AVTuco

I guess Baker didn't fare so well there last game...

Hopefully they're on the pitch, right?

Right choice to put Bacuna back at RB. Would not have started Tonev, but maybe he'll hit the target today.

Maybe by the end of the season we'll get his first name right in the thread title....

I've noticed him a lot this season. For all the wrong reasons. That's when you notice a player like that. Happens to me too. However, I tend to agree with Richard that a player like him is needed. And we have no-one better at the moment.

Not sure if you should watch today then. Kozak will start over Helenius.

A bit harsh mate.

Draw again, unless Benteke decides otherwise.

Bennet better than Luna with the ball? I really don't think so abdulaziz. Luna is very good with the ball going forward. In my opinion we have attacking FB's in Luna and Bacuna, especially Luna. Granted, he has been caught out of position a few times already. I'd like to see Matt at RM with Bacuna behind him switching places when needed. The only thing Luna is better with is that he have more pace and maybe more confidence .. Luna is very bad with crossing while Bennett seem to have good crossing and shooting and I think even better dribbling .. But he is terrible defensively .. I wanted him to be fit against Cardiff .. He might actually step up his game .. I would want Bennett to be fit now aswell, since Luna is out. I'm positive he'd be better than last year now that he's not so relied upon. He'd definitely be better than Baker at LB.

Bennet better than Luna with the ball? I really don't think so abdulaziz. Luna is very good with the ball going forward. In my opinion we have attacking FB's in Luna and Bacuna, especially Luna. Granted, he has been caught out of position a few times already. I'd like to see Matt at RM with Bacuna behind him switching places when needed.

Baker is terrible at left back, it's just not his spot. I don't know if Clark's any better as I haven't seen him in that role yet, but at least Clark has a little attacking instinct, good passing ability, and a bit more pace than Baker. Baker is not comfortable going forward and doesn't have the pace to get back. I'd like to see Clark tried out there, if we're assuming Luna and Bennett are both still out. I hope that Lambert doesn't go for the 5-at-the-back again. It was much much too defensive vs. West Ham and would be similarly overkill vs. Cardiff at home. If the fullback injury problems make a back four problematic, what do people think about trying out an attacking 3-4-3 formation? Something like: Guzan Vlaar - Baker - Clark Bacuna - KEA - Westwood/Sylla* - Delph Helenius - Benteke - Tonev I think Delph would do well over on the left, both in an attacking and defending capacity. Although his form has been not great so far, I think I'd favor Westwood in this formation vs. Cardiff, as we'll be looking to keep the ball and he's about the best passer we have. Sylla might be better deployed there if we need a little more steel against more physical teams, or maybe as a late sub to help protect a lead. Ideally the front three would be Weimann and Gabby with CB provided they're all fit and firing. I'm not sure yet how Kozak and Benteke together are going to work. But with Helenius and Tonev up front with Benteke, we've got some pace and industry (Tonev) and some trickery/skills (Helenius). I think it could work. I think a 3-4-3 could work, but with Gabby and Andi. If they're not fit, how about 3-5-2? Benteke with Gabby or Helenius if he's not fit. Both Sylla and Westwood in. I don't think Baker's that hopeless at LB. If we play 3-5-2 he can stay back and not go forward at all. Clark just doesn't look like a full back to me.

I'd go: Guzan Bacuna - Vlaar - Clark - Baker Lowton - Sylla - Westwood - Delph Benteke - Gabby

Ok, rubbish then.

I'd really wanted to see him for awhile, even just for a short cameo if nothing else. Then, when he got the chance against Spurs (or was it Everton?), i was not impressed ether. Mind you, this may have been because my expectations were too high. He needs more time, and strength I agree.

And has to work hard for chances, unlike more creative teams he doesn't get much of a break and has to rely on scraps and knock-downs. I sometimes think he's doing so much running when he gets in a position to score hes too knackered to compose himself. Maybe he needs to manage his energy a bit Maybe you're onto something here. Especially if he's playing up front, he should preserve his energy for sprints. If he runs too much he won't be able to outsprint defenders. I don't know if this is the case, but he did lose some sprints, especially on that semi-breakaway. This would mean he works too hard if he's playing up front. But if he plays a bit deeper on the midfield he has to run a lot to help the full back, so it's a different situation then.

I don't think that's what we're saying, at least I'm not. I think it's a mixture of getting the best out of Bacuna and Lowton. Bacuna has looked the better RB so far, so we're trying to figure out what to do with Lowton, since he obviously has talent, and our midfield is shambles.

I wouldn't say he was 'much better' but he was better. Judging merely by yesterday's performance, I honestly can't call either of them better than any other football player, each other included.

You're right, he was much better on the second half. He made a couple errors on the first half, which you can maybe notice from the match thread. They didn't lead to anything serious so people forgot them. I maybe follow him a bit more than many others since I like him and want him to do real well.

Vlaar is still improving. He looks real steady back there. Worthy of captaincy at the moment.

Not the best game by Clark today. Ciaran has lost a bit of form since he had to skip one game because of flu. He was demoted to the bench the next game in favor of Baker. He came on when Luna was injured, but made some questionable decisions. It continued today. Hopefully he gets his head back on for next game.

Get Bacuna back to RB asap. Lowton should move to LB, midfield or bench. Whatw as tried today didn't work. Bacuna was useless and Lowton very poor defensively.

Different type of player completely. I don't understand people using Sylla as a scapegoat today, it was a crap game in which everybody played pretty badly. Reading through the threads, i think you'll notice quite a few of our players are being criticized.

What? Benteke was our best player in the second half by a mile. He held the ball up well and laid it off well. Dunno what your point is as it makes no sense. Don't know if everyone would agree with you Bunnski. Especially in the first half though.

Yeah but he is missing too many himself, We could be 6 points better off if he could of put some of his away. I don't disagree with that. But we're worse off without him. Unless Tonev unleashes Atomic Strike!

Didn't notice him out there, so he must've been one of our best players today. Oh, he's a striker? ... nevermind.