Gallowgate Toon

Today was is sort of game. Not particularly physical opposition, deeper defending and lots of protection.

Seen a lot of people suggest we played 4-4-2 but it still looked a 4-2-3-1, to me. We just had way more punch going forward through the middle with Perez and Mitro being so direct.

Nah, Cisse can do one now. Mitrovic will be very handy in games we need to unlock teams, if he plays with the same intensity.

I would disagree with that tbh. We scored just before half time, and as soon as we came out for the second half we dropped back and looked like we were going to protect the lead first and hope to counter on the break. Even though it worked perfectly in that we doubled our lead, in the end we ended up giving them so much of the ball that it allowed them to apply pretty much non-stop pressure. Having watched Spurs last 3 games on telly, the contrast with Pochettino is pretty obvious. They seem to play the same way for 90 mins without getting knackered. I meant after an hour. We clearly didn't want to concede in the first few minutes of the half, because we've been bad for that this season, so tried to play in the counter for a bit. Chelsea sort of built up to the pressure and tired us out. Confidence will play a part too. The Ramires sub was brilliant, Mourinho could see we were too tired to cover there.

I thought there was a clear switch to playing more long balls and crosses into the centre forward today. Not that I'm complaining, we need results. We mixed it up much better. Passing on the deck was crisper too, it had more conviction.

Not his day, 2 daft fouls. His presence makes a difference, though.

The corner at the end was annoying but we were really struggling under pressure. I didn't like it but when we were desperate to take something from the game, I could understand it. Chelsea were always going to start the second with more gusto, they tired us out well, tbh.

I am pretty gutted but I think it'll provide a decent shot in the arm for us - the first half should be our standard in intensity. Team was really done for after an hour or so, Simpson was screaming for them to push out but the legs weren't there.

To be fair today was the first time in weeks they've actually tried. They're out of practice. Probably bang on I was surprised at Perez, he was really struggling on the defensive to cover the midfield. Hate to say it but I think we missed Colback's energy in the middle after he went off, Wijnaldum's still struggling a bit with the pace off the ball.

Fought from the front - always a massive help, as was his ability to link play and open up gaps. Shagged after an hour, as you'd expect.

Team was knackered so we sagged back. Makes you wonder what they're doing for fitness training, too many were gassed after an hour or so.

Plenty of pace behind Mitrovic, at least. Just hope we can hold out at the back and have some genuine counters.

It's all on you, big man.

Sissoko right, Gini left That's how NUFC twitter claim it'll be, but Ayoze will end up LM in a 4-5-1 with Mitrovic isolated as f***, probably frustrated and sent off They always get it wrong, the fucking plebs.

That fucking bench, man. Disgusting.

Think he's hoping for a Man U-er with that lot. Looks like we'll be playing on the break. Scared for Mbabu

They've got a history of looking mint in the opening games of the season, don't they?

Howay man GT, I get what you're saying with the rest, but we'll never know this if he doesn't play. It's the same sort of argument that was used when Mbiwa, Ben Arfa and Marveaux weren't playing, Abeid too. I think it's pretty obvious he's better than Obertan too. I agree and think that's a pretty unlikely scenario, like, and he does need more time. I'm just sure there's some genuine justification for him not playing and am putting a few ideas out there. He probably is better than Obertan, much better, but I imagine after so long out they didn't want to chuck him in at the beginning of the season and chose to build him back up, instead, just like what we're doing with de Jong.

I think we all understand that but these decisions only become validated if we win football matches, which we've not done. I always think back to him saying he spoke to fans so he knows what people are saying about the players. Wonder who he spoke to about Colo, Colback, Gouffran, Obertan etc.? It was probably f***ing Carver. Well he's tried other options and dropped Obertan pretty sharp, plus I'm sure the new multimillion pound winger they've signed will have had to be played. If he chopped and changed too much, there'd be no chance to get continuity and he'd be criticised for that. There's also the option that Aarons might not be any good. James McClean looked great for 6 games and was quickly found out. I'm sure if he was brilliant, we'd have seen him more.

Aarons has just come back from a serious injury (they don't seem to want to rush players, like de Jong) and something appears to be amiss behind the scenes.

He used Obertan for genuine width in the system, tbf, and we don't know what fitness was like at the beginning of the season. I think he also came in and tried to foster a culture of belief and a clean slate, probably rewarding the best trainers at first. Like Yorkie said a while back, I could understand Colback-Anita as a tactic to allow fullbacks to get forward more and protect our central defence. He'll have seen the final game of last season and thought they could handle it but has now probably seen their real level. The build up is an issue but I don't think it's something purely tactical. More a confidence thing and something that wouldn't come as quickly. I think he wants to keep the ball and be intelligent when we need to speed play up, in part to somewhat protect us.

Messi-esque.

Lethal.

Really like watching Fernandinho. Proper all-action midfielder.

Spurs looking more confident now.