Bailey

Interesting system this from Liverpool. Defending in a 442 but attacking with players in all sorts of positions. Liverpool one up now, awful keeping from Mannone.

I think he is probably overrated again now though. under the microscope his passing and ball control arent what you would expect of a player in his position at the very top level. He has an engine though!

I used to really rate Vic, then I gradually got frustrated by him thought he was crap before he turned it round. He is still an average prem player mind you. Distin is probably the one who has surprised me the most. He had the ability but didnt bring it to the table enough under Moyes, but this year he has been excellent. By far the most consistent CB this season.

I thought that in the first half he was a bit lazy tbh. Lost the ball too easily and then gave it up quite easy after that. Second half he was much improved though and he did work very hard going both ways.

I agree with this. At the end of the day bringing Barkley in to play a defensive/ball winning type role isnt going to suit him. If your going to put Barkley in there he will be given more freedom to attack and I think McCarthy can be just as influential in getting forward in that way whilst also offering more support defensively. His passing in the final third is vastly underrated IMO and he does actually try and break into the box (see Lukakus goal yesterday) where as Barkley is more of a floater. Another thing to look at is the difference between Osman and Barkley when they play in the same role because Osman plays much deeper than Ross does. Osman is more of a true 3rd midfielder and links play better IMO, whereas Barkley is more of a second striker a lot of the time. If Barkley paid from the same type of areas as Osman we would see more runs like last night.

I was more impressed with Stones yesterday than I ever have been. He was brilliant and he played his part with the ball at his feet too. I would be a little disappointed if Jags walked back in the team based on that performance.

I dunno, City have never been at their best under pressure either.

You have changed your tune.

Osman for me, he set the tone in the first half and capped off a great performance with a goal. I was personally left a little frustrated with Gerry, lots of good play but I just think he could have finished them off earlier. I have high expectations of him though and I am being harsh but he has that real quality about him and he is going to be some player.

On the whole, I thought we did pretty well. We sat back really annoyingly and it will be the death of me Im sure but when we came out at half time we went back to the basics and scored another good goal. Then we bloody sat back again but other than one chance where they really should have scored I didnt think they posed THAT much of a threat. They took plenty of shots but they werent really that troubling for Howard and we were value for our win. Plenty of good performances with the back four excelling (Stones did really well all things considered) and McCarthy at his terrior like best. The attacking players drifted in and out, all showing signs of brilliance but also being a little too sloppy at the same time. Osman was excellent and he set the tone for the team. Composure in attacking and clever pressing in defence. I hope Martinez can get us playing the 90mins on the front foot because we are a class act when we do. As soon as we sit back, we look like a completely different team.

Its annoying how our attacking players now waltz around the pitch like the game is won.

Why have we switched players around as well? Deulofeu staying wide allowing space for Osman, Barkley and Lukaku was working really well.

Sitting too deep... Why are we doing this to ourselves. We have been excellent in forcing them into mistakes but now we are inviting them on to us.

Oh Ross you fucking beauty! Now please dont bladdy sit back and defend!

That was excellent play, Lukaku should have scored.

Osman has been excellent so far. Popping up everywhere.

Id start Barkley deeper and alongside McCarthy but both ahead of Barry allowing the pair of them to break forward.

I didnt think they were very good against West Ham either, albeit they created enough chances to see off the game with ease despite only scoring two 'flukey' goals. Rooneys goal should have been a simple catch for the keeper and there is no way in this world he should have turned his back on it like he did. Great strike mind you and good vision for trying it but there is no comparison. It wasnt even the best goal of the weekend.

Looking at the actual away games we have played I dont think its a case of us playing that badly away, its more a case of simply not picking up the points we deserved. We deserved more from the Spurs and Chelsea losses and possibly even the draw at Arsenal. Cardiff and Norwich were early season and we deserved more in those two as well. Our poorest games came at Liverpool and West Brom, I cant remember much of Stoke away so cant comment and the Palace game was a frustrating one as they had a new man in charge and they put on one of the best defensive displays I have seen this season. I dont think there is any difference between our home and away play and its just how the games have panned out more than anything.

Yeh and at least he had proven his ability in the South American leagues in terms of being able to manage and sustain a league challenge.

Yeh that's the impression I got. On the whole I thought he defended quite well, albeit he obviously switched off for their first and I also thought he got sucked in a couple of times too.

He just needs to mature and play the games he should have been playing in the years previous through one thing or another. I have seen plenty of evidence to suggest he has pretty good vision and I think its more of a case that he almost thinks too much on the ball. The impression I get is that about 10 options run through his head when he picks up the ball and instead of committing to one and executing it he changes his mind and then probably changes his mind again. When he is forced into having one option he tends to make something of it but when he has options in front of him he cocks it up. Lukaku isnt much different either in that respect.

I wouldnt write Newcastle off that easily. They may have won late at the weekend but by all accounts they were far superior and bossed the game. Cisse could have had a hattrick from what I saw and Ben Arfa was looking sharp. We just need to go out there and stop them from even getting a foothold in the game. None of this sitting back bollocks, lets press high, press aggressively and turn the ball over early. Im sure Bobby had them watching El Classico last night and Im sure he will be looking for that intensity.

I dont see why Barca would even come in for him yet. He is a manager full of potential but he has to show he can deliver results in the league which he hasnt yet.

They werent as crap when we played them!