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Si Cooper
1 Posted 21/01/2018 at 00:35:24
Paul, I'm very interested in your opinion of how Vlasic performed today. I didn't see the game live and asked if anyone could assess his performance for me as someone had singled both him and Gylfi out for particular criticism, though it was delivered as a sort of ‘look what happens when Big Sam picks players everyone has been clamouring for' comment.

Just another example of how different people can watch a game and come away with very different opinions I suppose.

Hopefully your weekend will improve now you've paid your ‘penance' of having to watch another frustrating performance.
Kieran Kinsella
2 Posted 21/01/2018 at 01:02:10
Si Cooper, Vlasic didn't really participate. Didn't see a lot of the ball but then again he didn't put himself in useful position. Against Man Utd, I thought he looked quite lively early on but not so today.

Andy McNabb
3 Posted 21/01/2018 at 02:07:44
Thanks, Paul, always enjoy your reports and the run up to the game.

I feel guilty that I get to sleep through the malaise of every performance while many of you have to watch or listen to that dross.

Anyone out there still think we won't get dragged into a relegation scrap? How we remain 9th is beyond me. 251 mins of League action without a shot on target – makes me yearn for the Walter Smith days. You lot with season tickets deserve medals.

Roger Helm
4 Posted 21/01/2018 at 06:26:24
I agree with your ratings but for Vlasic – he did nothing today, as he usually doesn't. He gets the ball on the wing, runs forward a bit then gives a simple pass square or backwards. Anyone can do that. Yet another wasted signing.

Too early to tell with Tosun but yesterday he didn't look big enough or quick enough for the Premier League. Rooney, Schneiderlin and Sigurdsson are just too slow: West Brom players, from the bottom of the table, were just running past them.

The only ones emerging with any credit were Pickford, Walcott (though he too had a quiet game) and Niasse.

Christopher Timmins
5 Posted 21/01/2018 at 11:51:04
Medals, that's what the supporters who travel week in week out deserve. I got a taste of what they have to put up with at Wembley a week ago and it's not easy.

I see where Silva was shown the door today. At least we won't have a huge compensation package to pay if we hire him. Funny, how even a mere link to Everton caused his fortunes to sink!

10 more points should see us over the line, thank God Brighton, Huddersfield and Swansea are in free fall.

Jim Harrison
6 Posted 21/01/2018 at 12:14:47
Not seen any of the game, but from reports and previous matched we need a beast of a midfielder. Strong on the ball and creative. Greyed to do the leg work and dirty work and player X to pull the strings.

ABis done. Williams should have been a stop gap. We have wingers now, who have been effective in the past. But the central foundations are too weak.

Of course we need to address left back too. But for me we have been soft through the middle for years. Teams seem to move through us quickly whilst we are sedentary.

John Raftery
7 Posted 21/01/2018 at 13:30:45
Can we dispel the notion Schneiderlin was anything other than mediocre last season? One goal against West Brom, unavailable owing to injury for big games against Liverpool, United and Chelsea, poor at Spurs and Arsenal and too often relying on Gareth Barry to help him through the closing stages of matches, he was given the benefit of the doubt having been out of the picture for the first half of the season at United.

I was hoping that with a full pre-season behind him he would become the fulcrum of the team. Instead he has become a liability, failing to shield the defence, seemingly incapable of working in partnership with midfield colleagues and offering nothing going forward. The contrast yesterday with Gareth Barry was stark.

Walcott had a decent game, showed some nice touches and made the most of what little service he had. He must be alarmed though at the shambles around him.

Moving Sigurdsson into the middle failed miserably. His lack of pace makes him too easy to crowd out and renders his passing ability largely redundant. The consequence is he becomes nothing more than a £45m one trick pony taking free kicks and corners.

We badly need a driving, mobile midfielder who can get around the park and turn defence quickly into attack.

Graham Morris
8 Posted 21/01/2018 at 16:37:00
This situation is getting ridiculous. That performance was unacceptable on any level and if we continue to perform like yesterday we are down and will deserve it.

I watched the game at home whilst my wife who can best be described as a casual football fan sat on the sofa browsing the internet and occasionally glanced at the TV. Her comments were sadly enlightening.

They included :

"Where did your defence go" as we let in the goal.
"It's not very exciting is it"
"Why are all your players so slow"
"For Gods sake pass to a player in blue" - Even she was getting riled now.
"Run you lazy sod" This was clearly directed at Schneiderlin.
"The crowd look bored"
"Your players don't care do they"

All very sad but so true.

The point is that the manager must see all this as well, so get it sorted.

Andy Crooks
9 Posted 21/01/2018 at 20:01:16
Too stuff as usual, Paul.
Geoff Evans
10 Posted 21/01/2018 at 21:31:29
Best wishes to Macca, get well soon.
Si Pulford
11 Posted 22/01/2018 at 20:10:00
The money we have spent on players who are just plain wrong is criminal. It's so obvious what we need. Walsh must be under real scrutiny now. Allardyce is a disaster that surely won't see the start of next season.

But the players have now failed under three managers in the same season and can't seem to muster the strength of character to put in a bit of effort and try to grab a game by the scruff of the neck.

Rooney is the only one not petrified of the ball and Sam the genius drops him. We're in relegation form and he starts our only two players with a goal threat on the bench vs the worst West Brom side for a decade. All round an absolute mess. From top to bottom.

I remain to be convinced by Moshiri, Walsh is a liability with Money, Allardyce is the least imaginative manager I've seen since mike Walker and the players haven't got any bottle.

Hopefully we stay up and rip this squad apart in the summer for a new manager.


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