What was missing last night

[bluestevon]

we missed a bit of luck that we have had in recent games, performance level was around the same as the other games - arsenal aside, just palace took their chances we didn't simple as really, get focused and 2 arsenal level performances at home needed now, with any luck we will get the luck we will need in the away games and arsenal dont have a resurgence and drop points, we can do it still

 

[Barkley85]

We'll just have to accept europa league and dream of what could have been if we hit the first 3 games running, hopefully we have money for lukaku as he's vital for our future, he had a bad game but looked to have been carrying that knock all game imo and is only 20 yet plays non stop. Imagine barkley or del playing week in week out they would be knackered but we have no one to cover him with the other 2 injured. Lets just regroup for next season, get the injured players back and hopefully bring a few good signings in although im convinced we needed CL footie to be able to afford what bobby wants ie. Lukaku and probably another 1-2 players on top of that!

 

[composter]

A six pack, bag of coke and a stripper who does extras.

Velios's rider, I'm given to believe

 

[SpurtingLesbian]

Velios's rider, I'm given to believe

you wouldn't get far on him, even with a decent saddle.

 

[streeky]

everyone talking about stones use of the ball, but he did not defend last night .at fault for 2 of the 3 goals, jags will be back Saturday.

 

[streeky]

or sunday even oops

 

[banno]

RM made a big mistake by selecting this line up - He should of started with Osman & Naismith and left McGeady & Deulofeu on the bench.

Naismith maybe slow but he makes good runs, and when a team is defending with 9 men, you need players to make runs.

With the team we started with, will not win us many games.

The team he selected looked excellent on paper and I bet lots of us were very happy with it. Its just hindsight that makes it look not too good. If Osman and Naismith started I don't think many people on here would have been too thrilled and if it was the same scoreline and performance then people would also have been on here saying 'only if he played ...so and so. We cannot use hindsight as a tool to point the finger....even though we all do.

 

[allezlesbleus]

McCarthy from start, Lukaku getting on end of crosses, Mirallas getting us to 2-2 with back post chance. That goes in and we go on to win IMO.

 

[danka duncan]

The ability to pass the ball is what was missing last night. The usual possession game was great at the back, then came to midfield. The amount of times a through ball was attempted and never even had any hope of reaching the target player. Gave the ball away so many times it was frustrating.

Still though, has to be said - RM first season - highest points tally since PL began - in 5th, 1 point behind Gooners, CL still a possibility, played crap last night and still scored twice.....

 

[Stan Lee Park]

What was missing? McCarthy, obviously, plus a proper balance in the side. Three wingers, two of whom just run with their heads down and become very predictable. Arguably, neither Gerry or McGeady are worth their place in the starting line-up, both are impact subs.
Also, Bobby's inclination to play three at the back - which is really five at the back. For long periods, Barry was playing at centre half with Stones and Distin either side of him. Despite this, the full backs got forward far less than they usually do and Barkley was being overwhelmed in midfield trying to perform a one-man holding operation..
Oh - and was Lukaku playing?

 

[banno]

Lukaku is so frustrating at times. Its like giving him a kick in the first few minutes and he doesn't like it so hides.
I suppose at 20 we are relying too much on him and consistency is not part of his game just yet...just like Ross.

 

[Khalekan]

I am wondering if the major mistake in team selection was the rotating of Naismith and that Lukaku should have been left on the bench if he wanted to start with the three wingmen.

 

[toffee matt]

I am wondering if the major mistake in team selection was the rotating of Naismith and that Lukaku should have been left on the bench if he wanted to start with the three wingmen.

Naismith should have started with one off delefou or miralles left on the bench. It would have given the team more balance

 

[Aidey9]

I thought we lacked players making runs from deep and beyond the Palace back line and dragging there defenders out of there comfort zones. Defending against us last night was too easy for Palace.

All we ended up doing last night for large parts of the second half was play from left to right and vice verse infront of Palace and apart from our goals, no one was willing enough to run beyond Lukaku and in behind the Palace back line and cause them problems.

 

[georgie]

We beat Sunderland by one goal; we probably only deserved a draw. We lost to Palace by one goal; we probably deserved to at least draw. That's football, Palace only had like 5 chances and very rarely in those circumstances do a team score three of them. Then again, when Ki had that far post header at the weekend, and it's very rare that a player misses the goal from that position. Swings and roundabouts