switters

I think basically any player over 23 who predates Lambert's regime would be offloaded if we had offers, with exception of Guzan. That means: Hutton, Warnock, Dunne, Given, Makoun, Holman, N'Zogbia, Ireland, Bent they're not all deadwood exactly, but they are the ones I certainly can't see being here too much longer. Agbonlahor would be borderline. Wages are probably well out of line with the squad they trying to build.

One player cannot affect the possession stats that much. Bannan also came on 3 mins after WBA had scored. It's not uncommon for a home team which has gone from 0-2 to 1-2 to suddenly have a lot more belief and dominate the game, push for an equaliser with crowd behind them. Bannan certainly didn't have a good game, but to seek to blame him entirely for us being dominated right after they'd scored is pretty harsh. If he wasn't in Africa, I'm sure El Ahmadi would've been preferred sub for Delph at that point in the match, but Lambert didn't have a lot of choice (assuming Delph was injured). Can't see Ireland having done much better.

People have made up their mind on him and just look for reasons to hate him more. e.g. last match he came on 2nd half and took (to my memory) 4 corners. 2 of which were poor and 2 of which caused clear chances (one Benteke flicked across goal & one Baker/Clark headed onto bar). The two poor corners got a string of comments on the matchday thread about how awful Bannan is. The two good ones got about 1 positive comment about his delivery. Westwood had similar hit/miss rate with his corners today, but doesn't get any of the criticism about delivery because he is not designated scapegoat.

So true. I saw him kick a pile of kittens as he walked off the pitch. EVIL! -- Seriously people all that happened today was he was brought on when WBA were in the ascendancy and he failed to change the course of the match. That doesn't make him the worst player of all-time, never fit to play again. There are 11 players in our team and he's far from the only one who made bad passes in the 2nd half.

Very disappointing to not close out from 2-0, but draw is a result we'd have taken beforehand. Gave MOTM to Gabby. could be him or Zog who both put in great shifts. Zog substitution didn't make sense to me unless he was injured. oh and Barry Bannan eats babies (just trying to fit in with the hate mob on the matchday thread).

I say a long overdue battling performance to grind out a 2-1 win

Not totally against the 352/532, esp as Vlaar should organise the backline better than when it was Herd-Clark-Baker. Think it suits our fullbacks more. Really need to get something today though, with Reading winning, QPR drawing.

Fernandes is not the only money behind QPR. This man apparently still owns a 1/3rd stake: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lakshmi_Mittal though the situation is pretty murky because they've changed ownership structure several times in just a few yrs (Ecclestone etc.). Might be another Portsmouth in the making.

He looks fairly promising but I don't think he's really ready. Noticeably one footed - got himself into trouble with unwillingness to use his right at times & yes I don't think he has the match fitness for 90 mins of PL football at the minute. Not sure who is best option at LB currently. tbh, Lichaj has probably been best of him, Stevens & Bennett, but none have been consistent and every team we play seems to target that side of the pitch.

Good try in 2nd half, but couldn't get the break. Oh, what a last minute equalizer might have done for our confidence. Delph and Clark had good games, for the most part. Though it was ironically Delph clearing the ball into Clark which led to the penalty. Benteke - v.good at winning the ball in the air, but needed to take one of those chances. Bannan, for all the criticism he gets about set pieces, actually put in 3 or 4 very good balls in the second half. but once that one was headed onto the bar, you knew it wasn't gonna happen. Positive thinking: in the last 4 league games we've conceded 4,3,2,1. Therefore clean sheet at WBA is guaranteed

Bannan's a good footballer. Don't get why so many are so keen to write him off or make him scapegoat for all the team's woes. It's clear he's not currently good enough to carry or lead the midfield, but I think he could be a very good cog in a functioning midfield (say he was alongside Young, Petrov & Milner). Just like I think Clark or Baker could be good with the right partner, but neither are yet capable of leading the defence. It's a matter of finding the right balance, not just writing everyone off for not thriving in an unbalanced team. I think El Ahmadi's been the bigger disappointment in midfield. Suspect he was the one Lambert signed as the steady hand in midfield who'd start 95% of games, but he hasn't really performed.

I'd go with Ireland on for either Weimann or Agbonlahor. Not getting either of them in the game enough atm. Zog has provided the most threat of the front 4. Bent on for Benteke would be tempting too, but maybe not yet. I think we'll come back okay. Just need a goal to settle nerves.

That was bloody lucky deflection. Don't panic now. We can easily come back if we keep making chances as we have been.

Would've felt so much better if the goals were the other way around. A game everyone expected to lose and we somehow manage to get a draw which feels like a kick in the teeth. Still, Swansea should've been out of sight early on, our defensive line was atrocious early on. At least the point gives us something to build on. Weimann MOTM - that goal from nothing is one of the most important of the season. After 16 or 17 consecutive against us, it was vital and confidence definitely started creeping back afterwards. Benteke also much better than the last couple of games. Great to have both strikers on scoresheet. Delph deserves some praise for his 2nd half. I was expecting a 2nd yellow but he was actually disciplined.

Definitely been better in 2nd half. Still not great of course, but goal has helped confidence. Would try Carruthers for Albrighton, maybe give something different in attack.

On a yellow, inexperienced & with Dyer brought on to run at him. Makes perfect sense to me.

Never a free kick against Albrighton there.

Bring on Bannan for Delph, who is a walking red card after getting stupid booking. He could easily have another one for persistent fouling.

Holy **** a goal!!!!!!

Benteke showing a glimmer of how he was vs Liverpool there. We need a goal so badly. something to give some hope.

Worst defence ever. could be another 8-0

God that was awful. Guzan saved us.

Think this might be our youngest lineup yet. Chris Herd is our oldest outfield player!

Actually think it will probably be benefit to be away from home in this one. Players clearly nervous and lacking in confidence in front of expectant home fans, maybe now that expectations are absolute minimum they will play with a little less fear. Assuming no-one is newly available from Wigan game, I'd go something like: Guzan Lowton-Herd-Clark-Bennett Albrighton-Westwood-Bannan-Delph Weimann-Benteke doesn't look good, but the options aren't really there - really hope either Baker or Vlaar is back. Get Albrighton & Delph working hard to press & help out the full backs vs Dyer/Routledge. We won't create much, but we could look to counter. Perhaps could sneak a draw, as Swansea have drawn a lot at home