Yep so I see, still favourites even after today. I see we are up to joint 3rd favourites, with Derby - our next challenge. Get a result there and we will have got results v 1st and 3rd favourites
Marcos’ take Might have been a bit premature with my eulogies after beating Burton last year but that was the real deal today, still a bit stunned tbh. We had space between our keeper and back four, back four and midfield and midfield and attack. I can’t believe that is because Stoke were poor (they’ll come good), but I think an astonishingly good coach may.... well, astonish us. Even PH purred about us and he must have felt garbage watching that. Yes, just one game but I feared the worst today if I’m honest, stunned doesn’t quite justify how I feel. Jealous of Shaks and all those that went, atmosphere looked electric. Won’t knock a single player other than to say Berardi and Alioski need to be first reserves along with Dallas, good but not gold. Every other player, outstanding. Can’t think of anyone that doesn’t rate Phillips but, if they do, watch today and watch again, there is a reason qualified coaches play him. All of the OLOFs should hang their heads in shame for their treatment of Cooper, without him we’d have lost today. Ayling, like a new signing, BPF, not just an end of season hangover stand in, Douglas - drooling (Jansson could be in double figures if he stays ), Saiz, forgotten how good he is, Hernandez, read Saiz, Klich, I hang my head - well played sir and Roofe.... May never be Premier League but not a team in the Championship wouldn’t want him, deserved MOTM for his 11/10 performance. Yep, it’s only three points but, boy, I think we needed not to be playing catch up this year Bucks, delete my other posts with my blessing, as guilty as anyone for forgetting myself but heady stuff that today. For the record, you and the other two mods have my absolute support, would rather eat my own elbow than have to put up with the pap you guys do
I may have it wrong as I was sat 160 steps up in the east upper,but wasn't it Berardi who had 2 players bearing down on the goal looking a certain goal and somehow managed to knock away the pass between them.BRILLIANT
What. A. Match! Haven't seen us dominate for 90 mins like that for donkeys years. Was busting for the lav at half time but couldn't get near because of the queue. Think everyone might have been piling in for a tug. I could understand that. The first 45 was nothing short of a religious experience. After the match, I heard a bloke call in to the radio & award each player 10/10. Know what? He was dead right. Been quite some time since that accolade. I see that Roofe got MOTM, but for me, it was Saiz. Yup, he got 10/10 like everyone else, but he's been consistently crap all pre season. I don't know where he pulled that performance out of. Wow! Only 2 blemishes, which due to the overall performance must be considered minor. Berra lost the ball when he really shouldn't have & nearly cost us a goal. Phillips went in 2 footed in front of the ref & never even got a yellow, far less the red with -15 points we'd get from most refs. Not sure if it was clear on the radio or streams, but the amount of running off the ball was unbelievable, whether an attack was on or not. Alioski & Roofe were perpetual motion. I must confess that I'm struggling to remember any other salient points. I am still sitting here absolutely stunned, 3 hours later. Felt like I should have rolled over & had a *** at the end of the 90 mins. Yup, that good! Stoke fans came by the Peacock en mass after the match, calling out for a fight. A few of them got clattered, but the cops appeared in jig time & trapped them with 4 big vans, a posse of horses & loads of cops. Sure I spotted a few getting a battering from the cops. I think they were embarrassed that they allowed such a large unescorted mob to roam freely. Pricks. Might be slightly biased as I was the first car waiting to get out of the Peacock & fair game for them. I wouldn't have hesitated to run a few over. Anyone who's seen my motor will realise I don't care about dents etc.
Ive now watched the game twice and its clear to see the quality Bielsa has clearly brought to the whole setup. My big worry was his lack of experience of English football could be a problem. The idea of defending at your opponents penalty area and is a Guadiola thing. Barcelona teams always play that way and something I greatly admire, dont understand other teams dont do it. I was unsure if our players would be capable of it but boy did they do it to perfection. McClean bullied off the ball on numerous occasions. Long time since Ive felt this positive after first game of season. Only one game of course but hugely promising
Oh sugar, we appear to have a hacking problem! Top of the day to you Meathman, that was what it should be about wasn’t it?
Couldn't tell at the time but Cooper went up to him and ruffled his hair,must have been taking the piss.
I might be mixing up incidents but I think that was the one where Berardi lost the ball to create the dangerous situation. Maybe Cooper was just saying ‘don’t worry about it’
The OS says it was Cooper, Chesh, see match report. Does not say how situation arose but I think it was Berardi getting caught out
