pete165

oh dear - heskey was playing really well

We're playing like we're about ten-nil up. Come on lads, get the goal your football deserves.

BEAUTIFUL PASSING FOOTBALL FROM US YET AGAIN. I can't believe what I'm seeing. Should be ahead though. Petrov, Ash, Downing and Dunne all with chances after EXCELLENT moves in three occasions.

we really do play some lovely stuff these days - downing is technically very good indeed, some great passes already from him, good hold up from heske We're actually pretty good!

another nice move. downing beautiful cross field, nice backheel and cross in. Our style of football has improved, it seems.

Young down injured

lovely bit of passing from us there, luke down the right, cross blocked. ash wins a fk

erm. we can't get the ball - dodgy start

Stoke starting quite brightly. We haven't got it down yet. Going to be tough this.

our work rate at 92 mins is stunning. great win. personally, I don't think we played well either.

-----------------------------FRIEDEL--------------------------------- ----YOUNG---------CUELLAR-----DUNNE-----------WARNOCK--- -----------------------------PETROV--------------------------------- ---------------------REO-COKER---SIDWELL----------------------- -------MILNER------------------------------------------A.YOUNG---- -----------------------------AGBONLAHOR--------------------------- With Downing on for Sidwell on 60, Heskey/Carew on for Reo-Coker should we need a goal 2nd half. Done.

home game, so two up top - however, i'd start with heskey on current form. ------------------------friedel---------------------------- ----young----------cuellar---dunne----------warnock-- -------------------petrov-------sidwell-------------------- -----Milner--------------------------------------young----- -------------------heskey------agbonlahor---------------- he's not going to drop the captain and while I like reo-coker, I wouldn't swap him in for petrov or sidwelll because we'll definitely need to keep the ball and spurs do give you time to play.

We play terrible football, only lump it forward. MON is clueless and plays everyone out of position. We have zero creativity. Carew is a waste of space and anonymous. Why the **** did we sell Cahill, the best young defender in the country? Hang on..... have I missed something

Good result. good performance. Friedel - 7 - did what he had to - unlucky with goal Warnock - 7 - Solid as usual, got forward at times L.Young - 7 - Ditto. Unluck with his shot. Dunne - 9 - Magnificent Cuellar - 7 - Goal, but mistake. Fine. Milner - 8 - His usual. Missed him in the week. But he missed the pen! Sidwell - 8 - Everyhwere for first hour, then got a bit lethargic both on the ball and chasing it. Took a breather last 15. NRC - 8 - Not at his fittest / quickest, but good interceptions and ticked over. Looks uncomfrotable on the ball, but always has done and will do. Young - 8 - Always wanted the ball, still trying everything despite poor form. Looking better - good free kick, created space by being double-marked and some decent delivery amidst some dross. Carew - 9 - Unplayable. But need that from him every week. Gabby - 9 - Great runs down channels, kept the ball well. Good finish. MON - 8 - Balanced side. We passed it better too. Can't help but feel his life was made easier by Milner being fit though. Without him, I'd have been concerned.

really good performance for first time in a while. let's not crucify the defending - it was a bit unfortunate and savies is a nightmare to play against.

if we don't score a third early 2nd half, it's going to bloody nervy.

Played well. Deserved to be 2 up and a bit unfortunate to be 2-1. But at least we played some decent stuff.

bollocks!

NRC and Sidwell doing REALLY well.

with the team out there, this is about as good as we can play. need another goal though!!!! At least we have got one.

Ashley Young has 'it' back.

magnificent first 30 minutes. should lead and we do. now need a second.

I guess 2 up top is appropriate at home. But Carew is not playing well and I hope we can control the midfield with Reo Coker and Sidwell on their own. Sooner or later Delph is going to get in this side, and once he does, Sidwell will find himself on the bench.

-------------------------FRIEDEL---------------------------- --CUELLAR------DUNNE-------COLLINS-----WARNOCK-- ----------------REO-COKER----SIDWELL------------------- --------------------------DELPH------------------------------ ----MILNER-------------------------------------YOUNG------ --------------------------GABBY------------------------------ Having watched Delph over 90 minutes many many times for Leeds, I can say quite categorically that even though he's not impressed thus far, he's good enough. I know some people are suggesting almost out of desperation at our lack of creativity and don't know much about him, but I honestly feel that I'm in a position to say with complete certainty that given a run in the team, he'll be great for us.

Spot On. But it's also foolish to think that when a bunch of passionate supporters have watched their team play poorly, lose in injury time and play with a team that was far from the popular choice, there won't be a little 'ranting' going on immediately after the game - if only to get it out of their system. The reality is obviously somewhere inbetween the two.