Cronky

I have had a lot of doubts about his defending, but he's become much more decisive and sure in his positioning. He's a very good athlete, so the potential has always been there.

Some interesting posts here. He got involved as a fan, but he fell into thinking that the club's interests and his own interests were identical. Also struck me as a bloke who only listened to advice that would reinforce his pre-conceived ideas.

I thought he looked tired after the first half hour or so. He puts so much energy into every game, and looked like he needed a break.

For the first half hour, we played some good football, and those two were at the heart of it. Then we seemed to get more and more tired. Atsu lacked confidence from the get go. He's had a good start to the season, but today he didn't look up for it. It's a good job we scored when we did, because their goal seemed to knock the stuffing out of us. Mind you, any defence that allows Joselu to score with a run from near the half way line has got problems.

The income gaps between the top teams and the rest of the Premiership, and between the Premiership and the Championship, are already way too large. It puts pressure on clubs to take financial risks to stay at their level, or move up to the next one.

He was certainly passionate about the task, but he really bungled the combined issues of Sir Bob's successor and Shearer's retirement. A good opportunity was wasted.

He seemed to imply that we were an inferior side whose tactics were to contain them and try and sneak something on the break. This was the sort of opposition that the mighty Stoke would have to learn to deal with. I like Hughes, but Stoke are not Chelsea and we weren't afraid of them.

Players going mad at opponents who they think have dived, when they know very well that they have team-mates who would do the same. Only they would be a streetwise professional rather than a cheat.

I'm not sure I ever saw Colo talking at all, let alone bollocking a team mate.

Wouldn't it be that if he makes a certain number of starts, we have to buy him, rather than we can only buy him if makes those starts?

Debatable how difficult the chances were, but at least he was in the position to take them, and put some kind of effort in on goal. Finishing may not be his core strength, but the overall fluency of the team looks better with him around.

He doesn't really look like a number 10 to me. I'd keep him where he is, because the more he sees of the ball, the better. He seems to have no trouble getting up and down the pitch all game. I'd be in no hurry to get Shelvey back on board. They're competing for the same place, and Merino is the better player.

I'm not yet sure about Lascelles. He did occasionally get dropped in the Championship last season, and of our three main CBs, I could still see him being the one left out if everyone's fit. For a centre back, he's quite good on the ball - my question marks would be against his decision-making and his physicality (or lack of it). The first area can definitely improve, and maybe the second area is partly about confidence. Hopefully the guy can continue to develop this season, because apart from anything else, we need a leader out there.

He'll find out.

I wonder if Gayle feels that he's back in the same impact sub role that he was in at Palace. He joined us to get away from that, so he's going to be a bit brassed off. It may be my imagination, but he looked a bit overweight.

I often wonder these days if the likes of Colback, Gouffran & Anita have skewed our vision so much that a player comes along, does the basics well and we instantly think he's a world beater Nah, I think this lad is the real deal. There's no particular aspect of his game that's outstanding, but at the same time he doesn't seem to have a weakness. Whatever situation he finds himself in on the pitch, he can deal with it. In a central midfield player, that's invaluable. He can make the whole team tick, and gives everyone confidence. The minute he came on against Spurs, the mindset of the team changed. Let's hope there's no long-term injury - and he doesn't shirk a challenge - because I think he's the difference between a mid-table finish and a relegation fight.

Both players have been victims of being promoted at an early age to a big club and not breaking through. That can kill a player's confidence for some time, but Merino seems to have the mental strength to deal with it. After only three games, he's found his feet and looks like a leader out there. With Sanches, you could see glimpses of the talent, but mentally he struggled. Perhaps it's a bit unfair to judge him when he is so new to the Premiership though.

I wasn't expecting much from a Stoke reject, but it looks like Rafa has called it dead right.

Man of the match again. Great all round performance. The dive was doubly annoying because it looked like he was through on goal.

I wouldn't disagree with most of that. That was the only way he could get the ball, and if he'd pulled out of making any sort of challenge, he'd have been accused of bottling out of a goalscoring opportunity. So there was pressure on him to go for it. But at the end of the day, he did jump and connect with the opponent's head. Everyone needs to get the message that that is unacceptable.

Nowt stopping him from going for it if he's not going to kick the keepers face in. It's a fucking karate kick, whether there was anyone around him or not, he should be taking that with his head, the fact that he goes with his foot instead suggests he wants to get there before someone, you don't have to be looking in the direction of someone to feel their presence. It does need to be made much clearer to all concerned that players have a responsibility for each other's safety, and that having the honest intention of getting to the ball first isn't always an excuse. We still seem to be in a transition phase in absorbing this. I've got a bit of sympathy for Mane, but he did take a running jump into the challenge.

Origi would be good. He's not going to get the chances he needs at Liverpool, but he's got good all-round ability.

Maybe he'll get shot. It's happened to loads of Kennedys.

Has his good and bad moments. Often doesn't look in completely in control of the ball when moving forward, but for every four occasions when he runs into a blind alley, there's the fifth occasion when he opens things up. Difficult player to assess, as others have said, but maybe the chance to show his stuff in the Premiership might revive him.

Far better than I was expecting, considering the modest fee. He was constantly involved, showed some good touches and linked very well with his team mates, considering he's a newbie.