Puncheon will be gone to, he has disappeared already from the team and hardly on twitter now aswelll. Hmm something happened?.
The first and only time we put him through with other players in good positions around him, he put it on a plate for Sharp. We do rely on him too heavily to dominate defences and its something we need to see to. He's not the quickest of players and switched-on defenders can limit his time on the ball. The rest of the team must take some of the load and feed him in where he can be more clinical.
I think that's quite harsh mate to be fair if Lallana continued he would of probably scored meaning a totally different game and in the same instance the player who committed the challenge haven't been rightfully sent off! Were still going to do it
In my opinion, Hammond and Butterfield were by far our worst players. Also, Chaplow was superb. The man never stopped running.
I'd agree with Hammond, don't think Chappers was superb though. I'd feel inclined to bring Morgan back on Saturday.
Just got back. Can't be bothered to rate everyone, but I though Hooiveld, Hammond and Lallana were our best players today. Lambert had a very off game. Strange reading from the people who watched on TV that they thought Hammond was poor? He broke up play well, passed it well enough and got stuck in (which Cork didn't seem willing to do as much). The game changed after two key moments: The first was the failure to send off Hines, which gave the home crowd and players a lift. An unbelievable decision. The ref just stood there with both sets of players screaming in his face. He had no control whatsoever. The second was when Chaplow went off and Guly came on. We came out all guns blazing after the break but seemed to lose all impetus when Guly came on. He just didn't really move, make runs or close anyone down. I'm not a Guly hater in the slightest, but he looked half-hearted today. He's decent when he has the ball, but his off-the-ball play was very, very lacking. I actually went to the game with a couple of non-Saints supporting mates (an Aberdeen fan and a Liverpool fan) who both seem surprised at how poor Guly played. They also had no idea about the current pocket of fans who single him out either (he came on the pitch to cheers and loud chants of 'Ole ole ole ole, Guly') so weren't influenced by preconceptions. I think some people need to realise that he's not the very good player he was in the first few months of the season. We played well enough, the players were up for it - just beaten by two good strikes and a terrible refereeing decision. Boro are 7th in the league, they're not a bad side. Coventry at home is a completely different proposition. On a side-note: Middlesbrough is a ****hole. When the skyline first came into view it looked like hell - massive industrial chimneys belching out fumes next to massive piles of rubbish. Home fans were some of the worst I've ever seen as well.
This sums up a lot of our fans' thoughts on here and probably explains the abuse Guly gets. Chappers was NOT superb. He ran his socks off, but he was not superb. Everyone loves a trier no matter how bad his touch or control is. I love the effort Chappers puts in, but when he is playing well and Guly is playing well, I'd have Guly anyday!
He wasn't superb, but he was our best player. He made himself available all the time and was always there as an out ball. I think it speaks volumes that when he went off we never looked like stringing a coherent move together. I thought Guly might have been able to pick up where he left off but it didn't happen.
Bit naive then really, because he is a different type of player; he was never going to charge up and down that line in the manner Chappers does. Did you get on Guly's back when he didn't do what you expected?
He's not useless. He battled really hard yesterday and it was his best performance for a while. My point is that he wasn't "superb". If he was that, he may have finsihed those two chances he had.
Hammon was OK but at times was behind the pace and got caught on the ball. Chaplow was playing pretty well before he came off - would have liked him to stay on. I thought Lallana was our best player. We took too long when we got near the box that Boro could track back rather than throwing it in there to Lambert who had an off day but neither him nor Sharp looked particularly themselves. Too many shots lashed at with power but no accuracy - Lambert's free kick, Chaplow's hit over the bar, Sharp's smash over the bar and Hooiveld's header. I thought Guly looked good going forward but as mentioned by some, his confidence has dropped hugely with the crowd getting on his back in recent weeks causing him to rarely venture up. It wasn't a bad performance and Boro didn't deserve to win but then neither did we. 1-1 would have been a fair result. Just hoping Leicester do us a favour and don't crumble like Brighton.
There has been a lot of criticism regarding Guly.....some of it is understandable. Sadly though it will be a very long time before he lives down the very amateurish mistake while defending against Pompey at Pompey. Chaplow is past his best but at least he gives all. I honestly cannot see him getting into the team in the Premier...always assuming we do not slip up next week end. Unfortunately I will say much the same about Guly.....he is a useful player but for me he is just not firing on all Cylinders at the moment. He played a lot better at the beginning of the season but has gone down hill since and in all honesty I would like to know why. No I do not think it is anything to do with people booing although that won't of helped, I think it is more than that.........
Well, people are always saying how good his work rate is! Anyway I meant more that he would link up the play and give people an option, which doesn't necessarily require charging up and down the line. And no, I support all of our players when they are playing, but that doesn't mean I can't analyse their performance critically afterwards. Beddy - it's not just Guly's performances that aren't living up to earlier in the season, quite a few players have failed to keep their good early form going in my opinion. I still think we'll have enough to get over the line next weekend but I'm glad the season doesn't go on any longer!
Good stuff. I wasn't suggesting you did, just asking. I'm pleased you give the team the support. There is nothing wrong with critiquing; I was just fed up with the instant Guly bashing at the games.
He missed a few chances but he gave no M'boro player on the ball any time. Guly is a totally different player so I don't know how you can compare the two. People backing Hammond, the play is so off the pace it's unbelievable. He sometimes get's by passed like he's not even there.
