BrettNUFC

I'm not saying they would given their current form. Their natural ability is what we lack in abundance over here though. It's the myth around the PL that is the problem. Ozil's the best recent example. How much criticism he came in for. Questions around his physicality, his pace, his stamina, his athleticism. Now they're saying he's the best player in the league

De Jong and Anita get unfair stick when it comes to their ability to play football. Aye, they might not be at their best for us but if you're not used correctly and given confidence to play your best football, it's an uphill difficult task. Anita was awfully treated by Pardew, play well then dropped, play poorly and heavily criticised, long periods on the bench or always first off etc. Horrible. McClaren has shown more faith and Anita has improved for it but he shouldn't be in a two man midfield, especially not beside Colback. Our fans are so quick to slag you off if you're not physically strong enough or quick enough for the best league in the world. It's bullshit tbh and it's a reason why England are dreadful at the big tournaments because we don't produce enough players with technical ability, which Anita and De Jong are naturals at. I couldn't question their technical ability and reading of the game. I'd take that over the the British bulldog spirit any day of the week.

You clearly are only following the ball when watching the match if you don't think he reads the game well. When he's fit, just count the amount of times he's got to cover for Colback by switching to another player or close a gap because Colback is away off into no mans land. It can't be easy trying to do his own job whilst luck after the mackem cunt beside him. It's not picked up as well on TV, but it's an eye opener when in the ground.

Reads the game very well, to the point you rarely have to see him off his feet diving into tackles because he's already there. Presses the opposition very well and doesn't just run around after the ball. And the tidiness you detest is a job which someone has to do to tick over the play from the back and he's good at it. You might want to forget about Colback but you just can't. A lot of the time Anita is actually looking to cover out for his shitness or lack of positional sense. Tiote isn't intelligent enough on the football pitch to look after Colback. Be very surprised if that doesn't become glaringly obvious in the upcoming games if those two are selected which they most likely will be.

Aye, even the best defence lawyer in the world would struggle to muster a good looking case for him. Frightening stats those. HTT's post earlier is decent but i don't think it gives enough credit to the actual talent a fair few of our players have. I've no doubt that if we had a better manager, we would be nowhere near this position. They would have tried different players, different formations/systems and found a solution to play our best football. McClaren is trying to buy more and more time without actually looking to change anything but hoping he gets luck on the way. His delusion and blindness is taking us down.

Wonder which individuals he was referring to who haven't been giving him maximum effort?

What a new contract or just the negotiations in general? He definitely hasn't signed any new deal, a lot of talk being the main reason why he hardly figured even when fit. Feel sorry for Aarons in a way. The way he was treated after the work he put in for himself and the club over the summer was appalling. Injuries must be crippling him mentally but seeing Obertan start over him early season must have been horrific for the lad.

Yeah without a doubt it shows how good Carlo was. The front 3 with James behind is main reason imo why Isco should be replacing him. Isco is more versatile and for me offers better balance to the side. Kroos has been shocking as well, like. Another argument is there for Casemiro instead of him to find a better balance. This current system just isn't working and workmanlike wins like today isn't even papering over the cracks. So plainly obvious for everyone to see.

Isco improved loads defensively under Ancelotti. The counter attack system he deployed in the big games Isco was always involved at some stage of it. I just don't understand why Rafa has frozen him out of late. Mentioned previously that early in the season Isco was one of the top performers and Madrid were on a good run. More recently though he has hardly figured, very strange.

Don't think I've ever seen Ibe have a good game. Really don't understand how he's so highly rated.

That's a glorious goal

Laughable decisions going on here! Awful from the ref!

Benitez on why he didn't use Isco again...'I've got 24 players in my squad. I can only use 14. That's the answer' Can't stand Benitez, so irritating. Right up there with the biggest cunts in football!

I never said Isco was better than James but I feel he offers a better balance to the side in a midfield 3. Ancelotti utilised Isco very well, even when coming off the bench. Rafa doesn't seem to have a very good relationship with Isco or just doesn't rate him. I mean last week when they were 8-2 up or something, he took Bale off and put Arbeloa on. Isco should force a move in January imo.

Vazquez over him now ffs! Joke

And who do you take out? The problem with Real Madrid is that they have like 1000000000000 attacking mids. Well I'd have him over Kovacic everytime when coming off the bench. Starting wise I think they are more of a team with him in and if it was me it would be instead of James. He was performing well early in the season, arguably one of the best players. Soon as players are fit though, he's made the scapegoat. He should leave imo, far too good to bench warming and he needs games at this stage in his career to develop.

It's a joke how much Rafa has frozen out Isco. He should be starting or at very least the first sub off the bench.

aye hes buzzing off that loan move I read Bamford told the press he was sacking Palace off and heading back to Chelsea without even telling Pardew first Attitude problem clearly, no wonder he didn't play.

He's done a top job with Patrick Bamford's development. Great man management skills, must have used them on Ben Arfa too.

Doubt Anita will be fit. Didn't look good for him yesterday. Anyone know if there's a timescale on how long he'll be out for?

fair enough

He beat Hutton everytime he ran at him. Hutton was nowhere near as effective going forward when Thauvin was on also. If you're beating fullbacks and whipping crosses in regularly, chances of scoring are heavily increased. Amazing what a bit of creativity can do. Might not just rely a one big chance a game.

Don't understand this disinterested talk being thrown at him. Seems really harsh. Not sure why fans are so quick to judge players attitude/efforts. I wouldn't say anyone yesterday basically sacked the game off. They just underperformed for large parts of the game. They aren't totally blameless but it can't be easy for them in such an unbalanced side trying to work to a pathetic manager's tactics. When we had our best spells of the game yesterday, Perez was the stand out player imo. The timing of his sub was strange as he was looking lively again after a quiet period in the latter part of first half and slow start to second.

Aye, even in the shite cameo roles he gets thrown at him. Always looking to try and get involved. Against Villa, if he had of started we would have won imo. He had the beating of Hutton everytime.