mrfahaji

I hear you verlaine, you want Steven Davis back, don't you?

Just watched it again. The ball lands smack bang in the centre of the goal, about 8 yards out, I'd say that's a pretty perfect corner, especially considering it clears the players jumping at the near post. Also, people (not you) not wanting to credit Redmond for his pass to Gabbiadini for the penalty because "anyone could see and make that pass" needs to watch it again. It's fine to criticise when players do things badly but to refuse to acknowledge when they've done something good hints at an agenda or stubbornness.

Yep, I'd much rather try that than a standard 4-4-2. Especially as we don't seem to get much width from our 'wingers' anyway.

I think we all know the answer to that is "very little" or "nothing"

Don't really understand how Tadic and Boufal "can't play together" when they play on opposite wings. The way they play isn't related. Problems in the past have come because we played Tadic, Redmond AND Boufal, leaving the central pairing exposed. But Tadic was always the central player in that three I believe, and he isn't industrious enough to make that position work in how we need him to. I was just about to argue that 4-4-2 can work as long as one of the strikers drops back at times. Which is about the same as saying "myth". We had the same problems against Newcastle at home, where Long & Gabbiadini both stood up front waiting for the ball. It was effective for 15-20 mins when we were on the front foot and focusing all our attacks down the wings and getting crosses in, but eventually Newcastle sussed it and it didn't work from then on out.

Agree with most of what you say, but I think it's a bit harsh to not credit Redmond (or anyone) because 'anyone could have made the pass'. This season it has been pretty clear that not everyone can or does make the obvious/right decision! Maybe I've overlooked some of Cedric's crucial blocks, but I found that he always waits for the ball to come to him instead of attacking it. He wasn't getting tight to the winger at all, who often got round him for a cross (yes Bertrand was poor in that regard too, but his main problem was Byrne also charging forward from right back). His passing often went astray, and for someone with such pace his insistence on stopping and turning inside when he has a chance to push forward is infuriating. I'm not normally a critic of Cedric, but aside from his superbly taken goal I don't think he came out of the game very well. At least he didn't try a 40-yard shot this time... left that to Hojbjerg, whose attempted left foot volley from 25 yards was mind-boggling, especially when there was a simple, decent option available.

Well actually, in the second half particularly, there were a number of times a Saints player got to the ball first and I thought "that was good commitment, who is it? Oh, it's Tadic..." I was surprised myself! I think when he does it, people ignore it, and focus on the times that he doesn't. He wasn't charging about, throwing himself into 50-50s etc, but I didn't see him hiding. And also, there were plenty of times the ball went to him, he got it under control, and moved the play on. Simple stuff, but so often our players don't do it. I agree that the delaying his crosses is a problem, but he's pretty good at turning a defender inside out, the problem is: The best angle to deliver the ball from is from the byline. So to create space, Tadic turns back once, then turns to the byline... creates the space for a cross, but it's on his weaker foot. Then he turns again, and invaraibly loses it (as well as no longer being in the prime position for a cross). I've already referred to his bamboozling of Ivanovic in our 3-1 at Stamford Bridge - he does that manoeuvre a lot, but when he's on the left it's easier to have a better end product. I just don't get why he remains on the right. Remember I scored him 6/10, I'm hardly saying he was MoM, just that he wasn't terrible.

Fair enough, I'd go with that. Essentially someone who won't be bullied by the centre forward. I just think it's easy to say "a dominant CB" without appreciating that a superb all-rounder isn't easy to find, so we would be better off looking for someone with one or two specific strengths.

6 games or 6 home games? I've been to 5 but only 2 were at home...

'Dominant' centre backs aren't easy to find, if you mean someone like van Dijk, who is one of the best defenders in the league. So instead, I take that to mean someone who is good in the air - but isn't that Hoedt's strength? He's decent on the ball as well, but he doesn't strike me as particularly quick across the ground. I'd go as far to say what we need at CB is someone that complements Hoedt by being quick, reading the game well, but also not being terrible in the air a la Stephens. Yoshida actually fits that bill, but he's still a little bit suspect in the air.

Sessegnon, lol. Considering PSG are one of a number of teams interested in him, I doubt he'll come to us. We could probably get Stephane Sessegnon.

