CanadaSaint

At some point the club needs to draw a line in the sand. It's not just about the latest targeted player but about the attitude of the rest of the squad - and even players we haven't signed yet. If you get the reputation of being a "stepping stone club", that's exactly what you become in the eyes of present and future players and their agents. Having said that, I love the positives that Mané brings but I think his "fart in a thunderstorm" style screws us up tactically as often as it helps us. I want to see that line drawn - and soon, but silly money for Mané might not be as bad a thing as it seems at first blush. As long as "The Black Box" knows exactly what we need to do next, if he goes. There I have my doubts.

So, does Clyne's inability to defend against high balls slung to the far post make him a bad defender? No, it makes this an area of weakness in his game that has to be addressed with tactical coverage - something that was missing in a lot of places on Saturday. All players have weaknesses - not that losing out in a physical battle with Lukaku is indicative of a weakness. This is a team game, and we came up short on that front at the weekend ("the Schneiderlin gap") - leaving quite a few players over-exposed. That will be addressed, and most of the players who had problems at the weekend will look much better.

But isn't that exactly what you were saying last year after we'd lost Lallana, Lambert, Lovren and Chambers? It's not just about players but about how they dovetail and how they are used tactically. The team can be better than the sum of its parts. Perhaps that's why those players, as good as they were for us, haven't set their new worlds alight. Give it a chance before melting, Roger. And two games - with an open window - isn't a chance.

How do you know we haven't got it dead right this summer? After all, we have the same number of points as we had this time last year. FWIW I think we have a better squad, and possibly a better first choice starting line up (assuming the arrival of a quality CB), with more tactical options, than we had this time last year.

I'm glad he's all over the corner kick issue and, based on what we know of him, I'm sure he's also had a look in the mirror about his last two line-ups - judging by his Romeu comments.

That's what I think he'll do. Clasie might be a Davis replacement rather than a Schneiderlin replacement. I see plenty of reason for optimism about the season, regardless of the first two games.

Agree with most of that but he might have his eye on playing Clasie a bit farther forward due to his passing skills (needed up front) and smaller physical stature (could be problematic in front of the back four).

Sure, people are talking about his poor selection but he's not being subjected to the same OTT vitriol as half of the team and a Board that has done a fantastic job for us. Hopefully we have learned our lessons because that's the second week in a row that we've tried a trick that's not going to work with the players we have. It's also the second week in a row that we've been ripped apart on counters from underhit Stephen Davis corners.

It's not rubbish at all. Compared to some of the players, Koeman is being very gently treated on here tonight. I love the guy but he dropped a massive clanger today, and that was the cause of today's sh*t-show. He had a bit of an excuse last week (I'm sure he was fully consulted about the starting line up at Newcastle), but not today. He'd had a chance to learn the lesson from last week, and he had the role-player we needed in order to play the way we have to play. He should have started him. Now we've got the usual suspects, including the urine-soaked one from Austria, ignoring that fact, crying about want-away players, and opting to berate the Board and everyone bar those who picked the team. By the time we learn the lessons of the last two games, get our injured players back, and sign VvD (or whoever), we'll be fine. The other results this season are already all over the place.

There's not much point in getting carried away and reaching silly OTT conclusions about individual players. The loss of Schneiderlin is being felt all through the team, but at least we've acted to sign a reasonably like-for-like player, even if he may not be of Morgan's quality. If Romeu had started today, which IMO he should have, most of the players currently being slated would have played better IMO. Yoshida would have had more time to cover Targett, Wanyama and Davis could have played the roles they played last year, the central defensive two would have enjoyed more protection, we'd have bought the ball out from the back more efficiently, and things would have looked better up front. As I said earlier, the game was lost with the starting line up, and - when I saw Lukaku and Kone in their starting line up, Romeu on our bench, and a rather disrespectful (to Everton) front four - I had a nasty feeling it might be a long afternoon. Sure, some players performed poorly but I think that was down to the starting line up rather than their own ability level. It troubles me that Davis continues to underhit corners even though they have now led to at least four lethal counter attacks in the last two games. Everton also deserve some credit for their skill, speed, movement and mobility. Nice side. When our injured players return, and VvD (hopefully) joins us, I think we'll be fine - at least as good as last year.

If we want to defend the counter, the best place to start is by not giving it to them. Davis keeps under-hitting corners. He did it twice last week and at least twice this week (Targett booking, goal) - with most of our defence in their box. Someone obviously had a word in his ear because he then started over-hitting them. Perhaps he shouldn't be taking them.

