Lotus

In contrast Gouff snatched his too early that he sky-rocketed. Aye, looks like he lent back too. Composure is golden in a striker.

Thought his first touch for the goal wasn't great, like. Luckily Shawcross had wandered off and their goalie flat footed. Loved the way he just waited for it to drop though.

Anita would have been bullied out of it yesterday, he wouldn't have made any clinical incisive passing, wouldn't have won the ball high up the pitch. Probs wouldn't have given away a pen either but there you go.

He certainly wasn't a liability, he just wasn't of any particular use in defence nor attack.

Was playing well yesterday until that epic f**k up. If Anita had played like that there's be plenty of wet knickers on here. However, he made a very bad decision with that foul.

Partnered MYM well today, covered for him, just looked alert and ready.

Bit of movement around him and he's a different player. Funnily enough, for the goal our movement was poor but a Stoke player broke the line to close Marveaux down and he just threaded the ball through the space that had opened up. Still if we were a team with some decent movement in it he'd come to the fore.

You bored of watching it now? This is what I forget in between games, how much I hate watching the games. Kind of hit home a bit today. There's no need for it to be this tedious. We're basically safe now IMO, so maybe that will see the shackles come off a bit. @CaulkinTheTimes Pardew (on safety etc): "I think we're done. We've got to get 40pts and we're 7 from that, but I expect this team to follow through." Well i nearly did the way we feckin played today.

We need to practice WITH the ball more.

Nah' you're just generally a bad judge of player. Or a WUM. Suspect the latter, actually.

Shame because apart from that he had a very good game. Was doing exactly what was needed. Glad the mistake didn't cost us and hopefully Pardew will have a word in his ear.

Never saw anyone say that tbh.

leave us really vulnerable to the counter attack Do it the SBR way, if one FB attacks, the other holds his position.

Will be a VERY diffrerent experience for him against Stoke. Would really have wanted Krul for this one, the way he comes to collect crosses. Don't know if Elliot has that in his game or if he's more of a stay on the line type keeper.

Given what he has available, i thought he set the team up pretty well tbh.

I can't imagine we could sell him to anyone, probs best idea is to loan him out for a season to any French team who would be willing/desperate.

I thought he looked like he was running through treacle last night and could easily understand why he hadn't played in the previous 2 games.

If we want to be more effective as an attacking threat in the home leg i'd leave Haidara at LB and play Santon at RB. Instruct them to get some crosses in.

Have we had a shot on goal? We look clueless in attack tbh. But pretty good at the back so far.

Obertan has been awful. Not overly impressed by Marveaux either.

Probably a couple of hairline fractures.

Surely someone is going to find this irresitable...

AC's actually standing

Not sure you can fake broken bones so i don't doubt he has them. The article also says he's expected back next week in Newcastle. The problem is he won't be available for selection for a while.

I'm curious what Manure tactical reshuffle you saw and what effect did you see it make on the game. I was also 'only watching it' and thought the first thing he should have done would be to take RVP off who wasn't having a day to remember, bring Rooney on immediatley for his running, energy and enthusiam (and of course skill) and push Welbeck further foward to see if he could pick up long diagonal balls. Real still had to score and maybe they'd leave spaces. It didn't happen though, in fact i didn't see much different about Manure, certainly didn't become more compact which i thought was odd. But still, what changes did you see? Genuinely curious. Because at the moment i'm wondering if you watched the game tbh.