We are playing well here but Gomis is killing us up front. He's not in the correct positions, and when he is, he loses the ball. Doesn't offer us anything defensively either. Routs is doing his job and Gomis's job.
Rather even game, Stoke edge it though. Don't think we can take a midfielder off for another winger but gomis needs to get off the pitch and out of our club HT sub <Gomis >Paloschi 6 shots each 2-1 on target Even possession
Our instinct is too negative. Most of the team looks to go sideways or backwards, and if that's not available then they go forward as a last resort. So many times there has been space to go forward, or a threatening pass forward but the easy safe option has been taken - Fer has been particularly guilty. Only once have we really threatened and that was Corks effort at the end of that half. Can't see us scoring unless something changes - preferably the manager.
The trouble though is that Gomis is never in these bloody positions to receive the ball. I'd take him off and put Palo or Emnes up front. Gomis should never wear the shirt again. Useless sack of.....!
I feel like this game is crying for 2 wingers. There is space down the flanks of Stoke - two full backs who won't deal well with trickery and pace. Let Routledge and Montero go one-on-one with their respective wingers for a half and we could see something here. It's all very narrow from us, and it's no wonder we tend to go sideways/backwards because there's no width and the centre of the pitch is packed... However, even though we've not been fantastic, there is a threatening edge to us today. Need to make the most of this - we're well in this match.
Gomis has to be taken off at half time. he's costing us possession, surely Emnes would be better option than this fat donkey...............
That s because our manager wants them to go backwards. He is just to negative, when you spend all week working on defending and not conceding and **** all on attacking play, when you actually need to score a goal they are still in that negative frame. He has to go.
He keeps losing the ball, doesn't bust a gut to get in the right areas of the pitch, and laughs when he puts the ball in row Z.
Bk everyone can see that and not just this game nearly every game, but he will just not go with it. I watched Kingsley win the ball against Villa and look to go forward and not a white shirt in front of him and there was so much room there. This guy is just to negative to go for it.
In all seriousness, and I don't normally say this, but Britton has been terrible today. Losing the ball in crucial areas a lot - got Williams his yellow by losing possession, just played an awful one-two with Fernandez. Being shown up for lack of pace by Arnautovic and Bojan regularly, and being out-muscled. Very poor day for him.
