Howay

I like that they always refer to Wijnaldum as their transfer target, if that were true why go on about it as if it belittles the fact Newcastle own a football player better technically than any player in their clubs history? So your lot had interest in a really talented player and lost out on him, not really something to keep bringing up is it? Enjoy the shite version of him and that French lad who seems more unstable than Cattermole. Christ they're shite.

Cracking goal by Coutinho that, only decent thing in a totally dross game. The pundits will be pulling their ends off over that.

Aye they'd fit right in if this game was shot in black and white

Aye what are people meant to copy? It's not exactly working.

Aye this is absolutely horrific. Liverpool look fucking crap.

Losers, absolute fucking losers.

Aye he could well be, I'm hoping he gets a lot of chances to play as the high pressing way we seem to be playing will need players to be rotated.

We looked a hell of a lot better than I thought we would, as I said earlier in the thread I thought it'd take a while for McClaren's tactics to take hold but it looks like he has managed it quickly. It was probably a fair result on balance but I really thought we had them, agree that we started to lose control once Anita went off and Wijnaldum got tired. Haidara was pretty poor all day defensively I thought, gifted them multiple free crosses the 2nd goal coming when he stood in the box marking Colo's man who Colo already had covered and he wasn't able to get out to his man in time. The defenders in the box were also piss poor trying to defend the crosses mind. Think left back should be a priority in the remainder of the window. The tactics really showed what Anita could do finally, he was great today in the role dropping in between the CB's and moving the ball out. Mbemba looked rapid and managed Mane's pace well most of the game, imagine how horrific it would have been watching Iron Mike try to cover him. Hopefully Cisse can start controlling the ball a bit better because I thought it was costing us possession over and over again as nowt was really sticking up front with him there, think Austin would have looked good up there today.

Ahh no surprise mind.

Aye id like to see aarons on against this cedric who is cleary one misstep from a red.

We actually look like a footy team...

That a 4m loss for the tramps?

Think we'll lose this tbh, it'll take a little while for McClaren and co to really get settled in and I think Southampton will prove too much for our lot as they're now miles ahead of us mainly thanks to bog Mikes fucking about.

This, it's fucking horrid.

Fucking hell

A trialist for York scored What a shambles even if it is a friendly.

That is a downside, I guess if we went that way the hope would be lascelles and Taylor/Colo would be able to manage.

I know it would never happen but Villa would never live that one down basically using the entire Delph fee on Mike Williamson.

I think he's been better than Colo over the last few year tbh. I have little faith in Colocinni really, I hope most of his decline has been a symptom of playing alongside Williamson and a better defender will see him improve but he seems to have lost a lot of pace and it seems to leave him frustrated as fuck. If this Mbemba lad is decent on the ball (which he seems to be from clips) then a Shawcross type would be a class partner for him, I think it's irrelevant mind as Shawcross would be expensive as fuck. Truthfully with the 15m that's being banded about for Austin I'd rather sign a CB like Matip now and wait until January to sign Austin (of course I'd rather just get both in now but it is Ashley we're talking about) where his price will be a lot lower, unless he goes and signs a new contract with QPR.

Colback is a decent lower end of the table PL player imo, if we want higher then he should be a squad player rather than a starter every week. He's tidy in possession, good professional and works off the ball, so I've no qualms about him covering for injured players or getting runs in the side if others are out of form. With the players we have he was the best CM over the season so unless Anita/Abeid starts producing or Tiote gets back to his form from a few years ago it's hard to argue against his inclusion. If we signed wingers and played Sissoko in central midfield alongside Wijnaldum with De Jong ahead of him then he'd probably lose his place.