Howay

I noticed Tamas Kadar signed for Dynamo Kiev a couple of days ago from Lech Poznan, he must be a canny player nowadays. Shame Pardew thought he wasn't worth a new contract a few years ago, had injury problems at us but it seems he had potential.

Clement is doing a good job turning Swansea round mind. Leicester look shambolic on the other hand, it was always going to be a one off as players like Vardy got sussed out and reverted more to their level as opposed to the purple patch they were going through but I was expecting mid-table. Kante is obviously a huge miss but it's crackers how disjointed they look without him, he really kept the pressure going on their attacks and shut a lot down. I think Troy Deeney was saying it feels more comfortable getting at their back line as you always felt rushed knowing Kante would be running back. All those big new contracts are going to be a right fucker for them if they do drop down, cheeky summer bid for Mahrez if they do .

@@strawbI don't think I put my point across well. I was actually agreeing with you, I was pointing to the fact that we're top of the league with some players in the side that are complete liabilities to show how much we're overcoming rather than being sarcastic about your point. I agree with the rest of your post here in all. I said in another post that I remember us grinding out a lot of wins last time. I think the players suited the tactics better last time round so the team appeared more effective to watch but we're not much off where they were points wise anyway. As long as we go up I'm happy.

Aye. The worrying part about Colback is that today wasn't even an exceptionally bad game for him, he has had plenty games where he's as much of a liability as he was today. We all said the other game where he gave away that free kick outside the box and the opposition scored should be his last, he gave away 2-3 in similar positions today ffs. Really hope this season is the last we had to put up with him, as bad as players like Dummett and Gouffran can be they don't give away the sheer volume of ridiculously needless free kicks this plank gives away. The sheer stupidity of the first one was staggering, the bloke was isolated by about 30 yards, they had no one charging into the box, he was running right out to the corner and Yedlin had him comfortably covered, then in comes Colback clattering into him from behind and they had a real chance a minute into the game.

SAFC official New York City piss up 2017 tbh.

I agree that we should have strengthened, it would have been a whole lot more comfortable of a promotion if we had. I'm still extremely confident of us going up as I have been basically all season. If you're going to get through a 46 game season you're going to have games like today, especially when you're really relying heavily on one or two players to create anything. I'm not sure why the Derby game was brought up as we were good in the first half and if Gayle had played (and been on form) we'd have put that game to bed by half time, unfortunately we spurned a bunch of good chances and were hanging on at the end but again games like that will happen when you're missing the leagues top scorer. I really noticed how well Rafa has the defence marshaled today, the lines were clear and the players really stuck to them, I think the major thing I noticed was players were often missing 'their' tackle which is sometimes what afforded opportunities. Once Rafa gets better players (if he's fucking allowed and/or he stays long enough to get them) you can see we'll be solid defensively, as like Billy is saying we didn't give Wolves much today despite Colback doing his fucking best to give them good opportunities.

Riviere just fucking up a good move for Osasuna against Real Madrid there, if he had left it the lad on his team had a wide open side foot chance lined up but instead Riviere tried to score a back heel flick and kicked it off his own leg .

That's worth remembering tbf. We also really struggle when Shelvey isn't playing really well, we managed to win today while he was having a fairly poor game. He'll get back performing again soon and we'll have Gayle back too.

Another mention by the commentator that Mitrovic could have been sent off before for two yellow cards. And again Good win in a really poor match, we took our chance and Wolves were absolutely fucking hopeless. Despite a few shakey moments in defence I don't really think Wolves got many clean chances mind.

I hope we put the next match to bed before the end. Can't hack this hanging onto a 1-0 lead every week

Colback inexplicably surviving another substitution. Can we please let Diame drop into CM more if we're bringing Perez on rather than carrying on with Colback ffs.

Just had a look as I remembered Atsu getting a good amount of games. It seems they sort of switched off between Ritchie, Gouffran and Atsu but Atsu was probably getting the least amount of games without bothering to look at more than 5-6 games. I agree he should be first choice over Gouffran mind, like Yedlin his pace is a real weapon for the side.

He basically was before he left for AFCoN wasn't he? He seemed to be getting more starts than Gouffran in the games leading up to it iirc.

Imagine how good we would be without Paul and Jack. I think we've given about one free kick away in our half if you exclude their 30. They must have a pass completion % of about 22 between them as well.

Aye that sounds like the term they use. Barca did it with Messi, we're doing it with Gouff, nee difference man.

"A case for handball against Colback" In what possible way? Where the fuck else could the bloke put his fucking arm man? If his arm wasn't there it would have hit his side anyway so it gave no advantage hitting his elbow.

Another foul from Jack, is that five now?

There was a moment before where the ball was coming high to Dummett, there was no one within 20 yards of him and he could have remained where he was and took it down on his chest. Instead he chose to attack the ball and almost mistimed it, barely catching it on the top of his head and flicking it right to a Wolves player. He just goes right into panic mode anytime the ball comes near him. I'd like to see what Lazaar can do given a run in the side, it was the same thing with Anita and Yedlin on the other side and Yedlin has been far better once he has had a proper run. I also agree that Atsu should be starter over Gouff.

It's probably a defensive move really, he's went with keeping Gouffrans graft on while adding the pace of Atsu rather than bringing on an out and out striker.

Sunderland are absolutely fucking shite like.

Agreed, some of his movement is really good tbh.

The Gouff?

Can't see him getting a game once Gayle is back after this performance tbh, as you say this has really confirmed (what is assumed to be) Rafa's argument.

I know you don't like him. I'm usually willing to give him a break since we have other rotters in the side but he's being a bit daft today.

We're mint tbh. We have a lad that randomly gifts the opposition free kicks in great areas and a full back that consistently passes the ball directly to opposition midfielders. The fact we have those utter liabilities playing somewhat consistently and still manage to win is staggering. I'll be happy if we grit this one out tbh, both sides are having a stinker today. We have looked brilliant at times recently but nowt seems to be clicking today and Shelvey is having an off day, maybe we'll click 2nd half the same way they switched off 2nd half the other week.