shurlock

Lambert's hardly young.

Did we not create more chances than both Cardiff and Burnley? We did and they were enough for us to get something from both games. Yesterday's scoreline was more than a fair reflection. They looked competent in the first 20mins without really looking threatening. After the pen, things changed and we really should have got a 2nd before half-time -well before we found space to knock it around. Of course, you have to ask why teams tire - its not just down to superior fitness; but the way we set up and get teams chasing and closing us down. That's the advantage of attempting to play possession football, even when we're not playing well - and it shouldn't be a surprise that we get chances in games as time goes on.

Nonsense- you set the bar ridiculously high. Games are always going to be closely fought, especially away from home. There were points at Burnley in particular when we struggled but the key fact is that in none of the three games were we truly stretched or had our backs to the wall and Kelvin was our man of the match. Indeed, we created the better chances in each game and by some margin. When you create more than the opposition, you generally expect to get something from the game. That's quality not fitness, relentlessness or luck. If anything, 4 points from 9 is slightly disappointing- at the very least, we should not have lost to Cardiff. While there is plenty of scope for improvement (this is not news - we knew as early as the Millwall game things things will be tough this seasons), I'd say the champagne football from other games as well as two seasons of turning up, going through the motions and winning comfortably in L1 have gone to your head a bit and you both underestimate and overestimate what it takes to win a championship game of football.

Guly and Lambert only a 6? Thought they linked up well: Lambert won most of his headers and held up play well, albeit coming off the wing and Guly's movement as well as his tracking back and finish for the goal were excellent. Fox a 8? as good as Richardson? He had a decent game; but the only save Kelvin had to make was from Fox's mistake. Could have quite easily got their tails up. Holmes a 8 for cameo appearance when the game was already done and dusted?

Like this team - also allows De Ridder and Guly to switch places if necessary. Chaplow's also close to justifying a start IMO.

Agree - can't be too didactic about these things. Nothing is set in stone. For instance, Fox's defensive play might just be down to a lack of understanding which will be ironed with greater familiarity of our set-up and team mates. You cannot make a championship team of the year voted by your fellow pros if you're only good at going forward.

I thought Guly worked his socks off defensively against Cardiff

Harding > Fox = marking and tackling Fox > Harding = delivery Fox > Harding = possession and composure Harding > Fox = overlapping with Lallana/hitting the byline

You're more a sadiq khan man, i can tell

I agree playing from the back can be very effective but its a case of mixing it up - I think it works better in the second half against teams as they tire and don't press as hard (as per Leicester). It also depends on how the midfield is performing - its easier to do when we are dominating the middle or have some pace in the team and as a result the opposition is backing off. Neither yesterday or at Burnley did we truly establish a foothold and the opposition felt confident pressing us higher up the pitch. In Nige's own words, we have to establish the right to play - and we haven't quite done that enough in recent games.

Just got back after a night in Cardiff. Maybe its the exhaustion but I found our performance v.poor and quite concerning at times. We are going to come up against far better teams on the road than the Cardiff side that was patched up and put out last night. They were very workmanlike but had little invention or pace and were genuinely there for the taking. Their second goal summed it up - scored with effectively 10 men coming just as McNaughton was hobbling back onto the pitch (and substituted shortly thereafter). Unlike those who want to see the ball hoofed up the pitch, I see the case for playing it out for the back but there's a time and place for it. Ideally, it should be used (i) in the 2nd half when the opposition is beginning to tire and unlikely to gamble or press as aggressively and (ii) when we have a foothold in the game and opposing midfielders are reluctant to commit knowing we can hurt and exploit the space. By contrast, doing it all the time robs it of the element of surprise while nothing is more likely to wake up a crowd and hit the panic buttons than being robbed in a dangerous area. I like building from the back but not when its executed as naively as we've recently done it. Fine we strung some passes around but it was all in front of them - an emerging pattern to our play. Yes we opened up them up with some intricate passing -Morgan's chance being the main example. But we created far more by playing a bit direct and hitting Lambert (that's why BT would be such a good addition) and injecting a bit of pace through De Ridder who was willing to commit players, pushing them to defend deeper and opening up space for others. It speaks volumes that up to De Ridder's introduction, it was a defender, Richardson (who had another excellent game) who was only really doing that. De Ridder should start Saturday - and I would like to see Chaplow play in midfield with Cork. After his sending off at Barnsley, he has looked excellent every time he has featured - both in terms of his movement and his pressing (so much of our good early play relied on hunting in packs when not in possession; but that aspect of our game is perhaps harder to sustain as the games pile up and we play away). Otherwise he could do a job on the right in the same way Marsden did on the left with Bridge. Chaplow and Richardson have a very good understanding. Despite conceding two goals and the insistence to play from the back, I think our defence was pretty comfortable. Finally, so much of our play depends on Lallana but has been well shackled in the last two games - he improved in the 2nd half at Burnley as he was given a more central role and even greater licence to roam. Arguably, he's easier to contain if he's drifting off the left than if genuinely playing in the hole and can go anywhere.

