syd_barrett_saint

How the hell did we not score then?

Lambert playing very well, lovely cross-field pass just then.

Argentine TV commentators say that was a clear penalty for the push on Yoshida. I'm not so sure, but definitely a two handed push when Yoshida would have got the ball otherwise.

We can learn that it's a really bad sketch show, with the main jokes about the accents and physical appearance of the players/managers portrayed. Nothing of any substance, sorry.

Exactly. We played Lambert from the start away at Arsenal, and look how that went. Away at City and Chelsea we tried to give ourselves a chance by defending from the front from the off, keeping ourselves in the game (although we almost weren't last night due to the ball not falling for us for their two goals) and then bringing Lambert on for impact... and what an impact he is. Worked last night, almost worked at City. Starting with a more attacking formation would have probably seen us easily beat in both those two games. We should definitely do the same away at Utd, possibly away at Spurs too.

Don't see Clyne in any of the training photos? That would be worrying as we need Cork back in midfield!

Was good today, but I thought Fonte was even better. It's a good partnership that should only improve :-)

Happy New Year! Time to pop open another bottle of Saint Lambert in preparation for Rickie's hat-trick tomorrow :-)

I'm a little bit late replying to this thread, but after Rickie's important penalty against Fulham, I thought it would be appropriate to post how we celebrated this Christmas in Buenos Aires: Merry Christmas!

Velez Sarsfield. Nice stadium, family club, pretty good in recent years, but the standard of football in Argentina is pretty terrible.

Exactly, and with half their first team playing, going to extra time. At least we avoided such a tiring and demoralizing night for our first team players. Let's see how well we do against West Brom, and Reading against QPR this weekend, before making judgement on how we approached the game tonight. Can't believe the knee-jerk reactions tonight. I can understand after another lost league game, but after this meaningless fixture? Crazy.

Mayuka showed at the weekend that he can play well as one of the wide forwards. Don't think isolating him up top on his own will ever see him thrive. Still think he should come in for Puncheon against West Brom. Chaplow and Jos may have fan clubs on here, but neither is good enough for the premier league. De Ridder even less so. That team tonight was poor. We lack strength in depth. That isn't Adkins' fault though. Not sure what is going on with Lee. Thought he looked promising last season, but apparently woeful tonight. Perhaps he isn't fit yet.

The team had De Ridder in it, a paper thin midfield, and a very dodgy defence (even just compared to our first team, and that's saying something!). It is poor. We don't have strength in depth. A lot is going wrong, but tonight has not made things any worse. Playing a 2nd string and getting out of this competition is the best thing that could have happened... unlike what Reading are doing now. QPR must be rubbing their hands together watching that going down.

Agreed. The large majority that played tonight aren't good enough. So they won't be picked for the first team. I could have told you that before tonight.

Luckily Cortese is more of a man than most of the bedwetters on here.

I'm not sticking my head in the sand. We've had a terrible start to the season. I'm just saying tonight is irrelevant, and if anything gives us a better chance of improving our league position.

I'm not bothered in the same way I'm not bothered when our development team loses a game. The first team are being saved for our next important game.

But tonight has nothing to do with that, so why the reaction at all tonight. If anything, what is happening to Reading tonight is showing that our 2nd string selection tonight will give us more chance of improving our Premier leagus position.

Well, it is. But we could go on like that all night. Let's just say our second string lost in a competition far less important than the Premier League. Meanwhile a far stronger Reading selection is tiring themselves out in extra time against Arsenal, and getting demoralised in the process. I know which I'd prefer.

Mayuka to start ;-)

Our 2nd string lost in a mickey mouse cup. Talk about an overreaction. Man up.

Come again?

- Being able to watch every game live on internet streams is fantastic for an overseas fan like myself. - We still have some good players to come into the team/squad who will strengthen us (Lee, Cork, Mayuka, Boruc). - Despite a pretty bad start to the season, there are still 3 worse teams than us!

So you're suggesting, as he is, that a ref can never influence a game and the amount of fouls etc committed? A good ref can.

I also find it hard to be neutral on West Ham. I know far too many of their fans and they are all annoying and deluded when it comes to football. But still, we'll see. I think it will be a close run thing but that we'll finish above them. Of course they won't concede 6 at home to Arsenal, but they could away from home. And will that mean they still "look hard to beat".