Gallowgate Toon

We weren't lucky, by and large, we made them look turd. Bar Mata, their lineup lent itself to games where there's more space, we shut down a lot of it and they didn't have the movement or creativity to break us down. There was an element of risk to it but there is with every strategy.

Indeed. I do wonder if they're trying to protect him because of his injury record.

I don't think he'll sign but I've said before, I'm just going to enjoy him while he's here. He's obviously a very good footballer and he's a pleasure to watch, talented but has the brain to go with it. He played the second striker role perfectly in the second half, dropping deeper to help link and being the man to lead counter attacks with pace and dribbling.

The balance of their attack just looks off to me, I think we can nick a draw.

Yep. On form, he shouldn't make the midfield 3 ahead of Anita, Tiote and Cabaye but I can't help but think he's just too valuable with his pace and dribbling. Tiote, for all his recent good work, just isn't the midfielder we need in games where we're looking to have more of the ball. He shouldn't ever be played as an AM either.

I think he's benefitted from less experimenting with the back 4's shape/organisation. We were more open in the first couple of games but we've seemingly become a more compact unit, rather than trying to go toe-to-toe. He's not playing as high up the pitch now.

That Sissoko-Remy move was fantastic. We've really got some brilliant counter-attacking players.

Love him, tremendous player. His celebration was something else, from the moment he'd realised it had gone in, to heading over to that lad. Reminded me of Cisse jumping in the crowd against Fulham(?) last season.

Got stuck in a lot more. He was good against City mid-week, pushed on with another strong performance.

Very, very good. The move for the Sissoko chance was brilliant.

We're a mental team, like. Great when there's space about, just need to find a balance against 'worse'/more defensive opposition.

Pretty much how he played for 90 minutes on Wednesday. Fantastic.

We've made it hard for them, which is right considering we've pretty much played 4-6-0. Need to have some more 'fret'.

Going to be mint watching Shola lose every header to Terry and Cahill.

Liverpool-esque line up. Shockingly bad.

Big shame for the first goal, he may have perhaps still had that knock or was tired but it was the only downer in a really good performance from him. Hopefully, he learns from the experience. It was nice to see him charging out of defence in ET too, a bit of confidence.

He was releasing the ball a bit quicker and played a lovely pass to Cisse for that chance. Should have done better with a cross after skinning Zabaleta though, just needed to play it low.

Can't see him making Saturday, as much as I'd like him to. If Sissoko plays alongside Tiote then I won't be too upset though, I think it'll be quite an open game and our best chances will come on the break. As much as Tiote has improved of late, whenever we play weaker sides, he shouldn't be in the team over Vurn.

Gouffran will offer even less through the middle IMO. I know he's flavour of the month right now, and Cisse is the pantomime villain, but I haven't seen anything to suggest Gouff is going to be an effective CF. This is true but too many NUFC 'supporters' are blinded by their hatred of Cisse to admit it. I don't hate Cisse at all, in fact, I was defending him on here a couple of weeks back. I just think we need someone who's a bit more solid at playing football for now.

Gouffran will offer even less through the middle IMO. I know he's flavour of the month right now, and Cisse is the pantomime villain, but I haven't seen anything to suggest Gouff is going to be an effective CF. Good mover, solid player, surprisingly good at shielding the ball and quicker. He's just the better option, right now.

hes no likelier to score either More consistent footballer though.

The only way he's going to get back his confidence is if he has a run of games where he gets a lot of chances. We can't afford to play like that though, I also doubt we've got a coach who can get the system to generate said chances. Gouffran through the middle from now on.

Yep. Played relatively well considering the weak team we put out, absolutely no excuse to not go for that though.

We were decent until we got tired. Our fitness should be much, much better.

Thought their 'keeper did well for his chance but some of the other stuff he's done... He actually had a good 70 minutes or so, as well. What a shame, absolute shadow of the player he once was.