Gallowgate Toon

Watched the first half back and we were better than I remembered, tbh. Shape-wise we were very decent, you could see we've worked on that. You could also see we've not spent a lot of time on the attacking side. We had some key new attackers and the lack of understanding was evident. The passes in behind for Gayle weren't too bad but mids didn't always read his runs as well as they should have. Hayden's longer balls were good, Colback largely booted his straight out, the bellend. One should've been a great chance, Perez's touch was just so bad. Him and Anita were massive drains on our play, tbh, breaking moves down in promising areas. Attacking shape was also good but you could see too many players over-thinking in the moments play needed speeding up, often then taking the safer route. I was critical of going longer but it was good to mix play up and Gayle did well what he had (he was generally very tidy, tbh), he just lacked the right support from Ayoze. I think Ayoze's shunting about from position to position has really hindered him, he doesn't seem to know how to play as a 10 very well, he vacates that key space in front of the defence far too often and that's where you want him most. It might've been tactics but he seemed to want to hit the channels too often, for me, meaning we had nobody to link in the middle. I don't think it was an intentional move, as neither deeper midfielder ever seemed to attempt to go there instead and neither wide player tucked in. Bit of a crossroads moment for Perez, IMO, he's either got to cement himself as a wide forward or learn to be a 10. He certainly has the technique, not sure he has the knowledge or mentality for the latter. I don't mind us going possession but it needs work and the right balance; everything was pretty decent up until the final third. You could tell we were a technically better side but we just haven't figured out how to make it tick.

Shit, I forgot about him Would like to see a Shelvey-Sissoko experiment, tbh. We'd be open as shite but mixes technique and athleticism well.

Sels Janmaat Lascelles Mbemba Gamez Hayden Shelvey Ritchie Diame Aarons Gayle Just need to get at these from the off and play our football. No overthinking, let's attack them, stretch the pitch and quicken the play in the final third. I believe in Perez but Diame knows this league, I think Ayoze's going to need some cameos to get used to it before he can be of use without Mitro's power. Plus, we'll need a bit of presence in the middle, as Gayle's going to need help with the physicality.

Did he say he'd made a mistake last night? I'm annoyed at him for his selection but still have complete faith, like. We'll win this league.

It'll be a problem if we try and play that way going forward. Just sounds like he thought Gayle would have more athleticism and Perez would do a better job linking through the middle, hence all the long balls & crosses, as well as the super defensive midfield. Mixing it up is a good thing, when you can, but our line up last night should've been about possession and working openings - building moves and quickening passing, rather than trying to force something we couldn't. He has to learn about his new players and how the team adapts to this situation, I guess. We might've got away with last night with Mitro, in all honesty, but he's going to have to switch it up for Gayle's next 3 and that'll need much more midfield balance.

Does Jack Colback play with intelligence, like? His attitude has sounded spot on all Summer.

I think Rafa needs to manage his ego. He sounded pretty affected by not starting at the back end of last year and seemingly put in a lot of work over summer only to be behind Jack fucking Colback for the 1st game. Genuinely think he could be vital for us, need to get him motivated.

Hayden looks a great partner for Shelvey or Diame. More mobile, can get stuck in but, crucially, is still a decent footballer.

Seems like we played to him all wrong. Rafa usually likes shorter passing, not sure why we went long so much.

The Anita thing is about as hilarious as Shola on the wing.

He'll need some carrying at times but he's our best shot at some creativity from deeper positions by an absolute mile.

Mentality might have been an issue but the lack of balance was the killer. He ballsed up the opportunity - chose to be cautious of the momentum rather than go with it. 3 DMs in this league is frankly terrible. I'm sure he'll switch it up next time.

Ritchie at RW will cover Janmaat fine. Aarons on the left and Shelvey in the middle with Hayden.

Nowt to be sorry for Can't help but feel he's overthought this. Essentially, 3 defensive mids against a shite team.

Expect Rafa to stick with this until the hour mark. Possession to tire out, bring on some more flair when gaps open.

The weird thing is Colback doesn't seem anything like a Benitez sort of mid. He's the most undisciplined central midfielder I've seen play for us.

We seem nervous. Dare I say it but being overcautious has nibbled at confidence? Think he's been far too defensive with that selection.

Don't like it. It seems far too defensive.

Isn't that a parody account?

Fulham have been playing a 3/5 at the back, haven't they? Expect goals to come from mid. Ritchie and Perez to score.

Love some yellow bib theory. Sels Janmaat Hanley Lascelles Dummett Hayden Colback Ritchie Perez Aarons Gayle Would personally be unhappy to not see Mbemba start. Would much rather Shelvey or Saivet over Colback too.

Mbemba can't defend? He's not great in the air but he's a good reader of the game and a good tackler. He's a specific type of defender, just like most.

Shelvey is miles ahead of any of them. He's a good creative CM. Bagged 7 assists last season and that was supposedly his worst campaign to date. His key passes etc. are all solid too. He needs backup, aye, and whether he has a suitable partner remains to be seen.

Of course he has