Season Tickets -> Members -> General Sale. Then within that, number of games attended takes priority (so away games for ST holders, all games for non ST). Hard to argue about fairness of any of that. Cup game priority is debatable (I'm not sure it should matter which competition you supported the team in), but the home & away thing is the thing which will get people frustrated, and I think legitimately so!

Ok, was just interested in whether it made a difference in perspective. So you didn't think Hojbjerg was the engine of our play today? Always making himself available, making forward passes, basically being brave on the ball? As I said in my original comments, he didn't do everything perfectly, but I thought he was involved in nearly everything that we did. And do you honestly think Carrillo played better - 4 times better - than Tadic today? At the very least, Tadic set up the goal with his corner. I think he did a lot more than that, but I'm not sure Carrillo had more than three or four decent touches during the whole game. You might have felt Hoedt was nervous, fair enough, our whole back line is, but did he make any mistakes? Because you've rated him the same as Cedric, and I thought Cedric had a bit of a shocker, especially first half.

I think Gabbiadini won more aerial duels than him today and offered more in terms of being a target man. Given that that's probably Gabbiadini's worst role it doesn't say much for Carrillo.

Not sure how Redmond changed the game when we were already winning and playing well when he came on. Not sure giving anybody a 1 is justifiable, especially when said player definitely wasn't our worst player today. As for Hojbjerg, when he had the header moments before the goal, I said "that would have been fitting, because he's been our best playing so far today", so clearly didn't see what you saw. At the game or watch on TV?

Been back from the game for two or three hours, glad that I decided to wear thermals and about 7 layers, lost all feeling in my feet/toes though! General thoughts on the game, aside from the obvious 'dreadful in first half, decent in second': - The pitch didn't seem that bad, but I did notice the ball holding up a bit, particularly early on. Might also have been the wind, but Cedric was caught out 'waiting' for the ball to run to him and it didn't. - We're only too happy to play it out to the full backs, but we don't then support them with any purpose ahead of them. So often the ball ends up coming back into Hojbjerg & Lemina (or back to CBs), who are then under pressure in possession. - Although we attacked a bit more than usual, our players still seem very reluctant to just run into space with the ball. Redmond was (of course) guilty of it, but Cedric was the most frustrating. He's got pace, and sometimes there's nothing on for him and yet he can't just knock the ball down the line and chase after it. Basic stuff a full back should be willing to try. Funny that our second goal came because those two players actually committed themselves to a bit of forward drive. - So many of our good opportunities came from somebody threading the ball through the gap to a forward player instead of going sideways. Hojbjerg to Gabbiadini or Tadic was quite a common occurrence in the second half. - Tadic still on the wrong side. I actually thought he played decently in the second half, but assured on the ball, linked play well and for once I noticed him being first to the 50/50 (ok, maybe 60/40) balls. But the chance where he hits the sidenetting (although Gabb was offside) goes begging because it's his weaker foot, and when he does his typical turn-turn-cross (think bamboozling Ivanovic), he has to add another turn because he wants to cross on his left foot, which is not only the wrong angle but also another chance for the defence to close him down. - I can see issues playing 4-4-2 in the PL. I know people clamour for it, and maybe with Austin playing up there we might end up creating & scoring enough to make it worthwhile, but there is a huge gap between CM & CF, and in the PL I can't see that Lemina & Hojbjerg (or Romeu) won't be overrun by your standard 3 CMs. In the ascendancy it's fine, but when the other team are dominant we look exposed. - I don't want us to be playing those direct balls all the time (e.g. like first 20 mins of the game), but I think it's good to get the players thinking about that ball. Gabbiadini keeps making those runs, and the penalty the showed that all it takes is one of the balls to be right, and you've got a bl00dy good chance of scoring (yes I know...) My player ratings: McCarthy - 7, didn't really 'keep us in it' but also barely did anything wrong. Safe hands, decent kicking and some reasonable if not totally convincing punches. Cedric - 5, pretty awful performance. Looks the most noticeably nervous/cautious player out there. But took his goal like he's been playing centre forward all his life! Hoedt - 8, some people have criticised his performance, so maybe I missed something, but I thought he was excellent. I can't remember him not winning a header Stephens - 7, not a bad performance, did well alongside Hoedt but he's so hesitant to head the ball it sometimes gives us problem (a CB who likes letting the ball bounce... ) Bertrand - 6, thought he showed flashes of purpose, but as Nathan Byrne was running the show from right back 1st half, not sure that reflects well on him or Boufal... Hojbjerg - 8. MoM for me, even before he scored. After his interview last week, he had to stand up and be counted, and he did. He didn't get everything right, but he was always looking for the ball and always looking to do something positive. It was fitting that he got the goal (unlike Cedric, ha) Lemina - 6. Nearly a 7. I think he did ok in that, like PEH, he put himself about and tried to be positive. He just didn't do it as well, and certainly not as well as he can. Tadic - 6. Did some decent things, doesn't deserve the stick that some people dish out. But in Tadic-style, didn't quite do enough 'very good' things to warrant a 7. Boufal - 6. Byrne ran the show from RB in the first half, that reflects badly on him. But he still presses/tackles and 2nd half he was improving and was a tad unlucky to come off at the point he was starting to get more joy. Gabbiadini - 6. Maybe a 5. He kept making the right runs, he probably won more headers than Carrillo. Denied by two great saves. BUT, he has to score from either/both his clear cut chances. As we won, I'm focusing on the positives and going with a 6. Carrillo - 4. Hmmmm. He actually looks like someone has won a competition to play in a pro football game. He doesn't win 50/50s, he has no pace, he struggles to hold the ball up. Most of the time I struggle to even see where he is. When the ball goes forward, he should be the focal point, he should be making his presence known. Instead you have to look around to see what he's up to. Telling that his best contribution was running out the way of the ball for Hojbjerg's goal, in the same way that he did for Hoedt's vs WBA. Redmond - 6. Thought he did ok in general, and very well for the second goal. Still refuses to knock the ball into space and chase after it when that's what is needed. Long - not long enough to warrant a rating, but he offered something for the midfielders to play to and trouble the defence, and showed the effectiveness of some direct running. Romeu - did what he had to at the end, but didn't stand out. Was walking a tightrope because of his booking situation anyway but understandable sub. Main thing is we're through! And hopefully that second half will give a bit of confidence to the players and can be a tonic for the league games.

