Kwan

Think he's a big confidence player. Once it gets shot for the game, he seems to be flagging for the rest of it. Take City when he gave the mystery pen or against West Ham with his atrocious miss.

Hope the layoff gives him some time to forget about it.

Yeah, I think they were really pulling for Charles to get a goal because he's come desperately close in a couple of games so far. That and going ahead 2-0 was a massive lift whereas obviously 1-0 wasn't going to hold.

Plus, it might've had to do with the quality of the goal. Well taken penalty, but the free kick was a beauty.

Yeah, I'm just going to go with illness.

Hope he stays healthy. Defense is much more consistent without him. He's coming up against some experienced wingers so I hope he's not dropped just because he gets turned around a couple times.

I don't think he was too different from the Everton game. He just didn't make the mistake of trying to dry hump the other striker.

Just watching it on the DVR and he was immense those last five minutes. It was going to be a repeat of Everton all over again, but he made some snap saves and came out for plenty of balls.

After a season of picking the ball out of his own net, witnessing first hand some shambolic defending, and corner after corner thrown at him, the fact that he's still kept his head up and saved the game at the end there speaks volumes of his character. I think Howard will stay on for the US for 2016, but after that, it's time for Guzan.

spuds have clearly never bothered with him or gave him a clear chance before, so why would they now?

 

i hope the lad does come good for us and we have the option to buy him cheap, we need some more width players

 

is he left or right sided?

Right sided. Likes playing on the left and coming in ala N'Zogbia though.

Thought he was more hesitant than I've seen him play for SJS. Then again, that's to be expected as his first PL game.

Yeah his touches are a bit off and I don't think he's as good of a passer as Westwood, but he certainly gets around and covers so much ground. He really can get forward very well too. Much, much better than Bannan.

I love you

I cried.

Thank **** for that. Really needed that one.

Bowery has played the left wing role once for us before. He wasn't half bad, just hope he doesn't forget his covering duties

It's the second ball I'm worried about. Nolan feeds off second ball and will potentially run amok

Our midfielders have to close down. Often they're just sitting around watching that 2nd ball. KEA was guilty of this for Everton's 2nd. Just a half hearted tackle attempt (albeit in the box).

I think, more than any of the other games, this is a must win. The other games in January were must wins just based on the fact that they were relegation rivals, but on the heels of a good showing in the 2nd half of Newcastle and a predominantly good showing until late capitulation vs Everton, this game will either push us over the hill or send us crashing into the depths of relegation.

Would still rather have KEA in the side than Bannan

Must win and I think I can finally see that silver lining in the clouds.

Would trot out the same team sans Bennett and add Lichaj. Bennett didn't offer anything going forward anyways vs Everton.

Something was clicking with the attack against Everton and I think it'll work again. They're so close, they just need a little confidence to get them out of the rut.

Guzan - 6

Thought he did good to command the box, but he always seems to let an easy one in. Really needs to do better in stopping those shots.

Lowton - 6

Great ball for the 3rd goal, but he's a bit hit or miss when it comes to tackling. Seems hesitant on when to press or back off and doesn't track players runs after they pass the ball well. Did well to burst forward and set up N'Zogbia and Westwood for the 2nd goal.

Vlaar - 6

Actually thought he did well most of the game. Cleaned up a lot of Clark's errors and did well for most of the game to keep Felliani in his back pocket, but just made a mistake on the last goal. Was on Fellaiani and everything, but just didn't jump for the ball

Clark - 4.5

Abysmal for most of the game. Constantly out muscled by Anichebe and really lacked a physical presence. Made some timely blocks and interceptions but will struggle against physical strikers for the most part.

Bennet - 4

Got turned inside out in the first half and seems devoid of any confidence. Didn't make as many mistakes in the 2nd half as they relied more heavily on Baines, but didn't even offer something significant going forward. Doesn't seem to link up well with Gabby or anyone else for that matter.

