VillanousOne

Bacuna at left back? Is Bennett still injured? Has anyone got an opinion on Webb? He played in the preseason, surprised he's not gone on loan

I like Bennett, he can actually move forward with the ball and cross it - something a lot of our players can't do, yes he's been an utter defensive liability at times but he wasn't the only one, but because he looks like a chav from Grange Hill people think it's ok to berate him. He got a lot better last season and I hope he will get another chance to play soon. Bacuna has been mostly great for us, Lowton on the whole has been very good even though he is struggling a little this season, Luna it's too soon to judge but he's had some good moments. On the whole our defence is no longer the problem, although we could do with experience back up for Vlaar.

I think he does have close control, but sometimes he is too eager to move and go on the attack that he just lacks that extra second of thought and composure, but he is getting better. He is still trying to overcompensate, but I do think he will end up in a England shirt.

possibly every other manager in the league Yawn. what? I'm not allowed to deride comments that make Lambert sound like Mel Gibson in Brave Heart? he's got balls to take Given, Hutton and Bent to name but a few out of the picture in favour of younger cheaper players, but in terms of our golden generation of youth - none have actually been given more than a passing sniff of football. You'd think Daniel Johnson at least would have started a game by now, the amount of squads he has been in. I would love to see Robinson, Donacien, Burke and Johnson get a chance. I know it's too soon for Grealish and Graham but again it is always exciting seeing a manager blood new players. Even though there is an very outside chance he will become a good player for us I still don't get excited about seeing Bowery...... or even Herd on the squad sheet.

that not in euros?

probably read this thread and though f u c k it!

possibly every other manager in the league

Randy came in and pumped huge sums of money into the club to get us into the Champion's league, in the last years where the Billionaire's tea party wasn't in full affect. That attempt failed and every since he's had to fork out millions on failed managers, failed signings and huge wages. He has had to learn the most brutal of lessons. Now he knows that the league is a different proposition entirely, even if he spends 50 mil on players and 10 mil on wages over one transfer window the return on that is dubious and uncertain, it might get us Europa league at best and bankruptcy at worse. We can't spend ourself to success, so he's just decided to go in for the long game, the long game promises very little, with a bit of luck we might become a dull mid table team. Most of the time it will just be about us keeping our head's above relegation. But teams like Swansea and Everton have managed to become much better teams than us without massive spending. I don't know if Randy cares that much about the club now, but no-one can dispute that he hasn't committed huge sums of money already. The approach now is admirable and logical, but extremely tedious and it will be years before any real progress or excitement, unless..............

I agree with some of what you've posted but to say "as Lambert doesn't play anyone under the age of 23." ........... apart from Baker, Okore, Luna, Bacuna, Weimann, Benteke and Bowery. yep i meant to put 21, major DOH! i didn't actually realise Weimann is still 22 and yet we are pretty harsh on him

Last season in parts was an adrenalin fuelled ride of fast past attack, some great goals from our front line and comedy pub defending. Every game was a roller coaster ride and a 1:0 deficit after 10 mins was the norm. Now the comedy pub defending has almost gone but so has the adrenalin ride of goals. Weimann, Gabby and Benteke were unplayable last season, this season it feels like teams know how to nullify their threat plus all three are off form or have been injured. If we can't play on the break or hoof it - then we play possession football that goes nowhere. Our limitations are so obvious it hurts. Our midfield is league one level, our attack when on form is top 8 prem class, our defence seems to now be catching up to Prem standard, but it's all a weird mix of differing abilities. But on the whole we aren't a good footballing team and it hurts me to say that. Lambert tries to make us play to our strengths, he used three attackers because he recognised our midfield wasn't good enough, instead he substituted talent in that area for reliability and industry (and the hope Delph can become something special). As tedious as it is to state, until we have some kind of creative technical ball players in there with an eye for a forward pass and good close control we will not improve beyond where we are now, which I might add is a good solid platform to go from. And yes we need players to make the runs to adapt to the passes that this type of player would offer. Looking at the players we have I would only say that Bennett (honest, I know he can't defend but he is genuinely good on the ball), Helenius (judging by the preseason games) and supposedly Tonev - have these technical creative attributes, maybe Gardener and Albrighton at a push, and then Grealish and Graham (maybe Carruthers). All are currently fringe players or youth players who won't be blooded for some time as Lambert doesn't play anyone under the age of 23. Lambert needs to take some risks and make some bold choices with the players we have. We are making progress though, just very dull and slow progress. And I think the players we have will and are getting better.

i can't believe he can be do any worse than Tonev's initial awful displays? even Bacuna was pretty dire at the start.

