Gallowgate Toon

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

Martinez won the FA Cup at Wigan but Allardyce has never had enough great players to land ONE trophy?

Shelvey absolutely merked the Championship, the last time he was in it, iirc. Was better than a goal every other game He's by far the best midfielder in the league, as long as he's got the right partner and motivated. He managed to bag a few assists for us last season, as well as play some pretty key passes in moves for us too, and that was him being unproductive.

Keeps colback out the team Saivet & Hayden can play there too. I think there's a good CM in Saivet.

Don't see any point in playing Tiote in the Champ, tbh, especially if Dummett is going to be one of the starting full backs.

It's a friendly man, chill out Yeah, and a friendly is a good opportunity to test out legitimate teams for the season. This shouldn't ever be one.

That midfield is crap. 3 DMs to play against Sporting Lokeren?

That's a great appointment for them.

Gini's technique is absolutely excellent. First touch and dribbling in tight areas are really, really good. The only player that's had better in the last 10 years is HBA.