Gallowgate Toon

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.

Just watching some of his YT clips, I forgot he likes a good long ranger.

LVG is a moron. Depay isn't doing much but he's been better than the other midfielders.

Someone needs to tell Man U's forwards they can move off the ball a bit. So static.

Good words from Paul Simpson in his NUFCTV interview. Said we needed to focus on us, defending how we want to defend, playing to our strengths etc. and worrying about the opposition less.

Wew

Barry been taking PEDs? He looks about 2 yards faster

I really want to see Gini drop back but I just don't trust any of his partners, he'd probably get dragged into more defensive work than necessary. One of Anita/Colback having to deal with Payet is a worry.

Think Moussa would make a fine faux-Raumdeuter, tbh.

Wijnaldum looks to be the most complete footballer we've had in some time, imo. Think he'll have a tremendous season.

Our midfield does lack balance. Would be getting a CM in in January. Gini and Sissoko are good box-to-box players but there's a lack of someone who knows what they're doing defensively that has any real physicality. Anita's positioning & in-game reading is good but the idea of him being the main defensive cover to Coloccini doesn't sound great to me.

Think we've got plenty of goals in the team, tbh, both in the starting XI and on from the bench. The defence is the concern. It's been a decent window but could've been better. The quality of player has been good, mind.

Didn't he also win most of his duels when he came on vs. Swansea?

Last season is relevant imo. We're trying to scrub out 3-4 years of mis-management, low confidence & poor tactics. West Ham's situation is different to our own. Our confidence and the players' trust in one another has most likely had to be very carefully managed for the opening fixtures. I think Venkman wrote a post about the other week that gets it absolutely spot on.

Don't know how you can see some of the things he did last week and conclude he looks an oaf. He's not quick, aye, but he showed some great footwork, strength, general play and heading ability in that game. Think he'll be great.