Post match v Reading

[The Glove]

I think he thought the plan wouldve gone out the window with us getting beat.

[AFII]

It comes down to whether you want to base your decision on a few below-par performances or the class he has displayed during his career so far for both club and country.

It isn't that easy to play with Sissoko. You never know what to expect from him so you can't play your normal game.

[Sir Bob]

The Boro result was massive for us, it negated some of the impact of our defeat yesterday.

What it does highlight is how important injuries are even to the top teams. Today & on Wed Arsenal were without Hleb, Van Persie, Fabregas & Flamini. The result, 1 point from 2 very winnable away games. Utd struggled without Rooney & Roanldo earlier in the season, Chelsea stuttered when Drogba & Lampard were out.

I think if we keep SG & Torres free from any even moderate injuries, we will go close. If we lose them for any length of time, its virtually impossible for us to win the title.

In summary, whoever suffers the fewest injuries to key players will win the title in my view.

[AFII]

The Boro result was massive for us, it negated some of the impact of our defeat yesterday.

What it does highlight is how important injuries are even to the top teams. Today & on Wed Arsenal were without Hleb, Van Persie, Fabregas & Flamini. The result, 1 point from 2 very winnable away games. Utd struggled without Rooney & Roanldo earlier in the season, Chelsea stuttered when Drogba & Lampard were out.

I think if we keep SG & Torres free from any even moderate injuries, we will go close. If we lose them for any length of time, its virtually impossible for us to win the title.

In summary, whoever suffers the fewest injuries to key players will win the title in my view.

and that means that you must rest the key players sometimes or they will get injured.

The difficult thing is to decide when to rest them.

[Howard_lfc]

So you dont rate Mascherano but you rate Riise?

I've never said I rated Riise. I've stuck up for him and said he's not as bad as most on here make out. He's a versatile player who can be useful to us - as he has been in the past.

Mascherano missed a couple of passes that could have put us in real trouble. Apart from that he was very good.

As for Howard.. I have stopped reading his posts on football. He knows boxing better it seems.

You really are quite arrogant and conceited aren't you Tomas? Have you ever thought of the possibility that you may be wrong, instead of posting sly digs and condescending remarks about my posts? Anyway - welcome to my ignore list.

For the sake of the other posters on here though. I'd like you to qualify how you thought Masher was 'very good' on Saturday.
From my point of view, his passing was again below par - excruciatingly so at times. He was also absent when Hunt & Harper galloped through the middle for the 2nd and 3rd goals when he was supposed to be the holding midfielder (Hamman would have stopped them). He also offered little or nothing to the attack.Again. And his lack of range of passing means he will never dictate a game of football.

So please if you will - pass on your thoughts to the other good folk of Est. I'm sure they're dying to find out.

[Skillz]

I've never said I rated Riise. I've stuck up for him and said he's not as bad as most on here make out. He's a versatile player who can be useful to us - as he has been in the past.



You really are quite arrogant and conceited aren't you Tomas? Have you ever thought of the possibility that you may be wrong, instead of posting sly digs and condescending remarks about my posts? Anyway - welcome to my ignore list.
For the sake of the other posters on here though. I'd like you to qualify how you thought Masher was 'very good' on Saturday.
From my point of view, his passing was again below par - excruciatingly so at times. He was also absent when Hunt & Harper galloped through the middle for the 2nd and 3rd goals when he was supposed to be the holding midfielder (Hamman would have stopped them). He also offered little or nothing to the attack.Again. And his lack of range of passing means he will never dictate a game of football.

So please if you will - pass on your thoughts to the other good folk of Est. I'm sure they're dying to find out.

He's a mad Scando. You should forgive him really, they know not what they say.

[tomasjj]

You really are quite arrogant and conceited aren't you Tomas? Have you ever thought of the possibility that you may be wrong, instead of posting sly digs and condescending remarks about my posts? Anyway - welcome to my ignore list.

