switters

Think Zoggy is doing some very smart timewasting here. Good work.

Rather nice to see proactive substitutions that make sense with what's happening on the pitch, rather than desperate/confusing tactical switch 2 mins after going behind.

Gil hasn't got 90 mins of Premier league pace in him yet. Did very well first half but hasn't been involved 2nd. So it makes sense. We all know Zog's frustratingness but he is experienced and can be an outlet sometimes so not a bad player to bring on at this point

Helluva save. When ones like that don't go in, there's this little part of me that starts to think 'is it going to be our day?'. Dangerous thoughts, I know!

De Bruyne is pure quality, has to be said. he'll probably be the difference in the end. But a positive half. Kept City to few chances and been mostly smart with the ball, albeit without looking much like troubling their keeper. City looking a bit frustrated and Toure and their midfield not really been on their game

Sterling not getting booked for that? cheating little shit.

uh-oh Guzan. still looking ropey.

Omigod he picked my team 

now it's my fault if it's terrible...

It's probably a bit of wishful thinking - when you're on a run of defeats you automatically start thinking about changing players in the team and you go back round to players who haven't been featuring much recently 'cause there ain't any other options. I do think Veretout has done okay at times though sometimes has disappeared from games, particularly after 60 mins - same could be said for a lot of our players. 

Equally you could ask how people consider putting Okore back for this one. He's not likely to be up to match sharpness and throwing him in against City would be a big ask. only have to think to Southampton away a few months ago and remember that Okore when off the pace can really, really struggle. 

I'd like to see

Guzan

Hutton-Richards-Clark-Amavi

Sanchez

Veretout------------Gana

Gil

Ayew-Sinclair

You can say it lacks a centre forward, but tbh playing Gabby or Gestede there is often like playing without one anyway. Front 3 could switch positions and push wide when needed. Gil might find a bit of space in that kind of lineup.

Respectable first half, but same old problem of clubs having to do very little indeed in order to get a goal against us - they just need to wait and sure enough a lapse in concentration or mistake will come along. And once we're behind, we don't have capability to get back. 

I think lack of confidence is playing a big part. There is lack of quality too, but I don't feel like we're miles behind most of the teams we're playing. Score first tonight and we probably would have won. When you're in a lull that opening goal just doesn't come.

Looks like a cautious, back-to-basics defensive 442 with a gameplan of staying in the game for 60 mins and then bring on Gil/Grealish/Ayew to try and sneak a win. 

Who knows? It may work. But it won't be pretty that is for sure!

Did start alright vs Chelsea so could see us lining up similar but with the slightly more attacking home move of Amavi at LB and then I think he'll put Gabby in at expense of Ayew i.e:

Guzan

Hutton-Richards-Lescott-Amavi

Westwood-Gana

Gil-Grealish-Gabby

Gestede

Subs: Bunn, Crespo, Richardson, Sanchez, Traore, Ayew, Sinclair

Not exactly what I'd go for, but not a million miles off either. Much like Sherwood, I have no idea what our best team is these days.

Oh what a shocking surprise that the ref finally finds his yellow card for a Villa player once Ramires rolls around crying 

How many times has the ref going to let Chelsea players go? that was yellow minimum for Fabregas. Ramires should've been booked about 3 times

Good first half hour. Grealish and Gana best players on pitch.

Harsh to criticise Gestede for putting that one over as he did well to get a shot away

And then we do that. Utterly **** ridiculous Guzan.

Good to see Gil, Grealish, Ayew all starting - my worry is how much of the ball they will see. They are going to have to be dropping deep and helping defensively a fair bit.

This was a game where we absolutely had to get a result, with the fixtures coming up. Decision to try an entirely new formation with a player making his debut in the league in this one is indefensibly bad management. It didn't work at all in the first half and the attempts to fix it in the second were too late and just served to mess it up in a different way.

Made some promising-sounding signings in the summer but we've played 10 games now and we don't look remotely like we know what our best team is, seems like he is just flailing around trying a different tactic each match and hoping one sticks. 

Dire result. Looking very much like a team that is going to be relegated. Stoke were poor and we lost to them at home, without scoring a goal and barely managing a shot. I'd say it can't get worse but that is not true because we manage to find new lows each season.

**** off Diouf. diving timewasting word removed. Ref is buying it 'cause he's been inept all game.

Would be the scummiest player on the pitch who scores too. Utterly awful defending.

And Richards that is an awful miss.

Not good, but at least still level. Would expect to see Crespo off for Grealish as the formation hasn't really helped either defensively or attacking. Ayew for Sinclair and Gil for one of the central 3 would be options too, though maybe not straight away.

Guzan, Richards and Veretout all had decent half. Most of the others, not so much. Really need a result here, however we can.

lineup looks like a punt - a bunch of defensive players and then hope one of Gestede/Sinclair can continue knack of scoring. 

Chance for Veretout to impress I suppose. He's going to have the be the creative one with no Gil/Grealish.

Overall I think we've added pace, strength and creativity to the team & squad. Cleared a large chunk of deadwood & the squad has a younger, fresher look with potential for using several different tactical approaches depending on personnel. Previously the squad just didn't really have the options for much variation. There's things I still wonder about - source of goals, leadership in midfield/attacking positions, distribution from goalkeeper - but it's early days.

Some signings look instant hits, others are more in the wait-and-see, but it's always going to be like that at the price tag we are shopping at - if you sign 12 cheap-mid price players, you're almost guaranteed a couple will be duds. Overall the changes this summer leave me hopeful that we can develop something good over next few years

Time for him to repay us for all those goals he scored against us!