Saint Pete

I would personally return to a back four for this one. We need to dominate and play the game in their half, so need more players in midfield. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

Inclined to agree, would have played Austin today. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

However they have won 6 more games than us. Pity our former manager didn't understand 3 points for a win system. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

Doomed. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

Yep, composure was lacking, defensive quality was very much lacking as well. I'm just unconvinced by the argument that making a sub would have magically resolved everything in our favour. The players and in particular the defence need to be better and mentally stronger in these situations to beat the likes of Chelsea and I don't think Hughes can be expected to resolve that overnight. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

What makes you think bringing on a sub would change anything in this situation? The problem is our poor defenders and we have noone better that we can bring on! The people on the pitch need to do the job at the end of the day. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

It's not "game management" that's the problem in my opinion, it's **** defending, pure and simple. Our defenders are no longer good enough for this league and will crumble and make mistakes when pressured by a quality side. Giroud was clinical in taking advantage of that. When you play the good sides, you have to be able to withstand periods of pressure. People will say we sat back too much, I don't really think that was the case. You need to defend better, end of. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

Best performance of the season, but still no points. Gutted. Giroud just too good for our defence. Anyone who blames Hughes for this result is a total numpty. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

Yep really annoying as the shift to Sunday meant I could actually go, so was waiting for general sale to get tickets. As there were plenty left Sunday evening thought there wouldn't be any issue. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

It is a bit baffling why successive managers have used Tadic on the right. Can we assume that this may be coming from Tadic himself if for some reason he thinks he is more effective cutting inside? To me, he always looks more comfortable when on the left and links up much better with the full back on that side.

I agree it was a smart move and a statement that we need to be more forward thinking and on the front foot from now on. That doesn't necessarily mean it's the formation we will go with in premier games or not with the same personnel. I could see us possibly trying it with Long instead of Carrillo, dropping back to help in the middle defensively when we lose the ball. This would also give more pace in the middle. I would also swap JWP in for either Tadic or Boufal for a bit more cover in the centre. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

It’s us and the big boys then. Would rather avoid Spurs out of the 3, so we’ll probably get them.

Agreed. I didn’t feel there was a signal to the team to defend deeper and stop attacking, unlike under MP on the rare occasions we were able to get a lead. Yes we brought on Romeu for Gabbi but that was on 87 mins and seemed sensible to add a bit of muscle in midfield to slow them down when they tried to attack us, which he did with a couple of “good” fouls towards the end!

I think you are basing that at on how MP set up the team with a single isolated striker. It looks like Hughes is going to look to provide the striker with more support in a more positive formation, so in that context I think Long can have more impact potentially. He was pretty good as a starter for Koeman who didn’t defend deep, so maybe he can offer more in a more positive Hughes team? I would personally prefer him to Carrillo who in my opinion offers very little and didn’t link up well enough with Gabbi or the rest of the team today.

I agree about starting Long in the next game. Think he is at least more of a nuisance to the opposition defence.

Disagree on the point about dropping too deep after first goal, I felt that we were continuing to try to push forward and go for a second goal, which ultimately we got. Wigan were bound to try and attack us in last few minutes but I thought we coped alright in general and our approach after going in front was certainly better than what we saw with MP in charge! Of course, there are loads more areas for improvement, but sure Hughes is well aware of that!

I would give them to Bertrand as strikes a good ball and seems to have a bit more bottle than the others.

You ***** Boufal. Cross it. What a miss Gabbiadini.

I agree. Anyone expecting any miraculous improvement in our style and performance today was kidding themselves. The best we can hope for is finding a way to win and Hughes using it as learning more about the capabilities or lack of of the players he has, which he can hopefully use in the next couple of weeks before West Ham.

Well if Hughes was in any doubt about the size of his his task, he will be sure now!

Yep, agree he is not offering anything to us in this game. Would be tempted to to take him off for Long or Sims at half time and have Gabbiadini up top.

Great ball from Bertrand, more of that please.

Will be interested to see how we line up formation wise, but you can see that Hughes is going with the principal of putting our best players on the pitch, which is oddly refreshing given what we have become used to.

Expect to see Gabbiadini back in a starting role, assuming Austin still not fit.

Well said, brain dead whimpering a spot on description! These posts seem to conveniently ignore the 3 consecutive top 10 PL finishes Hughes achieved while at Stoke. Obviously doesn’t fit with the whimpering agenda.