Infinitely Content

Noticed that today too. So unconfident and unsure of ourselves at the moment, scared to play. Not just Yedlin obviously.

Every f***ing time. Joselu was fine Was he? Mitrovic looked much more imposing and more like a football player than Joselu ever will, imo. Joselu tried today but he hasn't got what it takes. Joselu had a decent game, scored, won countless headers, linked up well with Gayle. Our inability to keep possession in midfield cost us as did us chasing for a winner and being sucker punched on the break with nobody near the Japanese kid in the penalty area. I agree, our forwards & defenders didn't have a hope today really such is how non-existent we were in the middle. Whilst our forwards were given more chances than usual today, they need the help from the middle to make sure the goals they manage count. Didn't get that today sadly.

It's the obvious choice and the one I'd like to see tried out for a run of games. We haven't had anyone settle in the CM position all season, Merino got injured, Hayden suspended and in and out prior, and obviously the same with Shelvey. I feel we're lacking a real comfortable duo in there who really know the others game. Which is why part of me would like to see Shelvey/Hayden given a run, but Merino probably too good to leave out.

Yeah, probably not going to happen. We haven't seen even an incline from the team selections which points towards that so far. I would like to see it too, fwiw - though I don't necessarily think it's the solution.

I'd be disappointed in them all if they were being negatively impacted by it tbh. They have a task in front of them which is to train and then play matches. A takeover bares no relevance to the present moment they find themselves in, which is to try and win a match, so no. (hopefully)

Tend to agree, though it wasn't just the defenders themselves that were incompetent. The midfield was all over the place, maybe Shelvey just being in the middle and available to take the ball was what we needed. That said, and given that we won't be playing with 3 in midfield, would you rather Shelvey be paired with Hayden or Merino? It's though to say imo, if Shelvey is there to take the ball, then maybe Hayden is the better workhorse? Merino gets through a lot of work himself mind. He's somewhere between Hayden and Shelvey in terms of playing style. Which partnership brings us the best balance?

I really like him still. Maybe I'm blindly faithful but I still reckon there's a brilliant player in there once the team has restored it's confidence. It's very easy to say a player is shit when there's no confidence in the team he's playing in. Hell I'd argue Vincent Kompany would look poor in that defence right now, there's no outlet ball for them and pressure is being invited on due to not having someone with the bottle to do something positive in an attacking sense.

Every f***ing time. aka neither of you watched the match properly and just want to push the Joselu/Mitrovic button regardless of whether the context aligns with it. Joselu and Gayle were the only players that come out with any credibility, both scored and still the Mitrovic fans force out the tears. Chill out man, I prefer Mitrovic over Joselu, he's a better player in every single aspect. If you don't like me stating that then that's fine, but maybe stop replying every single time with the same s***. Maybe take your own advice on that front, if you're gonna post then expect replies. Mitrovic isn't going to play, the same points being made isn't limited to his detractors either, both sides have done their points to death. Shoehorning it in after Joselu and Gayle both scored and played well in a match where everyone else was an absolute joke is always likely to get critical posts. Can't you see the hypocrisy here though? You constantly bang on with your against-Mitrovic agenda, I constantly bang on with my pro-Mitrovic agenda, we're in the exact same boat only I don't feel the need to pull you up on your opinion every single time as you (and 'triggs') do with me. It's tedious man, if you don't like my perspective on the matter then just don't reply to my comments on it, easy. 'Cause you must have replied to the exact same point, with the exact same response at least 4-5 times in the past month. We have two differing opinions on one specific matter, get over it, I did No hypocrisy whatsoever, I'm responding to you telling me not to reply, not the other way around, I've no problem with it carrying on. If you're just looking for people to agree with you then the internet isn't it, like. Aside from that, this is the first time the point has been so obviously and wrongly shoe-horned in. I can't stand Mitrovic, but it's not an agenda, I've said many times that he should have started because I'm not blind. Why anyone would make the point after that match though, I dunno. I will continue posting about how much I want Mitrovic to start, and how much of a better player he is than Joselu. Up to you whether you want to get your knickers in a twist every time I do so or not. I'd go with the latter if I were you, much easier Wey don't get your knickers in a twist if people reply, it's a two way street. I merely made made the point that it's a bit tedious to reply to every single comment I make about Mitrovic given we've had the discussion multiple times already. No knicker twisting at all. You on the other hand jump straight in every time, on the defensive, because someone is voicing a different opinion on a player to your own. Gan relax man ya radgie, I'll sort you a nice 10a out

