What a great start to a game, FOR ONCE, and an amazing dream debut for Shelvey. He wasn't as good in the 2nd half, but we look like a much more confident team with him already! The only thing that annoyed me is WE NEED TO LEARN TO KEEP THE BALL AND SEE OUT GAMES!. Other than that, I'm happy. Ratings - Elliot - 8 - Fantastic saves to save us the 2 extra points! Janmaat - 8 - Amazing 1st half. Great assist and excellent deliveries. It's good that we have someone that can pick out his runs. Mbemba - 6.5 - Unfortunate mistake from him, but he was still good throughout the match. Good, composed runs and good defending. Coloccini - 8 - Solid defending and ball control. Dummett - 7 - Good defending. Sissoko - 6 - Some good runs and play, but bad finishing and final ball. Colback - 5 - Wasteful play at times and almost cost us the 2nd goal. Not bad in total though. Shelvey - 8.5 - Beautiful play that lead to two goals, and could have had a couple of assists. Wasn't great 2nd half, but he's such an excellent ball player and his composure is just what we need. Wijnaldum 8 - Good goal. Should have had two, but great play throughout. His ability on the ball is sensational, and even if he does miss the odd chance, he's still already got a great goals tally. You can't expect him to score hattricks every game. Perez - 7 - Great first half, excellent goal, anonymous in the 2nd. Still, deserves a 7. Mitrovic - 7.5 - Should have had at least one goal, poor finishing, but excellent play as a target man. Great knock downs and hold up play. He's the right man to lead a 4-2-3-1. Saivet - n/a - Didn't see enough of him to rate. Looks like a good option. Good calm play in deep areas and some good tackling. Gouffran n/a - Good work rate to help us keep the result. McClaren - 8 - Excellent set up. My only criticism is that his team doesn't seem to want to hold onto the ball at the end of games! MOTM - Has to be Shelvey. Dream debut!
Wouldn't argue with much there Tash. I'd probably have said Wijnaldum shaded Shelvey as MOTM, but seeing as it's his debut can't really begrudge him it.
It was actually impressive until Mbemba pressed self destruct and after that you could see us getting nervous, however they got the job done
No hard feelings about Mbemba. He's 21 for petes sake, playing in the most competitve league in the world. Mistakes happen. If it was Colo I'd hold it against him, but Colos been excellent lately. Saivet did a good job imo. Looked tidy. Calm, no nonsense.
I agree, however no more **** ups we got away with it today. We've got to beat Watford and get something at goodison before I'd say we've progressed
Oh, come on, man ffs. He had more touches the time he was on than Jonjo did, he's a target man and did - for a 21 year old PL debutant - an outstanding job. Yes, he should have scored, but that he is getting into positions, bringing others in and generally taking pressure off the defence is outstanding. Superb from him today, he is growing every game. Colback was a lot better than 5 as well, today. Tidy in midfield, Shelvey brought him up a notch and stepped in well at left back. If we can get to a point where we're able to bring on Townsend for Perez (or vice versa). Add another striker and we'll be laughing. Then contemplate we expect to spend another £50m this Summer if we stay up.
Stick Sissoko up there and he would do the same job. His general play was better, but we should have won by 3 or 4 today. He can't ****ing finish to save himself.
Mitrovic was brilliant today. You know fir a fact that when it eventually clicks into place for him he will score for fun. We are crying out for a pacey striker to play alongside him. He will hold it up/ knock it on.
Mitrovic has been immense again. He put himself about, all game long. Goals will come, again, he too is 21. We need another striker who can get goals agreed. Remy would be ideal for me, even a fit and in form Cissé would be enough but there's no point relying on him right now so... buy or loan one.
Agree with Rolo on this one. Sissoko still flatters to deceive. He had a very good first half hour but then faded out of the game for long periods with the occasional second half run. He has to do more for me to merit his high opinion of himself. Mitro is young and in a foreign country and is playing in his first season in the PL. He has promise and fight and will come good if given a chance. Will never be a Shearer but other than Shearer I can't think of many other centre forwards in the last 25 years who have been as good as Shearer.
I'm not taking this sudden turn around lightly. You gits do it EVERY year over one player or another. One season it was Williamson, when you all lost your minds and thought he was fantastic, despite his obvious short-comings. Mitrovic's short-comings are much, much more obvious, and it'll be, as with Willo, a continued stint down the bottom, flirting relegation that will eventually reboot how important these short-comings are! If Mitrosexual supports him, you should know you're in the wrong camp FFS
