Saint Garrett

I know. But it's more the manor of the performances rather than the overall results that worry me. And plus we're had a relatively easy first four games....if we lose to Liverpool and fail to beat Palace then I would start to worry about relegation - and the squad we have and money spent, we shouldn't be down there.

Do agree with you, but I'm just not sure he's £12.5m worth of talent!

I'm surprised how much stick he's getting on here tbh. Didn't think he was that bad yesterday - not any worse than he has been for the last 12 months. Fact is he is one of our only attacking players with a bit of pace so he needs to play to give us an outlet. Also he closes down a lot better than any of our other players.

Yeah, I also missed the Sunderland game as I was on holiday. He was brilliant vs West Brom, but was awful at Norwich and wasn't great yesterday. At £5/6m he is a good signing, but £12.5m.....seems that we've been ripped off a bit. Hopefully he can improve though.

The pressing game is a tough one. If we had played the high intensity pressing game yesterday, I think we would have conceded. It simply doesn't work when a team is either switching the ball a lot, or pumping long balls over the press. I fully expect to see it when we play the top 6 and the other passing teams in the division. Cork and Puncheon were also a big part of this last season, and they're no longer in the side. Wanyama doesn't look like he's got it in him to play like that - I'm very unconvinced by him.

I thought we'd hit the ground running, especially after the win at WBA, and set us up for a good season challenging for 7th along with Everton, Swansea, and whoever else. (Think the top 6 is too far ahead at the moment) I don't expect us to be involved in a relegation fight though - recent performances haven't been good enough. Having seen us 3 times this season, (WBA, Norwich and WHU yesterday), I think we're still a way off Everton and Swansea, and expect us to be upper bottom half come May. Don't understand the certain posters who come on here to basically say everything is wrong, the club is doing things in the wrong way, our players and the rest of the club is all sh!t. I have nothing against the positive people on here though. I think the majority of people can see we have great potential, but that alone doesn't get you anywhere. And it is this next step that we need to work on.

Go to the Ship and Mitre, it's a quality pub - went there for both Everton and Liverpool games last season.

Not now they have Fellaini, no.

I don't think I ever said Lambert is a must play for us - although there is nothing wrong with being really proud of him for getting his England apps and goals. Certain games we're going to need to play on the counter, and I don't think Lambert suits this.

Boruc Clyne Fonte Lovren Shaw -------Wanyama-------- ----Morgan--Cork------- J-Rod-------------Lallana --------Osvaldo--------- Don't think Rickie would be happy if he gets dropped for Anfield though. Would go 3 in the middle to stifle Liverpool's threat.

We played 424 yesterday.

Yeah fair enough, I didn't notice Lambert out there in real time! Should have just played it simple into Rickie

That flick through ball in the first half behind is other leg was immense from Osvaldo. Shame noone else read it.

I don't expect us to be top 6, but I'd expect us to not be involved in a relegation scrap this year. We shouldn't be really, we've spent near on £70m in 2 years! We sacrificed a decent young manager and brought in a promising foreign coach. Chelsea, City and Liverpool wins were absolutely brilliant, but there has also been some results which weren't great last season under MP, and we don't seem to be a much better side this year so far. Yes it's only a couple of games, but with the team we have I'd expect us to get more than 4 points out of WBA, Sunderland, Norwich and West Ham. Lose at Liverpool and suddenly the Palace is becoming a must win game.

Lambert is "capable" of playing there, but Gaston gives us that little bit of pace and drive at defenders, Rickie is never going to pick the ball out 40 yards out and run at the defence is he.

Also agree. I know WHU are a toss opposition and they wouldn't cause us much problems, but we still needed to drive the midfield today. Whatever happened to "playing in between the lines" and "playing from positions not in them". Far too static today and that's just the way that 442 is. It's a borefest which doesn't allow us to work our fluidity into the game, they just all went up front.

Agree.

2 up front does not work in this league. Can't give midfield away.

Osvaldo to start vs Liverpool for me. Would play 4321. Boruc Clyne Fonte Lovren Shaw Wanyama cork Morgan Lallana-------------JRod ----------Osvaldo-------

I didn't see Sunderland game, but was at both Norwich and WBA and then today too. We're not clicking at the money. Goals worry me, and before today chances were too, But we did have 15 attempts on goal today so hopefully it'll come. However you've got to question some of the sub decisions made by Pochettino. I think we are a good side under MP, but I'm not sure we've moved on as much as we should have under him. Big test next week, as it's against the first top side. Hopefully we see some higher tempo an lot more obvious pressing from us. His pressing tactic he's oh so renowned for seems to have gone missing this season.

West 'ammmmm weren't it you maaagggg

Is Steven Davis the missing link? Played a lot towards the end of last season, and is good link between midfield and wide man, keeps our play ticking over? Thought Ramirez should have come on with about half hour to go, but on came JWP. Almost feels that MP has been told that 4 academy players must play every game. (Lallana, JWP, Chambers, Shaw)

Yeah I was row Y, it was behind me, I didn know what happened though but there was 3 lads asking for the other guy to go outside. No idea what happened though.

Yeah, heard that one from the cockney clowns.

He looked frustrated, quite a few times he just stood there hands on hips. That ball through behind his other leg was class, shame noone read it !