For the sake of the other posters on here though. I'd like you to qualify how you thought Masher was 'very good' on Saturday.
From my point of view, his passing was again below par - excruciatingly so at times. He was also absent when Hunt & Harper galloped through the middle for the 2nd and 3rd goals when he was supposed to be the holding midfielder (Hamman would have stopped them). He also offered little or nothing to the attack.Again. And his lack of range of passing means he will never dictate a game of football.

So please if you will - pass on your thoughts to the other good folk of Est. I'm sure they're dying to find out.

So now all of a sudden you are very serious and not bantering at all, like we have done in the past?
Well excuse me for not being able to follow.

[tomasjj]

He's a mad Scando. You should forgive him really, they know not what they say.

[The Glove]

I've never said I rated Riise. I've stuck up for him and said he's not as bad as most on here make out. He's a versatile player who can be useful to us - as he has been in the past.

In the past being the main line there. His time is up.

From my point of view, his passing was again below par - excruciatingly so at times. He was also absent when Hunt & Harper galloped through the middle for the 2nd and 3rd goals when he was supposed to be the holding midfielder (Hamman would have stopped them). He also offered little or nothing to the attack.Again. And his lack of range of passing means he will never dictate a game of football.

So please if you will - pass on your thoughts to the other good folk of Est. I'm sure they're dying to find out.

Mascherano didnt have a great game on Saturday. No one really did. The fact Momo has won MOM kinda highlights this. Anyway, I think you need to watch Mascherano as he is fast becoming and will be one of the greatest midfielders in the world. But its ok if you dont, A mate of my Da's never rated Keegan. Mascherano is immense. His passing has been a bit wayward but so has everyone elses and there are a lot worse offenders than him in our team. The day he becomes one of our worst players is the day we have players like Ronaldinho etc because thats the standard of player/team he would fit in.

[Skillz]

Couldn't help myself

[Howard_lfc]

In the past being the main line there. His time is up.





Mascherano didnt have a great game on Saturday. No one really did. The fact Momo has won MOM kinda highlights this. Anyway, I think you need to watch Mascherano as he is fast becoming and will be one of the greatest midfielders in the world. But its ok if you dont, A mate of my Da's never rated Keegan. Mascherano is immense. His passing has been a bit wayward but so has everyone elses and there are a lot worse offenders than him in our team. The day he becomes one of our worst players is the day we have players like Ronaldinho etc because thats the standard of player/team he would fit in.

I do watch him and he doesn't do it for me. I know what you're trying to say but IMO if that's the case then that makes Stevie and Xabi stellar players - coz they're far more complete than Masher who for me is hustle and bustle. An argentinian Robbie Savage if you will!!! Lol. You get my drift though.

[The Glove]

I do watch him and he doesn't do it for me. I know what you're trying to say but IMO if that's the case then that makes Stevie and Xabi stellar players - coz they're far more complete than Masher who for me is hustle and bustle. An argentinian Robbie Savage if you will!!! Lol. You get my drift though.

What are you expecting from Mascherano, what role do you think he should be doing?

[Craig_H]

Masher's one of the best in the world at what he does, but the question mark is more regarding the position and role itself, than JM.

For what it's worth, when he plays, he needs SG alongside him because Masher's so defensive that you need a gerrard type to balance it out going forward.

[The Glove]

Masher's one of the best in the world at what he does, but the question mark is more regarding the position and role itself, than JM.

For what it's worth, when he plays, he needs SG alongside him because Masher's so defensive that you need a gerrard type to balance it out going forward.

I thought he played really well with Alonso in the few games we saw them together. Either or for me really.

[Craig_H]

If it enables Xabi to get forward and 'playmake' further up the park, then yeah, i'd have no qualms with that on the odd occasion.

My biggest issue with CM is that ONE of them MUST have a goal threat. I've said it for years, but if we play 2 CMs and neither of them get into the box or ahead of the strikers, it's woeful.