Chez

tough position. Benteke to mark one week,Walcott the next. And they need to be able to play out from the back.

how did we get away with Benteke not scoring the header from four yards out? I guess we earned that bit of luck today. Plenty of occasions it has gone the other way for us. Brilliant win. Just like last year it was slightly unexpected. Zaha injury helped...a lot, but we still had to play well and create chances. Very happy indeed. Proper spring in my step after that. I fear the worse for us this season, so every goal, every point and every win is incredibly precious. Early points will boost confidence and that can snowball into a decent season. Well, thats what I hope anyway. COYS.

Perhaps Hughes wants big (tall) centre backs that win more headers. He seemed to prioritise that facet of the game at Stoke

I don't understand why Gabi doesn't start. Looked great pre season, back to his sharpest and with confidence too. What am I missing?

post of the day for me

that's fair, but in a mediocre side that doesn't create much can we afford to carry a goalhanger? Great player to bring on when we are pressing for a goal, but we could do with a little more movement and pace.

good post. My only fear is whether we are good enough and confident enough to attack the better sides. Sitting back wont work, so maybe its a no brainer

did we play four at the back at all during preseason?

why on earth does Gabbi not start ahead if Austin?

couldn't quite tell if he had any pace whatsoever?

mucm much better

Teams that are utter **** as we were last season don't tend to turn it around in a summer. My expectations were so low coming into the season, but even I had hoped we'd snap at the heals of Burnley and at least look solid. We are nothing like that and it goes without saying that we give the ball away cheaply and offer little threat. A lot of improvement needed in the second half and beyond.

how are we going to do that? Redmond does not create all that much, Armstrong is a Davis type, busy but not someone that beats a man and Austin is a tap in merchant?

getting murdered still at set pieces. anyone see any difference from last season at all? Hiding poor CBs by using three and as a result sacrificing numbers in midfield and attacking threat. Why by a CB and not play 4 at the back?

slow starts but not conceding is OK. We usally get tired though due to chasing down lost possession.

good stuff again. Nice cross from Armstrong who has been bright

holding his position perhaps as seen us cut apart at the back

better play from Saints gong forward. No lack of effort.

Austin falls over well. Only thing that is releaving the pressure

we are using so much energy try to get the ball back after giving it away. Got to get more control of the game in midfield.

torn to bits again. WTF.

great header for Lemina. Nice to see us winning a few headers before that too. Better.

handy cork getting an early yellow

defence ripped apart again...could be two down.

pretty poor start. giving the ball away a lot.