of people getting on Simon Mignolet’s back. Whilst the Belgian is undoubtedly one of our best players so far this season, there is an argument that he is making a string of superb saves all because he gives the ball away far too easily.

It’s hard to disagree. He made three superb saves against Southampton, two of them from his giving the ball away. In one of our poorest performances in recent memory, it’s hard to point the finger at one man for giving cheap possession away, but to ignore Mignolet’s distribution issues against Southampton would be ignoring the 800lb gorilla in the room.

I personally think that the stopper is undergoing an identity crisis. At some point in the near future, if we do not make changes, we are going to concede a goal because Mignolet gets dispossessed as he’s trying to dummy a striker or he’s going to pass straight to the opposition. After what feels like an eternity of having Pepe Reina and his confident and comfortable distribution, we are now trying to make Mignolet into that kind of goalkeeper.

For me, it’s not going to work and we need to let Simon Mignolet be Simon Mignolet instead of turning him into something that he isn’t. His game is suffering. He isn’t that good with the ball at his feet (nor is he spectacularly bad) and we just need to embrace that for now and work around it. It is going to cost us a goal if it continues and I’d hate for that to be at Old Trafford on Wednesday night.

Simply, Mignolet needs to start kicking it long if no safe option is on. Football is about taking risks at the right time and as far as I’m concerned, under no circumstances is your own penalty box “the right time.”

We can of course work on his distribution. But it will take time. For a team that focuses on retention of the ball so keenly, we of course need to do so when possible. But we also make backpasses a lot as a consequence. Mignolet is simply not confident with his feet.

Nor is this a revelation. This was patently obvious during his time at Sunderland and is something I’ve highlighted in previous articles. As a shot stopper he has been absolutely superb, some of the saves he’s made have been breathtaking. But he is a mistake waiting to happen. And I don’t necessarily hold him responsible. Sometimes he is given a backpass that simply is asking a lot of him. Especially seeing as his teammates will be aware that passing isn’t his strong suit but still do it anyway.

We’re just going to have to swallow our pride and when we’re being pressed, Mignolet is going to have to go long. It doesn’t suit our game and we are not equipped to deal with it but when teams like Southampton play it perfectly and press us right up to the edge of our penalty box, that’s just going to have to be the way we go.

I’ve been very impressed with Mignolet so far but a mistake is coming if we don’t start playing to his strengths – and short passing is not a strength.

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I'm a fully trained journalist who shunned a career in the profession due to my disillusionment with the tabloid press, instead hoping to become a professional author. I've written for The Liverpool Way for 7 years and am a regular on the forum using the name Agt Provocateur.

A passionate member of supporter group Kop Faithful, I've been a season ticket holder of 8 years and a regular match goer since 1995.

When not criticising diminishing refereeing standards in football, I can be found at Langtree Park, the home of St Helens Rugby League Club being highly critical of non existent standards of refereeing in Rugby League. I'm is also a massive Lancashire and England cricket fan.

14 comments

  • wallace says:

    There are so many experts on football, those that think they know everything and the tribe is getting bigger and bigger. They take the enjoyment out of the game, with criticism, judgements, blaming, anger, aggression, constantly giving points of view and opinions. We english are so full of cynicism and sarcasm and act like drunks throwing it up everywhere

  • el says:

    Ya you got a point there man. And it can kill his confidence

  • PatrickThe Red says:

    Stupid and pointless article. Mignolet has been brilliant and one of Liverpool’s best players. No player is perfect but Mignolet is a damn good goalkeeper.

    • hasan says:

      True! Mignolet in terrific form for Liverpool. Our Midfield couldnt hold the ball in the last two games. BR gotta do somethin about that

  • Funnie says:

    Mignolet is one of our best players so far this season, he’s been simply fantastic.

  • stuart says:

    If we are ever going to play football properly we need to have a goalkeeper who can pass the ball out. The days of hoofing it up front should hopefully be over. I am sure that a player of his skill can learn to pass a ball around with safety we are not looking for match winning 40 yard defence splitting passes just getting the ball moving quickly and accurately out of defence.

  • Scottypool says:

    By the time Mignolet is Reina’s age, his distribution and footwork may be as good. He’s young and by my count the best if not second best shot stopper in the league. Begovic is pretty damn good. The distribution will come with time.

  • pino pino says:

    Skrtel always taking the ball back to him and not opening up 4 him 2 pass back.Mignolet doesn’t have great distribution but better if Toure is in the side.

  • pino pino says:

    I mean better if Toure is in centre back.

  • Bamidele says:

    The Problem is our Midfielder don’t hold on to the Ball as long as possible… I expect BR to make us of Allen much more this season as our CM or AM, he can retain the ball and also Pass it out. And secondly our Midfielders Lucas, Gerrad and Henderson tends to fall back too much, we need a player who is not used to defending like Allen and coutinho playing together in the middle of the pitch, what’s the essence of Gerrad and Henderson falling too deep when you have Lucas on the pitch… Our player need to develop an attacking instinct not defending, top clubs don’t fall back too much (Barca, Bayern, man u etc) they always keep pressing until the final whistle

  • GaryMac2005 says:

    Sorry lads – but this one’s bang on.

    Mignolet is never going to be Reina when it comes to distribution – but few are – Pepe’s simply among the best in the world (and most always has done) at that skill.

    So – we’ve traded superior, if spectacular shot blocking for superior, if spectacular distribution. Far trade. Though I do miss those unbelievable Reina long balls right onto the foot of Suarez…

    Still the gist is correct here. Play to Mignolet’s strengths and his distribution skills are unremarkable if not downright sub-par….

  • Ezekiel Kparevfa says:

    English paundits must stop their inconstructive & bias criticisms now. This guy is even doing better than Joe Hart who is England no.1. Why superflously crucify him?

  • Tmoney says:

    The problem with liverpool is that of making a lot of back pass, instead of attacking and holding on to the ball in the midfield and this is having a negative effect on lfc,but for mignolet i dont know what you expect from him cos he is magnificent so far.

  • CHUKWUEMEKA says:

    am afraid he would get to a stage where he would relax nd start behaving like the reina we loaned out. i have been following reina nd rafa since they went to napoli nd reina has been doing the wonderful things i knew he would do if only he had mig to compete with him at lfc.

    in our last few games i noticed that the lack of competition syndrom has gradually been creeping into the likes if coutinho nd sturridge. lets hope with suarez back, they wld have some one to shout on them to release the ball when due, i also think gerrard shouldn’t start every game but then we are lacking in midfield nd i still blame rodgers for purposefully missing out on arda turan while loaning out jonjo. YNWA

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