Bailey

Glorious chance wasted by Coleman.

Loads of intent in that team. I think we are in for a show!

Everton 4 - 1 QPR Mirallas

Very surprised Hamilton won... I didnt think people liked him enough!

Sod that I want a bloody winger! Wide man first, GK second and wait until the summer for a CB.

I dont think that was the case against Krasnodar though Dunc. For me he didnt take enough risks. He tried his stupid flicks here and there but he had opportunities to play forward passes and cut through midfield and he turned it down and went backwards. That was the difference between him having a good game and a bad game. He hesitated, didnt play the pass when he should have and either slowed the tempo right down or lost the ball unnecessarily when the ball should have been released. If he plays the pass, he doesnt get caught out and we dont get caught out with people too far ahead of the ball and then he walks off the pitch having pulled the strings.

Tbh there arent a great deal of young keepers that I like the look of that dont already cost the earth.

I would agree with that, you certainly wouldnt know that he was 17 by the way he played.

Dont know if you saw the U21 game the week before but he played CB and was crap then as well. He was better at RB.

I dont think anything McAlaney did wrong in that game were due to where he was being played on the pitch. If anything he had more time on the ball than he normally would do. He just looked to be trying to impress too much and made stupid decisions when he has some really good chances to make an impact on the game.

When I have been watching QPR recently they have been crap but still managed to scrape points here and there. Most of the time the opposition has wasted several really good opportunities and then they have popped up with a half chance and put it away. 3 points is a must, especially going into such a quick turnaround of games. Make a statement tonight, rip them apart and lets start climbing the table! COYBS!

I think we probably have enough games to keep him interested here rather than on loan. Not sure who I would prefer to play as back up to Baines between him and Oviedo?

On current form neither!

Thought it was a decent enough performance especially in the second half when we moved Oviedo out wide and brought Pienaar centrally. We did alright on the whole and the difference between the two teams was the cohesion in attack. Moves broke down for us and we were too cautious breaking forward whereas they played some really good combinations and shifted it quickly and directly. I feel a little sorry for Robles. I actually thought that he did really well all game. Good on the ball, he was quick off his line, closed angles but he just switched off for one second and gave them the softest goal going. He did the right thing standing him up and had forced him wide but fuck knows why he retreated back to his line. If he stands there, stops the angle and lets his defenders cover the he potentially stops the goal. What he ends up doing is naive and it seems to be a common theme with him. Barry and Alcaraz did well at the back, they were left a little exposed when Oviedo was playing through the middle or when Pienaar couldnt be arsed tracking but they were a good combination. Garbutt was excellent. Really hard working display with smatterings of quality. He has a great left peg, albeit he could have picked a better option here or there, but that will come with time. I get the feeling he would improve a bundle with a consistent run in the team. Browning disappointed me. Like he did in the U21 game he looked dozy, his positional sense was all over the place and he didnt read the game. On the last 2 times I have seen him he has looked like a tank but that will only take him so far. He might be better at CB but based on the U21 game, Im not so sure. He might just be out of form and time is on his side. Ledson was hot and cold. There were times that I thought he was excellent but then he just did some stupid things. He is only 17 so that may come with time but positionally he was good, he doesnt stop running in the McCarthy mould and he has the vision for a pass. He had a difficult job against a fluid Krasnodar attacking midfield but he didnt look out of his depth. Pienaar was the biggest disappointment. He found space, he showed good feet at times and created his own space but he sucked all of the life out of our play and stifled any momentum. The quality is clearly still there but he needs to be more positive on the ball. Oviedo was out of his depth through the middle but he was good out wide. Nothing exceptional but he did a good job. Atsu hadnt shown anything before he was subbed. Dowell was excellent and I suspect his performance will be a little underrated. The number of clever forward balls (he was one of the only ones), runs into space, vision to find players and quick feet to create half a yard. He took too long to get his shot away but in the U21s or U18s he has that time so that will improve. Thats twice I have seen him now and he has impressed me both times. He is in the Barkley mould but a little more subtle. McAlaney had a frustrating game. Plenty of promise but ultimately lacked quality. There were moments where you thought that he could be a tidy player but then he would waste chance after chance in good possession (Pienaar-esque). Kone was excellent all things considered. Strong, sharp and he worked really hard too. Could have done with better service but when you take the circumstances into account it was a very encouraging display and I'm made up for him. Long actually looked fairly sharp when he came on but didnt really get into the game for the short time he was on.

Disappointed with him tonight. He find the space, he showed some quick feet but he showed an almost complete reluctance to pass the ball forward. No point find space or creating half a yard if you are going to go backwards.

He needs games but playing him left wing is going to hinder us. If we are short with injuries then maybe give it a go but otherwise he just has to bide his time and take the opportunities when he gets them. Very good all round game tonight, a little naive at the back on occasions and could have picked a better pass here or there but at this stage of his first team career it was an excellent display.

Think he did just that tonight. Very encouraging all round performance.

Kone first, Garbutt second and probably Dowell third.

Villas Boas is an odd one. Twice the players have gone against him which probably says something about his management style.

More a case of Saints wasting chances. They did a lot of good work up until the 18 yard box and then wasted it. De Gea made a couple of good saves but even ones that went just wide he had them easily covered with his dive. Utd were crap and the first goal was an underhit back pass (or telegraphed backpass) and the 2nd should have been a simple catch for Forster but he stayed on his line and then RVP squeezed it through his legs from a tight angle to add salt to the wound! Didnt realise that! I dont remember Pelle but I remember Bjarni coming on before he fell off the face of the earth!

De Gea must be the most athletic keeper in the league. His reach and the speed in which he gets down is incredible. Still needs to work on coming off his line and dealing with crosses but I'm not sure there is a better shotstopper. That Pelle isn't bad for Saints either. Clever player and to think he couldn't hit a barn door in his first few games. Told you there is hope for Kone!

Yeh spot on. It's not too much of a problem for the odd game but you don't want to have to rely on them for much more than that. I don't mind the likes of Osman coming off the bench because he can change games and does quite well in that role but when you have him, Pienaar, Etoo, Barry and even Hibbert in the same team it's a worry. Actually it scares me shitless!

Its probably only in the wide positions that this becomes an issue. We have 4 central midfielders and only Barry is knocking on a bit. At the back we have Stones coming through but I suppose a new CB should be in the offing depending on how the young lads are developing. Up front we are ok as long as Naismith/Etoo/Kone arent playing week in week out but with all 3 that is unlikely. If we work on the basis that Atsu isnt going to play then we only have Mirallas and McGeady and that's a huge worry! At the very least we need one good wide man in, possibly with a younger lad as back up (again depending on the youngsters coming through for next year).

Fair enough. Yep course I am fella. If he had been that bad then he wouldn't have had the stats I suggested. No one is arguing that he has been below form since his return but his form before his injury was as good as anyone's on the whole.

Must admit I hadn't seem him play before he signed so didnt know what we were getting but he also hasnt had much of a chance yet. I consider it unlikley but he may still have more to offer and tbh I bloody hope so!