What time is kick-off, bhoys?
Leigh Griffiths has been left out of the squad apparently.
The game is on Sky Sports 5.
Are the new bhoys in the squad, Bartosz?
Gordon;
Matthews, Lustig, Van Dijk, Izaguirre;
Forrest, Bitton, Johansen, McGregor;
Commons;
Stokes.
Subs: Zaluska, Ambrose, Boerrigter, Berget, Pukki, Kayal, Denayer.
Mulgrew suspended?
Why is Tonev not included?
Looking fairly sharp here. McGregor and Forrest looking lively. Is it just me or does Forrest seem leaner?
Impressed so far. We’re moving the ball a lot quicker than under Lennon. Think a lot of that may have to do with Mulgrew being out.
[QUOTE=“Il Bomber Destro, post: 999713, member: 2533”]Mulgrew suspended?
Why is Tonev not included?[/QUOTE]
Yep Mulgrew is suspended. Tonev has a knock apparently.
[QUOTE=“Il Bomber Destro, post: 999713, member: 2533”]Mulgrew suspended?
Why is Tonev not included?[/QUOTE]
He’s minding his mother, who was visiting him when the deal was struck.
Stokes is really not suited to playing this role but neither any of our strikers except maybe Baldé who doesn’t figure in our plans.
Been a bit obvious as the half has wore on. We are trying to play through Commons too much which is becoming predictable. Happy with the movement and high pressing, I’d just prefer we bypassed Commons and got it out wide earlier than trying to be so intricate.
Agreed. Stokes is a player for a different era unfortunately. He’s not quick enough to play wide and he needs a strike partner so he can only play in a 2 man forward line. That’s not very common anymore apart from the odd team with 3 at the back. He and Commons just get in eachother’s way.
Or 4-3-1-2. Pukki is not an awful lot better as a lone striker but he does like to run in behind defences which Stokes doesn’t.
Bitton has been very impressive tonight.
Walker has been on Johansen’s case all evening but he was right about him being wrong not to back himself there.
More of the defending we used in the 4-4 against Legia on display tonight. Our centre backs are getting dragged out to the wings and using huge gaps in the centre.
The full backs are getting caught ahead of the ball and then they’re not getting tight when they do get back.
Our midfielders are not sitting in to protect the centre backs when they push wide.
And the centre backs are far too quick (particularly Virgil) to get sucked wide in the first place.
Stokesy!!!
Great pressing from Commons. Stokes finished it well but can’t believe he didn’t just square it back to Commons for a tap-in.
Commons have been pressing really well alright and it has reaped dividends.
Gordon out smartly there but how the fuck did they get someone in behind our defence so easily?
Gordon has looked decent tonight actually.