Gallowgate Toon

Neither of them deserve to be in the side.

de Jong is a player with presence and a bit of movement and can link play, would genuinely consider putting him up front for the next 2 and playing Perez behind. Perez would be the real threat but would be allowed much more space and can dictate things, rather than getting double-marked all game.

Let's hope so. I'm still reserving judgement but last night was awful, soundly beaten by an average team with one player. Team selection needs a rethink as plenty of others have said. It was so annoying seeing Mbemba constantly calling for someone to pass to along the floor whilst we've got players like Perez and Aarons on the bench. And when we did actually manage to find some decent penetrating passes through the middle, we kept on losing it when trying to build up play (usually because of Cisse's first touch).

Reckon it's because he doesn't quite fit the wider system SMC has tried, and the mistake was made of trusting Cisse to do a job up top in Mitrovic's absence. I agree, though, would like to see him in the team for the weekend.

Spot on. It's a bit harsh on Wijnaldum, to a degree, but he was quite passive in his play, probably because neither of the central 2 came up to support the striker so he ended up going backwards a lot. And, amazingly, we still managed to get broken on on a consistent basis. I just hope SMC's not as stubborn as Pardew and can see what needs to change.

That's called disinterest. That was one of the two points I was making. I took that a bit literally, when you posted

That's called disinterest.

f*** off man. He can't pass 5 yards. He's shockingly bad, runs in constant straight lines and has absolutely no awareness, first touch or class No He's been a part of the best play we've seen over the last couple of years and, on his day, is a real force. He's not shit in any way, shape or form and to suggest he is is pure, unadulterated hyperbole.

Sissoko patently isn't shit.

I really don't think he's that far off to finding a decent recipe for us and I don't think he's trying to be defensive, either, it's just the key final execution isn't there. He simply has to see the CM issue, now. I can take Anita doing the short passing thing but having a partner who's unwilling to really come and collect the ball in a meaningful way is a killer, and because he has no guile, he doesn't open any space for forwards and then attacking players are dragged deeper and it all becomes very slow and methodical and we lose shape and focus.

Krul Janmaat Taylor Mbemba Haidara Anita Sissoko Wijnaldum Thauvin de Jong Perez

He was doing his best not to come and link play from the centre halves too which was infuriating.

Then he deserves pelters.

I'd even try de Jong as a striker with Perez in behind, tbh.

A couple of games?! He's usually average/mediocre. He's been putting in some absolute stinkers for the last couple of matches.

Don't like him as a ST at all but he's better than a disinterested Cisse.

He's been crap for a couple of games, now. Time for the bench.

Isn't this his second game in the league? Howay, man.

Probably taken a huff because of Mitrovic, tbh. Massive shame.

I get why he's wanted the protection to the back 4 but he needs to see now that they just aren't good enough. His team selection today was fine apart from one position, but it's a key position and it's pretty important to how he wants the team to play.

Very disappointing. No point in having that much of the ball if the two players that are going to be on it most have such little penetration. I genuinely think Coloccini has a better range than Colback. Sissoko or Wijnaldum has to be moved there, ASAP. Good to see us trying to control the game but we really need to work on it. We did get into some good positions with some interchanges but far too often played shite final balls etc. Players obviously aren't the most confident and they were sometimes snatching in quicker passing moves. It's genuinely difficult to break teams down like that when they're deep and really well organised but we shot ourselves in the foot with some pathetic defending and gave away too much space to them on the break - probably down to a lack of physicality. New lads are still trying to adapt. Wijnaldum's a quality footballer but he was caught out by the pace a bit, Thauvin seemed a bit awe-struck by it all. Perez & de Jong to start the next game. Sack Colback off, please, he was useless again.

Aye. I don't trust one of them to do the job on their own but it's time to drop Wijnaldum back.

Assumed you meant he's been told that's what McClaren is gonna do, just looked at his feed and that's his opinion on what he'd do. Nah, there's another one from about half an hour ago which is what I was talking about. Unless I've got the wrong journo

Douglas reckons 4-3-3.