shurlock

By the time we played Swansea (mid-September), Austin was already leading the line.

Can see the attractions of this but don’t think MP will chance it.

Interesting to see if MP does a City against Arsenal, even at home -or at least, employs a back three. Would opt for Davis over Hoj to partner Romeu and Lemina. Biggest questions are which two pick to from Redmond, Tadic and Boufal and who to start between Hoedt and Yoshida, assuming we play our normal formation (id go for Yoshida against Arsenal's movement and pace). The rest of the side picks itself.

Thanks for this - appears it was bit of a hatchet job.

Why did we hire him?

Didn't see it but seeing as Lord P is all over it like a rash in a Boscombe bedsit, I have my suspicions. If Boufal had an up and down game, why would Neville, the Richard Hammond of punditry, only be analysing the down parts? Did they also discuss and show the up parts beyond tokenistic throat-clearing like he can be a 'match winner on his day'?

Why Davis?

When Phil Neville agrees with you, you know you’re talking pony, pal.

Made one excellent save in the first half; the others were relatively comfortable parries.

It was Romeu with the pass.

Nope, pal. Just that’s he had a run of games and we haven’t had a real stock take of his progress. FWIW he also lost his marker/matchup a couple of times in the box, one that led to good save from Forster just before their opener and then Ake having a free header with virtually the final touch of the game. Pay attention.

Not sure it’s that - more the fact that the game has moved away from 4-4-2 towards a lone striker who’s expected to carry more of the offensive and defensive burden outside the box.

Impressions so far? Has has some good moments, some iffy ones, though doesn’t look anywhere near Virgil’s successor. We’re going to have spend big on another CB assuming VVD leaves in the next couple of windows (which perhaps was the plan).

West Ham 1up - from a corner which we failed to exploit.

Disagree. He overcomplicated things at times; but he was consistently there to receive the ball and carry it into the opponents final third.

Decent point, though the game was there for the taking. Much better after JWP went off and Redmond came on. Bertrand rightly MoTM.

Good play Bertrand.

King running rings around us.

Get a goal and can see them caving - they look shaky at the back.

Should have been 2 - excellent play.

Should have been 2 - excellent play.

No it was all on Hoedt. He’s very one-footed, coming inside, showing the ball. He got away with it a couple of times but it’s not the time or place to dîck around.

No it was Romeu.

Watford.

One time he beat his man, another time, he played an errant pass after dîckîng around in the corner. I’ve been nervous whenever he’s touched the ball as he wants too much time on it and keeps coming inside.