Firstly I don’t think we should get too hung up on the result. There is no getting away from it being a bad result but the important thing is we learn from it. The first goal was unstoppable and the penalties are what happens in the opening games as players are match rusty. The third goal the game was over. Before the goal the passing was good and I thought we were doing ok albeit sometimes it’s passing for passing’s sake. But for me what was apparent was we are desperately short on quality particularly in the final third. To play a pressing passing game simply to have a system and pass is not enough you need quality players to action things or to do something unexpected other than Suarez that’s what we don’t have. Unless we sign those players we will not get fourth place this year or challenge for it. FSG must recognise that and bite the bullet before the transfer deadline. If we do them we could do well forget today’s result its one of those things.
Good post Stanley, completely agree with all of that. We definitely need more quality up front, and in some ways, this result could be a positive in some way, as it may prove to be a reality to check to those who felt we were sorted because Downing had a couple of good games. I'm not knocking Downing, but we can't be just having him as first choice RWF and have Joe Cole as a back-up WF.
Joe Cole showed he can't be relied upon. How he managed to get through a season on loan with Lille without spending his time on the treatment table, I have no idea. I still think we need a couple of forwards - a centre forward and a winger. At least one is essential.
It looks like we're gonna miss out on Sahin after a couple of days ago it was "100% certain" he was gonna make the move. Looks like he's gonna choose Arsenal now, especially now that they've sold Song to Barca.
