OTF

What a crud clearance from Krul... And then noone picking up the run.

Did you not watch the game? I was watching with an assembly of FIFA approved coaches and referees and it was pretty clear to me, to them and to their unborn children that he had a poor game because the many crosses that he did put in (all from wide positions) were rubbish.

Xisco chomping at the bit to fill Shola's role. Either that or he's vying for his Burkina Faso citizenship to come through..

Brilliant! So Ferguson has an innefectual game where his crossing was useless and it's because he's been instructed to play Jonas' role!

A tad cruel to suggest that for anyone.

Full international debut for Shola at the tender age of 31 (relative age 41) for Nigeria. What's the bet he comes back crocked?

How much did he look like he just didn't give a crap against us? If that can't motivate him to put the effort in then he'll never be any good. Shame.

Should play Anita at RB and get him and Santon involved in playing the ball out as much as possible... and hope that Tiote and Cabaye play like it's 2011.

It's Cisse, he has stunk it up this season. Noone couldd play with him, nothign to do with Ba IMO. Ba is actually quite versatile though he may prefer playing through the middle.

On the individual front it's hard to single players out as it's the cohesion and teamwork that is missing. Noone is working hard for their teammates. Ben Arfa had some excellent runs, but his final balls were poor. Santon was dynamic and adept on balance probably our best player. Krul made a good save (though Carroll was off-side). Ba was quite decent in a very poor side. The free-kicks to Williamson have to go, they're completely useless. Defensively Ferguson has a long way to go to be of suitable standard. He can get pace and movement on crosses but in this game they were very poor and never a threat. Badly scuffed a very good chance on his favoured left. Cabaye seemingly has no desire, doesn't do the hard work anymore and tries to score with ridiculous volleys. Anita plays like he's a physical presence, but he is not. Cisse is embarrassingly poor, his decision making, passing, off the ball runs... all of it.

Just got around to watching this and have to say that I wish I didn't. What an eyesore of a match that was. We were utterly pathetic, not up for it, no movement no shape and seemingly no care.

Ferguson is good to have as an impact sub. His effectiveness is muted to an extent when he is started. In attack he is better coming from a deeper defensive position, except defensively he is positionally quite poor so there-in lies the dilemma. He's not as effective playing as an actual side midfielder, perhaps he could work playing as a winger in a 4-3-3. Has to continue with the effective cameos in league games and solid performances in cup games to earn the right to start. All of my observations are made with relatively limited exposure to seeing him play - as would be the case for anyone who has only watched our first team games (and one or two reserve matches). Jonas has not been at his best for the last run of games, but people are so quick to forget... earlier in the season spare one game he was consistently amongst our top performers. IMO our team is struggling from not having a set formation with well defined roles. We have Perch doing his best switching from fullback to holding midfield, likewise with Anita.. Jonas and Cabaye don't have the defined roles they once had - and IMO only Ben Arfa can perform favourably in a formation where the midfield can roam. Tiote has been mostly poor when he's played, which is not often enough. The stability that we had at the start of last season has not been there this year both in the personel and the structure, and they are logically the primary reasons why we've been quite laboured and haggard through many of our matches.

is shit. Tiote.Cabaye.Perch

He's had some decent games in defense but it's the technical ability and passing of Coloccini coming out of defense that we'll miss most - plus the fact that we look so much better positionally with him out there, generally improves the composure of the entire team.

In all honesty we're lucky to get a point there. Coloccini's red is really really going to hurt us given we have a run of games coming up where we should be collecting some points.

Fuck! Red for Coloccini. Deserved. Probably.

Cisse had more time than he realised there.

Ba's first touch is generally much better than Cisse's. Excellent block from Taylor there. We're giving them too much space.

Shelvey embarrassingly poor there, spared some blushes for us.

Had to be that cunt didn't it.

Touch of the Shola's from Sammy... But somehow it's a corner...

Sterling kicking out from the ground twice there, impetuos little twat.

Enrique's passing has been horrid.

Not even a yellow for that. Tiote would have seen red.

Ba goes off with a knock replaced by Ameobi. Oddly enough HBA borrows Ba's gloves... Cutbacks eh.