Gallowgate Toon

I thought he was a little too deep at times on Thursday, he was coming to get the ball off defenders more than Tiote, it should be the other way round IMO.

I love the way he drives the team forward with a quick turn and burst. It's just a shame the wide outlets he was feeding it in to on Thursday were crap. I thought it was strange he had a 20 minute spell on the right from the beginning of the second, he's a pure central player for me, whether that's behind Cisse or a bit deeper alongside Cabaye.

Bloody hell, supposed experts on the game.

Class from Pirlo.

Brilliant player, there was a great variety of top centre backs in his day but he was still one of the best. It's sad to see that area lacking quality these days.

Olivier Kapo.

We've got quality all over the pitch, but are lacking depth up front to really be in with the best (the top 3). Looking at this 'on paper', with our players' histories, we should be challenging alongside Arsenal, Spurs, Everton and Liverpool for that 4th spot. I'd say we're arguably stronger player-for-player than the latter 2 overall, both in terms of first team and squad, but they have superior managers who know how to get more out of their players. This is a great time for us to capitalise, the league is weak. As has been said, if we can add another half decent striker and winger in the summer, as well as getting a replacement for Colo, then I'd say this squad has the potential to go very far indeed, there's a great mix of talents in there.

Ba's a box predator. Simple as. His link up play was nothing to shout home about, and ironically he used 2 of those partners you've mentioned to do the majority of the linking and holding up, the dirty work as it's often called.

Cue him taking Perch out this week.

This. I'd say Cisse's better at linking up with others.

From my memory, Ba's link up play was no better than average for us. He couldn't win a lot in the air, often not even bothering to challenge, and I wouldn't have said he was that polished on the deck either, his touch was woeful at times and his passing was erratic.

Only a handful of strikers would have been of any use in Cisse's position yesterday, and by that I mean a complete striker who can link up, hold off defenders and get regular goals. As if Cisse was going to be of any use feeding off scraps and getting involved in aerial battles, with only one player (who was also fighting for space himself) in close proximity. Stick Aguero in Cisse's position yesterday, and keep the same set up and style of play and we'd have seen no improvement in keeping the ball. When we're backs to the wall like that, then we need to get some cohesive counter attacking going, not some lump it and hope crap. As a team we were simply too deep in that second half, we need to play to players' strengths, then we'll see improved play overall. We have a very good midfield now, they should be looked upon to drive the team on, not Papiss, who seems to be a victim of his own physique. He's not small and not completely weak but doesn't have enough brain or physicality to perform a target man role, our coach doesn't seem to see that however.

http://www.readytogo.net/smb/showthread.php?t=761013 Showing themselves up as massive divs once again. As if it's the player that calls the stretcher Not really surprising that they have a team full of 'hard' cloggers considering their supporters' attitudes, all graft and very little skill.

He's very adept at making space for himself, he's simply just not a very aggressive player and consequently suits certain situations better than others. See Chelsea, where he played out wide, compared to Spurs.

Johnson's problem is his complete lack of athletic ability, weak mentality, mixed in with an alarming lack of flair. He has a brilliant left foot and good first touch/technique but that's about it. Completely different ball game being City's super sub compared to playing regularly for an uninspiring mid-table team, where he has to work a lot harder to create chances for himself.

Great news. Next league game could see - Gouffran Cisse HBA

Regarding his heading, it's a bit baffling he's always the aim, he's been useless at it.

Needs to utilise our quick centre back at Some point. Taylor and Colo have been done loads over the last 2 years and there's no quicker team in the league than Spurs.

His movement off the shoulder is absolutely brilliant.

Probably a mixture of fatigue, adapting to better pressing and some negative tactics, which left him and Cisse a little isolated.

That wasn't an easy chance at all man, the cross had some pace and was pretty high. Give it up, he's not bang out of form at all, his recent scoring record has been ok and some of performances of late have been much better. There is a middle ground you know.

I think he'll be alright. The prospect of him, Cisse and HBA against Southampton is mouth watering, a great mix of talents there.

Twice the talent of Cabaye, Ben Arfa? Really? Nah.... Y I think so. Cabaye and Hatem are quality but Bale's on a different level. I agree that he is probably one of the betters in the league, at least from what I saw today. But Ben Arfa on his day is at the same level, I just think Bale is more consistent. Not seen Hatem impact a game like that before. Spurs at home this year.

A lack of support in the second half but he sometimes need to be a bit smarter in those situations.