Bailey

Madrid making a few changes by the looks of things & Jelavic looks like he is on for us.

This is a good game for us as we should learn bucket loads from it. We don't deserve to be losing but Real Madrid's decision making is just so much better than ours and that is why they are winning (at some bullshit refereeing!). The back four have played well as a whole and Howard has done what he could. Heitinga started brightly but positionally he has been caught out a few times and his passing has been a bit sloppy. Osman has improved as the half has progressed but he hasnt been as good in this slightly deeper role. Fellaini for me has played very well and he is the only one doing what the manager would want him to do. I dont think he has made the right attacking decision on a couple of occasions but we know that just isnt him. Drop Felli deeper and bring Gibson on for Heitinga and then we will be a lot more solid. Naismith has been very involved in the game and has done quite well but again his decision making has been poor at times and his passing had put others under pressure. Mirallas has done well, again needs to think about others a little more but Madrid arent comfortable when he is on the ball. Kone has been a little unfortunate. He has done a lot of work for little reward and when he has got the ball in a good position, he hasnt made the most of it and in fact he has been sloppy. Like Osman he has improved as the game as gone on. Promising stuff so far and hopefully we can get at least one goal back as we deserve it.

Why does Sharpy keep going on about us being 3 at the back? Heitinga is not playing as a CB you tool.

That was top class from Fellaini just a shame he committed a foul to do it.

Again another great run from Kone but the ball doesnt get to him. Been unlucky.

Poor ball that from Mirallas needed to be much quicker.

Lovely play again there, unlucky the ball didnt quite break for us.

Poor from Heitinga and Osman not showing when he should have for Mirallas either. Not liking this midfield at all tbh. Started with promise but all over the place.

He looks shagged already. Too easy again.

What a joke. Perfectly fine goal disallowed.

Naismith has played pretty well in general but the amount of times he has under/over hit passes and played them wide of their target is unreal.

Yeh the central midfield 3 dont look like they know what they should be doing as a unit. Heitinga just rushes forward at the first sign of danger which leaves us even more exposed!

Fellaini off the bar. Brilliant tracking from Osman on the break too.

Really sloppy. Pretty sure Ronaldo was off side though. Not keeping the ball well enough up the pitch. I think it was Mirallas trying to be clever on that occasion.

I know this is very early to say but Heitinga has started very well in the holding role.

Marcelo in for a tough day if this carries on.

Nice to see Jags giving it some thought about where he was going to hoof it to.

Nice play that all round.

4-1-4-1 with Heits at DM.

Yeh they say they have technical issues apparently and they are trying to sort it.

I wish they would hurry up and get going!

Im hoping this is him being experimental tbh!

Ouch not overly hopeful with that line-up.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fDFbEoq-7c Found this on youtube. He looks like your Osman type player as opposed to Gibsonesque. Good range of passing, ability to turn attack into defence nice and quickly, good turn of foot and reads the game well. Not sure if he would be as effective played deeper, especially not in the Premier League at this stage of his career but certainly full of potential.

He needs to get some games under his belt and I wouldnt write him off yet. The problem he has at the highest level under Martinez style is that he isnt very quick. I certainly think he has all the talent and he looks to be a decent passer and a decent reader of the game but I dont think his positioning is the best and he doesnt have the pace of Jags or Distin to help recover. Get him on loan to either a decent Championship team who play football or possibly to a lower level Prem team (Palace maybe?) and then see how he does.