Bimpy474

Steven Taylor loved playing for us. True, but i think Mitro has something there if the right manager could bring it out. Not going to be Rafa as many have noted that he prefers a mobile striker.

It's a shame because i think he genuinely loves playing for us, which was a nice change after some of the lazy arseholes we've had in recent years.

So we have to criticise Rafa to be fair to Pardew and McClaren? As if a temporary blip in an otherwise impressive campaign is on a par with the masses of s**** that we've had to put with in recent times? If anything, the sorry state of Rafa's predecessors should offer some perspective on the extent of the rebuild job he's currently overseeing. In some respects that is perfectly true but in regard to subs, formations and tactics during a game it has absolutely nothing to do with it. Not making subs until it's too late, playing a system that needs a tweak during a game has nothing to do with Pardew, McClaren or anyone else. It's perfectly fair for any of us to say it isn't working when it clearly isn't at any given time. It's not hysterical or wrong to comment on flaws in what Rafas doing. The man and what he's doing with the club are brilliant, the football side will follow i've no doubt at all, but to ignore clear failings in something i've no doubt he'll sort out is ridiculous just because he's Rafa. I never said that Rafa is beyond reproach; I agree that the substitutions were too reactive today and ultimately came too late. I only took issue with the suggestion that Rafa should be criticised simply because we've blamed other managers in the past. Well i think we should criticise any manager whoever they are if they get it wrong, as long as we aren't going mentally over the top when it's clear it's a tweak here or there needed. After we're all managers who know better from our armchairs aren't we, especially in hindsight I do know what you mean though.

So we have to criticise Rafa to be fair to Pardew and McClaren? As if a temporary blip in an otherwise impressive campaign is on a par with the masses of shite that we've had to put with in recent times? If anything, the sorry state of Rafa's predecessors should offer some perspective on the extent of the rebuild job he's currently overseeing. In some respects that is perfectly true but in regard to subs, formations and tactics during a game it has absolutely nothing to do with it. Not making subs until it's too late, playing a system that needs a tweak during a game has nothing to do with Pardew, McClaren or anyone else. It's perfectly fair for any of us to say it isn't working when it clearly isn't at any given time. It's not hysterical or wrong to comment on flaws in what Rafas doing. The man and what he's doing with the club are brilliant, the football side will follow i've no doubt at all, but to ignore clear failings in something i've no doubt he'll sort out is ridiculous just because he's Rafa.

He was decent today I thought, very clever with his use of the ball, protected it well and ran into good spaces. If I have a criticism it would be he was too slow to get his shot or cross off and too many ended up being blocked as a result. One of our better players tonight apart from that. Yeah pretty accurate description for me.

You can only think he thought it came off a Wham player, that wouldn't even make sense with the direction of the ball though. Shocking decision in reality.

Anyone with a brain would.

Man Utd supporting friend says it is a red card. Getaway

Mike Dean could not have had a better view of that tackle, if it wasn't a bad enough decision already.

Absolutely, although Rafa subs and refusal to throw bodies forward doesn't help when we go behind, we don't exactly help ourselves. But indeed we do need some character in the side, something we've needed for a while now.

Well Cleverley was referred to as one, even though he isn't one.

Offers more going forward than Gouffran. Hehe what a state of affairs

I think someone said he's good enough for a mid table Championship team. He's not, he's awful at football. He doesn't pass it very well (and passing is his best trait), he can't tackle, is slow, has no positional sense at all, has zero intelligence on the pitch, can't head it, can't mark and has no awareness at all. He shouldn't even be a pro footballer, he's so bad it's ridiculous.

I don't think what he's asking us to do is beyond most of these players, it's the likes of Colback and Dummet who don't have the technical ability to play on the ball. If you try to dominate the ball but don't have 11 players who are comfortable on the ball it will break down. Also don't think he'd persist with instructions that players can't understand. He should be playing a system that gets the best out of the players from his disposal, it's clear our midfielders aren't suited to his 4231 formation without Shelvey. Well this is the trust part. He trust 4-2-3-1 far more than he trust the players. I think it's a simple as that to be honest.

As far as i remember that's exactly what he does. I will say he's far better as an option than Colback mind.

I know this will be not overly agreed with but today i think he did he job correctly as Rafa is instructing him (imo), apart from not doing enough in front of goal that is. he kept making space by drifiting in for Anita to overlap which is clearly our set up. Time and time again Anita ballsed those chances up though. He needs to do a lot more without a doubt but i think he's playing to a plan, which isn't overly benefical to him.

That tells me if we attack team a lot more and Rafa didn't over think things we would be ripping the league to bits. Ronaldo said much earlier in the season that Burnley won the league at a stroll playing 4-4-2 (not that debate by the way) playing a midfield of Arfield/Barton/Boyd......can't exactly remember the players but the point was valid. Not world beaters but set up just like Brighton are now, simple, effective and attacking. Rafa is complicating it a bit when he really doesn't need to (not at this level anyway). Good post. Villa away was a demonstration of needless conservatism from Rafa. We could have gone on to beat them by more but tried to sit off despite Villa being very poor. Lucky to get a draw by the end of it. Think our build up play is also very predictable and teams are managing now to prevent us from penetrating into midfield. Having Mitrovic would offer us great variation and I personally don't think that the extra CM (Diame) is worth it against the likes of Blackburn. Rafa is all about controlling the game, that's fine but in this league i think you can win easily without worrying too much about that. You don't attack recklessly, but control for control sake gives you predictable, slow and rigidness. But he is what he is, it's why he's so successful.

I mean in regard to a tackle, not one for play acting or cheating but as a tackle red that was ridiculous. Just nowt to it other than being slightly late, no studs, no over agression, no endangering an opponent. Rank bad decision.

That has to be the worst red card i've ever seen

That tells me if we attack team a lot more and Rafa didn't over think things we would be ripping the league to bits. Ronaldo said much earlier in the season that Burnley won the league at a stroll playing 4-4-2 (not that debate by the way) playing a midfield of Arfield/Barton/Boyd......can't exactly remember the players but the point was valid. Not world beaters but set up just like Brighton are now, simple, effective and attacking. Rafa is complicating it a bit when he really doesn't need to (not at this level anyway).

That's what Rafa should get stick for, didn't see much else wrong myself. (Anita's crap crossing did me head in too like)

Well said, tosspit. First post-defeat laugh, cheers For the record i do agree with you, sometimes it's hard to tell when we lose.

I'm not changing my score until i've seen who we sign this window.

Well said, tosspit.

Not calling you anything and i hope it's tongue in cheek but this really is a thundercunt of a post.