Wallsendmag

He's conceded 3 goals in 2 games from crosses into his 6 yard box though.

When I say "mediocre" I'm going by the dictionary definition of distinctly average. And I view his set pieces as average because I'm judging by what I see when it comes to technical execution of e.g. corners - I think he floats it more than he whips it, at a higher trajectory that makes it harder to score and easier to defend. Better set piece takers can whip the into an area at a trajectory/pace that causes far more problems. You must be blind or partially sighted. We're probably the best we've been for 15 years + at attacking set pieces and a lot of that is down to the delivery from Ritchie. So far this season it is his one redeeming feature. No need to be a c*** if you can't understand simple arguments and also fail to actually bring up any relevant points already not covered. He can't help himself unfortunately. Shame as I've met him before when I helped him out for tickets for Blackpool away a few years ago and he was very pleasant face to face but sometimes people act differently when sat behind a computer screen.

Because Elliot spent a lot of last season injured perhaps? They are both poor "technically" as you put it so I don't know how you can say one is much better than the other in that respect. In fact both of them have very few strengths to their game and several weaknesses. He was fit from January (made his comeback in December) and couldn't displace Darlow. Darlow really is far, far better than Elliot. Darlow is comfortably a decent Championship standard 'keeper. You'll find better 'keepers than Elliot at most clubs in League 1, which ironically is where we got him from, funny that. He isn't far better at all, hence the reason that when both have been fit and available for selection they've made a similar amount of appearances for us under Rafa. If he was "far, far better" as you wrongly put it, Elliot wouldn't have had a look in. Both mediocre with very few strengths and many weaknesses. Well they haven't. Darlow has made considerably more. Elliot got into the side last season because Darlow's mental side of the game had gone. If you asked Elliot himself he would tell you that Darlow is far better than he is. 24 v 16 is hardly considerably more for a goalkeeper who is "far, far better" than his rival. Darlow couldn't even make the bench for most of this season. Well yes, it's nearly double. The only time Darlow hasn't made the bench this season is when he's been injured (obviously discounting the games he's started) - 3 games when Woodman was on the bench due to Darlow being injury. So not considerably more than. Not established as 1st choice over Elliot. Just accept you're wrong here and stop digging

Because Elliot spent a lot of last season injured perhaps? They are both poor "technically" as you put it so I don't know how you can say one is much better than the other in that respect. In fact both of them have very few strengths to their game and several weaknesses. He was fit from January (made his comeback in December) and couldn't displace Darlow. Darlow really is far, far better than Elliot. Darlow is comfortably a decent Championship standard 'keeper. You'll find better 'keepers than Elliot at most clubs in League 1, which ironically is where we got him from, funny that. He isn't far better at all, hence the reason that when both have been fit and available for selection they've made a similar amount of appearances for us under Rafa. If he was "far, far better" as you wrongly put it, Elliot wouldn't have had a look in. Both mediocre with very few strengths and many weaknesses. Well they haven't. Darlow has made considerably more. Elliot got into the side last season because Darlow's mental side of the game had gone. If you asked Elliot himself he would tell you that Darlow is far better than he is. 24 v 16 is hardly considerably more for a goalkeeper who is "far, far better" than his rival. Darlow couldn't even make the bench for most of this season.

Because Elliot spent a lot of last season injured perhaps? They are both poor "technically" as you put it so I don't know how you can say one is much better than the other in that respect. In fact both of them have very few strengths to their game and several weaknesses. He was fit from January (made his comeback in December) and couldn't displace Darlow. Darlow really is far, far better than Elliot. Darlow is comfortably a decent Championship standard 'keeper. You'll find better 'keepers than Elliot at most clubs in League 1, which ironically is where we got him from, funny that. He isn't far better at all, hence the reason that when both have been fit and available for selection they've made a similar amount of appearances for us under Rafa. If he was "far, far better" as you wrongly put it, Elliot wouldn't have had a look in. Both mediocre with very few strengths and many weaknesses.

Because Elliot spent a lot of last season injured perhaps? They are both poor "technically" as you put it so I don't know how you can say one is much better than the other in that respect. In fact both of them have very few strengths to their game and several weaknesses.

I don't rate either and I don't think the manager does either. Started last season with Sels, replaced him with Darlow, then had to take Darlow out and replace him with Elliott when his mistakes started costing us games. Started this season with Elliott and has now replaced with Darlow. In amongst all that he tried to sign Pepe Reina. They're both not up to the job but just don't get all the OTT criticism of Elliott on here yet not a word said about Darlow. He's played two games man. He got hammered plenty for mistakes in the past. I don't think either are good enough but Darlow is the better of the two by some way imo. We should have got Begovic Agree with the last sentence. He's not better than Elliott by some way though. If he was Elliott wouldn't have 13 PL appearances to his 2 this season.

