CanadaSaint

I think those are the points. Ramirez is clearly very talented but he just doesn't fit Pochettino's style. He's more a focal-point player than the front prong of a high-energy midfield. He has got worse IMO because those around him have picked up MP's rquired style much better.

Lukaku is some player - he killed us up there and we never got a grip on him today. Can't see Chelsea leaving him out on loan next year.

Those would be my three. Coming from someone with your 'intellect' I'll take that as a compliment.

On the positive side of a very negative day, at least three players who shouldn't have a part in our future have made it even clearer that they shouldn't.

Pitiful, isn't it?

I hope this ref doesn't get stigmatized through three reds in his first game. I think he's done quite well - all the reds were warranted.

Clyne certainly hasn't been good but a lot of his challenges have come from trying to cover the screw-ups of others.

I think that's the last we'll see of Ramirez.

The good thing is that our best line up is dressed. The bad thing is that we need to use all three subs to get it on the pitch.

I think we look more effective with the Clyne/Puncheon duo on the right but MP doesn't seem to value it.

Couldn't agree more. And the loss of our defensive shape, covering for Shaw, seeps into midfield as well.

Maya's comfortable either side.

I can't for the life of me understand why MP picks Jos over Fonte.

I agree with that. I've mentioned before that the National Hockey League became so fast-moving that they introduced a second referee in 1999. It's far from perfect but it's much better than it was. I'd be sad to see the introduction of video review in football, and a second ref might delay the day when that needs to be seriously considered.

Jeez, there's a hell of a lot of competition. Friend, Mason, Atkinson and Foy are dire - and seemingly getting worse. I don't ever remember seeing it this bad.

I would be shocked if we didn't go to the continent for a quality central defender in the Summer. Pochettino will want someone capable of playing it out accurately and creatively from the back. IMO Lescott doesn't fit that bill much more than Jos.

Yes, they really do need to clarify it because it's becoming ludicrous. Nobody has any idea when it will be given because "the letter of the law" has been changed by interpretation directives. Newcastle were denied a penalty (or survived a penalty appeal?) last week for a more 'blatant' version of the one given against Fox when we played there. The "letter of the law" was that it had to be intentional. I can kind of see the point about not deliberately "expanding your body" but penalties are being given when players don't have a cat in hell's chance of getting out of the way, never mind seeking a deliberate advantage.

Yep, but as someone else said I think the teams did rather cancel eachother out. It was frustrating listening as well as watching, with Barry Horne showing his Welsh roots rather than balanced objectivity.

I don't have a big downer on Fox and he did okay today, but it's not just about his individual performance. It's also about the fact that IMO other players fall short of their normal performances because of the need to cover for his lack of physical and mental pace. We tend to be pulled out of our normal defensive and midfield shape when he's playing, and I dread us turning the ball over when he has pushed up. These issues are far less of a concern when Shaw is playing.

I'm amazed that MP didn't anticipate that - unless Shaw is not fully fit.

Thinking back over their last two "must win" fixtures, Fulham and Wigan, it seems clear that QPR's problems are between their ears. Their capacity for self-destruction has been almost unbelievable. A hundred million quid's worth of talent and about 50p's worth of brains.

That's how I saw it, too. NA had his team playing exactly how they needed to play against us. I wanted us to stay as tight as we could during those opening phases and then let our superior class and fitness take over. What is especially encouraging is that we can - and will - vary our tactics based on the opposition; we're not a high-press, one-trick pony. And exactly the same approach as today should serve us well next week, and against teams like Stoke and Sunderland. But we still need to take our chances better when they come along; we missed three relatively easy chances today. Against a better team that could have been very costly.

So, in some cases, we weren't imagining it! http://blog.emiratesstadium.info/archives/27818?

LOL - probably not. As I said earlier, I don't recall the standard of officiating ever being this low. But, as you've said, blowing free kick and penalty calls is one thing, but missing lethal tackles is something else. I'll probably get whacked for this but I'm wondering if it's time for football to join (ice) hockey in having two referees - essentially one for each half. The game these days is just moving too quickly for them.

He has that affect on every thread he contaminates.