Shak

That's who he looks like!! Been bothering me.

Haha Lansbury, eat your own shit you cunt.

Works hard though. In training, presumably.

Gouffran is a vastly bigger problem with our team than Colback IMO.

At least that would be laughs. This is a deep, empty pain.

I can understand his reluctance to start Shelvey and Diame in CM so I can deal with Perez being benched. His loyalty to Gouffran on the left is fucking annoying though. Atsu has looked good in his recent cameos, he deserves a chance given that Gouffran is absolutely shit. Purely down to Rafa's caution and preference for shape and defensive solidity first and foremost. Aye I know why he does it, just think it's a bit shit. Take the superior talent and coach him up so he can do enough defensively rather than start the donkey who you know will graft all day because it's all he can do out there. Hopefully Gouffran will get his random goal out of nowhere tonight and all will work out.

It's pretty mad, like. By all accounts had a good tournament in Africa and looked bright when he came on against Norwich. It'd be nice to see someone in the side who looks capable of beating a player; there's only Shelvey who I've any confidence in doing so. Gouffran certainly can't and, tbh, it's a long while since he had any kind of meaningful contribution. Can't understand the loyalty towards him; maybe he doesn't feel Dummett is up to handling the left side on his own. Which wouldn't be entirely surprising, though it's not like he's had a bad season. Really dunno how tonight's gonna go. I'm dying to watch us play well for more than about 30 minutes. Seems fucking ages since we did. The whole "Dummett needs to be protected" thing gets on my tits. He's a solid defender, at least at this level. You'd swear we were up against fucking Cafu every week the way some people go on about the horrors of leaving Dummett exposed. I agree, fwiw. I know you do. You're a smart guy, Yorkie. I like you. That's why I'm going to kill you last.

It's pretty mad, like. By all accounts had a good tournament in Africa and looked bright when he came on against Norwich. It'd be nice to see someone in the side who looks capable of beating a player; there's only Shelvey who I've any confidence in doing so. Gouffran certainly can't and, tbh, it's a long while since he had any kind of meaningful contribution. Can't understand the loyalty towards him; maybe he doesn't feel Dummett is up to handling the left side on his own. Which wouldn't be entirely surprising, though it's not like he's had a bad season. Really dunno how tonight's gonna go. I'm dying to watch us play well for more than about 30 minutes. Seems fucking ages since we did. The whole "Dummett needs to be protected" thing gets on my tits. He's a solid defender, at least at this level. You'd swear we were up against fucking Cafu every week the way some people go on about the horrors of leaving Dummett exposed.

I can understand his reluctance to start Shelvey and Diame in CM so I can deal with Perez being benched. His loyalty to Gouffran on the left is fucking annoying though. Atsu has looked good in his recent cameos, he deserves a chance given that Gouffran is absolutely shit.

Hoping for that too. Perez has been better recently but Diame is a better foil for Gayle. Sick to fucking death of the double donkey brothers down the left so hope to fuck Gouffran is out for this.

He'd be dreadful there. Spending his whole week trying to prepare for some shitty left winger that plays for Hibs or some shit, playing for 1-0 wins at Ibrox against relegation candidates.

You obviously haven't been paying attention to how inept Perez is at tracking back and defending! Dummett would have his work cut out trying to defend 2 v 1s all game if Perez was on that side of the park. Anyway, not going to happen as Rafa knows how exposed we'd be down that flank with the prancing show pony there. You must have loved it when we were starting Ryan Taylor on the right wing ahead of Ben Arfa. Dat tracking back, the single most important attribute for the left winger in a 4-2-3-1. Perez is no Ben Arfa though, is he? In fact, there is no guarantee that he'd give us any more offensively than Gouff on the left is there? Like I said, never going to happen! He's no Ben Arfa, I agree with that. Just would like to see him given a go out there. Just to clarify your following point... you're saying you are against trying to improve the team because there's no gaurantee it will work?

I've just seen this. Such fucking bullshit.

Which would be all well and good if we had someone on the left who works hard AND can make things happen in the final third. We don't though. We have Gouffran and he's an absolute shambles as an offensive force. It's a large part of the reason that we're so bad once we go behind or have to take the game to our opponents, one of our three AMs is basically worthless. In an ideal world for Rafa we'd have another Ritchie type to play down the left, someone who's good going both ways. That's why he wanted Townsend back so badly and was pissed it didn't happen. So the choice is now a grafter who offers nothing going forward but will do what's needed in defense or else a player with some ability who isn't as reliable defensively. I can see why Benitez is making the choice, doesn't mean I have to agree with it and doesn't mean I think I know more about football than him.

You obviously haven't been paying attention to how inept Perez is at tracking back and defending! Dummett would have his work cut out trying to defend 2 v 1s all game if Perez was on that side of the park. Anyway, not going to happen as Rafa knows how exposed we'd be down that flank with the prancing show pony there. You must have loved it when we were starting Ryan Taylor on the right wing ahead of Ben Arfa. Dat tracking back, the single most important attribute for the left winger in a 4-2-3-1.

Exposed to what? Did the Championship become awash with world class attacking full-backs when I wasn't paying attention? Literally the only thing Dummett can do is defend, we don't have to play a second donkey on that side to protect him. A far bigger issue is that both of the players down our left flank are absolutely dreadful attacking threats and it's basically pointless trying to go at teams down that side. I'd actually prefer to give Atsu starts there but Perez would be worth a look too IMO.

What you getting at ya daft little s****. You guys have such a romance. Ronaldo the power bottom?

His best position is probably alongside a big man in a front two in a team that uses real wingers IMO. In Rafa's system out left is the only place I can see him being of use. He's too slow to lead the line and gets caught in possession too often to play the #10.

What does that have to do with anything?

Perez has been a disaster out on the left tbf. Would rather he sticks with Diame at CM, Perez number 10 behind Gayle and Ritchie and Atsu out wide. He was a disaster wherever he played though. Maybe now that he's actually in a bit of form he'd have more joy. I don't know, I just really don't want to see Gouffran and am up for whatever to make that happen. No idea why Atsu hasn't had more chances there. Not sure Diame and Shelvey in CM is the best idea tbh, at least not when Hayden is available. It's better than Colback starting though for sure.

Be interesting to see how Rafa approaches the Perez/Diame issue over the coming weeks. Perez has finally found some form but Diame has been better there this year and is a better partner for Gayle. Really wish Rafa would give Perez a few games on the left in Gouffran's place. The way he sets up the team doesn't really call for pacey wingers who can get to the byline so Perez's lack of pace wouldn't be a big issue IMO. It's not like Gouffran is doing anything out there anyway that we'll miss.

Can just picture them in ten years, relegated from the football league and going into administration, still adamant that it was hilarious. They remind me of these guys. www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEy2byPu1cM

Was Ritchie injured or how on earth did this guy stay on instead? Desperately need someone who isn't rubbish out there for the coming games. Rafa seems to not trust Atsu but honestly what the fuck does Gouffran do? I wouldn't mind seeing Perez out there with Diame off Gayle. (I didn't see the game obviously, feels a pretty safe assumption that Gouffran offered absolutely nothing out wide as ever though.)

Dion Dublin

Looks from that we probably should have won three or four nil. Two awful howlers to give away goals and then missed a load of chances ourselves and were unlucky with a couple of others. Hopefully we won't regret it in May.