kevpants

The Mings bashing has to stop. It's bordering on bullying/abuse now. He's been in our defence when it was the best part our game and when it was the worst. It's complicated and we're unqualified to comment. It's surely not as simple as dropping Mings. I can't really see how any of the 3 goals were his fault specifically. It seems like is he touches a ball or is near it then the actions of all other players are dismissed and his analysed. The first goal. Mings made a challenge but the ball fell to a Leeds player. I don't understand how you can criticize that? You can't really control where a ball goes after a challenge. The second goal. Buendia comes flying out of nowhere and cleans out everyone, the ball bounces inadvertently of James and in. Complete freak. How it is Mings fault? Who didn't track the runner who put in the cross? The third goal. He makes a block/clearance in a packed penalty area but it falls perfectly for a Leeds player. It wasn't a misplaced pass, it's broken play in a penalty box scramble. Sometimes they fall for you sometimes they don't.

Should have kept Keinan and sent his lad to Forest.

To say Watkins is a wast of space is an insult to space. The vast emptiness of the cosmos would make a better striker than him.

Yep. That control and finish was exactly what I expected him to do when I saw the ball sailing over the Everton defense to him. I was never fully convinced. To me he’s a supporting character in the Grealish show who was made to look really good by association . See also Targett.

Barca discarded him because they thought he was past it and he joined Atleti and won the league. And tore it up. Its Luis F&@/ING Suarez. He’s on a different level to anyone we’ve ever had up front. Ollie can sit down.

It doesn't work because of Watkins. Ings deserves a run in the team without Watkins refusing to pass to him.

Ings up top. Buendia and Coutinho as the narrow wing forwards. Imagine the balls they slip in for him. Ings is a deadly finisher. He's sharpness personified. Watkins just runs around alot.

LOL @ Ramsey in the post match interview when the camera pans out "It's Phillipe Coutinho!!"

One of those ones where the defender is like "I can get that, I can get that....****!"

I'm content rather than happy. Let's not let the comeback detract from the fact that was a 2/10 perfromance from Watkins. He can't keep starting.

Could Carney be the DM we are looking for? He's a bit of a destroyer

Is watkins drunk?

Well Phil. You've joined a club with the softest underbelly in the league. Good luck.

Find someone to hate the way Villa fans hate Bruno Fernandes.

Hause hit one good diagonal now he thinks he's Beckenbauer

It always breaks down with Watkins

Get Watkins off. He needs a spell out. Not at it.

Couldn't agree more. If we create one solid chance this half it needs to fall to Ings.

Exactly. He's been positive and had some good carries but has had some poor moments too. He's a kid. He's going to be a player for us for many years.

Could we request the game be postponed at half time? PL seem to be granting any and all requests?

Watkins needs the hook in my opinion. He'sthe least clinical striker. Needs too many opportunities. I ahve no confidence in him when he strikes a ball. None. If he stays on and our chances fall to him it's game over.

He's such an Everton player.

I'm getting a bad feeling about this guy. A sense of entitlement. It doesn't bode well. Contrast that with Jacob Ramsey. Enthusiastic about every chance he gets and when he's subbed off early or starts as a sub he accepts it and waits for his next chance. I think Carney is the better player. Hope this doesn't end how I think it will.

A square ball out to the wing back from the centre circle is a high % pass. It will go to the player 99.999% of the time. A forward ball between two CBs into the path of a strker is a low % pass, it migh go to the player 30% of the time. Buendia plays a lot of the latter. Nakamba, for example, plays a lot of the former. You can't compare their stats and say Nakamba is a better passer. Actually watching the game proved that's not the case.

I'm speaking generally and based on watching them for a few seasons rather than this year's stats. It's kind of based on feel, which might be a bit wishy-washy. For example if Ings is played through 1:1 I'm 80% confident he buries it. With Watkins I'm probably 40%. Watkins work rate and athleticism are fantastic though. I just want someone clinical in the central striker role.