Lenny

Had enough of this miserable fucker now. Doesn't give a shit. Bench him for a while and if that does nothing then sell him.

Awful as usual from us.

I don't mind listening to what Souness has to say; he usually talks sense... Until we're the subject matter.

Yeah, I'm encouraged by him. He tells it like it is. We have played decently for the majority of games this season. I think he deserves a bit of time to get the squad how he likes it, plenty of signs that he's changing the mentality of the squad and 5 years of Pardew is going to take a lot of work to change. I just don't get this "I like him, he's honest" business. I'd rather have a complete cunt in charge who knows how to set up a football team. This guy seems to be another Pardew, scared of his own shadow with the two defensive midfielder nonsense. I think he's going with what he's got, fully aware of our limitations. I don't think it's a coincidence that he's using our more limited players to enable our better players to do their thing. For example, there's always one of Anita or Colback sat at right back for periods whilst Janmaat pushes on. If he gets a couple more players in January I will be significantly more judgemental of him. I can see the reasoning you are going for there, but the fact is we were getting pissed on for 60 mins and he didn't change it. Take a forward off and bring on an extra midfielder if you are getting overrun. Don't play two defensive midfielders who get in each others way. This what managers are paid for. Fair. I'm tending towards a semblance of optimism tbh, I accept that.

They are both too small and unable to cope with powerful midfield runners. Agree competely.

Yeah, I'm encouraged by him. He tells it like it is. We have played decently for the majority of games this season. I think he deserves a bit of time to get the squad how he likes it, plenty of signs that he's changing the mentality of the squad and 5 years of Pardew is going to take a lot of work to change. I just don't get this "I like him, he's honest" business. I'd rather have a complete cunt in charge who knows how to set up a football team. This guy seems to be another Pardew, scared of his own shadow with the two defensive midfielder nonsense. I think he's going with what he's got, fully aware of our limitations. I don't think it's a coincidence that he's using our more limited players to enable our better players to do their thing. For example, there's always one of Anita or Colback sat at right back for periods whilst Janmaat pushes on. If he gets a couple more players in January I will be significantly more judgemental of him.

Thought Dummet improved as the game went on. Think the easiest conclusion is just to save everyone was shit with maybe the exception of Elliot. He did make some successful blocks towards the end of the game tbf

Eh? Colo and Elliot both had very good games.

I prefer him to Colback, but I really don't know if Anita is better than him over a season. Anita may have higher peak performances but they're very few and far between.

I thought Dummett was comfortably our worst defender today. Positionally atrocious and had Colo constantly saving him. Janmaat does seem to have a lapse of concentration in him though.

He's not very good overall tbf. "Fucking shite" is rather extreme though.

Would have been risky as fuck trying to catch through a crowd of players in those conditions today, the wind was horrendous.

I thought the Cisse sub was very poor but as others have mentioned Bournemouth did considerably less after it was made. Might have had more to do with them tiring, mind.

He was a bit naive to cross at the end IMO. Should have run it to the corner.

Given the state of the pitch Sissoko was always going to struggle to open up and run at the opposition, but it doesn't excuse lack of desire to help defensively.

Hold on, he's the central midfielder; shouldn't he be contributing to us having more than 30% possession? Seems fairly likeable, but he's had more than enough time for us to determine that on the whole, he's a very average player. Yeah the possession excuse might wash for Mitro or Perez but if we're struggling for possession the finger should be pointed at our midfield and in particular the two in the middle. Absolutely

I hope he is too as I like him. I think he's more than aware of where our problems are but is struggling to do anything about it at the moment. We need to get to Christmas without being adrift and spend some money.

Was piss poor today. He should be top of the list of players looking to take the game by the scruff and get us going. He had no interest in doing anything defensive and was shite when trying to attack.

Yep, did well overall.

Hold on, he's the central midfielder; shouldn't he be contributing to us having more than 30% possession? Seems fairly likeable, but he's had more than enough time for us to determine that on the whole, he's a very average player.

Yep.

Looks like he's happy that he was only one yard offside as opposed to the standard 10 yards.

He really wasn't. He played fine. He did fuck all and we had 60% possession while he was on the pitch. He covered Janmaat all half so he could push on, and I don't recall him losing possession. Didn't do anything wrong IMO. It's not a Premier League central midfielder's job "not to do anything wrong". He should be influencing the game, not just trying to get through 90 minutes without making a cock up. He is absolute trash. I'm not saying he's a good player. I'm saying he did his job fine today. Whether you agree with the tactics or not, we have 2 holding midfielders. Colback did his role fine today.

Btw in spite of all of this he does need replacing

Aye that was unlucky. I just thought he had no drive going forward as usual. Yeah I'll agree with that, but it looked like it was as per instruction. He was constantly in the right back position covering Janmaat. Maybe McClaren is trying to keep him playing wihin his limitations so that others (Janmaat pushing on) can excel in their strengths.