I don't think the attitude would be a problem - I think Beatts has been and done his superstar thing, wised up and is now just desperate to be involved somewhere for one last adventure. Coming back to the club that gave him his big break and play a role in a promotion challenge would be such a sweet deal that he would be permanently eating out of our hand with gratitude. So far from being a disruption, I think would be a positive force in the dressing room -he's an exuberant, vocal character and always stands up to be counted - a great character to have as the season progresses and we invariably hit sticky patches. Of course, all this assumes he's match fit - but if he is, I think he still has something to offer. We need somebody who can lead the line, go direct, rough up defenders (and bury easy headers). My only reservation is the signal it gives Barney - its a shame he has been injured and not been able to prove himself at this level (it would matter less if Beatts was a different player; but there are similarities between the two).

Watched Malky Mackay's interview on their site - v.refreshing and impressive. Wish Nige gave a few more interviews like that. Try to catch it if you can.

Agreed a petulant cock.

Totally unprofessional from Tevez, petulant argie c*ck -blames lies with him, not Mancini (however much it pains me to say so)

Cant remember a better night than this for ages. All the top teams at home in virtual bankers.

Ipswich 1 up. lovely

Am a big fan of Connolly; but I agree in a few games he's looked a tad lightweight - and we've lacked penetration. I thinks its exposed even more as we have lots of attacking players who like to drop into deeper positions.

Harding gets forward - if anything, im surprised that Fox doesn't the attack the space in front of him more, though he obviously delivers a better ball. I wouldn't be opposed to seeing both Harding and Fox play together (Fox has featured as a winger for previous clubs), especially where we have to go away and do a job.

Good win for Ravens, though against a very poor Rams side. Torrey Smith's introduction (who had been slated in preseason) was nothing short of sensational- still raw but a proper speed merchant while Ray Rice was showing what damage he can do in space and Flacco looked quite comfortable moving out of the pocket, even without the usual support in the O line. Much happier with the pass rushing/blitzing -more aggressive than last season and what the Ravens are about. The game against the Jets will be a tougher test - there are still question marks over the secondary/cornerbacks as the Tennessee game highlighted and ts early days for a new side that hasn't plenty of time to gel.

Looked pretty poor on Saturday though he carried on trying to the end. In his defence, Burnley are hardly creating lots of chances, though the contrast with Austin was pretty striking. V.different players but Austin looked sharper and more dangerous than Rodriguez. I can see us spending £5m for a striker in the NPC, though its a gamble and whether Rodriguez is the right man is unclear. For a young player and given the rate of inflation in the transfer market, £5m might seem pretty cheap in a few years time; but that assumes he has and will realise his potential. He had one very good season; but he hasn't come close to repeating it this season. Now he's been identified a threat, he's being marked and marshaled more closely. Its no wonder he's struggling; but a £5m rated player IMO should be able to handle that greater attention/coverage. We need pace, someone who can push opposing defenses back rather than another target/link up man (which is how I categorise Rodriguez). Yes, it puts more pressure on Lambert to maintain his form and not get injured; but at least we have that option (and the likes of Barney are good at holding up the ball). As for pacier or powerful options, we only have De Ridder who's yet to start a league game and Forte who's clearly not a striker (I haven't totally written him - but like the Scunny fans, I think that if he has a role to play, its as a winger). That's not enough. Finally, I don't buy the guff about meeting the costs of the selling club - ultimately there is an objective market value which will rein in ludicrous or opportunistic valuations based on appeals that a player is a fan's favourite or the club's only hope of promotion or simply irreplaceable. The market price might be grossly inflated but at least its relatively transparent. Some clubs will be able to name their price; but I think thats only possible when a player doesn't want to leave (and usually they do). That's what makes Oxo such a tidy bit of business.

