austsaint

By use of your definition, you are of course correct. Don't forget though, the "late-for-lunch" lad is just 22 and he's done some things on the pitch for us not too many attacking players are capable of.

I actually agree with Lou; Mane (particularly), Elia and Filip are close to being world class players.

Corky, are you expecting Mane to be late for lunch again? I'm sure he will start.

When I watched the replay I was surprised to see how much tracking back and helping out defensively he did. Very anonymous in the second half though (in racing terminology he probably needed the run) and with hindsight Tadic might have replaced him earlier. I wonder whether if Mane had turned up on time for lunch Filip would have been on the bench anyway.

A couple of changes I've noticed in Yoshida's game these days - his passing and distribution skills have improved markedly and he also seems more confident to burst forward with the ball looking to launch an attack.

Yes, early in the game wasn't it - set the scene for a string of decisions or non-decisions against us; the Jose tackle on Sterling the only exception perhaps.

A good point you make but you must admit he is a long way down on early season form. Returning to the refereeing debacle; two clangers not talked about much - Lovren's hand ball in the area, clear cut wasn't it? And the foul and yellow card given to Big Vic when he clearly got the ball first with minimal contact to the scouser.

Hello Wiggles 31. Can I refer you to post 155 (by Rasiak 9) and ask, of those 10 facets of the game listed, which, in your opinion, will JWP improve in?

You sum it up well for me with your "roam around ineffectively" description. It's not just today - take away his corners and free kicks (and they haven't been that startling, and aren't enough justification to include him) and there really isn't much of a footballer there; he just does not have the attributes of box-to-box running; evasion, trickery, interception, tackling, first touch, aerial ability.

Can't agree with you about Targett; apart from the slip which was unlucky, he has had a good match.

Ward Prowse does my head in; has to be replaced. Matt Targett very good so far.

Targett's doing well.

Ward-Prowse is a lumbering liability.

Mane must be scratching his head.

He might have the impressive Jordan Ibe to worry about rather than Sterling who might be Clyney's responsiblity.

Agree with every word of this; you feel as though TA will be off in the summer - maybe it will be someone like Vlaar comong in but let's hope young Jack Stephens gets his chance to show up in the first team squad.

I mentioned a similar observation about Morgan several weeks ago; I think it was S. Clarke who believed it was just Morgan's casual, languid style - and he could be right. Just the same there's something about his demeanour these days which looks a bit like "I'm out of here".

The test I apply to someone like Lallana (after his departure) which is entirely "values driven", is would you like someone like him as a mate to have a couple of ales with or discuss the ways of the world. Lambert, yes; Fox, yes, Guly, yes, Jos, yes. Our former Captain......NO THANKS.

If someone had said to you this time last season you would have cause to lose all respect for Lallana before the following season started you'd have laughed at him. Deserves a good dissing.

Not everyone has the choice of negotiating a wage with their employer and need the job badly enough to accept the minimum wage. I could understand if SFC was a struggling small business they would only be able to pay a minimum amount but surely all employees of EPL Clubs could expect the "slightly above the poverty line" living wage. The people usually caught up in this bind are women and casual employees, often in quite powerless situations.

You can still navigate a moral compass and get your end in regularly and see the world.

Agree with this, though young Targett doesn't get forward that much (yet) either. Elia has to start on the left to provide the speed and offensive threat.

I'm sure the SFC balance sheet these days could easily accommodate a living wage without a ripple or an economic red flag.

Watched the game on Sky in Oz - they had close ups of the gash and it was a decent one; probably has since been stiched. Many other players would have been rolling and writhing on the ground clutching their head....not our Maya, which might have been the thing that saved Cole. He has been playing out of his skin since returning from the Asia Cup - his left foot is really decent!!!!

I thought Davis provided plenty of forward thrust and attacking passes - would have been asking a lot of Djuricic at this stage; Wanyama does get forward a bit and can produce penetrative passes while JWP's role as an attacking Mid is still to be proved, dead ball delivery aside.