Smirking_Saint

Thought that, but our last billy big ******** is still tossing it off in italy

There are very much differing returns from ACL injuries, mentally they mess you up and it takes a while to get over them and generally they tend to cause you to lose a yard or so of pace. It all depends on the level of rehab, at top level you would expect him to get the best advice so its more likely that his return will show minimal reductions in his pre injury quality however there is always a chance it effects you. Holden, gazza, nistlerooy, bullard, all of which it caused adverse affects

Slattery is excellent, though he nearly went to chelsea, surprised he is still there. Great talent that boy, as well as Sims

Im under no illusion of that

Looked zonal to me but in reality forster should have claimed it. You are correct, had we finished more clinically it wouldnt have mattered

This But then thats what a striker of RVP/Rooney or Falcaos calibre gets you. I like pellè, think he is vital in the way we play, but do you notice how often he scuffs chances or snatches ? Short on confidence imo and needs to work on his composure

Fonte sold him down the river, if you come out at a striker I always found it easier to score unless the keeper catches you with the ball between your feet. I think its harsh to blame him for the 1st but he definately needed to dominate the cross for the second

Doesnt fit with the bedwetting

From what ive seen the main difference between poch's and koemans teams are that koeman allows his CMs more freedom but is more rigid with his frontline and doesnt use the high press as much (he did tonight). He also likes to play at a higher tempo and takes more risks, other than that its pretty similar. Id definately like to see Pellè move a bit more, he was much better tonight, the first time in a long time. Against Villa he was marked out of the game and as he is such a fulcrum of our attaxk it showed, at the time I questioned why he didnt move in deeper or out wide, as for me, if your being so effectively marked out of the gane you need to make the man marker have a decision to make, drifting deep or wide forces the CB into that, as he either needs to pass you on or destroy the shape of a back four.

Been saying for ages we are at least a striker light. Worth noting that both Davis and jwp have been employed further forward then the 'midfield two' this year on many occassions. Edit - and what I mean by this is that, just as last year the injuries are taking their toll. We have a strong midfield, but losing 3 CMs means we have to reshape and our CM backups would have been forward line options.

We just arent as good going forward as atleast 5 teams this year unfortunately. Its no real surprise. Pellè can be a tad hot and cold but in the whole he is an improvement on last year, and tadic has basically slotted into a lallana shaped hole. Add Jay into that mix and we look ok. Long is just long, full of work but seems to snatch at chances. Doesnt make him poor. Pellè has had the easier of the chances of late, but then he plays through the middle.

We would have JWP, Jay rod, Long, Tadic, mane and mayuka as the likely forward 3 options as effectively Pelle has no competition. Unfortunately we have JWP and Jay injured with Tadic carrying a knock

There were far too many counting their chickens before we hit this busy period tbh, the writing was more or less on the wall for me in the fact that we struggle scoring against the top top teams (just like last year) which would always be obvious. Still doable, and I still think we can finish top 6 definately top 8. We are still strong defensively and our midfield is as strong as more or less anyone else in the league. We are 2 top players away, we need to sign a quality wide man and another CF in january.

They found it pretty in the games except for city tbh. Gifted two tonight.

Though the first was the better chance, he took a long time to decide what to do and then just smashed it over. The second he had to stretch for, couldve done better yes but it was still difficult. On the other hand Pellè has thrown away a hatfull of chances over the past 3 games and certainly against Villa was completely anonamous. Long had a good game tonight, full of energy, caused them problems and defended well

He was only really at fault for the second goal tbh, the first was a big mistake from Fonte and a good finish from rvp

He wasnt and he didnt

Pretty much this Im not worrying too much, think we will end up top 6 and tbh I said long ago that we wouldnt finish top four. Squad not deep enough for that challenge.

He definately isnt mr x

Why wouldnt you use targett if you were moving bertrand up ? And what would reed have done ?

Come again ?

i did think that

I think he is ok, works hard, plenty of running, his decision making and technical qualities are lacking. He has potential and scared Utd tonight. Telling that Valencia couldnt get forward much. Dont really know why long gets so much stick, does so much good for the side

You are a massive **** PP, let that sink in for a sec

Didnt do too bad getting us to fourth