Of course, one reason that FBs are drawn to a CB is that they're worried about getting beaten/skinned for pace in a 1 on 1 if they go up close. Fox has got a great cross/delivery -some of his inswingers from corners yesterday were unplayable while even Lambert deferred to him last week with a free-kick in a shooting position - that spoke volumes. But I would like him to bring the ball up further, commit his man and get to the line. That's something that Harding and even Dickson are willing to do on a frequent basis (though I guess, it matters less if, like Fox, you can deliver the ball well, even from deep positions).

KD Frazer Jos Fonte Fox Chaplow Hammond Cork Lallana Guly Lambert Don't know if its a 4-4-2 or a 4-3-3/4-5-1 or or what. But would play Guly upfront with lambert as per last season (when he went on his scoring run),then allow him and Adam to float around as they have done with great effect this season; Chaplow steps in to give the midfield a bit more protection (as well as the ability to get forward thst a midfield of Cork/Schneiderlin/Deano might not). Would rest Connolly - has lacked a bit of penetration recently; but his intelligent running would be a perfect option from the bench as Cardiff tire and the game opens up. De Ridder instead of Guly might be a gamble too far at this stage; but would look to bring him on sooner rather than later if we're short of pace (which stood out yesterday).

Difficult to make sense of the game - didn't think we deserved to lose the game; but didn't think we did enough over the whole game to win it, though ultimately we had the clearest opportunities. The first 45 mins were very hard going as was the beginning of the 2nd half. For an area that's been so crucial to everything we do, our central midfield was threadbare today. Burnley were able to ping diagonal balls into the central midfield at will; they were first to the majority of second balls; while Cork and Hammond didn't establish any kind of foothold to offer Lallana and Guly the ball in more advanced positions. That Hammond was substituted did not surprise me - nor is it surprising that their MOTM was Bartley, a CM who was here, there and f**king everywhere. Either way, it was a shock to the system to see the centre of midfield so overrun. I thought Richardson and Jos had very good games. Richardson got up and down really well and delivered a hell of a ball for Lambert who hit the bar. Jos was probably my MOTM, though I wish he was a bit meaner. For all his good play, he should not have let ROdriguez win the header that led to their goal. Fonte, by contrast, had an iffier game, though he became more assured in the 2nd half. KD also didn't particularly help by not communicating with the defence. The real question mark is Fox. Thought he rode the crowd pretty well; but with Harding breathing down his neck, its a hard call who should be starting. Defensively Fox tends to position himself too close to the CBs for my liking whereas I like Harding's willingness to play man-to-man with the opposing attacker. Going forward, I thought Fox was slightly reluctant to attack the space in front of him, hitting balls from quite deep. By contrast, Harding is always willing to get to the line. But where Fox is head and shoulders above Harding is his delivery - some of the balls delivered from corners and setpieces and crossing positions (when he did get further up the pitch) were simply unplayable and are alone worth goals and points. Thought NA's substitutions were good but only to a point. Chaplow steeled things up in midfield; while Schneiderlin allowed us to switch and stretch play quicker. Things opened up in the 2nd half but its worth bearing in mind that they played close to a full strength team in the cup and were pushed to the final minute (so I wouldn't attribute things just to our fitness as some of the posters above mention). More surprising is that De Ridder didn't come on. On a very general level, I thought we flattered Burnley and did not sufficiently exploit their weaknesses. A common feature of Eddie Howe's teams is the tendency for full backs to play as virtual wing backs. It put us under pressure; but it also meant there were acres of space behind them - when we got runners behind the FB notably through Richardson and Chaplow, we were pretty lively. But we didn't do it nearly enough. The game was crying out for some pace - and De Ridder might have offered it. And even if De Ridder isn't the right man yet, we still need pace. Lack of pace also made it easy for the back four to play a high line and contain the likes of Connolly and Lallana who cannot be expected to work eye of a needle openings every week in the heat of a frenetic away game. In the end, we got back into the game by singling out their RB and hitting diagonal long balls to Lambert on that side- the only problem is that he should have been finishing, not initiating such moves as Lallana's tame headers from very good positions showed. It was hardly total football; but showed that NA was happy to mix things up and opt for pragmatism; the return of Barney will only help us in this respect. All in all, can't complain about today - we could have won it in the final minute, though its hard to see how Lallana could have struck the ball cleaner with the defender pulling on his shirt; and if he had justifiably gone down its unlikely that the ref would have rewarded anything but a yellow card. Just as cynical was Burnley's attempt to work a quick free kick while half the team had gone for refreshments only to fluff it, resulting in a decent possible break only for one of their players to go down. On today's performance, Rodriguez didn't justify the hype or the £5m+ valuation - apart from a few tidy touches (largely low-risk stuff), he was well marshaled and never really threatened KD. Thought the ref was OK - could have quite easily brandished the cards out and stopped play (as players went down)- but allowed the game to flow. Our lot was OK; but like the performance was pretty subdued. Anyway a point is a point and will be more than happy for the same against Cardiff.

