The Prophet

Embarrassing defending for the second.

Today was a real mixed bag from him, but his tactics particularly towards the end of the game were really poor. I don't think there was too much wrong with starting line up. He stuck with the same defence that kept a clean sheet against Swansea, retaining an impressive looking Santon. He can't of foreseen the dual disappointments of woeful Coloccini and Tiote, the pair of them are usually our most consistent players and they badly let him down today. To round up the positives his changes weren't too bad on paper either, the tacitcs on the other hand were a different matter. As soon as the high line was caught out for the goal it should of been dropped, as a consequence we very nearly conceded a third follwoing the restart. On top of this his long ball tactics toward the end of the game were absolutely shocking. What's the point of bringing Ben Arfa on if you're going to launch the ball over his head? Ba also suffered from a lack off ball into feet. He really needs to look hard at the Colo-Perch pairing. They have no understanding what so ever, with a bit of luck his decision will be made earlier with the return of Williamson.

He wasn't great but I wouldn't go that far.

Two more obvious observations: Colo and Perch have no understanding what so ever. Cabaye was a massive miss in the middle.

We're in real danger of putting an excellent start to the season to waste. We're still in the hunt for seventh but results and performances such as tonight's will sharp see us fall down the table.

Krul 5 - Not a lot he could of done about the goals. Simpson 4 - Tucked in far too much allowing Brunt time and space on the ball. On top of that he was woeful going forward, don't think he got a cross right all day, it's even worse when you conside how much time he was given on the ball. Perch 2 - West Brom completely exposed his poor psoitioning and lack of pace. Woeful play for all three goals. Coloccini 2 - His worst peformance in a long, long time. Long and Odeminwing got the better of him far too often. Like Perch didn't cover himself in glory for any of the goals. Santon 6 - Thought he was doing well in both defending and attacking aspects before he was taken off. I can only assume his removal was due to injury. Taylor 5.5 - Solid at the back, not too bad going forward. He's very, very right footed but that isn't his fault. Obertan 5 - Decent shift but made no real contribution as an attacking threat. Tiote 3 - Woeful. Sloppy in possession and allowed the West Brom midfield too much time and space in the final third. Vuckic 6 Has a fierce strike on him and was very unlucky not to notch himself a goal. You can tell he's more of an attacking player and ultimately we missed Cabaye's aggressiveness with Tiote having such a poor game. Jonas 5 - He's never been the same since that impressive display at Stoke. Did a lot of running with a lack of any real end product. He did improve slightly late on in the game. Ben Arfa 6.5 - Looked very sharp when he had the ball and got himself an assist. Unfortunately he spent large parts of his stint watching the ball sail over his head. Best 4 - Offered next to nothing, probably should of been brought off earlier. Someone really needs to pull him aside and teach him how to play watch the line. Shola 5 - Looked a little more dangerous than Best, but not by a lot. Ba 9 - Looks absolutely lethal in and around the eighteen yard area. Two more fine goals and another two (rightfully) chalked off. He carried the attack at times. Looked far more effective when we played it into feet. Pardew 5 - Picked the right line up but our flat second half performance warrentedchange much earlier than it was made, then when Ben Arfa was finally brought on we lumped it aimlessly over his head. Shocking tactics.

7th? Forget it. Why's that?

If we defend like we did today/Norwich we'll get beat.

What's the point in bringing Ben Arfa on if your just going to smash it long?

If we want to finish seventh we simply have to win games like this, especially with tough games on the horizon. If we continue to defend like that midtable mediocrity could be on the horizon.

It's about time we gave this lot a bloody good hiding.

He's far from whiter than white but yeah, I love the b******. He dives no more than any other player, just because Mr Ferguson says it doesn't make it true.

My back five all kept clean sheets which is pleasing, slim pickings other than that.

Cahill will end up at Spurs.

Not when he has to use that limited squad. Anyway, I've said what I want to say for now and don't want to keep repeating myself. I think you're being very harsh, I'll type a more detailed responce in the morning.

Glad I forgot to back Leverkusen today, Christ on a bike.

Thus far he seems good at getting results out of a limited squad.

I'm firmly in the Hughton shouldn't of been sacked camp but that season we had lost to Blackpool, Stoke and Blackburn at home while drawing with Wigan and Fulham. If there was one issue with Hughton's reign it was our home form against supposed lesser opposition in the league. In comparison, for me, this is the first poor result we've had all season.

I'd go: Krul, Simpson, Perch, Colo, Santon, Obertan, Tiote, Vuckic, Jonas, Ba, Best.

Absolutely incorrect there. At Liverpool and Arsenal we played more possessive and attacking football. The reason we were defensive this game was simply we were pushed back and had to be. You forced us further back and pressed us up high whenever we had the ball, this forced us into more passing mistakes than the usual games we play. The best substitution for Swansea was when Best went off. I thought Augstien for Gower was an excellent change.

Swansea's game plan was very good in the second half. Some seem to of overlooked that fact.

We could really do with a win here to maintain the decent start to the season.

Summary: Frustrating result, decent performance. First half we had it all our own way and could consider ourselves very unlucky not to have been a couple up, those little breaks just aren't going for us at the moment. Second half we didn't force the pace as much as we should have, but Swansea remained organised and defended very well. The Dutch lad who came on for Gower made the difference, he just gave them that extra calm head in the middle of the park which in turn took a bit of pressure on their defence. I might sound a bit dramatic here but we really need a result against West Brom or our decent start to the season is threatening to descend into mediocrity. Anyway some player ratings: Krul 7 - Played his part in keeping a clean sheet but really could of cracked out a book. The lad had virtually nothing to do all day. Simpson 7- Very solid on the whole, had a few nervy moments against Sinclair. Still not convincing going forward. Perch 8 - I was terrified evertime he got the ball but he played well. Made some great challanges and some much needed interceptions. Colo 9 - What can I say about the man? The lad is a class apart, defended beautifully and could of grabbed a couple at the other end. Santon 8 - It feels odd once again having confidence in our left back. Solid defensively and looked threatening going forward. Obertan 6 - A real mixed bag. Some good deliveries, some crap deliveries and a lot of flattering to deceive. Tiote 8 - Did what he does best. Beastly performance in the middle. Cabaye 7 - Kept things ticking over and for large parts of the first half dictated play. However this was mixed with some poor set pieces and some wildly misplaced passes, especially during the second half. Jonas 6 - Mixed with the usual Jonas graft was a lot of inconsistency in the final third. Ba 7 - The man's touch and control means he'll always be a threat. Unlucky not to score today. Best 5 - Pretty low key return. His usual graft wasn't quite there and he gave away far too many free kicks, whether by foul or offside. Pardew 6 - Got the starting line up correct but got the substitutions and odd parts of the game plan wrong. The game was desperate for Ben Arfa for the final twenty minutes, it's an absolte mystery as to why he didn't come on. Bringing Shola on and lumping it forward was crappy planning and gave Swansea a much easier second half than it should have. We looked far more dangerous when we were getting it out wide and taking on the full backs, maintaining that threat or at least bringing on Ben Arfa and giving thrm something different to think about would have been the better option.

Or he failed, then went to a professor to prove his fitness.