Vranny

Kone has been terrible.

 

One decent turn and shot, that's it for me.

I think he's been much better this half. Showing some good hold up play and linking up around the penalty area pretty well.

Bit late, but our only slick move of the game and we score from it. Haha.

And there goes another one with a Ko e back heel. Hopefully we'll carry this confidence into the second half.

...

Take the blindfold off mate.... This is terrible

It's poor, but bears quite a resemblance to our style under Moyes when we started stagnating in his last 6 months at the club.

Ergh, Baines sold himself on a cross like an armature. Echoes of the Balotelli WC goal against England.

Browning maybe has a shout but Galloway (for example) hasn't been anywhere near the first team and is evidentally not ready so to just throw him to the lions in my eyes is madness.

Agreed. It'd only be Browning that I think could possibly be depended on as a second back-up CB. I imagine with Galloway he'll be given some loan time next season or else just continue his development at youth level. Hopefully this time next season we'll start to see him feature more in the first team squad.

I was an awful fan boy today, and ' bumped ' into Duffy today, he was very polite and absolutely mAsssive. Hope he ends up back at Everton

I can't see it happening while Martinez is at the club. The lad just doesn't fit in with his ethos. Not that I wouldn't mind seeing him return, but I do think his level would be squad player, rather than starter, at Everton.

Regarding Paddy's point on youngsters as reserves even Moyes was willing to keep a Shane Duffy as our second? back up CB while at the club. I think Browning can do a similar job having been given a couple of runs (albeit at RB) in the first team and looking up to a decent standard. Otherwise we're just spending money and wages on a player that realistically we'll barley see played, while he also blocks the development of our young CBs at the club.

I would include Barkley.

It's just his brain is way ahead if his feet at the moment.

If anything I'd say he has the skills, but it's his footballing brain that needs catching up. He's shown on occasion that he can pick a pass and take a brilliant shot or two, but usually prefers to dribble into trouble instead.

I think MC's list sums up our "brainy" footballers at the club pretty well.

Mirallas out, and use the funds to buy Deulofeu. Younger player, knows the team, respects the manager, and even MC said earlier in this thread he can be better than Mirallas. A win-win all round, I'd say.

Had the same thoughts myself. Also lowers the average age of the team and adds another to our pool of young talents that can hopefully grow together.

What is a "41 year old man" downloading and using an emoticon app for... FFS lad that's just poor form. I'll wager you're in ya mid/early twenties.

Someone in their mid/early twenties downloading emoticons would be much worse form. I thought only tweens and people too old to know any better went to the trouble of downloading such things. (Sorry Paddock, but I think I'll be grouping you into the later category there )

I felt Lennon was our best forward thinking player by far. Loved his pace to get forward, as well as to work the other way and snuff out opposition attacks.

Didn't think much of Barkley tbh, though I could say that about most.

Also enjoyed McCarthy playing a bit more box to box today. His forays forward didn't exactly lead to much, but it's an element I think he desperately needs to add to his game if we're going to continue playing two holders in midfield.

Couldn't give a shit if we get the three points.

Agreed. Very happy to hear the final whistle and to take another 3 points.

We look terrible right now.

And Soton have looked even worse. It's been pretty dire stuff.

Bright start by Naisy

Indeed. I'm certainly glad to see him given a go upfront for once.

Baines has been serving up some shite passes today too actually. Strange for him.

Our forward passes have generally been woeful today too. Lots of good opportunities to find players in space are being fluffed.

I thought it might be a reference to Fola-shit

 

Based on this seasons form, he will not be missed. Last seasons Mirallas would be a miss to most squads.

To be fair he's much more important to our style of play in Europe, were we tend to create a lot of danger on the counter. Lukaku and Mirallas have been the keys to this.

Where has this intensity been this season? Naismith, McCarthy and Jags all harrying Dynamo brilliantly. McCarthy looks back to last seasons form in the second half.

Probably the most angrily I've celebrated a goal Give Lukaku a ball to run onto, with a defender at his back and he is a beast. He's completely wasted with our play.

None are finding space. Townsend is actually talking fucking sense. Saying we pass sideways, pass back and create more pressure on our own players.

Both clubs were fined 30K.

Also known as a 'Half-Coleman'.

No.

Courtois or De Gea. I'd say De Gea but only because this is Courtois debut season

I'd say those 2 are clearly ahead of the rest in the PL, though my opinion of Courtois is mostly based on his Atletico days. They probably rank in the best 3-4 goalkeepers in the world currently.

That was such a huge mistake that I never even spotted it - especially after reading "Stramford Bridge."

I stopped reading after Stramford Bridge too! Shouldn't have doubted Gareth's ability to make a further cock of himself really.