Kanji

Where do you get that from? You hear that from someone?

Nobody is comparing Anita to Pirlo. Some cunt called Colback the Ginger Pirlo and again stupid comment. Colback's 90 minutes of nothing can be okay when he makes key blocks like that. He's never a starter in my eyes and the sooner Wijnaldum moves back some or we sign someone far better to play that role the better. I appreciate that he tried hard, but that is to be the fucking minimum in football.

Also is the FIFA/PES version.

I knew what I was writing.

Man if only we went all out for him: Cisse/Mitro Shaqiri Perez Sissoko Anita Wijnaldum Cisse/Mitro Shaqiri De Jong Sissoko Anita Wijnaldum Or the f*** it version: Cisse/Mitro Aarons Perez Shaqiri Sissoko Wijnaldum

No way can you judge any of his attacking performance yesterday bc any of our pace and invention was gone at 68 minutes when Tiote came in and we stopped attacking.

I rewatched the 2nd goal from that higher camera angle, Sissoko slowed down (assuming he gave up on play / didn't think Obertan would hit a cross there) and was the furthest forward! But Gini's lung bursting 90 yard run was Outstanding effort and determination. Incredible drive by the new man.

That'd be ace to know if we were a running club and not a football club. My man, Ash, :lol:

I'll give him benefit on both goals as the defending was crap, and he bailed us out a few times. I like him avoiding kicking as much as possible and passing it out or throwing it out. Long may it continue.

Yup, but I'm really thinking Perez is better suited for a style of play. Although I'm a massive fan of De Jong, mind you. I think he's an absolutely deadly footballer when on form -- I just think Perez's silky smooth style, technical ability and goal threat (with far better pace than Siem) is what we need in that role.

No problem with him getting a higher vantage point with Cathro in the stands analyzing our patterns of play, positioning etc. He's clearly still in need of learning and seeing who and what works best. I'd rather see him up there WORKING and trying to get us playing better and improving. I was not happy with his initial team selection with the CM partnership and LW in Obertan. But I think at 2-1 he had the chance to turn the game in our favor and bring on positive subs in Mitrovic (who was always coming on) and either Perez, De Jong, or Aarons. Instead, Anita gets hurt and I think that changed the plan completely. I assume it did. I still think he had the chance to be braver and bring on Aarons, Perez/De Jong and Mitrovic when Anita went down but didn't. So I'm a little bit annoyed with that, but will get over it. In the back, I think we are going to be weak and or a work-in-progress. I like the deep playmaker dropping in between the CBs allowing the fullbacks to push up the pitch, and I like the passing and movement at times. We look far more competent and focused going forward. I think there is a ton of potential in this team, but we really need to sign more players and McClaren can make his job far easier if he shored up that back line with another CB, a LB (or PD returning quickly), and getting Cabella, Marveaux, and Abeid some time on the pitch. He's shooting himself in the foot when he pairs 2 sitting players like that. Very early, many errors, didn't agree with the substitutions, but I like McClaren the man, he's an honest football man who I'm more than happy to give the benefit of doubt. I enjoyed our match today and I want to continue to enjoy it. There's a purpose with this football team for 75 minutes, and I haven't seen that in a few years. We didn't rely on "magic" , we actually worked and fought for our goals for once.

When i think about today's match, I think we lost 2 points at around 60 minutes or so. At that point, Obertan should have come off as he was beginning to look clumsy and back to his non-confident 5-10 mins self. This was right around the time he couldn't capitalize on the 3 v 2 I believe and passed it back to our defense, a critical mistake in not getting something of a corner or chance on goal. Thinking further - we scored in the 48th and gave up the equalizer some 30 minutes later. Obertan should have come off in the 60-ish minute time when we were still pushing on for that 3rd. Aarons should have came on at that point and given their fullback sub problems. It would have forced Southampton to spend more time worrying about Aarons running at them constantly who I'd imagine does give a cause for any opposing manager some concern due to his unpredictability and left foot. So we didn't make that sub, in the 60-ish minute. At that point, McClaren had another opportunity to do it in the 68th when Anita went down. Instead, in the 68th minute, Anita gets stretchered off and McClaren IMO should have pushed Colback into Anita's role, Gini as the box-to-box, Obertan off for Aarons to keep the width and pace fresh, and Perez as the #10 to keep the technical nature and drifting/more mobile team. Those 2 moves would have kept us firmly in control IMO. Colback is Colback, but he has played for more in preseason to at least be capable of playing far deeper, starting attacks and letting Gini do the work. Mind you for the 2 Colback blocks and the Mane miss, we had 2 hand balls in their box, a Davis block on Gini, and another trickling shot cleared off the line. So I'm going to cancel those out.

Obertan should have come off around 60 minutes, his game had peaked. We needed to get Aarons on to keep their Right side honest and keep them guessing/worried at the unpredictability of Aarons.

Exactly it.

This sounds good to me, as I've mentioned though we really could do with a proper holding player who can pass it a bit to pull this off in my opinion. I actually think we already have that player in Mehdi Abeid, who has the physicality to muscle people off the ball, has the pace to get across the pitch and cover, and has a decent pass on him and is fairly technical as well. Absolute shame if he's flogged, he's far quicker in the pass than Tiote has EVER been. Regarding Abeid I believe he was originally an attacking midfielder as well but as you said he has the physicality and athletic ability which we badly lack in central midfield. Can he trusted to sit and hold though? I have no doubts he'd be good plating out from the back. I think he deserves a shot, but does the coaching staff agree?

This sounds good to me, as I've mentioned though we really could do with a proper holding player who can pass it a bit to pull this off in my opinion. I actually think we already have that player in Mehdi Abeid, who has the physicality to muscle people off the ball, has the pace to get across the pitch and cover, and has a decent pass on him and is fairly technical as well. Absolute shame if he's flogged, he's far quicker in the pass than Tiote has EVER been.

As much as I want Berahino; an attacking wide forward/winger is exactly what we need up top.

I actually think our most dynamic and potent team will be 1 of Cisse/Mitrovic with Aarons & Sissoko wide, Perez as the second striker, Gini playing a box-to-box but emphasis on the attacking box. Highly technical, scary pace on the counter attack, goals from potentially 5 of them as well.

His partner should be Wijnaldum or Sissoko.

Love seeing Anita dropping in between the CBs to get some attacks moved and started. Not something I normally would like, but I liked the different approach.

Yup, good with the ball too, quick as well.

At that point to be fair, I think, Colback was running out that way to defend that pass that Cisse intercepted and was slowing down?

got beat by that header for Shane Long's equalizer too

Looks strong as fuck. Needs to be in and around the box far more though. Think he'd look great playing with Perez and Aarons

He won far more headers later on versus Pelle by the way.