Lush Vlad

Of course you do I said in the match thread Barnes has missed 2-3 like that and always seems to slice them wide. Needs to maybe lace it and angle back across the goal. But back post volleys on your weaker foot, at full speed on a fast moving ball isn’t easy. The one Woltemade missed was far easier. Not blaming either, BTW. Woltemade scored 2 and players miss chances all the time.

He should. But for whatever reason, he doesn’t. Like to think it is a mental/confidence thing and not that he has actually turned into Obertan.

It was a bit Obertan at times today. Although I do think defenders just drop off 5-10 yards against him and offer him a small’ish strip down the line to attack.

In both games. He has been a bit iffy defensively at times. But considering he’s barely played there before. He’s still been very good off the ball. On the ball, he’s brilliant. But we already knew that.

I thought we were much better in possession today. Some really crisp passing and moves. Not just creating off our high presses. First half when we were knocking it about nicely. It was only really Murphy and to a lesser degree, Tonali (his loose passing) that were bad in possession across the whole XI. In general and on the day.

I thought he was good for 35 and then for a spell in the second. But he did disappear out the game for spells. I like what he brings. He helps us to be better on the ball.

I thought once he slowed up and cut inside. That pass was clearly on to Wissa and also Barnes if he let it develop. He didn’t even look like he’d set himself for the shot and it was a tame effort. Showed great speed and intent though. Already looks a weapon for counters like that from set pieces. Thought he was better in general bar that awful non-decision. But full backs just drop off against him and sort of use the sideline as another defender, to use American Football terminology. He doesn’t back himself to get by them. He still looks shit scared all the while and lacking in any confidence.

Agree with this. The second paragraph in particular. I always say he is rooted to the spot and in his defence, for crosses and coming to sweep up. He has been much better the last two games. His dives always tend to be from a standing start and looks full stretch for everything. The slow-mo replays of shots that are going wide are always hilarious for this Doesn’t help that he seems slow to react to stuff, as well. He is never moving his feet across. I think he really helped us in possession today and bar League Cup games. It’s the first time I’ve really noticed it and thought it was a weapon for the side and worth the trade off. I suppose maybe Everton to a much lesser degree. I think overall having Pope back would make us less likely to concede and stronger from set pieces. But we would lose some of that control on the ball and find it even harder than we do now to retain possession. New keeper required, either way.

Sterling when we won 4-1, I think. Ironically, I thought he should have saved it

This season we have defended without pressure on the ball too often. Sat too deep too often and generally been passive. What did we do wrong today? I thought the midfield were more of the problem at times second half. Along with the front 3 needing to be changed 5-10 earlier. Once we lose that pressure. The midfield all get stretched and we become piss easy to play through. I thought we were pretty good for the most part and despite the draw feeling like a defeat and some gripes. At least it feels like a step in the right direction. We’ve not played like that all season. Certainly not for such sustained spells.

Yeah. I do think some fans genuinely expect us to play with a press like that for 90 minutes Of course there is a balance to be struck and we shouldn’t drop off too much for too long. But I’m not sure we did today. If anything, we were too open for large spells and very gung ho. There are two teams in every game. They had to come out and take more risks and push us back. They have no end of quality on the ball and proper athletes across the team. I don’t buy that it is always us choosing to just sit deep. Although that has been the case far too often this season, TBF.

Absolute waffle and can’t be arsed carrying this bollocks on TBH. Like I said. Contrarian. That or you’re a ref

*gonna dive. Was at it all game. The medieval monk looking cunt.

What you prattling on about?! How many very strong penalty calls did they have compared to us? Was the foul on Palmer a foul? How are a few non-yellows comparable. You can surely understand why people are getting wound up?! Unless like I said. You’re just being a contrarian

If we had got a pen and won 3-2, then yes he would have had a good game. But because we drew and it felt like a loss. No, he played shit…. That’s usually how the player threads go.

What you’re doing is just as lazy. They’re not mutually exclusive FFS. The ref made some monumentally shit, momentum shifting calls. Which would have meant the score staying 2-0 for longer and then later a 75% chance to go 3-1 and 3-2 on a couple of occasions. Not sure people are putting it all on the ref. But how is it not relevant and why are you being a contrarian for the sake of it?! We were below par second half, too slow with subs and should never have let them back into it. Loads of people are saying that.

You do realise shoulder to shoulder doesn’t mean it’s not a foul? It’s when players are challenging for the ball and the entire time I’ve been watching and when I was playing. American Football style charges like that have always been fouls

Totally lost control of the midfield again second half. Bruno was chasing shadows. Ramsey disappeared after a bright opening, the same as the first. Tonali was everywhere. But his passing was shit. Was also a weakness that him and Bruno were trying to cover so much ground. As they left too much space. Moments have cost us massively. But for all their qualities individually. Collectively, we don’t have any midfield 3 that actually dominates a game. Not consistently, anyway. Once the press understandably slows and drops off a bit. We get passed around like traffic cones. Ahhhh fuck me this feels like a loss.

Ah. Gotcha. Couple of angles it looked like he got the ball. But real time I was screaming for a pen.

Erm….

The one at the end? Barely a foul and outside the box. The other one was a dive. Never a pen. Then again. Based on the foul on Palmer. It was

Distribution was very good and helped us control the game first half. Free kick is post and in. But in the air for ages and not hit hard. Second he shrinks. But it is a one on one. So hard to put too much blame on him. Made a good save near post and all. He manages to make himself small in the goal, though. For shots and crosses alike.

Was it two pens? The one on Gordon was nailed on. What was the other one? What is more galling. Is Palmer wins a foul for nothing, because it’s outside the area. Yet Chalobah steams in like that and it’s not a foul? Flip them round and the decisions both change as well. Pathetic reffing. Keith Lard’s brother is a cunt.

Blame the ref all we want and of course we played a big part. But the second half was largely pathetic. 13 points dropped from winning positions says it all. It’s soft as fuck.

Elanga Should have passed to Barnes. But at least he showed some intent.