Oh dear, not a good result. But, palace lost and so did Fulham and west brom so it could of been worse for us tbh. Not making excuses but results went for us today as well.
I guess this is kind of a "defend the indefensible", but here goes... It's fresh legs, for someone who I did think was beginning to flag, and it does help shore us up defensively. On his day Howson is excellent, and he needs match-time to get back to where he was pre-injury. The red card makes it look worse as we then didn't have anyone to unlock a packed defence. Having said that, Stoke were creating nothing, so why rush to change things? If we were coming under pressure with Wes on the pitch, I can sort of understand it, but we weren't. The change wasn't needed at that time, and if Hughton had delayed a few minutes, the goal and/or red card would have happened, meaning Wes is worth much more for his brain than his legs, so could have stayed on for the rest of the game.
Yeah that was an odd move. Should have taken off a DM, probably Johnson and looked for a second. Not cripple our ability to attack. I would love to hear a decent post match interview where Hughton us actually challenged on his decisions. Wonder if Paxman is free to do the interviews this week. X
And technically last week games in hand could have put us in the relegation zone. This week they can't. So there's that?
No idea who I'd have given it to, I must admit. Hoolahan or Snodgrass probably better candidates though. Johnson's goal was about his only contribution, I'd have rather Howson replaced him than Wes.
Other than being in the right place for a great ball he was, as he is so frequently, a detriment to our play. First player out the door in the summer for me.
Let's face it - Hughton cannot react to things as they happen. When we need to change things, he doesn't. When we don't need, he does. He is basically extremely limited and could get away with his limitations in the Championship but not in the Prem. Whatever happens this season, in my opinion he has to go. He is just not Premiership class and never will be.
Hughton is just so crap with substitutions! I'm sure he has some friends that could text him what sub to make and when lol
Play a bit too deep to be effective in front of goal and became more anonymous as the game progressed. but we struggled to create again so he wasn't give much choice but come and get the ball.
Also west brom look shocking, even worse than us and they have already had a manger change this season and he is trying to make them play a high line, which is great because they are shipping goals. We even managed to score 2 past them so they must be really ****. I think it's going to them, us or Palace. I have a funny feeling Sunderland will be ok.
I honestly think you will survive by the skin of your scrotum! None of the sides below you are capable of putting any sort of run together apart from Sunderland.