Yes, that's true. But he still hit it hard and very close to the post. When you do that, the keeper HAS to make a good save to stop it going in. In both cases, they did. I guess there is always the argument that a good penalty is one that goes in, but there are degrees of bad penalties that don't!

Yep, and also Hughes spoke to him when substituted. Not like Pellegrino and Stamford Bridge who didn't even look at him as he walked to the bench (even though he hadn't done anything wrong). Feel he's a bit unlucky with his penalties. Ok, today's was a good height for the keeper, but that one and his one vs United were both hit well and right in the corner/side. If the keeper dives the other way you comment that it was a smart penalty. Yet both occasions the keepers have pulled out brilliant saves.

i’ll be annoyed if, having been to Fulham & Wigan, they prioritise home games over away again...

On way back from the game, will post thoughts when I’m home, but can’t agree that Tadic was awful. Poor first half, but didn’t do a lot wrong second half. Showed some neat touches and linked the play well at times. Not like Cedric - we had a goal from the best player on the pitch and the worst one today!

I’m just going past Stafford services now, so about 1.5 behind Trousers. By the time we did M40 it was fine, apart from the outside lane at times.

My first instinct is "no-one, because this team isn't like the one back then", but I do at least feel positive that IF the players have got it in them, then the West Ham is their best chance to show it, given the circumstances of our position, new manager etc.

Any result from Hudd-Palace could be viewed positively or negatively. Personally I think Palace are the better side and have more chance of getting out of it, so a Huddersfield win would probably have been the worst outcome. I know it puts us in the relegation zone, but it keeps Huddersfield in the mix and Palace are still in there for the time being. I didn't think Bournemouth would go down but it would've been nice for them to still be down there. Think that win has put them on the brink of safety now. Obviously the Stoke result is great, but the West Ham game is huge for us.

If we're talking about someone who has been a regular in the team/squad for a decent period of time, someone who was here for Pochettino & Koeman (or maybe just Koeman). Wanyama's must be pretty good.

Well if we're focusing on pace, Redmond falls short because he doesn't have it.