Lotus

I do wonder about what Rafa's options were. Aarons came on and looked ineffective. Shelvey came on and was blowing out of his arse after 5 minutes. I don't like Colback but i would have expected him to do better, i'm sure Rafa did too. I also thought Anita would have played better but he didn't, ditto Perez. I still think we looked a better team than them for 2/3rds of the game. Then it got a bit desperate.

His timing looked off to me. That'll come.

He has to fix a completely different mentality now. Last season he had to get the team to work for each other because they were expected to lose. This season they're expected to win. The players have to do more than turn up. They have to make the better decisions going forward.

We weren't that bad for christ's sake. Can see why Rafa wants another winger and a forward. Shelvey made a difference when he was on the ball. Anita was better in midfield, not good enough from the wide position though. Thought both Janmat and Dummet were suspect defensively. Perez needs to receive the ball to feet either on the turn or facing goal. He was pretty poor though tbf. I'm sure he'll improve. I think refs down here let a lot go which Mitro will love. Shame about the set piece. Again.

Me too, injury prone or not he is a special talent. Don't see it happening unless we sell another deep lying mid though, while he offers more attacking wise than what we have he isn't an attacking mid that we need either. He looks like he does considerably more off the ball than Shelvey. Think he would be great in a midfield 2 with the likes of Hayden/Saivet sitting alongside him.

This is probably more than obvious to most people. Also, and I can't be bothered to check, didn't Shearer score a hatrick on his debut and then not score again for 18 months?

Wasn't RvN average at best at one point before suddenly 'clicking'? I seem to remember the same being said about Drogba. Maybe that can happen to other strikers?

Would still like to see us go for Will Hughes.

Always thought Tony Watt would turn into a good player. Seems not though. Injuries? Attitude?

Neither have I. Just banter for christ's sake....

Given he went early and he went the right way, he still got no where near that penalty

If he's over his injury, would be a good time to buy Will Hughes. Has the class to play in the Prem too.

One bad injury i think, an ACL. Very, very good player though.

You'd have to think there's more to him then, I don't see why Rafa would go chasing after him above all others if he was just slow and not very tall. Maybe he's still good in the air. Williamson was tall but he was really weak in the air. True. He might have very good positioning. His interception stats would seem to suggest that.

If he's 188cm isn't he only 6 ' 1.5''? Hardly towering. And he's also slow. So, not particularly tall and slow with limited ability with the ball.

Was he in the Athletic Bilbao team that ruined Man U a few years ago?

If Sissoko had some end product to his game he'd be one of the best midfielders in the world. He has absolutely zero composure in the final third and offers little no goal threat so what exactly does he offer a top team? N'Zogbia scored goals and created chances consistently. Sissoko definitely looks like the better player and perhaps has the potential to be better player but at the moment he's all fart and no s*** He was never originally an attacking type. More defensive, over time his role and development has altered. This is why he's so frustrating, he's had his natural ability coached out of him and adapted to suit Pardew. Basically was meant to be a Vieira type or defensive type, and Pardew shoved him out wide on the right. Genius. Tbf he positioning an awareness is horrible for a defensive player. He only sees what's in front of him. It's true though, Toulouse fans will tell you this. Was a naturally gifted DM. He pressed on in his last season with them after the departure of Capoue to Spurs, starting to advance forward. In the early days of Liverpools courting of him it was for his abilities as a holding midfield player. He's totally changed his game. Yes maybe unrecognisable as a holding midfield type now. You could argue similar cases on other players that have had natural roles coached out of them. We have been great at playing players out of position or shoving them where necessary. Sissoko left before Capoue did.... Also, Capoue played deeper of the two and Sissoko was the one who used to break forward, often on the end of some excellent passing from Capoue who arguably looked the better player.

Just seen that Scott Parker plays for them.

Will be a decent squad player this season. Probs won't look out of place starting either. I want to see better players in every position on the pitch, not just his. Think he'll do ok next season though.

Glad he's had a high profile tournament. Good for him and good for us. Not bothered about him wanting to leave in the slightest. We need to build a good squad that will grow stronger over the season to provide a good bedrock for next season when we're hopefully back in the Prem. The right thing to do would be to cash in on him.

Any news of the transfers for the division we're actually in?

Wasnt on about Crouch specifically. Just pointing that Rafa has it in him. Ngog, Nunez, Dossena, Voronin, Aquilani etc Liiked Aquilani in Italy but i always thought his eyes were too close together to be a really top player.

I like to remember the best about people and he had plenty of good games here if we're fair. He had a physique that wasn't really suited to the league but he had a skill set good enough to make it work, for a while at least. Could read the game very well and i've rarely seen a CB make interceptions as often as he did. Rather those than last ditch tackles any day. He certainly had his rough days but don't we all. The letter was a nice touch.

Looks a clever player with good awareness.