Gallowgate Toon

Awful. Rest in peace, Pav.

Read the other day he's not abandoned the possession-based stuff, that's still the long term plan but he just doesn't think it's in this lot and is trying to play to their strengths on the counter. Gone way too far, obviously, as the whole set up is based on transitions now whereas we seemed to be mixing it up more before that dreaded international break. I don't actually think his selections are negatively-minded, he just keeps his 4 best attacking players higher up the pitch for opportunities to break as he thinks that's our best chance of getting in on goal while trying to keep our defensive unit more solid. You'd like to think with our coaching knowledge they'd now realise we have to start changing things...

Ozil Get a winger on the pitch and get early balls in so Mertesacker is on the turn. No need for a steelier midfield, here, so Wijnaldum in centre mid alongside Tiote (even if Gini and Perez swap, that'd be better). We can't carry on with this left side - a left back who can't kick and a winger that doesn't stay wide or ever tries to beat his man.

His continued existence is really annoying. I could see why McClaren plays him and Anita, considering our massive defensive deficiencies, but I'm at the point now where I just want to see a change. Get Wijnaldum back somewhere central and a winger on the left.

Interesting that the pen incident came from a cross from the left. You'd like to think that gets noticed...

Some of his one-touch stuff, again, was great in the first half. Such a shame we don't have a good crosser in the squad that can beat a man and then play in a good ball or two per game. He's obviously not the best finisher, at the moment, and he shouldn't be let off the hook for some frankly awful misses that a professional footballer shouldn't be making, but we'll need to play to his strengths if we're going to see him improve. Really hope Thauvin can break into the team soon or we sign a proper winger. Hopefully Aarons can stay fit for a week and manages to get a look in.

Not defending these two but part of this is due to the tactics - two deep centre mids almost on the toes of the central defenders every f***ing game gives the opposition midfield free reign to do as they please in the middle of the park. We didn't start deep, though. We tried to push higher and were getting absolutely torn through. We only looked vaguely competent when the team moved deeper, closer together and tightened gaps. It's obviously hard for a midfield 2 to play against a 3, but especially hard when your two aren't even good in the first place. Central midfield is our absolute achilles, it effects how we defend and attack so much. The two central midfielders were deep and on the toes of the centre half from the first minute, as they have been almost every game this season. They weren't at all. That's why Everton were finding so many gaps in the first 20. We were playing quite a wide, relatively high shape and they were playing triangles through us with the extra man in the middle with massive ease.

He's finding it harder and harder to find space as we have no width to exploit, teams are getting men on him and Sissoko and we're not stretching play well enough. Probably knackered too. He was great for a 10 minute spell in the first half, fell off the map after that. Any momentum going forward seemed to stop after Anita went off, he'd actually played some good forward passes that got us opening them up a bit with one-touch moves. For the great dribbler he is, he's very conservative when up against the full back one-on-one. He should just try and do them.

I do have sympathy for him in that the players, on the whole, aren't good enough and are totally ill-suited, but he needs to do something different now. It's all become stale bar the odd spell.

Not managed these last 2 games well at all - the lack of well-timed subs has been really poor. Needs to give something else a run out now as this shape's just stagnated.

Far too late with subs. Poor.

Anita played some nice forward passes. We've missed him since he went off.

Played alright in patches. Some nice one touch play, for once. Could go a bit more direct at times, though. Thauvin on after 60 mins, please.

This. Why do we always need the 2 DM's on? Didn't McClaren come with a reputation of decent football at Derby? Because our defence is shit and we got broken on with massive ease? Might also want to keep Wijnaldum and Sissoko from doing loads of defensive work?

Yeah. Shelvey-Tiote is probably the right balance, if you seriously limit Tiote's remit on the ball. Of course, Cheik's not good enough either. What we need is the type of big, athletic f***ers that Allardyce always seems to find with the ability to run box to box and compete physically in the right areas. Forget the name of the lad he had at west ham but someone like that. Diame or Kouyate? You're right, though, we need 2 CMs. Capoue would've been perfect.

Would maybe give Wijnaldum behind Mitro a try with one of Perez/Thauvin on the left.

Yeah. Shelvey-Tiote is probably the right balance, if you seriously limit Tiote's remit on the ball. Of course, Cheik's not good enough either.

A good centre mid, centre back and centre forward and we'll be fine. Continue with this crop as they are and it'll be very, very tight.

I'm not really sure how it wasn't cleared by one of the post markers. We had Colo and Anita within a foot of the ball and neither went for it?

And drop Colback? Seriously though, I would have thought he'd have tried this by now if it was seriously being considered at all. It has been tried. Looked woeful but probably worth another go. When? Not doubting you, I've genuinely overwritten it in my memory of this w*** season. Sorry, missed this last night. Watford (start) and Leicester second half are the two that spring to mind. Positive we've tried it as a Plan B in two other games but I'l have to have a dig.

Not defending these two but part of this is due to the tactics - two deep centre mids almost on the toes of the central defenders every f***ing game gives the opposition midfield free reign to do as they please in the middle of the park. We didn't start deep, though. We tried to push higher and were getting absolutely torn through. We only looked vaguely competent when the team moved deeper, closer together and tightened gaps. It's obviously hard for a midfield 2 to play against a 3, but especially hard when your two aren't even good in the first place. Central midfield is our absolute achilles, it effects how we defend and attack so much.

Shelvey would be great, like.

Just seen our two big chances back. The clearest cut of the day, imo. Mitro's header in the first was an excellent one too.

And drop Colback? Seriously though, I would have thought he'd have tried this by now if it was seriously being considered at all. It has been tried. Looked woeful but probably worth another go.