Clasie was like a terrier in the first half and also looked like he was trying to play good forward passes. Definitely a positive to take from the game.
He was left stranded 2 on 1 versus Arnautovic and Pieters, too often, couldn't tackle both so was left to give them space to make their own mistakes, Long should have been there to cover.
Yoshida at right back next week please! We were terrible in the final third today. Tadic & Cedric got into plenty of good positions to get the ball into the box, but seemingly every cross hit the first man. I know it's tough with usually only Pelle to aim at, but we had loads of opportunities and I think we got in and around the box brilliantly, but apart from Clasie's pass in the first 5 minutes, I can't remember one decent assist. Tough game for Pelle, Stoke completely bullied him out of it and Long is still not match fit and that's a problem for a player whose key asset is work rate. Cold and not very fun afternoon.
Stoke are just Wimbledon without the class. A bunch of bruisers. I would like to know how you get the referee in your pocket.
really?, I think that you might have missed some of the game, yes you should have had a penalty but we had 3 one on ones so in my opinion you got of lightly. You have an incredible team but today it wasnt your day. Atleast accept defeat with the same grace as you accept victory. All the best for the rest of the season
Agreed. Stoke have added technical skill to the physical side of their game and deserved to win. In fact, the 0-1 was flattering to us. Could have been 2 or 3. Not a great game and a very poor ref but we can't use that as an excuse. Sometimes you just need to accept we were second best. Koeman said before the game Stoke were beatable but it depended on how many chances we created, the level we play at and our decision making in and around the box. Our decision making was very poor today, shooting when the pass was a better option and vice versa. All in all I want to forget this one as quickly as possible!
We don't return well from international breaks....but not going to cry over one game. Shame the next one is City...let's hope they have another one like today.
IMO, Clasie lacks the speed and to a lesser degree the size and strength of Schneiderlin so will never quite reach his level. Although there is no shame in that as of all the players we have had move to bigger clubs, MS is the only one I believe will become an international star. What Clasie can do perhaps is become a different sort of player who is more involved in attack. Schneiderlin always had a silky touch and the eye for a pass, so it's not like he couldn't do it. But we had him running all over the pitch tackling people and bringing the ball from deep that he never quite developed that part of his game to its fullest. He did become an awesome tackler though. And then that just sort of became his role, and he was great at it, so why change? But he was more of a defensive mid with good playmaking skills as a bonus than a true deep lying playmaker. Clasie can be more of a deep lying playmaker with good defensive skills. At any rate, I've liked what I have seen of Clasie so far. I think he is already quite good, and will get even better. Really pleased with that transfer.
Stoke deserved to win, they had the best chances and should've scored more than 1, but we had a blatant penalty on Pelle. No excuses for Mason.
Just seen Interviews from managers. Hughes: We should have scored more, played well and they got a bit desperate trying to go down easily in the box. Koeman: we went good first half; better reaction second half. Stoke had all the chances though. Ron has so much class and honesty. I thought Stoke were very good, but Hughes does piss me off. He shows no grace whatsoever.
As you say Stoke had many opportunities to score more, but they didn't because their finishing was abysmal, so they didn't deserve to win if you take into account the failure to award a stonewall penalty, if we had scored that who knows how it would have gone.
And don't forget Fonte's chance which missed by a whisker, with Butland beaten. That would have changed the game as well.
Clasie's shot in the first half was so close it nearly hit the woman sitting in BB in the chapel with her cup of bovril. Such a great effort, and if that had gone it then we know it would've been a comfortable home win. And of course another Victor special in the second half - that almost found the river itchen.
