S-Clarke

He made some good saves, but also had the same issues as he did with us - coming for balls he shouldn't, getting caught out when playing sweeper keeper etc. He's got the ability, but I don't think he's ever been mentally strong enough.

I've been watching this forum afar over the last few weeks, as it's predictably been a bit of an 'out' fest. I used to look at Sunderland and even Villa and the frequency at which they changed their managers and thought it was crazy and not helping things, all of their managers had a very similar result. They were always struggling. I really do not want us to get into this horrific cycle by changing a manager every 6 months as it isn't right, when it gets to that stage you really need to look beyond the manager and what else is wrong. I really can't see the club removing MP and I don't believe they should. For me, the statements we tried to make in the summer have backfired on us. We've managed to keep our sought after players, but unfortunately they are seemingly polluting the air a little bit around the place. Sometimes it's not always the right thing to keep hold of players who seemingly want to go, sometimes you just need to accept it, take the money, move on and get in players who actually want to be part of it. Generally speaking, the reactions on Saturday were more from a culmination of the season as opposed to that game in isolation. In isolation we didn't play badly on Saturday, we've played a lot worse this season - but the frustration from previous weeks will just increase the negativity. We're currently a team without an identity, we're kind of lost in between styles. We're lacking a superstar in this team, they're all much of a muchness (Tadic/Redmond etc). Replacing Mane was always going to be impossible, but we certainly shouldn't have sold 60% of our goals in a single transfer window. For me, that's where our issues started. We have improved the midfield with Lemina and we have improved the defense with Hoedt, but we now need to see significant investment in the final third. It doesn't matter who the manager is, we have a poor mix of players in the final third and until we address that anyone would struggle to get this team balanced in the final third. So, I don't think he should go, I think it's very reactionary to say as much - he's only been here 5 mins. If we get caught in the loop of constantly changing managers without addressing the core issues, we're going to get ourselves in an irreversible slide.

To be fair, I'd second that. Really good quality. UM/SM was always ok for me, but the stream quality (especially the FHD sky sports streams) are defintley better. Doubt it'll last for long as I'm sure it's name will filter to the 'powers that be' - but worth signing up to as a straight replacement for UM for the time being.

Juventus.

Don't fret, it's only another few weeks until the next international break.

Easily my favorite player of the 'modern' era - given what he achieved for us in such a short space of time. I think it's safe to say he had his best years with us, glad that he acknowledges that as well. When we signed him that was what I'd call a Marquee signing given our status at the time and given that he could have gone to any higher division clubs. I remember when we signed him as well, all started to leak out on a Sunday evening if i remember right - then it was announced on the Monday or Tuesday of the following week. You will not get better value for £1m ever again. Hope he's welcomed back into football in some capacity when he's recharged.

I'm still confused as to why 'big' teams want Cedric. I think he's amazingly average, just like the rest of the team to be honest.

They look even worse than they did against Atalanta so far. They will likely win this though, would be amazed if they don't pull one out here.

Yeah, I remember the picture - but it was never to show his dissatisfaction at anything, it was just showing the training ground setup and ready to go.

You have just made that up.

Fair assessment. I think a lot of the score lines they've had so far have massively flattered them, Swansea being another at the start of the season. I think we're better defensively than either of those teams, but the worry I have is who is going to frighten Utd? Who is going to stretch them? That's my only concern in the offensive side. But defensively, we've been pretty spot on this year and I don't see that changing next week.

He's more than likely leaving them a legacy that will have them back in Administration before long. He never leaves clubs in a good state when he ups and go's. and if Brum start winning every week, then it just goes to show how inept he is at man management...

They still contrived to get thumped by Atalanta though.

They've wasted money on the same sort of player and failed to replace the one player they actually needed to replace. He's managed to create a very one-paced and confused team without an out and out striker. Their lack of pace is frightening. Problems.

No recall. It's a season long loan, of which Birmingham paid a fee to acquire him for the season. May be able to break that in January, but not sure.

Spurs still can't quite shake that Wembley hoodoo (in the league anyway). I think it will play as a disadvantage over the course of the season and they certainly won't gain as many points in my opinion. Thought they looked very poor and unsure of what to do today.

I think MP has handled the entire VVD situation superbly to be honest. Not an easy situation to manage, but he took him out of the equation when he felt he needed to, and is now slowly reintegrating him back - not throwing him straight in, but giving him a few minutes like that - away from home, is very good management of the situation. I think MP, like Koeman had with Morgan, has got a real handle on the player management side. Will expect to see him start next week.

Absolutely outstanding. I don't want to get too carried away as Palace just allowed him to do what he wanted to do. But even when they did pressure him, he used a trick to get out of a tight spot. You can usually tell a 'player' pretty early on in their club career, and this guy is a proper player. Touch, technique, pace, intelligence, strength. He ticks a lot of boxes.

That was a pretty perfect away day performance, wouldn't say it was a batten down the hatches job and come away with the win, we were in control for 70% of that game. Would have been a travesty had we not won it. Good call to play Long in my opinion, he did exactly what you'd expect him to do. Commit defenders, make them uncomfortable, force them into poor clearances etc. He's obviously not the most sparkling footballer, but he guarantees being a pest to the opposition and that's why he'd be in my side more often than not - his running and harrying will create openings and space for our more talented players. That is the role Davis should be playing, I hate seeing him as part of a central two - as an attacking midfielder as part of the 3 he is so reliable, good in possession, good in tight spots, and times his runs into the box well when he's advanced. As poor as the midfield was last weekend, it was a different animal this week - Lemina made the difference. I wouldn't say Romeu had one of his better games, he was a little sloppy, but Lemina just looks a level above everyone else - he was given acres of space to do what he wanted, but even when Palace did attempt to close him...he still got out of it very impressively. He seems to know when the keep it simple and when to try a switch, very intelligent player and full of energy and power - a proper box to box midfielder who is absolutely perfect for this league - exactly the type of player we needed in alongside Romeu last season. We've gone back to having a strong 'two' in front of the back 4 again, it will take a lot of effort for teams to play through us. Defensively we were sound, not troubled a great deal. Impressed by Hoedt, more so his distribution than any defensive masterclass - although as expected, he towers above most players in the air. His left peg is an absolute wand, some of his switches were brilliant, and having someone in the team with the ability to do that is going to enable us to get up the field so much quicker. I'd say our two big signings this summer - Lemina and Hoedt, have both lifted the level of the team in their respective positions. They've filled gaps we needed filling and enhanced our first team, not just the squad. Luckily it seems as if last weeks effort against Watford was a bad day at the office, as apart from last week I think we've been pretty solid this season. Still improvements to be made in the final third and the decision making from the likes of Redmond etc, but the base of this team is now very, very strong - if we can continue to base around that and build on that, we will do fine this year.

As per usual, he's left them with a load of overpaid dross. One good thing out of this though, our own Sam will actually get properly coached now.

He will always favor experience over youth though, it's always been a myth that he bloods youngsters.

Everton fans have had it with Koeman, seemingly. Not surprised after watching that 45 mins, unfathomable how bad they were.

3-0. This is an absolute hammering.

2-0 this is absolutely disastrous from Everton. They look absolutely rank.