Would agree with all that.

Firpo had the ball in a lot of space and where we would see Alioski drive forward with it, he stopped and played a pass. Would be good to see him showing that same energy.

It was against tiring lower league opposition but Bamford and Klich looked excellent when they came up, such a step up from the first half.

Costa needs to go somewhere else and play week in week out and get his confidence back. He contributed a lot in our promotion campaign, had some moments early last season but just don’t see it working out here.

I thought Firpo grew into the game. Much more overlapping and running in the second half, where he looked more dynamic, which was sort of a role-reversal of the game at the weekend. He did hit the post, too.

Llorente played some first half passes that should probably be illegal. One killer through ball to Tyler (who I thought played well, especially when Bamford came on), and another swung over to Harrison, absolutely on a pin.

I will stand by my belief that we need another Bamford style striker more than we need another CM or winger. We just never look the same when he isn't playing, which I don't think is a slight on either of the players who replace him.

You answered my question Faith: how did Forshaw do?

Glad he's looking the part. Ecstatic about Llorente. With him fit and regular starter we'll be more formidable. Sounds like Patrick was a huge difference. Again.

Firpo and Tyler playing well is really good news.

And Harrison, damn. So happy he's signed and ours now.

Its nice to have one of these that I can comment on, by the way

Thoughts from tonight? Very happy.

Some of Llorente's passing is almost KP-esque, but from deeper lying areas. He's going to be massive for
us this season. Please stay fit.

Tyler and Patrick look to have a really good rapport.
It's easy to see why MB plays TR so much.

I think Roberts is exactly the sort of player Bielsa wants in the 10. Its just a shame that he isn't more consistent with his end product.

Amongst my friends in the east stand I admit at this stage I appear to be in the minority as far as giving Roberts the benefit of the doubt.
So I checked his stats! 81 games, eight goals amongst all competitions. I rest my case. Him and Costa should be gone. Never going to make it. Get rid.

p.s. On Wikipedia he is described as a strker! What exactly does he bring to the team?

p.s. On Wikipedia he is described as a striker What exactly does he bring to the team?

p.s judging a player on arbitrary stats aged 22, in games where he has largely been used as a substitute, is a very strange way of assessing a young player's contribution.

I prefer to use my eyes, and his performances are improving.

Oh very good Lubo, completely ignoring the stats. And by the way, I have a pair of eyes and attend every home game. One thing that isn’t improving is his ability to score a goal. And the reason he is used as a substitute is because he doesn’t deserve a start. Blind faith in every player is just that. You have to recognise that not every player who dons the shirt is going to make it. And you do nobody a favour by adopting that stance.

And by the way, what is arbitrary about statistics? Never learnt that term in maths!

I cant grasp why we keep playing forwards in midfield. Rodrigo clearly ain't a midfielder and should be bamford cover or replacement. Roberts is the same, talented but misused imo, although he looks better in 10 than Rodrigo does. Should have kept Pablo going by our lack of recruitment in the playmaker position.

Just a thought from Llorente's performance - would he be a good fit when KP is out?

Would rather see Forshaw in there but he'd probably be better than Koch.

I like Roberts, anyone know his stats when playing as a CF I think they are a bit better than the ones quoted unfortunately he isnt PB so as a squad man hes fine,
Rodrigo is a CF so will struggle at 10 but again has a bit of work to do to oust PB

Would imagine there is a huge chunk of his 81 games as 5 -10 minute sub appearances. Transfer base suggests 4635 mins the equivalent of 51 games so that straight away improves his stats.

51 games - 8 goals 9 assists.

He’s only 22.5 years old
We paid £2m for him? - he is worth more now
Bielsa just given him a new 3-year contract

He’s the best no10 at the club at present for me. Performances have without doubt improved. Yes it would be great to spend £40m and bring in someone else but dosnt appear to be as easy as that. Get behind the lad.

Roberts was a lot lot better than Rodrigo today. And has been in his 2 sub appearances too. I doubt anyone can watch the games this season and think otherwise.

Rodrigo was so slow to do anything today. Would receive the ball dropping deep and take too many touches, run out of space and then give a nothing ball. Roberts immediately turns and looks to take defenders out of the game.

Roberts does need to improve confidence in the box. He should have put his foot through the cut back in the first half. Maybe could have done slightly better with the saved shot for Harrison’s goal. But his game dropping in between the lines as a midfielder and making things happen is really really good. The technique is there to be better in the box and it looks more like a nervous mindset than anything else. Would love him to put a couple away and see if his game lifts.


Llorente won’t work as a 4 for me. Just don’t think he is the right style of moving with the ball. He’s very good when given time to take a few touches and pick a pass. But not sure it will work so well with receiving the ball with back to goal and under more pressure. The pass to Roberts over the top was sublime though. I groaned as soon as he played it because I couldn’t see how it wouldn’t go out of play, but he weighted it perfectly with back spin.

Well I don't know about all of you but for me it was just great to WIN and not go to penalties and squeak it or slip on the banana skin as usual in any cup and go out to inferior opposition from lower leagues. We've already had to suck up the humiliation of a 5-1 clattering at OT this year. Another bad result would have undermined confidence.

3-0 - a comprehensive win (even if we did have to wait for the goals to come)!

And yes, seeing Forshaw back is brilliant. Let's hope he goes from strength to strength now.

I think it's worth saying, I thought Llorente was excellent in the first half when it came to ball progression and our possession, but he really struggled to deal with their big striker. Not sure he won a single aerial duel against him. We coped much better when it was him Vs Struijk in the second half.

comment by foreverpeacock (U6617)
posted 10 hours, 24 minutes ago
Oh very good Lubo, completely ignoring the stats. And by the way, I have a pair of eyes and attend every home game. One thing that isn’t improving is his ability to score a goal. And the reason he is used as a substitute is because he doesn’t deserve a start. Blind faith in every player is just that. You have to recognise that not every player who dons the shirt is going to make it. And you do nobody a favour by adopting that stance.
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Costa and Roberts epitomise our lack of options, at most clubs neither would make the squad never mind the starting 11.
Am at a loss as to what Summerville has to do to get the nod ahead of Costa.

Roberts would play for plenty of other PL clubs. He'd probably start regularly for at least a few.

comment by Lubo - Struijk of Genius (U14008)
posted 2 minutes ago
Roberts would play for plenty of other PL clubs. He'd probably start regularly for at least a few.
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Based on what?
Name the plenty.
Name the few he is good enough to start for, just so we can see what level forward you think we should aspire to.

I think he would be in the squads of Norwich, Watford, Brentford, Burnley, Newcastle, Brighton, Southampton, Villa, Palace, Wolves, Everton, and West Ham, maybe some others.

Of those, I think he would probably start for Norwich, Watford, and would start for Brentford, Southampton, and Burnley, if they operated with a 10.

Els, you've got me wondering if Costa's playing because the club are trying to sell him - shop window and all that. Because I'm with you. What else does Summerville have to do?