Absolutely no need to change the formation. Winning > Herrera getting game time.Give over. He has to get games sometime. They have all been bad.
Rather see what Lindelof offers tbh than go back to Mike...Same shit different name
Stoke is tricky for a lot of teams. we'll be fine.No just a disappointing result
I went to the toilet at one point, must have missed the good cross. But generally, he just frustrates me.He might not be yet but delivering two crosses of which one was on point and should have scored us the winner and the other is with his weaker leg and was inaccurate seems a strange time to bring out the cliches again of him being inconsistent.
Yes reallyReally?
It's a curse, we always play shit when he does it, him especially.Pogba's hair was the only bright thing about him tonight
He at least don't get bullied at set pieces .Same shit different name
Stoke are going to be difficult for a lot of big teams. It was the same under Pulis when you knew their anti-football was gonna be very difficult to try to break down. Arsenal already lost to this lot away.Stoke is tricky for a lot of teams. we'll be fine.
It was a brilliant ball of which Lukaku should have scored the winner. I don't see why he should frustrate you this much this season when he has scored and assisted in two out of the first three PL matches for us in short cameos and has again delivered what should have been a match winning moment in the 20 minutes he got today.I went to the toilet at one point, must have missed the good cross. But generally, he just frustrates me.
Well done...That Choupo-Moting has looked poor so far anyway.
The bigger problem is though we'll face exactly the same challenge and a few harder ones against the rest of the top 6. That's 5/19 games where we'll struggle in the attacking third because we just don't have the talent there. City on the other hand are absolutely stacked and will do well against most of the top teams, as will Chelsea and Liverpool.Stoke is tricky for a lot of teams. we'll be fine.
Arsenal are the biggest joke. Don't let them be a barometer for Stoke's performance. I would like to see how would they come out against City, Liverpool, Tottenham, Chelsea or even Everton.Stoke are going to be difficult for a lot of big teams. It was the same under Pulis when you knew their anti-football was gonna be very difficult to try to break down. Arsenal already lost to this lot away.
I just hope when Shaw comes back from injury he turns into some sort of mix between Marcelo and Carlos.The bigger problem is though we'll face exactly the same challenge and a few harder ones against the rest of the top 6. That's 5/19 games where we'll struggle in the attacking third because we just don't have the talent there. City on the other hand are absolutely stacked and will do well against most of the top teams, as will Chelsea and Liverpool.
To beat the top teams you really do need a balance of a strong defense and attack, we're pretty solid defensively (today notwithstanding) and have a solid midfield, but in a chess game against top teams we just don't have the wingers or full backs to pose a serious threat.
Arsenal are pretty bad, today's game not withstanding, but they are still representitive of the top teams. Stoke are still going to offer little space to work with and on such a tightly compacted pitch as well. I reckon the likes of Liverpool and City will find it more difficult to carve out chances then a lot realise.Arsenal are the biggest joke. Don't let them be a barometer for Stoke's performance. I would like to see how would they come out against City, Liverpool, Tottenham, Chelsea or even Everton.
I would say both of them cost us the first. I'm watching BT and Rio dissected the goal pretty competently. Jones should've closed the front post and try to cut the cross, instead of gambling on the cut back, which was covered by Matic.Two things cost us two points today:
- our defence (Bailly cost us the first goal, while Jones cost us the second).
- the change in line up/formation. Herrera was a waste in CM; Pogba was a waste at number ten in the first half and Mini was a waste on the right in the first half. I am convinced that if Mata had played, with Miki at number ten and Pogba running in from behind him, we would have been more incisive and would probably have won.
On a positive note, we have drawn our fourth game this season after winning our first three (last season, we lost our fourth game) and we managed to maintain our goal difference advantage which still leaves us on top of the table.
Side note: 1. With the benefit of hindsight, Perisic (or any other equally as good or better wide man) would have been a great addition to this squad. 2. We really need a top class left back.
I would say both of them cost us the first. I'm watching BT and Rio dissected the goal pretty competently. Jones should've closed the front post and try to cut the cross, instead of gambling on the cut back, which was covered by Matic.
No, it's about the balance in midfeild. They played with a 3 and we all know pogba gets exposed in a mid 2 , they would have attacked even more.Absolutely no need to change the formation. Winning > Herrera getting game time.
Naah mate you're wrong, the problem was that our full backs were shite and we didnt have a wide player to hit the byline and cross. We should have won this game 6-2 if we played the 'right' wayGood observation.
I don't think the idea of a mid 3 was wrong. The midfeild was lethargic and mkh as a winger has to do a lot more.Two things cost us two points today:
- our defence (Bailly cost us the first goal, while Jones cost us the second).
- the change in line up/formation. Herrera was a waste in CM; Pogba was a waste at number ten in the first half and Miki was a waste on the right in the first half. I am convinced that if Mata had played, with Miki at number ten and Pogba running in from behind him, we would have been more incisive and would probably have won.
On a positive note, we have drawn our fourth game this season after winning our first three (last season, we lost our fourth game) and we managed to maintain our goal difference advantage which still leaves us on top of the table.
Side note: 1. With the benefit of having watched our first four games, Perisic (or any other equally as good or better wide man) would have been a great addition to this squad. 2. We really need a top class left back.
Yep it's pretty shit. Rashford for all his running is a headless chicken, being it's his third season now I thought he would have more composure despite still being young. Mhkitaryan is not good there either and Mata is the same. Valencia crossing is one good in every ten.Our right wing is a big problem.
Has Valencia signed that contract extension?Yep it's pretty shit. Rashford for all his running is a headless chicken, being it's his third season now I thought he would have more composure despite still being young. Mhkitaryan is not good there either and Mata is the same. Valencia crossing is one good in every ten.
Martial actually produced the best pass from wide right and generally is the best wide player we have on any flank, he should start over a Rashford for me.
Yup not the end of the world nor the season.Stoke is tricky for a lot of teams. we'll be fine.
No doubt, our left full back was crappy (Valencia was okay for me) but I think we could have won it if our full backs didn't have a totally off day.Naah mate you're wrong, the problem was that our full backs were shite and we didnt have a wide player to hit the byline and cross. We should have won this game 6-2 if we played the 'right' way
Don't really know what your problem is.What you on about? Odd character
Sorry, forgot to reply yesterday. When I say he's frustrating, I mean overall, not just this season. He has done well in his cameos but there's a reason why he's not starting yet. I really hope that he does eventually become a starter because we all know he has the talent.It was a brilliant ball of which Lukaku should have scored the winner. I don't see why he should frustrate you this much this season when he has scored and assisted in two out of the first three PL matches for us in short cameos and has again delivered what should have been a match winning moment in the 20 minutes he got today.
My problem is odd charactersDon't really know what your problem is.
In my opinion you need to win games like this even on a bad day if you really want to challenge. We played like most of the mid-table teams play against us - slowly and with too much respect. It felt like most of our lads were thinking 'hell no it's Stoke again so let's hope we get a draw from this'.
That's just my opinion of course but no need to classify my character - stranger from the web!!
Neil Swarbrick