The Weakest Link costs us again

[Platypuss]

As in life, learn from your mistakes and move on

I wish Marcus had learnt from the first mistake.

[RoyalBlue]

It's true what someone texted in becasue Seol wasn't playing so call fans have to find someone to blame...

And, of course, the commentators and pundits were also look for someone to blame in Seol's absence!

[Millsy]

Much as I love to hate a yank, I can't fault Hahneman really. A solid keeper, with occasional errors of judgement - like EVERY keeper ever.

[ScottishRoyal]

Hahnemann yet again cost us valuable points , the man is a liability .His kicking is a joke , his fumbling getting worse and his abilty to command the six yard box for a man of his size is a farce . He'll do for the season but long term we need a quality keeper

agreed.

also, harper useless
de la cruz was ok
lita needs to man the fcuk up and use his 'fighting mentality' on the pitch
hunt is the new hughes, does easy things bad

you're in a bad mood today...

Thought Lita did well enough in a game that didn't suit him at all. Harper was extrememly attacking and once again the game didn't suit him as we weren't putting our foot on the ball and trying to pass and retain posetion, it was just drive and lose it drive and lose it.

Hunt doesn't have the quality of many in our team but he was a massive thorn in Everton's side today and without him I'm confident they would have taken us apart.

To concede when so near to the end of the game is frustrating but I suspect we'd have all taken a draw before hand so 1-1 will look better tomorrow when frustration has died down.

I also thought that Lita did ok today in what was a very tough game for him. He was often isolated, especially in the second half as either Doyle or Long would drop back to help out with defensive duties. He was also up against Yobo who is very tough to outmuscle and undoubtedly the fastest CB in the league. In the context of the role he played he did ok.

I'd disagree with Hunt's role however. I thought he was slightly suspect in posesion and lost the ball with bad touches far too often. He helped out well in defence but failed to keep the ball when we needed to slow down the game.

De La Cruz also did ok. His positioning was slightly suspect at times but not in the dangerous areas and overall his contribution was ok. The fact is he's not part of the regualr back four unit and so communication and link up play with Blakey will only come with time.

Finally it was frustrating to concede and i'm afraid that Hahnemann was at fault from a mistake that he is making far too often. His judgement was poor in coming for the flick on leading to the goal and he had done this before a few times, notably when Anichebe should have scored but Sonks managed to clear well from the goalmouth. His failure to command his 6yd box also cost us at Man Utd most recently. Of course all goalkeepers make mistakes however most other Prem 'keepers are making fewer. We have one of the worst defensive records in the league (admittedly somthing the back five answers to) but Hahnemann has not been up to scratch for a good deal of goals conceeded and gives me the most reasons to worry. He was great last season but shouldn't be exempt of criticism now.

[RoyalChicagoFC]

Surgeons, at least, get to bury their mistakes.

This is not to say that I would be at all surprised were I to learn of Marcus' detention at the hands of the Merseyside Police on a charge of practicing butchery without a license.

Anyway, point won, fair result. Work on your game, Hahnemann, and let's get the communication thing sorted at the back while we're at it. Back to basics, eh?

[ohagerup]

Hahnemann have had a series of bad rushing-out decisions lately, so it is obviously something they'll be working on.

Today, I think the central midfield were the poorer ones, letting Everton control most of the game. They didn't do all that much on the attacking side either, where most action seemed to happen through the wings, especially Little who I think had a good game.

De La Cruz seemed like a unsafe card to play in the first part of the game, but did thing simple but ok for the rest of the game. Not too much precision in his attacking game though, but at least he was there contributing. Shorey was far less to be seen this time.

Ingimarsson was probably the best one, while Sonko seems a bit risky at times, having a few dangerous tackles and a few strange clearings.

On top Lita was decent, but seems like he just want to get free-kicks. Shane Long was optimistic, which promises good.

[ScottishRoyal]

Hahnemann have had a series of bad rushing-out decisions lately, so it is obviously something they'll be working on.

Today, I think the central midfield were the poorer ones, letting Everton control most of the game. They didn't do all that much on the attacking side either, where most action seemed to happen through the wings, especially Little who I think had a good game.

De La Cruz seemed like a unsafe card to play in the first part of the game, but did thing simple but ok for the rest of the game. Not too much precision in his attacking game though, but at least he was there contributing. Shorey was far less to be seen this time.

Ingimarsson was probably the best one, while Sonko seems a bit risky at times, having a few dangerous tackles and a few strange clearings.

On top Lita was decent, but seems like he just want to get free-kicks. Shane Long was optimistic, which promises good.

Sometimes the reasons are not always obviously apparent. I would argue that Shorey was quiet because Hunt was often out of position and not able to recieve a pass, not hugging the left hand touchline and in a position to get the ball in space. Hunts regular forays across the pitch gave us a lack of passing options at times, hence our best play came down the right. Therefore there were not too many occasions for Shorey to get forward in support. If he were to get forward without support he would leave us exposed at the back.

[Arch]

We have one of the worst defensive records in the league (admittedly somthing the back five answers to)

Whilst that's strictly true, we're not actually doing that badly. Significantly worse are Charlton (-43), WHU and Wigan (-36), and Fulham (-35). Then you have us Tottenham and Blackburn all on -31 (Rovers with one less game), Newcastle and the Blades on -30, Watford -29 and Villa and Boro (-28). Of the teams outside the top six only Everton (-23) and City (-25) are significantly better. And we're the only team to have played both Chelsea and Man U twice.

