Today's line up

I think you're too harsh on Slimani generally, TB. He is what he is, took his goal very well today and the match at the weekend showed that he's a dangerous presence in the box - a great option to have.

That said, it has to be Okazaki starting in the big games and I'm glad he was rested today; he will be needed in Madrid.

I know DM but it does get COE going.

It's been very difficult for any of the new players this season with the way we've played, Slimani is one of the few who has done his job when called upon.

Saying that though, we're as far as he's likely to progress, I don't think we'll be fighting off bids from the big Clubs for him.

We massively missed Ndidi yesterday and they completely over ran our midfield, that's why we lost. The defending was a worry but I think with both fullbacks and Ndidi we're a lot more solid.

It just highlights how desperately we need the five players to give ourselves better options.

As for Benny, I think we saw what Mersey and Dunge had been fearing but let's hope he got them all out of his system yesterday. No doubt they'll go through that with him, work on those issues and become a better player.

defencively poor but not surprise against a very good Everrton despite what CoE said of them pre match.

Benny get rightly some stick but defending balls into the six yard box when you know your keepers staying at home is hard. apart from the work class save i felt he had a poor game. Instead of pushing King he should get off his line and collect the ball. It could not of been any worse than conceeding anyway.

I thought Slim was man of the match first half and did not get any service second half Ulloa did what Ulloa does get into position and does not score thats why he's forth choise. Musa looked better and more relaxed.

What Yesterday shows without a Kante or Ndidi our pressing game does not work against a good footballing team like Everton.
The effects for Wednesday are minimal and lets home Wes makes it back in ...get it Back in !

oh well

Home game for me yesterday so I grabbed a few beers with the family.

That is the only reason it's delayed me posting.

My post is predictable. Basically it's to highlight the positional incompetence and poor decision making of Amartey and Benny.

Shocking. Both of them. Not helped by an over run midfield but watching your man waltz passed you from set pieces repeatedly is unacceptable.

I really hope Simpson, N'didi and Fuchs are fit and ready for Wednesday. I wish Morgan was as well!

Onwards.

Quite rightly some of our players are getting taken to task after yesterdays game, before the game I wanted no changes and seeing how we performed yesterday I haven't changed my opinion.

Benny has a shocker, after performing so well in the previous games it was surprising how poor his decision making was. Interesting to see that Nev has yet again decided that Bennys poor performing was down to Kasper, is there no end to this blinkered witch hunt?

We certainly missed the strength of Fuchs and his delivery, the steadiness of Simpson, the drive and control of Ndidi and the waspish performance of Shinji.

Strangely enough I was disappointed at the result ( as I think we could have got something with a full team out) but not surprised. I just hope that IF we fall to a defeat on Wednesday we don't get into a losing habit after waiting so long to find the winning habit.

With the games we have remaining we need to get at least 1 more win just to make absolutely sure of our survival, and if we had been full strength yesterday I think we have at least had a point to come home with.

But CS made his decision and we have to support him in that, I just hope it doesn't backfire.

UTF

All yesterday achieved was to tire out some of Wednesday's starters, and possibly avoid an FA charge of fielding a weakened side and a worse goal difference. CS should have played the reserves.

To be fair, they didn't look like they were tiring themselves out that much...

Wednesday is a massive game in our History, I think CS played it just about right yesterday in preparation.