BrettNUFC

Price are PSV, roughly?

I'm surprised Swansea and sacking him already, thought they would have shown more confidence since they were the ones that give him the big opportunity.

Had they appointed a seasoned top manager, i don't think they would be going for the chop given this is the first bad spell. Probably just panicking Monk isn't cut out for the job given he just carried on the good work which was set up by previous regimes so he didn't really have much to do. Now pressure is on him to change things and come up with different ideas etc, he's looking pretty clueless.

After Hills offer last night paid off with Lakaku, tempted by their off tonight on Madrid 4 or more goals, enhanced to 11/4. Not as appealing as Lakaku but still seems decent.

He is a tart, rolling around like a fanny. Hate that in players, especially our own.

Mit wasn't doing that when he first arrived, he was giving everything back and people criticised him for being on edge or even a 'thug'. Now instead of retaliating, he's often just going down instead. For instance when Huth pushes him in the face, he either goes down or he hits out back...

Well done on your Pardew reference though Not that i was on his side till the end, like.

I'm assuming he was injured again on sunday as he stopped taking the free kicks and was then throwing the ball ridiculous distances rather than kicking it which seemed the sensible option.

 

Darlow in nets on sunday?

The throws were actually pretty effective over to Sissoko. Similar to what Gomez was doing against us where he targeted Deeney against Colo, Elliot was just using Sissoko against Moreno.

I still have no confidence in him when he's on the team sheet but tbf to him, he's actually done fairly well since Krul's injury.

I can't understand why you'd bring Thauvin on to play in Mitros position unless Mitro was either injured or being punished. Certainly what I thought at the time.

 

Didn't Thauvin got out wide and Perez went up top? Thauvin covered the left back position a couple of times fairly well.

Yip. I think Thauvins alright personally.

Yeah, same. Think he's another one who has been fairly harshly treated with us. Hope doesn't lose interest here and looks for a move asap and continues with trying to impress in his cameos, forcing his way into the side. If McClaren continues with this 4-4-1-1 or whatever he should definitley be operating one of the flanks imo.

HTT on Mitro

I can't understand why you'd bring Thauvin on to play in Mitros position unless Mitro was either injured or being punished. Certainly what I thought at the time.

Didn't Thauvin got out wide and Perez went up top? Thauvin covered the left back position a couple of times fairly well.

Will Hill offering Lakaku anytime at 9/4 tonight. 10a max though. Still seems worth it at that price.

Tbh, i'm surprised he hasn't put more soundbytes out about leaving. Instead he's knuckled down, got amongst it at the under 21 level and forced his way into the lineup. I don't think he should have had to go to such measures to get his reward but fair play to him.

 

Sissoko is the one who always talks about champions league football but if there is a player who is worthy in terms of ability at playing at that level, it's De Jong...along with Gini.

It was one game where he was good but wasn't exactly unbelievable. Calm down man

Obviously not basing this opinion on yesterday's match. I've always loved his style of play before he even signed for us. Think he's top draw but shame his career is being savaged by injuries. He's been fit to play for a while now and it's nice to see him in the side and long may he continue there.

Tbh i didn't think his performance yesterday was anything special, probably a 7 out of 10.

Tbh, i'm surprised he hasn't put more soundbytes out about leaving. Instead he's knuckled down, got amongst it at the under 21 level and forced his way into the lineup. I don't think he should have had to go to such measures to get his reward but fair play to him.

Sissoko is the one who always talks about champions league football but if there is a player who is worthy in terms of ability at playing at that level, it's De Jong...along with Gini.

He is consistent TBF.

In being a liabilty.

With Triggs. Mitro looks a talent but he's not so good that it's unfathomable for Cisse to play ahead of him. Cisse looks more dangerous and is better in the box for me. His all round game was good enough on Sunday for once too.

Credit to Cisse, he's came in and put a shift in along with a good performance but no denying the dropping of Mitro was harsh. The service he had been receiving was dreadful, the lack of crosses into the box was shocking but that's down to the fact Sissoko and Wijanldum offer no natural width so if a cross is delivered, it's usually relied on Janmaat to provide it.