Difficult to make sense of the game - didn't think we deserved to lose the game; but didn't think we did enough over the whole game to win it, though ultimately we had the clearest opportunities. The first 45 mins were very hard going as was the beginning of the 2nd half. For an area that's been so crucial to everything we do, our central midfield was threadbare today. Burnley were able to ping diagonal balls into the central midfield at will; they were first to most second balls; while Cork and Hammond didn't establish any kind of foothold to offer Lallana and Guly the ball in more advanced positions. That Hammond was substituted did not surprise me - nor is it surprising that their MOTM was Bartley, a CM who was here, there and f**king everywhere. Either way, it was a shock to the system to see the centre of midfield so overrun. I thought Richardson and Jos had very good games. Richardson got up and down really well and delivered a hell of a ball for Lambert who hit the bar. Jos was probably my MOTM, though I wish he was a bit meaner. For all his good play, he should not have let ROdriguez win the header that led to their goal. Fonte, by contrast, had an iffier game, though he became more assured in the 2nd half. KD also didn't particularly help by not communicating with the defence. The real question mark is Fox. Thought he rode the crowd pretty well; but with Harding breathing down his neck, its a hard call who should be starting. Defensively Fox tends to position himself too close to the CBs for my liking whereas I like Harding's willingness to play man-to-man with the opposing attacker. Going forward, I thought Fox was slightly reluctant to attack the space in front of him, hitting balls from quite deep. By contrast, Harding is always willing to get to the line. But where Fox is head and shoulders above Harding is his delivery - some of the balls delivered from corners and setpieces and crossing positions (when he did get further up the pitch) were simply unplayable and are alone worth goals and points. Thought NA's substitutions were good but only to a point. Chaplow steeled things up in midfield; while Schneiderlin allowed us to switch and stretch play quicker. Things opened up in the 2nd half but its worth bearing in mind that they played close to a full strength team in the cup and were pushed to the final minute (so I wouldn't attribute things just to our fitness as some of the posters above mention). More surprising is that De Ridder didn't come on. On a very general level, I thought we flattered Burnley and did not sufficiently exploit their weaknesses. A common feature of Eddie Howe's teams is the tendency for full backs to play as virtual wing backs. It put us under pressure; but it also meant there were acres of space behind them - when we got runners behind the FB notably through Richardson and Chaplow, we were pretty lively. But we didn't do it nearly enough. The game was crying out for some pace - and De Ridder might have offered it. And even if De Ridder isn't the right man yet, we still need pace. Lack of pace also made it easy for the back four to play a high line and contain the likes of Connolly and Lallana who cannot be expected to work eye of a needle openings every week in the heat of a frenetic away game. In the end, we got back into the game by singling out their RB and hitting diagonal long balls to Lambert on that side- the only problem is that he should have been finishing, not initiating such moves as Lallana's tame headers from very good positions showed. It was hardly total football; but showed that NA was happy to mix things up and opt for pragmatism; the return of Barney will only help us in this respect. All in all, can't complain about today - we could have won it in the final minute, though its hard to see how Lallana could have struck the ball cleaner with the defender pulling on his shirt; and if he had justifiably gone down its unlikely that the ref would have rewarded anything but a yellow card. Just as cynical was Burnley's attempt to work a quick free kick while half the team had gone for refreshments only to fluff it, resulting in a decent possible break only for one of their players to go down. On today's performance, Rodriguez didn't justify the hype or the £5m+ valuation - apart from a few tidy touches (largely low-risk stuff), he was well marshaled and never really threatened KD. Thought the ref was OK - could have quite easily brandished the cards out and stopped play (as players went down)- but allowed the game to flow. Our lot was OK; but like the performance was pretty subdued. Anyway a point is a point and will be more than happy for the same against Cardiff