I’d bring Smallwood on but not for Huddlestone. I think Doc’s having a quiet game and he’s on a yellow. Doc works his bollocks off every game but sometimes I think he’s too erratic at times. There’s been times in this game and all season where Doc has the ball but runs himself into trouble instead of looking up and making a pass.
He was absolutely dreadful that half and offered zero protection to the back 3. His contribution for the goal was shameful. The back 3 have actually done alright considering how much they've been exposed
Shows how important Smallwood is. Huddlestone might be able to pick a delightful cross but hasn’t offered anywhere near the same protection for the back three, or indeed those little clever balls to George. We look as flat as a pancake without our captain. Hook Hudd I’m afraid ASAP, ideally at half time.
Tested positive this morning so a rare miss for me today. As for the game itself. Tactically Longman doesn’t know whether to stick or twist down our right flank and Stoke scored because of that fact. They are breaking 4 v 3 on us every time we lose the ball in midfield. No wonder Baxter looks a bag of nerves. Whatever system we are suppose to be playing defensively here today it certainly ain’t working McCann and needs changing.
He really isn't though, the whole way the team is playing and the tempo has changed with him in over Smallwood, he's a player we should be bringing on, not starting. Effects us even more when the midfielder next to him who had to do all the running/tackling is on a booking.... Take him off for me at half time another poor half from KLP again imo... Bit it's just obvious he isn't a lwb so it isn't helping. Earn your money now grant
Did everyone note how pissed off KLP looked and then when the last attack broke down he hoofed the ball.... not a happy lad that im afraid...
Everything everyone has already said. Poor all round. Tymon has done a bit of growing up since he left us hasn’t he?
That was poor. As elegant as Huddlestone can be he's a liability at the moment, gets beaten far too easily then he's left stranded because he has no pace and it leaves the back 3 more exposed than they can handle. It's not just him though, we're a bit duff right across the park.
Honeyman & Doherty staying out wide is isolating Huddlestone in the centre, on his jack. If we’re going to play a luxury player, predominantly to be a ball player, then we need to offer him some protection or pull him off & get Smallwood on.
If anyone thinks Huddlestone is in the side to bust a gut sprinting back to stop an attack they're fooling themselves. He's there to create a pass and open the play which he did a number of times that half. It's Docherty who is having a poor game in what's expected of him.
This 100%. It's like the players don't realise they need to give Huddlestone support and expect him to be able to sprint around the pitch as if he's still 25.
Crowds flat as a fart maybe they have a part to play? Get the players going? Eaves done ok Greaves going forward ok Rest gash joe Allen is running the show we should man mark him he picks every ball up and doing it at walking pace got to get into them
Back to the early days of the season in that half I'm afraid. Difficult to see how we can change it though apart from Smallwood on to add a but of bite in midfield
All he seems to do ATM is moan, whinge and flap his arms about, even when he's at fault. A couple of the players today have had to speak to him of the ball today.
Sorry, that's bollocks. Our DM has a clear role in any Grant side and Huddlestone isn't doing it. He's been dribbled past at least half a dozen times in that half and it's not acceptable
Ben summarised it perfectly. Huddlestone is a luxury player in there to do a very specific role, and if we want to play him we have to understand his limitations. It's not bollocks to say that he's a 35 year old midfielder whose best days are behind him. If you don't think what he offers is enough then we should never play him again.
KLP utterly wasted wide yet again, not the game for Hudds need to block up the midfield or break Clucas’s leg he looks a class above everyone . Desperate for a proper right back Smallwood and Bernard just don’t talk
