Gallowgate Toon

I thought it was OK dropping him to switch things up a few weeks back, but he really should've been back in after Spurs. He should definitely be on from the off, next week.

The team he selected was only on the pitch for 30 minutes. Personally, I thought he made a mistake not starting one of Mitrovic or Perez, especially the latter, and wanted to see Thauvin start, but there was still enough there to put this side to the sword. We had the opportunities but didn't take them and that's because we're not very good.

And yet we were the ones to have consistently good chances...

He's the only one to blame? Not the players that missed, and I mean totally fluffed, easy chances? Yes but a good manager makes all the difference in how well they perform on the pitch. Bar 15 poor minutes, the performance was fine. Not the most exciting but we are what we are: not a great side missing key components. We still had more than enough opportunities to finish that game off and didn't, that one falls at the doors of those who missed.

Seemingly, like a lot of sides in the league, we're a bit useless when the onus is on us to create chances. Would be interesting to see home/away win ratios compared to 10 years ago.

He's the only one to blame? Not the players that missed, and I mean totally fluffed, easy chances?

Just don't see him as a CM, like. With a decent left back or a second striker willing to work channels more (preferably both), he'd be fine in his left position.

Mitro is on his heels a bit, tbh. Couple of Thauvin's crosses were crying out for him to attack but he didn't time runs very well.

It'd be madness to write him off, he's going to need time to get used to the league, but he doesn't deserve to start the next one after today. He was tidy and linked up decently at times, but we need more urgency there.

Thought he actually did really well for a situation that totally wasn't suited to his strengths. Should've had an assist, at the very least.

He's getting there. Was afforded some space and made positive moves.

Not taken his chance. Should be Ayoze back in, now.

We're so crap at linking play, like. When we speed it up, we can't control it. Mitro was poor which didn't help when we needed an alternative outlet.

The weaknesses we've got have been massively on show today. Lack of a clinical striker, lack of a proper centre half, poor CM options.

Missed far too many chances today. Conditions don't help but no excuse.

Genuinely excited to see de Jong in this. If there was ever a game for his style then this should be it. Villa will most likely try and frustrate and break, he could be a difference maker. Keeps it simple but plays it quick.

Sure he'd have managed it under Pardew as well. Mahrez that is. He's hardly playing under a great manager, atm. He's just a very good player.

We played well all second half, tbf. Cisse should've levelled within minutes of the second half.

Whilst I doubt Mitro and Perez would've performed as well starting as they did coming off the bench last week, I would've started at least one of them for this. It only works as a motivational technique if they feel they have a legitimate chance of starting because of their sub performances. They'll probably be fine coming on today but it won't last long. Reckon SMC is taking no risks here and thinks starting experience should see us have a better team attitude from the off.

Mahrez's run of form beats anything HBA put together here, imo. He looks a better player overall, some of his decision-making is just mint.

Mahrez, man.

de Jong is clearly a very technically talented player, as well as very intelligent, and his style of play is probably the most suited in our squad to breaking through teams that sit deep and get bodies behind the ball (which is what I expect Villa will do). I'd prefer to see us trying to pass through opposition like that rather than dribbling. So let's pick a guy who's done f*** all for us creatively as opposed to the guy who's got us goals and assists this season, reducing his contribution to 'dribbling?' Who said anything about dropping Perez? I'd play both, I just think you're being incredibly dismissive about de Jong's ability as a footballer. Your argument was about skill and trickery, not scoring goals, so you reduced his skillet yourself

de Jong is clearly a very technically talented player, as well as very intelligent, and his style of play is probably the most suited in our squad to breaking through teams that sit deep and get bodies behind the ball (which is what I expect Villa will do). I'd prefer to see us trying to pass through opposition like that rather than dribbling.

If you keep Mitro and Perez on the bench after their performances, you take away some of the motivation to put their all in. At least one should start next weekend.

The pass that set up the infamous Cisse save was mint. Didn't even look, just pinged it right in Papiss' path first time. I really hope he starts against Villa, I think he could make a massive difference as his one-touch play is just so quick, it should open up spaces for us much better around the box.