Tom13

It's crazy to think we've rebuilt almost the entire team but still have Westwood as an ever present in midfield.

He's our only natural winger so could do with him getting fit and starting.

Last season he was excellent going forward (energy, dribbling and crossing) and shaky defensively. Potential is obviously there, he's not gonna set the world alight playing odd minutes here and there and out of position.

Pissed off and deflated. Just don't even know what to say about us anymore tbh.

Great goal! Cottee is calling him Codiger...SMH.

Gets a lot of unfair stick IMO. He's very talented on the ball.

I can't believe he hasn't got a song.

Got to win tonight guys...and I'm sure we will.

1 hour ago, dont_do_it_doug. said:

We're trying to change that with Jedinak and Tish. I know you've got a bee in your bonnet at present, about the midfield not being tough enough. You're right. However they deserve a bit of time to correct the issue no? 

If they had gone out and signed a couple of powderpuff midfielders in the summer then fair enough. Jedinak is 6'2 and Tishbola 6'3.

Jedinak is a **** mountain and from what I've seen of Tish he's a tough kid. Let's see how they develop when fit before we suggest that they're still accommodating a weak midfield. 

Should have signed Peter Crouch if height is the answer to a weak midfield

1 hour ago, NeilS said:

I may be wrong, but I read somewhere that he had been playing RB for them, so that would be him underhitting the backpass. I have no idea what he looks like though, and even if I did the picture quality makes it hard to see.

I know what he looks like and the RB looked black to me earlier? Could well be wrong. I also (purely down to Football Manager) thought he was a left-footed player.

How's he been playing at Cheltenham (mistake against Newcastle aside)?

EDIT: Just watched that, if it was the first pass he played (out to the right-back), it wasn't his fault IMO.

1 hour ago, PaulC said:

Yes me too. Mcormack is a far better finisher. Ayew has been very wasteful in front of goal this season. His best position is out wide. 

Yeah but Ayew can create chances for himself out of nothing, not sure McCormack can tbh. Up front Ayew would have many more chances.

37 minutes ago, Tomaszk said:

Not just that no, there was Tim Sherwood as well, but this was a huge part of the carnage for me.

Micah Richards & Ciaran Clarke as CBs and I think a any side would be in a relegation battle.

I did say 'a few players'. Some fans wrote off pretty much our whole squad as bad players last season.

On 9/11/2016 at 16:20, Keener window-cleaner said:

I thought his passing was a contributing factor to us dominating the game, I noticed that especially Elphick often gave the ball to him to start our attacks. Very comfortable going forward and a very good passer. That said, the main task of a defender is to defend, haven't seen the replays of the goals but I got the impression when I saw the goals that he was at least as much at fault as anyone else. 

 

Yeah I came in here to say I liked him very much on the ball. I haven't seen any highlights either so didn't really notice his defensive errors at all at the game.

33 minutes ago, Keyblade said:

101 out of 106 passes completed. Jesus, that's Xavi-esque. Who knew he had that in his locker? Gutted as he would have been invaluable to us if we came back up.

It was pretty obvious to me last season that he was a good passer, and intelligent with his passes too. Really pleased for him tbh.

Shuts up people who assumed all of our players were terrible last season as well. It was not necessarily a lack of ability with a few players.

His biggest problem is the mental aspect, he never looks confident (in an attacking area, when having to hold off a player or when tackling) and is generally very timid. His first thought every time he gets the ball seems to be how quick can I pass the responsibility to someone else?

28 minutes ago, dont_do_it_doug. said:

That's just who he is. If he didn't want to be here he wouldn't put in a performance like that, it wouldn't be possible. 

This. Everyone reading into it way too much. It's simply the way he is, he's moody, lots of people are, fans need to get over it, especially as he's our best and most exciting player!

I'd start him on Weds.

Decent game. Reminded me a bit of Paulo Wanchope with that run in the 2nd half

I'd rather Bacuna played CM over Gardner.

25 minutes ago, handsworthvilla said:

Perhaps fantastic was a tad hyperbolic. I thought he was our best player.

No way, Ayew was our best player, and by some distance too.

If Adomah's coming in I think Jack will be the one to lose his place.

Personally I'd put Jack at 10 and drop McCormack. Plenty of rotation options though.

What a performance, can create something out of nothing. Our key will be getting the best out of him this season.

Few moments of decent play but overall was quite poor. Too predictable coming inside every time.

Not a fan of him hoofing it aimlessly under no pressure.