[Gordon Cumming's right ho]

Have to say that Marcus has cost us more than a couple of points this season and his decision making around the edge of the six yard box is.... ummm... diabolical.

Having said that he is a great shot stopper and it is easier to train a keeper to improve his decision making than to become a better reaction shot stopper.

Thought Marcus's distribution was better today... one great throw to half way: quick, direct and accurate.

But, sadly, I do tend to agree that we could benefit from a better keeper.

Full marks to Mrs H for Royal Families or whatever it is called, though....

[ohagerup]

Sometimes the reasons are not always obviously apparent. I would argue that Shorey was quiet because Hunt was often out of position and not able to recieve a pass, not hugging the left hand touchline and in a position to get the ball in space. Hunts regular forays across the pitch gave us a lack of passing options at times, hence our best play came down the right. Therefore there were not too many occasions for Shorey to get forward in support. If he were to get forward without support he would leave us exposed at the back.

Good point. Hunt was roaming about quite a bit, so the left flank was possibly less used of that reason. Getting the flanks going is rarely a one-man-job.

[bassavage]

I was at the game today and I thought USA had an OK game, he was at fault for the goal but I am more than happy to keep him in the team.

I thought that was DLC's best game for us today, in the second half he was outstanding.

[AthleticoSpizz]

I thought that was DLC's best game for us today, in the second half he was outstanding.

thank you

[Mad Dog's Ghost]

Hahnemann's a great shot-stopper, his handling is average but the weakest part of his game is he never talks to his defence. So many times we needlessly hoof the ball away when a confident shout from the keeper would calm things down. Have you ever heard him shout to his colleagues. Must be the quietest man to come out of America.

[AthleticoSpizz]

Had Marcus gone that extra 1/2 metre and claimed that ball.....he would have risked himself, the bloke in the mucky red shirt and AJ with potentially crippling injuries as he bulldozed through them.

We were under the cosh....as we had been for a lot of the second half



...................Marcus made his call...........had he stood his line........he would have been slagged off for standing there, ball-watching.



One (less-than)decent effort on target stands testiment for our stand-in skipper and his defence....



Our failings were central midfield


and we only drew at Everton

[Platypuss]

Had Marcus gone that extra 1/2 metre and claimed that ball.....he would have risked himself, the bloke in the mucky red shirt and AJ with potentially crippling injuries as he bulldozed through them.

If you're going to come that far you have to do it 100%. He's a massive bloke in comparison to DLC and Johnson - he should have cleaned them all out, regardless.

...................Marcus made his call...........had he stood his line........he would have been slagged off for standing there, ball-watching.

No he wouldn't - as he would have let his defender(s) deal with Johnson. Hahnemann coming out made DLC back off from challenging for the ball - as the photo shown previously clearly shows.

[Worthingroyal]

Why do people continually have to find fault with this player or that.

We played an established Premier team in front of their own fans (and Sly), outplayed them for half of it in fact without our normal RB and captain, left winger, main striker (for half of it) and second striker.

We got a f*%$ing point for crissake. Most of us would take that before the game.

Try getting behind the team rather than knocking it.

Yes there are weak links in the team but there is f*&% all you can do about it, live with it.

[AthleticoSpizz]

Had Marcus gone that extra 1/2 metre and claimed that ball.....he would have risked himself, the bloke in the mucky red shirt and AJ with potentially crippling injuries as he bulldozed through them.

If you're going to come that far you have to do it 100%. He's a massive bloke in comparison to DLC and Johnson - he should have cleaned them all out, regardless.......and got hurt in the process

...................Marcus made his call...........had he stood his line........he would have been slagged off for standing there, ball-watching.

No he wouldn't - as he would have let his defender(s) deal with Johnson. Hahnemann coming out made DLC back off from challenging for the ball - as the photo shown previously clearly shows.

its AJ........every commentator's voice raises an octave or two every time he is near the ball

maybe our players get het-up the same



Marcus made a bad call....but questions should be asked elsewhere on the pitch..........and for once it wasn't RB in Murty's absense



2 points dropped


1 point gained

[Platypuss]

Someone hasn't quite got the hang of what a discussion board is all about.

[Alan Partridge]

Marcus was poor again today and cost us points again. It's not knee jerk he's been average at best all season.

Would agree that come the end of the season we need a new goalkeeper. Sorry Marcus but today just aint good enough mate.

Would have settled with a point before the game but it's a right kick in the grapes when your keeper does that and allows the smallest man on the pitch a simple headed goal.

OH AND F*CK OFF JOHNSON YOU LITTLE SHIT

[AthleticoSpizz]

Marcus was poor again today and cost us points again. It's not knee jerk he's been average at best all season.

Would agree that come the end of the season we need a new goalkeeper. Sorry Marcus but today just aint good enough mate.

Would have settled with a point before the game but it's a right kick in the grapes when your keeper does that and allows the smallest man on the pitch a simple headed goal.

OH AND F*CK OFF JOHNSON YOU LITTLE SHIT

the smallest £8m

AJ for England!