mozy

What an excellent first half.

The excuses made on behalf of this guy are astonishing. - Only doing what he's been asked to do. - No one showing for the ball ahead of him. - Doesn't matter that he's a weakling because he can make a 2 yard pass. - Would look so much better without Colback next to him. Honestly, If what you are doing isn't working, why doesn't he have the stones to think 'I'll try something different'. It's such a weak and useless excuse to keep blaming others for one's consistent failings and poor performances. None of what you say answers why he doesn't bring the ball forward with purpose, why he doesn't create clear cut chances for others, why he doesn't protect his defence. 'It's not his job' doesn't wash. That's like saying it's not Williamson's job to pass it out from the back. It fucking should be.

I'm not denying that he shows for the ball, he clearly does that. But he doesn't do anything noteworthy with the ball when he gets it other than give short simple passes. He doesn't dribble to create good passing angles, he doesn't/ isn't able to hold onto the ball when pressured, he offers fuck all protection and he never 'bosses the midfield'. He bottled a tackle on Wednesday in the build up to Sheffield Wednesday's goal.

You are so fucking wrong it's unbelievable. I'm not wrong in the slightest. I wanted to give Anita a chance this season under McClaren and I thought a move to a pass orientated game would finally result in some improved performances from him. But you just watch him shy away from every physical challenge and the guy gets flat out bullied. He wouldn't start for any other team in the league.

Anita is scared to receive/use the ball in any area where he is likely to be put under physical pressure by someone closing him down or getting shoulder to shoulder. He get's bullied and can't do anything about it. So he either sits so deep where the opposition can't be arsed to close him down, or when he moves a bit further forward he gets rid of the ball too quickly. It's so frustrating to watch.

Horses for courses. Therefore I would line up as below. Krul Janmaat Mbemba Colo Haidara Obertan Tiote Colback Perez Sissoko Mitrovic I'm fully aware this looks absolute shite on paper, but against Chelsea we need a team that's set up to play on the counter. I would have Dummett straight in if he were fit as well.

There's no justification for starting him other than potential, which may be a fair enough argument in itself. In fact I could probably delete this post, but I've written it now.

Nolan was a fucking great captain. Shame he was so limited.

He's not alone in this mind but yeah for the most part this is fairly true. We need a serious upgrade in January if there is any hope of staying up. Might be over by then tbf mind. It's a symptom of so many of our players, I'm convinced this was a Pardew 'tactic'. Never make an actual tackle (or even physical shoulder to shoulder!) as we always had so many players behind the ball to block the shot/eventually bore the opposition to tears.

Because he fits the model of being young, talented with potential sell on value. And I hope because he fitted into whatever McClaren wanted to build as his first XI here.

It's hardly surprising seeing as he has never played in a deep midfield 2 and is totally new to the English game. This is exactly why I was hesitant about suggesting to play him deeper too early, could ruin him for us.

When Anita doesn't have the ball he is an absolute waste of a shirt. I'm sick of seeing him backpedal so far that he's 5 yards off his man on the edge of our area. He's so scared of any physical battle.

Martial looks an absolute slam dunk fit for the English League though. Thauvin seems weak as piss, in body and in mind.

A boy in a man's world is a very accurate description of him.

How many of our players do I actually like? So those I don't think are either total cunts or just completely spineless. Ayoze, Krul, Janmaat and perhaps Dummett or Colback? 4/5 players out of a whole squad is gash, no wonder we're so shite.

Direct football can still be attacking, it's just that we had Pardew's negative direct football.

Need some hairdryer treatment.

What an absolute shambles. How are we here again already.

Fucking embarrassing

I've totally changed my mind on signing Charlie Austin like. Bloody wish we had!

Get the fuck out building up Pardew over McClaren. Pardew is fucking bottom of my shoe scum, a negative, prehistoric fraud. No other manager comes close.

Adrian goes through these spells of just refusing to concede, second half of this evening's game was one of those. Playing in front of a charmed goal.

Did he play on the right in the first half?

The problem with Sissoko is he isn't an easy player to fit into a team. Really odd skillset mixed with poor consistency.