the_eristic

Highlights the need for another central/attacking mid like Praet. Needed to come off much earlier as he was out on his feet, but there was no good option to replace him. Sanchez is the last thing we need when a goal behind in the 80th minute.

Obligatory "My (insert elderly female relative) would offer more than Nzogbia" post.

Excited to see Gil and/or Gresford running off him. We had nobody offering him options today, he should look even better once our players who move intelligently are fit and back in the side.

Balanta?

We'll be broke long before we finish building at that price. Construction supply places are usually much cheaper!

-----------------Guzan--------------------- -----------Richards---Clark-------------- Bacuna---------------------------Amavi-- -------Gueye-Veretout-(Praet?)-------- -------------------Gil------------------------ ------------------------Ayew---------------- ------------Gestede------------------------ Probably too small in the middle and a little exposed out wide, though, unless we're going for our take on tiki-taka. Think it'll more likely be Sanchez in front of the defenders. Will surely see a classic 4-3-3 at some point, too, with Gresford and/or Sinclair. Not ideal, but inevitable, I think.

20M euro for a defender in a side that will be playing in Ligue 2?

I'm convinced that Bacuna is secretly our best player.

Fixed that for you.

Same as the past two matches. Pure trash. Nonexistent tactics. poor player selection, yet again poor/too late subs and worst of all no fight. Soton could've been excused as a freak result and Burnley a dead rubber, but Sherwood is worthless if he can't even get the team motivated for a literal ****ing cup final.

Jesus, can't we just shoot?

No tactics as usual, but now not even any pashun. Useless.

Perfect opposition and situation to be bring him into the side. Baffling.

Well, that was trash.

Should've brought Hutton on for Gabby and pushed Bacuna up. Gabby has been useless, at least Bacuna has been trying to make something happen, even if it hasn't come off.

Can we just have a shot? Burnley are perfectly happy to let us play in front of them and defend crosses all day.

Would be fairly happy to keep him. If only we could get Senderos fit... as good as the Okore/Clark pairing has been at times, Senderos/Vlaar at the start of the season was the most complete I've seen from us in a long time, and Okore in particular doesn't need to be playing every game just yet anyway.

Solid player, bargain at that price.

Gil, immaculate technique, absolutely unsavable Cleverly, Tom's great driving run found by that world class through ball Delph, brilliant movement and execution from everyone involved

Yesterday was classic N'Zogbia for me. Does all that good work just to **** up the final ball practically every time. Would rather see Gil getting a chance to link up with everyone or Gabby on to run off Benteke.

I prefer Charley Fishlung.

Height in midfield is still an issue for me. Sanchez is the tallest we have at only 6' and the jury is still out on him. Clev (who will hopefully be here next season if we're seeing the real him!), Westwood and Delph are all 5'9"ish and much better with the ball at feet. Our pace and energy is making up for it right now, but I fear teams will realize our midfield can simply be beaten in the air and start setting out to outmuscle them and/or actively try to exploit the fact that one of our defenders will often come forward to contest those aerial balls to compensate and look to exploit the gaps they leave. Would like to see a 6'2"+ central/defensive mid brought in to have an option for a bit more balance and physical presence.

Was he trying to pass it? I thought he'd just mishit the clearance as it rolled across him. Haven't seen it again since it happened, though, and same result either way, I guess, but if he was trying to pass to Okore... why?!

Needs to be a bit more selfish and have a shot!