Chez

CB and keeper seem to be the two positions the club struggles to develop players. That means we will continue to have to sign players from elsewhere. The Gunn and Simeu signings showed that there was nothing in the pipeline. Perhaps those positions need experience that games bring. Not necessary older players, just players that come through the leagues. Does signing experienced (ageing) pros ever work these days in the Prem? United have done well signing outstanding ageing talents like Henrik Larrson, and quite a few older keepers have done well in the Prem, but by and large, don't they now all tend to get injured and bleed you dry wages wise?

he has looked the same in all the games I've seen him this season. Sluggish. He looks like a 35 year old, not a 28 year old. In this day an age, the players tend to be mega fit. Mind you, even Stu took a few games to find his match sharpness after injury. Has Stephens had a major injury? Perhaps one game a month doesn't help.

It looked a pen in real time, and then when the action was slowed down, there was clearly leg-to-leg contact, so the VAR folks could not possibly object to the decision. It felt a bit `soft', the contact between the two wasn't huge, but it was down to Salisu lunging in, not Mike Dean making a poor decision, sadly.

Obviously if money was no object, we'd of gone out and brought a rolls royce of a CB in the summer, but to me, it felt like the club were more than happy with Bednerak and we thus bought another `Bednerak' (£5m longer term project) to slot in below, not above him. If we'd have had an extra £5m to spend I think we'd of done the same thing. By and large we don't look to `upgrade' and push existing players down the pecking order, we instead fill gaps left by out of contract/sales departures and/or buy `projects' that will eventually (some quicker than others) progress up the ladder and fill the gaps.

he looks a bit `heavy'. I don't know if I mean carrying timber, or just that he looks sluggish. In the past you could never point to a lack of sharpness or pace as being Stephens undoing, but in the recent games, for me, he looks slower. That lack of sharpness possibly contributed to him not getting his feet set in time to clear that ball away. I see a lack of zip in his passing too. I might be wrong, perhaps there is no change and he just now has more of a casual relaxed way of playing.

Daily Mail suggests Tyrick Mitchell will replace James. He must be bloody good to be selected ahead of KWP who is having a tremendous season. Every game he plays he seems to be more impressive. He has done well at left back previously, but yesterday it looked like it was his natural position. It makes such a difference when he plays. He makes things happens, beating men, drawing others to him and creating space. Without that, we play in front of teams. I was so impressed with his ball skills yesterday. Very surprised he is not the next right back on Gareth's list. Perhaps that is a good thing. Saints players (JWP apart) seem to depart not long after call ups.

big style. Really hoping things click, maybe next season, and we have Ings mark II on our hands. Looks a long way from it right now, but things can change.

I thought he was offered one and turned it down, hence McCarthy getting his?

crikey. that sounds bad. I can't see there's any coming back from that.

you are taking it a little literally. But its fair to sat that football managers in general often seem to make subs based on time (hour or 70 minutes) rather than the situation.

He's got as many ricks as Stephens in him, is lightweight in the air and positionally suspect. I don't see him improving us at all. We don't have the answer at the club, but I worry we won't actually be looking for one.

I am wondering if that performance will raise confidence and help with the league. We did OK, but what you do i bot boxes is critical, no matter the opponent.

Keep slating Broja for having the temerity to not get a chance and maybe everyone will forget the opportunities Armstrong fluffed.

to be fair, you don't have to beat 6 top flight sides or win consecutive games in the cup. The big sides certainly have dominated though. Leicester beat Chelsea last year, btu were a pretty damn good side. Everton beat United in 94.

yep, but the trouble with having forwards who's best attribute is work rate, is that the chances you create as a result of that work often are not taken. As was the case today. Running around a lot simply is not enough at this level. Ralph's tactic worked I guess. Adams was the one that missed the real chance.

poor strike for the 1 on 1. Not really unlucky, just poor striking. It wasn't straight forward though. You are right that the others weren't clear cut, but they were more than half chances, they were decent opportunities, but he just isnt striking the ball well. I like him, but he should not be starting games until he is firing them in right left and centre in training.

thats a far point, maybe there wouldn't have been the same press, but there were a couple of breakaways (which had nothing to do with the press) before Broja came on where he'd of been in his element. For me this game, with the opponent not sitting deep, was a better ft for Broja.

but for one obvious foul on KWP, Dean didn't really put a foot wrong. I think if you are going to say Salisu and Stephens fucked us, then you have to also say Adams too. Is his miss any worse than Salisu's error? Strikers get away with murder, defenders punished at this level and then get crucified on here.

pathetic is not the right word. sloppy or reckless maybe? he's left one on one, and makes a poor decision. Pathetic? Nah. Not having that.

Keown on the BBC went for KDB too. Thought he had a very average game myself.

Not weird. I enjoyed watching us too. We went for and gave our all. Critically, in contrast to recent opponents, City didn't press or get overly tight, left space for us on the break and as a consequence we look better That said, if we had played like that to a bottom half team, and lost, we'd all be crying. Lose to City and you can be a bit more forgiving. not going to forget the Adams chance though. Got to score that at this level. That kind if chance is practiced every day. Shoudl have scored.

it wasn't great, but he's left one on one, and these things happen when you get a little desperate.

we did have them on the ropes. We played really well. A coupe of errors at the back. These things happen. Stephens' one was worse than Salisu's. But for me, if we had had a couple of strikers in form, we might well have won that game. Strikers get al the love, all the glory but today they were fucking shite.

and that our strikers wasted several good chances.

maybe not break the bank, but I picked him ahead of the other three. He was the ideal player for this game. Poor decision by Ralph not to start him IMO.