Every f***ing time. aka neither of you watched the match properly and just want to push the Joselu/Mitrovic button regardless of whether the context aligns with it. Joselu and Gayle were the only players that come out with any credibility, both scored and still the Mitrovic fans force out the tears. Chill out man, I prefer Mitrovic over Joselu, he's a better player in every single aspect. If you don't like me stating that then that's fine, but maybe stop replying every single time with the same s***. Maybe take your own advice on that front, if you're gonna post then expect replies. Mitrovic isn't going to play, the same points being made isn't limited to his detractors either, both sides have done their points to death. Shoehorning it in after Joselu and Gayle both scored and played well in a match where everyone else was an absolute joke is always likely to get critical posts. Can't you see the hypocrisy here though? You constantly bang on with your against-Mitrovic agenda, I constantly bang on with my pro-Mitrovic agenda, we're in the exact same boat only I don't feel the need to pull you up on your opinion every single time as you (and 'triggs') do with me. It's tedious man, if you don't like my perspective on the matter then just don't reply to my comments on it, easy. 'Cause you must have replied to the exact same point, with the exact same response at least 4-5 times in the past month. We have two differing opinions on one specific matter, get over it, I did No hypocrisy whatsoever, I'm responding to you telling me not to reply, not the other way around, I've no problem with it carrying on. If you're just looking for people to agree with you then the internet isn't it, like. Aside from that, this is the first time the point has been so obviously and wrongly shoe-horned in. I can't stand Mitrovic, but it's not an agenda, I've said many times that he should have started because I'm not blind. Why anyone would make the point after that match though, I dunno. I will continue posting about how much I want Mitrovic to start, and how much of a better player he is than Joselu. Up to you whether you want to get your knickers in a twist every time I do so or not. I'd go with the latter if I were you, much easier

Every f***ing time. aka neither of you watched the match properly and just want to push the Joselu/Mitrovic button regardless of whether the context aligns with it. Joselu and Gayle were the only players that come out with any credibility, both scored and still the Mitrovic fans force out the tears. Chill out man, I prefer Mitrovic over Joselu, he's a better player in every single aspect. If you don't like me stating that then that's fine, but maybe stop replying every single time with the same s***. Maybe take your own advice on that front, if you're gonna post then expect replies. Mitrovic isn't going to play, the same points being made isn't limited to his detractors either, both sides have done their points to death. Shoehorning it in after Joselu and Gayle both scored and played well in a match where everyone else was an absolute joke is always likely to get critical posts. Can't you see the hypocrisy here though? You constantly bang on with your against-Mitrovic agenda, I constantly bang on with my pro-Mitrovic agenda, we're in the exact same boat only I don't feel the need to pull you up on your opinion every single time as you (and 'triggs') do with me. It's tedious man, if you don't like my perspective on the matter then just don't reply to my comments on it, easy. 'Cause you must have replied to the exact same point, with the exact same response at least 4-5 times in the past month. We have two differing opinions on one specific matter, get over it, I did

Nah Perez did play well like, you're likely and rightly just too p*ssed off to see it. Gayle was good all game, Perez really good when he came on, and Atsu had a few good moments. Everyone else I agree, s***.

Should've knocked it into Okazaki's legs then fallen the f*** over like he seems to excel at doing at the other end of the pitch. Perez played well man.

I think the problem a lot of managers have with it is that 4-3-3 requires you to have a front three who are right up in the final 3rd. When the other team breaks, this often means two of the 3 central players drop off the flanks to cover the wings leaving a huge gaping hole in the centre of the pitch. So whilst 4-3-3 sounds stronger in the middle, it often leaves you exposed in that specific area when out of possession, especially in quick turnarounds.

Every f***ing time. aka neither of you watched the match properly and just want to push the Joselu/Mitrovic button regardless of whether the context aligns with it. Joselu and Gayle were the only players that come out with any credibility, both scored and still the Mitrovic fans force out the tears. Chill out man, I prefer Mitrovic over Joselu, he's a better player in every single aspect. If you don't like me stating that then that's fine, but maybe stop replying every single time with the same shit.

Thought Perez, Atsu & particularly Gayle done well today. The rest, meh.

Yep, appreciate what Rafa has been trying with Hayden/Merino, but I'd personally drop one of them and bring Shelvey back in for a run of games. He's still our best player imo. Unless there's a way to have all 3 of them playing but tbh I can't be arsed to speculate

Every f***ing time. Joselu was fine Was he? Mitrovic looked much more imposing and more like a football player than Joselu ever will, imo. Joselu tried today but he hasn't got what it takes.

The players have to take full responsibility for that. No instruction Rafa can give them to stop them being so bereft of confidence in themselves and making silly fucking mistakes. Really feel for the manager and coaches more than ever toay. Some serious work needs to be done by a lot of those players.

Every fucking time.

Eh? That's a foul all day from Ndidi, Perez with a right to be incensed.

Agreed, we've lost the game from being wide open in the middle today. Really bad game for Hayden & Merino.

Had to try and do something there unfortunately. Such a bright spark since coming on though, been all over the pitch.

Really unlucky for Perez.

No.

Aye, he looks confident. Some really nice touches from him so far.