Lost in the starting line up IMO. It didn't work last week and we dodged a bullet, and it sure as hell didn't work this week and the bullet hit us right between the eyes. Romeu fills a role we MUST have someone performing in our team, or else both defence and midfield go to hell. He should have started regardless of any unfamiliarity. We've got the personnel (or will have, when/if VvD arrives) but we have to get them fit and play them in the right formation. Huge Koeman clanger for me.

Not just two games in a row but almost twice today. Targett's booking - before the goal - came after Davis failed to clear the front defender with his corner. Yet again. The Romeu introduction shows that RK realizes he got it wrong.

Yep, we dodged a bullet with last week's set up but not this week. I really thought Romeu would start - he may be unfamiliar with us but he plays a role that's absolutely vital to us and the way we play, especially the way we defend. For that second, Yoshida felt the need to push up to make (and miss) the tackle that Schneiderlin made countless times every week.

Was that Davis's right wing corner? If so, it's the third time in two games (one at Newcastle, two today) that he's failed to clear a front man, and ended up giving the opposition a dangerous counter.

Wrong thread

Jeez, if criteria like that make their way into pro sports, the PL will be down to five-a-side, NFL football will be played without quarterbacks, and NBA basketball is completely finished. A large amount of nooky always has been, is, and always will be one of the unofficial perks.

Art, he wasn't "clobbered" - he suffered a hamstring strain, which is far from unusual at this end of the season. This might provide some reassurance about his durability: http://www.transfermarkt.com/jordy-clasie/verletzungen/spieler/104223

Fair comment, but there's a balance to be struck between paying for the (possible) excesses of the past, investing in the longer-term future, and being as strong as we can be in the present - all while remaining sustainable and compliant with FFP. FWIW I think the Board are doing a cracking job, and - regardless of whether Katharina, Ralph and Koeman stay for the longer term - I believe that we are better-placed than the Club has been at any time in its history, and much better placed than most of our peers. To fault people who have done that for us would be churlish in the extreme. But I'm also a fan, and I think we're very close to rock-solid Top 6 status - perhaps two very good players away. It seems from other threads that those two players could soon be on their way, and I hope we'll be willing and able to pay what it (reasonably) takes to get them here.

I'm not agreeing with the OP but there is a point in there which has been lost in the rather hysterical reaction. Most clubs with significant aspirations have a transfer budget over and above break-even on the ins and out of last season's squad. The television money funds it - and the associated increases in the wage budget. Unless I'm mistaken, in the past two seasons we haven't spent any money above the net on player ins and outs, which would mean that we don't have such an "aspiration budget" - or at least haven't used it yet. I like our squad, too, but I'd like it a hell of a lot more with two or more quality acquisitions. We were so close to Top 6 status last year, or even Top 5, and those additional acquisitions could make the difference between getting there this year or falling away to 8-10 - especially in a Europa season, and especially with some of our peer clubs being quite active. And I'm not talking about relinquishing our commitment to self-sustainability. I really like that. Hopefully those players will arrive in the next few weeks.

Just as we would expect, at least for VvD - it can all be negotiated and agreed in advance of the point at which the selling club is ready to sell. The tantalizing part is the plural.

Probably, but the two of us are the most-linked - for good reason. It's a little surprising to me that Newcastle aren't linked more, but they have Ashley running the show. Mind you, he's linked to Rangers, which probably wouldn't go in his favour.

It rather looks that way, what with some surprisingly direct comments from inside the club (Fonte, Koemans), but the outcome will provide important insight. Everton are in our peer group (5-10) and we both badly need this kind of player - well, Everton will if Stones goes. Both our seasons could hinge on it. Whether he comes to us or goes to Everton, it will make a fairly clear statement about our respective ambitions - unless, of course, we have someone of similar calibre lined up.

There's a bipolarity about Mané that has you on the edge of your seat, one way or the other. In the space of a minute he can go from a headless, possession-surrendering chicken lacking in concentration and awareness to one of the most electrifying, unplayable players in the PL. Weird game today. On the one hand I'm happy with the point because we over-exposed our back four, but on the other hand we had way more clear-cut chances than Newcastle and should have won by two or more.

There's no clear tactical shield in front of the back four, just midfielders reacting to situations - often a little too late. If we don't address that, and it means a substitution, our defence will continue to struggle. I don't think they had JayRod pegged for the full ninety, so it might be him.