Bailey

Frustrating so far and the story of the game so far is that their wide players have simply been better when it matters. We can still win this game even though its going to be desperately difficult against a team that packs 10 players in the 18 yard box. We need our creative players to be smart and not become too keen. Naismith is a must to play alongside Lukaku in the 2nd half. I would be tempted to take McGeady off because he is really annoying me with a couple of his lazy passes and thoughtless runs.

I think the way Man City play will suit Liverpool down to the ground and unless City happen to get an early goal and dampen the atmosphere, I can see Liverpool winning this by a couple.

Maybe because he barely ever played as a lone DM? Play him in that role and you will see 8/10 week in week out doing what he needs to do. Move him around, asking him to play in others, ask him to get forward and play with his back to goal you wont. I'm not saying he would suit what we are doing mind you.

He is the type of player that sits just ahead of the CB's and stops any attacking plays. He isnt a defensive playmaker like Barry, he is a pure destroyer type, one that stops the floating creative players from doing anything whilst allowing the attacking players in his own team the freedom to be able to stay more on the front foot. There are lots of types of defensive midfielder and in truth they arent the type of player that you need in your team for every game of the season but that doesnt make it any less important. How you can say his best position is behind the striker is beyond me. Average attacking positional awareness, average touch with his back to goal, average final third passer, average finisher... Yep definitely a number 10. When I have seen him he hasnt been played as I suggester he should be. He has been more often than not as a box to box player, which he can do, but its not what he is best at doing. He played the majority of time with us either in that position or further forward. In terms of his overall football ability, I admit that I did overrate him a little after seeing how the likes of Barry and Mccarthy have come in and adapted to any role they are asked to play as it makes you appreciate the intelligence of those players (and Fellaini is far from intelligent!). Thats why Fellaini needs to see the whole game in front of him, he needs to be able to sit between the lines, break up attacks and then lay it off to those ahead of him, much like Carsley used to do, but at a much higher level.

Spot on. Yes he is frustrating and yes he needs to learn, but he wouldnt be with us if he was the polished article and that will come with time.

Barry and McCarthy were the best two on the pitch and their drive, energy and passing was excellent. I just gave it to McCarthy for his block he made on one of the Sunderland players who only had to cross the ball into the box where they were 4 vs 2 against our CB's and also for one of his crosses in the final third that Naismith should have done better with.

We clearly werent at our best today but I still think we controlled the game, created the better chances and deserved the 3 points. Howard didnt really have to make any saves that you wouldnt have expected him to make comfortably and the back did their job pretty well. Barry and McCarthy were excellent, Naismith and Osman solid but unspectacular and whilst Deulofeu was frustrating and almost impetuous, he still put in quite a few good balls into the box and got his reward with the OG. I'm surprised by the criticism of Lukaku because he did pretty well for the most part but didnt really show up for the last 20, although he didnt score today so maybe that's why! No matter what happens from now until the end of the season, it has been an amazing feat to record our greatest ever points total in the Premier League and to put together a run of 7 straight wins.

I still dont see it happening and I'm not going to let myself even think that we can... unless of course we do!

He is a specialist defensive midfielder, the type that breaks play up and gives the ball to his team mates who are better on the ball. If you played him like that week in week out, especially in a defensive formation, he would be a stand out player but put him in any other role and he will be very inconsistent.

Yeh maybe I was overstating it because he was still very raw and not as polished as the likes of Messi or Zidane when they burst onto the scene but at that age he just seemed to have that ability to make you go wow. I really dont see any of that now and not for a long time. He has the odd brilliant strike here and there but he doesnt have any of that dynamism about his play. He seems happier trying to lob the keeper from 25 yards than he does trying to skin a defender.

Yeh thats true, I keep forgetting about Lambert. Although having said that Lambert plays in the same mode that Rooney or Sturridge would do in dropping off to find space, link up play and try and get someone else in on goal or have a go themselves (albeit not as good from what I have seen of him). With Carroll you get a wrecking ball, someone that will launch himself at every cross near him and get himself in box waiting for someone to play that final pass. I dont really know how many strikers you could afford to take in the squad but I think Rooney, Sturridge, Lambert, Defoe and Carroll would pretty much allow you to have all bases covered.

Tossers!

I dont think Kev and Gerry have ever started a game together so I would be surprised. They are similar types of player and Martinez seems to prefer one winger to act as more of a playmaker whilst the other is more of a direct winger/second striker type. I can see us setting up much like the Arsenal game perhaps with Gerry and McGeady coming in for Kev and Naismith.

Id take Carroll for sure. As a footballer I think he is better than people give him credit for but he is a grade a twat.

Moyes was only going to do one thing and it worked reasonably well on the whole but eventually class will tell, especially over 2 games. I actually havent been that inpressed by Bayern in both games they have played against English clubs. They have put together a couple of really nice moves but on the whole they have looked predictable. If Atletico can keep their big players fit and start taking their chances then they can win.

I agree with the first bit but you do not rest the keeper at this stage of the season. Its suicidal!

Yeh I agree completely. I do find it a little sad thinking back to Rooney when he first came on the scene as he had that enthusiasm and arrogance to actually beat a man and take him on. He used to twist defenders inside out but I dont see any of that anymore. He is the prime example of a player who has been "over-coached" and I do think that if he still had that ruthlessness that he had as a kid then you would be talking about him in the world class bracket but not a chance now. I cant even remember the last time I saw him take a defender on. I found a video of some of his Everton goals. Not the greatest out there Im sure, but you will see what I mean.

Thought he did realy well from that deeper left hand channel yesterday. A man midfield with him and McCarthy ahead of Barry is the way forward for us.

Yep they have and they are the type of team we have struggled against this season. Albeit they may now be safe which could see them take their foot of the gas a little.

I still cant single out one player! Really impressed by all of them but at the same time, I still think they can play better.

Thought he played really well, although at the same time he messed up a couple of really good opportunities as well. He bounced back from it though each time which is good to see!

Im with Dunc, our run in is far harder than theirs and unfortunately we will be bumping into other in form teams like City, Utd and Soton.

Spot on Nikica. He is a very good player and he is an out and out striker, none of this number 10/midfield bollocks. In his best season he was used as a true striker looking to get into the box and not to the edge of it.

I dont see why not. He has the attributes to play in that position, its just whether he would be able to adapt quickly enough.

Yeh spot on!