Nobody outside the Pozzo network seems remotely interested in taking them off our hands unfortunately. A few performances for Udinese might help in that regard but they remain utter tat. We've been trying to get rid of Okaka for 3 or 4 windows now.
The highlights are now on the official site. It's the first time I've seen the freekick in the last minute. Now, I thought Atwell had a good game on Saturday, from what I saw of him, but why does he blow for a freekick after Pereyra takes our kick? At first I thought he gave it for a foul on Phil Jones, and to be fair Britos did pull his arm, but he didn't blow for that. He blew for some innocuous coming together of Britos, Success and Shaw, where clearly no foul was committed. He definitely did not blow for a foul on Jones, as there was a full 2 seconds of play but he didn't like the way we challenged for the ball when heading it back to Gray. There was no foul on Shaw yet because Jones was sitting on the floor, he blew his whistle. I think Atwell got lucky there, as you could claim there was a foul on Jones, however he clearly let that go, and blew his whistle for a fictitious event 2 seconds later. When you see Chelsea's winning goal against Cardiff was allowed to stand, when Giroud climbed all over the Cardiff defender, it really annoys me, that so many referees do their best to help the big clubs. Even their first goal, which was onside and valid, but how many times has that sort of thing gone against us? Had we scored that I'm sure the linesman would have incorrectly flagged for offside and we'd be cursing our luck again. VAR is going to help a lot in factual events, but it will not prevent this type of bias from occurring.
Didn't anyone else notice Janmaat running to the tunnel after he'd been subbed? Looked like he was in a rush to avoid a major bowel misfunction
The likes of Gray, Gomes, Kabasele, Cleverley and Kiko have been in and out of the team to a similar degree as Masina this season, without showing many signs of a drop from their usual standards when called upon. Quina and Wilmot have also looked sharp enough when given chances. Unfortunately it doesn't appear to be rust with Masina, he is just pony. In the pre-season prediction thread I had him down for 'flop of the season', and said about him: "He could be good going forward, but based on pre-season there are question marks about his pace and defensive concentration" and both those things have indeed been repeatedly shown up.
Fair point. But then none of the players you name there is in their first season in English football having just moved to the country. Masina is a good age, wasn't a particularly cheap buy, nor from one of the usual sources (within the family network or using the same old Belgian agent) and was previously starting regularly in a decent top division. I'm just inclined to give him more time before writing him off.
My opinion is that he may be more suited to a 3 at the back and maybe pre-season that formation was being considered. As for his current performances, I really don't think they are that bad overall.
We must have won the expected goals thing about 4-0. For long periods we were playing like the top 6 team at home. Gracia for Man of the Season.
Interesting quote from OGS in the article. Their changing room like a funeral after the spanking we administered to them.
If you had a punctured bicycle on a hillside desolate, nature might make a man of you. Thats difference enough for me