I don't rate either and I don't think the manager does either. Started last season with Sels, replaced him with Darlow, then had to take Darlow out and replace him with Elliott when his mistakes started costing us games. Started this season with Elliott and has now replaced with Darlow. In amongst all that he tried to sign Pepe Reina. They're both not up to the job but just don't get all the OTT criticism of Elliott on here yet not a word said about Darlow.

No I don't think he's good enough to be a PL goalkeeper and nor is Darlow. Just found it odd that he was blamed for every goal we conceded on here yet nobody criticises Darlow for conceding similar goals (balls put into the 6 yard box with him nowhere). Because Darlow did absolutely nothing wrong yesterday, and infact kept the score down with saves Elliott just wouldnt make. At half time Shay Given said he could have done better with the first one if he'd stood up for longer. A good Keeper saves that. He also said that he was expecting it to be hit true, and not into the ground and that's what through him off. There are probably only 2 keepers that save that in the league imo. Only two? What a load of sh*te

No I don't think he's good enough to be a PL goalkeeper and nor is Darlow. Just found it odd that he was blamed for every goal we conceded on here yet nobody criticises Darlow for conceding similar goals (balls put into the 6 yard box with him nowhere). Because Darlow did absolutely nothing wrong yesterday, and infact kept the score down with saves Elliott just wouldnt make. At half time Shay Given said he could have done better with the first one if he'd stood up for longer. A good Keeper saves that.

No I don't think he's good enough to be a PL goalkeeper and nor is Darlow. Just found it odd that he was blamed for every goal we conceded on here yet nobody criticises Darlow for conceding similar goals (balls put into the 6 yard box with him nowhere).

He's still young and very inexperienced at this level so hopefully that is something that will come in time. At least he's showed us some flashes of promise in the last few games because prior to that he didn't even look like a footballer.

Elliott would have been blamed for at least 2 of them on here. The hypocrisy levels of this place is unreal What the f*** are you on about If he did bad then everyone here would've pointed it out, there is no agenda for the guy or against Elliot, the later was praised when he had good games too What I'm on about is that Elliott was blamed on here for Watfords third goal last week because the ball came across this 6 yard box before it was put in the goal, yet Darlow has conceded 3 goals in 2 games from crosses into his 6 yard box yet doesn't get any criticism. Shay Given said in the studio at half time he could have done better with the 1st goal yesterday if he'd stood up instead of going down on his knees although personally I think that shots hit into the ground are always tricky to save.

Elliott would have been blamed for at least 2 of them on here. The hypocrisy levels of this place is unreal No, Elliot is just League 1 standard. I agree. That's not what I said though. Elliott would have been blamed for the first 2 goals on here and even for the penalty for not standing still by the select few. None of our keepers are good enough.

Elliott would have been blamed for at least 2 of them on here. The hypocrisy levels of this place is unreal

Carbon copy of the Man Utd game. Start off well, deservedly take the lead and then proceed to sh*t ourselves when we do.

Maybe Rafa thinks Diame will do a better job defensively than Shelvey as well? I would have thought today's line up will be picked with stopping Chelsea rather than hoping for goals. It would explain Yedlin's omission as well. Doesn't explain Manquillo's inclusion though Manquillo refuses to pass the halfway line so in some respects it does. I think he's a pretty poor defender and gets caught out positionally a ton. Id be very surprised if he isn't immediately targeted today I totally agree with that. I just think Rafa sees him as more of a defensive minded player than Yedlin which is why he's got the nod. They could target either full back today and should get plenty of joy tbh.

Maybe Rafa thinks Diame will do a better job defensively than Shelvey as well? I would have thought today's line up will be picked with stopping Chelsea rather than hoping for goals. It would explain Yedlin's omission as well. Doesn't explain Manquillo's inclusion though Manquillo refuses to pass the halfway line so in some respects it does.

Aye I went there in 1994 when they beat us 2-0 in an FA Cup replay. One of the sides of the ground is literally just terraced houses and I'm pretty certain it still doesn't have any seats in it to this day, just a full row of boxes stretching the length of the pitch.

You're right there. Celtic Park is a dump and you can tell it's been built on the cheap whereas with Ibrox you can tell a lot of time and expense has been spent on it. I don't have any alliegance to either Celtic or Rangers but having visited both grounds that's my view. Staying in Scotland Tynecastle is another smashing old stadium on a smaller scale with four separate, very steep sided, boxy stands I really want to visit it now the new main stand has been completed.

That's the one. Cheers!

Great shout about Ibrox. Brilliant, traditional football stadium and the Main Stand there is probably my favourite stand at any football ground. I think the Main Stand at Villa Park was actually designed by the same person.

Prefer the more traditional grounds. Feels more like the theatre with the cushioned seats, the shallow seat rake and the subdued atmosphere.

Seat pitch in the lower tier is too shallow. Really need to stand up to get a decent view. Poor atmosphere there as well.

Thought he did ok again last night although his end product and decision making need major improvement. Hopefully that's something Rafa can help him with.