Westwood - 7

Thought he played great. Only midfielder that passes and then moves to receive the ball or at least draw some space away from other players. Always eager to get the ball and rarely loses it. Occasionally guilty of trying to release our attacking players early, but had the right idea. Also delivered quite the cross for the 2nd goal. Didn't get that many corners but they were dangerous and whipped in. Quite a good player.

KEA - 4.5

Passenger for most of the game. Made some interceptions and occasionally broke up the play, but not physical enough to really play that role. Can't think of any significant passes he made.

Weimann - 5

Missing for most of the game, but did a good job of tracking back Baines to keep him quiet when he wasn't on corner duty. Linked well with Lowton for the 3rd goal, but really should have done better with his chance.

Gabby - 6.5

Well taken goal and provided an outlet. Great link up play with N'Zogbia and good pass to set up Weimann for his chance as well. Limited at times when he was going down a wing as he shows he's not a natural winger, but definitely important as we move forward.

N'Zogbia - 5.5

Did great to take on 3 players and skip by them to set up Benteke for the first goal and always looked to link up play and get the ball moving forward but struggled in the 2nd half. Still lacking an end product but I think a goal is coming from him. Just needs some support.

Benteke - 7.5

Beastly again. Monstrous as he took on Heitinga and showed great burst and finishing for the first goal and just outmuscled the defender for his 2nd goal. Didn't really miss any sitters this game and did well to hold the ball up when it was lumped up to him. Special player.

Thought he came on okay, definitely a much more physical presence than our other midfielders. A couple dodgy touches and tackles but what do you expect

I know we're a bit upset now, but he kept Felliani in his back pocket all day. I hardly think he's shite and definitely isn't helped out by Clark being so terrible. Def could've done better on the corner but still think he's by far our most composed defender going forward

Clark getting bullied, wish he had some more intelligence like Vlaar.

Looking good going forward but lacking midfield support. Westwood and KEA are cautious to step up.

Hope Weimann doesn't get tired chasing Harry Potter across the pitch

Positive line up folks, new boys on the bench is probably good. Not going in rushed. Bannan not even making the squad, wow.

@AVFCOfficial: #AVFC: Guzan, Lowton, Vlaar [c], Clark, Bennett, Westwood, El Ahmadi, Agbonlahor, N’Zogbia, Weimann, Benteke. #AVFCLIVE

Subs: @AVFCOfficial: #AVFC subs: Given, Sylla, Bent, Holman, Bowery, Dawkins, Baker. #AVFCLIVE

4-2-3-1 or 4-4-2!

No Bannan!

Has anyone ever been to an MLS game some of those crowd shots of San Jose look quite lairy.

Shirts off, beers in hand, sunshine out, surging forward when they hit the goalsack.

looks like a right laugh!

Depends on where you area. Each region has their things. In Portland, they have a lumberjack that cuts a log whenever they score.

Strange places

Wrong sport, Simon

I've only seen about 3 or 4 SJ games that he's played in so take that with a grain of salt, but here's what I've seen from him in those few games.

The best comparison is a right footed Charles N'Zogbia.

He's not your typical winger that's going to get down the line and put a cross in. He likes cutting in and attacking the goal and he's not afraid to try and dribble past players. Yes, he's technically gifted and definitely likes a kick from distance, but you'll see a lot of the same running down blind alleys like you do with CNZ. He's also taller than he looks, he's not your prototypical tiny winger and can definitely take it down the middle and shrug off attempted tackles.

There could be some potential if you put him on the left (his preferred position) and N'Zogbia on the right and have both of them cutting in with fullbacks overlapping.

There's promise there and he certainly doesn't lack technique even though he's in the MLS, but there will undoubtedly be some CNZ style frustrations as well.

Signing looks to be imminent. I've only seen him a handful of times, hope he turns out good. Bring some of this with you please, Simon.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7q6sIRuJTg