I think there are two many variables at the moment - too many unknowns. I think come January we'll have a more accurate idea of how we are progressing, presuming we don't get lots of injuries.

Luna has looked just as bad defensively so no idea why you had made up your mind he is so much better already.

There is something technically very poor about the team, the way no-one seems to be able to make runs or recognise where another player is going to run into. We don't seem to be able to create more than a couple of passes forward without losing possession. Our first touch is often poor. For some reason we just seemed to end up with four players in the left hand corner of the pitch with no-one actually able to break down Sunderland's defence. If Gabby, Benteke and Weimann aren't all firing on all cylinders we offer nothing going forward, and clearly none of them are. it'a a tedious cliche but we need someone in the middle who can dictate play and pull the strings, you can sometimes see KEA, Westwood and KEA try but in many ways we just lack quality, and it is something Lambert has to address. In pre-season Gardener and Helenius were two players who looked like they had a bit of composure and ability to pass forward, something has to be changed.

he looked better defensively but didn't get forward as much as he did in the 1st.

would like to see him get more game time

Clark has looked much better and very solid, especially when alongside Vlaar

absolutely agree we need that balance yes we need the ability to look slightly better going forward at the expense of looking much weaker defensively on the left. i agree we need a decent left back rather than Clark or Baker out of position but currently Luna hasn't shown that, hopefully in time he will. I think even now he is a better option than Clark or Baker. well after Baker's performance vs West Brom you maybe right

absolutely agree we need that balance yes we need the ability to look slightly better going forward at the expense of looking much weaker defensively on the left. i agree we need a decent left back rather than Clark or Baker out of position but currently Luna hasn't shown that, hopefully in time he will.

Benteke seemed to be positioned as a creative forward drifting deep and flicking on headers, he had three people slamming into him everytime he got the ball as he is no longer an unknown. Kozak playing off Benteke would never work but considering that - he still managed to look a threat and create chances. Benteke should have been the one to come off but he's our golden balls so it will never happen. I really though Kozak looked wank when he first joined but now i am starting to see good things from him and Tonev. As a sub for Benteke or even Gabby he is a good back up player - and deserves to get more chances.

Guzan: 6 - not sure he could do anything about the goals Baker: 4 - Poor Clark: 5 - Got better as he grew into the game Vlaar: 8 - Easily our best player Bacuna: 5 - Error aside he did ok Sylla: 4 - No first touch or urgency KEA: 7 - One of his better games for us and great goal, starting to attack and pass forward as well as harrassing players and losing possesion alot Westwood: 7 - Great work rate and good goal Tonev: 6 - his shots are at least now on target and he looks dangerous, still lacks composure and good decision making Kozak: 7 - The best striker on the night Benteke: 5 - Won a lot of headers but still waaaay off the pace subs: Weimann: 7 - Provided urgency and threat Gabby: 6 - looked up for it Delph: 6 - Got heavily involved

Kozak was the only attacking threat we had in the first half and performed way better than Tekkers did. He was unfortunate to be substituted.

But not the team that actually ended the Cardiff game. It does feel Lambert gets slated for the kick and rush hoof ball but as soon as we try and play passing football we get slaughtered. Our central midfield play is still pub quality.

the warning signs were there - completely unecessary comments from Lambert to stoke up some bad blood and **** awful PR and then a dire team line up. Sylla has been shocking so has Baker. need Delph and Gabby on

I'm not sure Weimann deserves to walk straight back into the team. I don't actually think we have missed him and Luna a great deal, although Luna does add more going forward but only at the expense of a weaker defence. We have missed Gabby and Delph a great deal, but I think we have seen a lot of promise from Kozak and possibly even Tonev as a result. It would be harsh on either to drop them.