Mitro just has to ride this stint on the sidelines out. Keep his spirit and motivation up and take his chance when offered again. Be a travesty if we manage to fuck this up because all the talent is there with him.

I see similar in Rondon at West Brom but at least they try to play to his strengths and have shown a lot of faith in him even if he isn't banging them in weekly. Always looking to get crosses in the box for him, or looking to play the ball into him then him bringing others into play.

Mitrovic needs to be shown faith and patience. He's not going to learn or adapt by sitting on the bench but in all fairness to Cisse, he's came in and did well so unfortunatley for Mitro he will just have to ride this spell out on the sidelines and take his opportunity when it arises. Still have no doubt he will prove an absolute class act, not only for us but the inevitable 'big club' he ends up at in his career.

You clearly don't rate him by saying 'i don't think Mitrovic is that good'. So i'm just asking for a bit of expansion on that to why you dont't think he's that good?

I don't think Mitro is that good. I think Cisse is deservedly starting at the moment

 

Nahhh, you can't be serious with that.

How's Pards you weirdo?

Seemed pretty happy when i seen him last weekend.

Aside from Pards, any danger of an explaination to why Mitrovic isn't good?

Yeah nee chance of that midfield happening under SMC. Nor do I see it working. 

Well of course it's never going to happen under SMC, his golden boy Jack Colback doesn't feature in it

I just hate having effectivley two central midfielders as our wingers. Aarons would be straight in on the left once he's fit and ready. He's another who McClaren says he rates in the press but doesn't back that up in his team selections.

I don't think Mitro is that good. I think Cisse is deservedly starting at the moment

Nahhh, you can't be serious with that.

Where would you play De Jong? He's a proper #10 for me, never a CM.

      Anita

Sissoko Wijnaldum

    De Jong

  Mitrovic Perez

I'd just have Perez as the runner, basically the legs for De Jong/Mitro, working the channels and looking for runs in behind.

He looks so uncomfortable on the ball, more so than Williamson.

How so?

He was excellent on the ball yesterday. Was actually surprising how well he handled the Liverpool CBs. He controlled pretty much everything and then looked to bring others into play.

I'm gutted and a bit dissapointed Mitro was dropped but tbf to Cisse he's not done anything wrong since being called upon and has taken his chance well. Still believe Mitro/Perez up top with De Jong in behind should be the way forward though.

Most underrated player in our squad imo. Thought he was brilliant again yesterday. He basically has to do his own job along with Colback's. Amount of times Anita covers up Colback's mistakes is staggering.

Needs to be captain.

 

Vice captain I think.  Give de Jong the armband.

This

Different class De Jong. Criminal it's taking this long for us to give him a good opportunity. Fair enough injuries have massivley stalled his progress but he's been 'fit' for a good while now and still been restricted to pointless cameos. Barring any furthur injuries, we should be looking to build our play around him.

Arnautovic is a miserable edgy git. He was posturing all over the pitch up here when we played them.

I love his arrogance. Can imagine him not being the easiest player to handle but Hughes seems to be doing a top job with him.

Envious of Stoke man.

 

Top keeper, solid defence with a true leader, and 4 attackers who mean you can get away with having two defensive CMs. Also got a lot of time for their manager. Would take the whole lot of Stoke here.

I was thinking this when they arrived here earlier this season. They didn't play as well as i thought they might but on paper they've really turned it around from that Pulis side everyone hated and found boring. Hughes has done a class job in turning the style of play around, fair play to them.

Part of me has thougth the same thing this time - we are now on manager 3 with most of the same group of players, and nothing is changing, which begins to point towards the players.

 

Not having that like.  We got Pardew who nobody wanted, Carver who's not a manager and McClaren who almost nobody wanted.  Maybe if we appointed a decent f***ing manager with decent f***ing credentials and decent f***ing experience we wouldn't have this same problem again and again.

 

On the whole, what you've said is bang on though.

 

 

Cheers, that means a lot coming from you.

Not always a good thing to be of the same opinion as me, as you will be fully aware of