Gallowgate Toon

I think Lascelles is more suited to the PL than he is the Championship, tbh. His power holds more weight there and it suits his general style better. I do think he should be rotated out, mind. Just even for a kick up the arse.

He offered some balance. That's about the best he can do, which is actually a help.

3-1 win. Our form isn't that bad over the last 5 games.

Compromise :lol: I'm not actually sure where I was going with that second bit now I've had a few drinks. Just something about not being c***s to one another.

The tactics talk almost always seems to be solely focused on our attacking play with little thought for our defensive frailties. Whenever a game gets stretched, our lack of legs in the spine of the midfield and defence is massively evident. We're not good enough individually to cover for it. So the gameplan is largely around being compact and keeping possession - that makes sense. Until very, very recently, and it may still be the case, we had scored the most goals and had the second-highest win %age in the country. The job he's done with this squad is underrated, in my eyes. We've picked up a lot of points, we just have better competition than last time. The usual response to this line of thinking 'the more you attack, the less defending you need to do', but a lot of our losses this season have come from teams countering us when we try and open games up. It's about balance, especially when you don't have a standout side in several departments. There needs to be some acceptance that we're just not that good. Then there's the inevitable performance stuff. I think we've shown a real depth to our play this season - we can win well and we can win scrappy. Some of the football has been a joy compared to what's come before in the last 10 years. It's just, as we already knew, it won't come every week. Taking some pressure for parts of the game is fairly normal, we're not Barca of 6/7 years ago.

Should've won, had enough chances. We'll still be fine this season.

Really sad how quickly it feels this has descended into 'us and them' shite again. I think if the last year has shown anything, making the issue more about 'sides' is a really terrible way of actually working towards compromise and a common goal. It's also just shite craic.

Gah. Still think we'll be fine but it's bloody stupid to even take the risk. Ashley, man. He's got to be due a heart attack soon.

Can't get over the fact that Ashley is reportedly 'unhappy' with recent transfer business. You made a fucking mint, you mad cunt

Reckon this lad would be absolutely fine in this league, tbh. He's a direct, genuinely left-footed wide player with some pace and skill, that alone would improve us and push on our promotion bid.

Having met McCormack through some players at one of his former clubs, I can confirm he's an absolute cunt. Like, he came across as a genuinely horrific person.

He's quick at least

He's no 10, IMO. It was OK when he dropped in there today as they were leaving gaps, but he usually struggles when there's a lack of space.

Feel like he's always at his best playing off a CF type. I think a little run will be good for him, he's had a relatively stop-start season.

Not a chance he wouldn't play both together. They both do exactly what he wants in every area of the pitch.

Lovely, lovely goal. Great to have a squad.

Thought that half was generally fine. They got the inevitable break, we had some good opportunities we should've done better with. Great goal, decisive by Shelvey.

Fucking hell. Colin's face is better :lol:

Not sure you can sort alopecia out, like.

Great. Another passive aggressive post.

I don't think he's limited on the ball at all. I think that he's got a decent range of passing on him, he's just not somebody to rely on to create things for you. Yeah, he's certainly not limited - that's a weird conclusion to come to. He's displayed some really good passing (cute short passes, as well as more expansive stuff) and has made some really impressive driving runs. He shouldn't be your main creative central force in midfield but he's a very capable partner for someone of that ilk.

You're right, it's incredibly easy to forget. There also seems to be this Keegan-esque insistence that we don't need to focus on defending much/have a defence that can cope. We've been a great unit for the first half of the season, top scorers and one of the meanest defences - that's tremendous balance. I don't think we're really good enough at the back, unlike last time, to open up as much. We seem very susceptible to counters whenever we try and chase games.

Think someone had pulled a stat up that he passed the ball forwards 3 times in the first half and was unsuccessful with each one; the lowest in the entire team.

Still a 10. This is our rough patch, we'll hit form again soon and go on a long run.

Good insight.