Ramsey came on and almost lost it for us. Diaby got much worse in the second half. I thought his first half was ok. Both players just not good enough yet. Giroud needs to improve. Walcott should have come on much earlier. Oxo doesn't look ready for this stage. Ratings: Mannone 7 Gibbs 7 Vermaelen 6 Mertesacker 8 Jenkinson 8 Arteta 7 Diaby 6 Cazorla 8 Gerinvho 5 Podolski 7 Giroud 6 Walcott 7 Oxo 6 Ramsey 6
At least we can defend now.Thats a huge positive. It almost looks like we know what we're doing at the back. Verm and Mert has to be our starting partnership for now.
I don't think we should panic at all. The defence are playing well, this time last season we were hermorrhaging goals. The midfield look really good and we're creating chances. The goals will come. It's not unheard of for two new strikers to take more than a couple of games to settle in and start scoring. Both Podolski and Giroud came close today. Positive signs for me, I think we'll be fine.
A lot of the BBC 'experts' are praising Stoke and saying what a good point it is for them but surely, as the home team, they should be expected to create far more than they did? We're so used to hearing about how we 'struggle against the Stoke physicality' but they barely threatened all afternoon and the crowd were only vocal because they were booing our players!
How did Ramsey almost lose it for us? He had a decent shot, which is far more then Gervinho can say. Ramsey did nothing wrong when he came on
If we get a DM, we will be far better. Cazorla and Arteta can push further forward without having to worry.
He has got a lot of stick in pre-season, but I thought Jenkinson did really well today. Never got beat and was really tight to his man and also made one excellent far post clearance with his head.
Good to see us composed in defence. I'd still start Kos over Mert, but he's a very good CB and will get plenty of games this season.
Stoke were boring as ****. Typical 10 men behind the ball approach, but unfortunately we're always gonna face this all season. We need more creative urgency, that was poor. Ramsey was utter ****e when he came on, give me Diaby any day.
now then , did you expect the BBC to praise us. ? We could have scored 6 and they would have said its because stoke were terrible. Dont expect praise from the media , we are not on the list. Imagine the whooping if it were US at the bottom of the table and not the good old cheeky scousers .
Anyway, chin up lads, we got a point at Stoke, we made their set pieces look crap etc. We avoided the usual issues. Liverpool next week, that game should be more open, 2 attacking sides, should be excellent.
