Manuel Pellegrini

[Quinny851]

In the Spuds game, Merlin played alongside Sergio. It was still a 4-4-2.

It was 4-5-1 with Milner on the left & Navas on the right Silva through the middle behind Aguero.

No it wasn't, Silva played up front. The closest you could get is to argue it was a 4-4-1-1 however Silva certainly wasn't in midfield.

Silva didn't play in midfield today when Jovetic was brought on but it was still effectively a 4-5-1 with Silva playing in his preferred "number 10" role as they call it.

The very position where he played against Spurs last week.

 

[JoeMercer'sWay]

People can ridicule me for this, I'm not bothered, it's my honest opinion.

I don't think we've played well in a game this season, certainly not throughout. We've not come close to the Pellegrini benchmark (Spurs away w/Aguero on the pitch). We've looked disjointed, we've not looked cohesive, we've not played, worked, defended as a team. We've not implemented our structured, calm, focuse attacking play anywhere near enough, especially not today, where it took us an hour to move the ball properly. Pellegrini, as I said all through last year that it would come back to hurt us if we didn't change, continues to play 4-4-2 with 2 strikers, it now doesn't work because Yaya does less work, is less effective and Fernando has nowhere near the skill set, or at least isn't demonstrating it, to do the unbelievable job Fern did through most of last season.

Poor selection, poor attitude, lack of motivation, concentration and ultimately desire from several players, that is letting the team down (Clichy was an absolute disgrace today, complete disgrace). It didn't take much for Pelle's system last season to come unstuck, as seen by early away defeats, and we had to really master it and every player really perform for us to make it work, Demi had to step up, so did Javi Garcia, so did Nasri, Kolarov etc. This season the balance of our squad has shifted slightly, and we're now putting guys like Mangala and Fernando under the cosh, only guys like Clichy are hampering the learning process by being useless.

We need to control games, we need to stop let our matches turn into a scrap or an end-to-end ding-dong and letting the other teams have a sniff. We need to utilise Fernandinho and Fernando together, control games, accentuate the abilities of our best players (moving Silva inside to feed Kun) and hiding or dumping the dead weights. Note I think Yaya was one of the ones who tried to get us back in the game in the 2nd half, but I said last season we'd have to move to the 3 to accommodate him this season, and I don't think I'm wrong, the best we've looked is the last 20 mins away at Villa in my opinion, controlled possession and probing.

For me Pellegrini is getting it wrong, we've made 1 or 2 errors in the summer that are now biting us and the only way round it is to hide the weaknesses, we may not end up as rampant, but our season could be over by Christmas if we don't change. Chelsea are on the verge of running off and we haven't a hope of taking 9 points in our final 3 CL games if we keep playing the way we have so far this season. Ultimately, Pellegrini's job is on the line in the next 2 months, whether you like it or not, and we seem to be suffering the same 2nd season syndrome that we did last time we were champions, and it's not acceptable.

Ultimately like the 3-5-2 farce back then, the formation and tactics aren't working, and the mentality from some players is not conducive to a title winning, dominant, elite team. These players have been left in the squad from the last time this happened and they're pulling the same stunt again, and I only hope Txiki takes action in due course. But for now, they either need a really serious motivational and attitude shift, or they need hiding, and I know this line will garner plenty of attention and criticism, but Pellegrini needs to stop being an old man like Wenger and learn from his mistakes, learn that the opposition changes and moves on and learns that your best setup from one season doesn't mean it will be the best the next, you need to evolve and develop and we haven't done that. We have not done that, and I'm really frustrated. We were beaten by the much better team today, they had all the energy, desire, cohesiveness and enthusiasm we lacked.

 

[kaz7]

People can ridicule me for this, I'm not bothered, it's my honest opinion.

I don't think we've played well in a game this season, certainly not throughout. We've not come close to the Pellegrini benchmark (Spurs away w/Aguero on the pitch). We've looked disjointed, we've not looked cohesive, we've not played, worked, defended as a team. We've not implemented our structured, calm, focuse attacking play anywhere near enough, especially not today, where it took us an hour to move the ball properly. Pellegrini, as I said all through last year that it would come back to hurt us if we didn't change, continues to play 4-4-2 with 2 strikers, it now doesn't work because Yaya does less work, is less effective and Fernando has nowhere near the skill set, or at least isn't demonstrating it, to do the unbelievable job Fern did through most of last season.

Poor selection, poor attitude, lack of motivation, concentration and ultimately desire from several players, that is letting the team down (Clichy was an absolute disgrace today, complete disgrace). It didn't take much for Pelle's system last season to come unstuck, as seen by early away defeats, and we had to really master it and every player really perform for us to make it work, Demi had to step up, so did Javi Garcia, so did Nasri, Kolarov etc. This season the balance of our squad has shifted slightly, and we're now putting guys like Mangala and Fernando under the cosh, only guys like Clichy are hampering the learning process by being useless.

We need to control games, we need to stop let our matches turn into a scrap or an end-to-end ding-dong and letting the other teams have a sniff. We need to utilise Fernandinho and Fernando together, control games, accentuate the abilities of our best players (moving Silva inside to feed Kun) and hiding or dumping the dead weights. Note I think Yaya was one of the ones who tried to get us back in the game in the 2nd half, but I said last season we'd have to move to the 3 to accommodate him this season, and I don't think I'm wrong, the best we've looked is the last 20 mins away at Villa in my opinion, controlled possession and probing.

For me Pellegrini is getting it wrong, we've made 1 or 2 errors in the summer that are now biting us and the only way round it is to hide the weaknesses, we may not end up as rampant, but our season could be over by Christmas if we don't change. Chelsea are on the verge of running off and we haven't a hope of taking 9 points in our final 3 CL games if we keep playing the way we have so far this season. Ultimately, Pellegrini's job is on the line in the next 2 months, whether you like it or not, and we seem to be suffering the same 2nd season syndrome that we did last time we were champions, and it's not acceptable.

Ultimately like the 3-5-2 farce back then, the formation and tactics aren't working, and the mentality from some players is not conducive to a title winning, dominant, elite team. These players have been left in the squad from the last time this happened and they're pulling the same stunt again, and I only hope Txiki takes action in due course. But for now, they either need a really serious motivational and attitude shift, or they need hiding, and I know this line will garner plenty of attention and criticism, but Pellegrini needs to stop being an old man like Wenger and learn from his mistakes, learn that the opposition changes and moves on and learns that your best setup from one season doesn't mean it will be the best the next, you need to evolve and develop and we haven't done that. We have not done that, and I'm really frustrated. We were beaten by the much better team today, they had all the energy, desire, cohesiveness and enthusiasm we lacked.

Nothing wrong with what you have posted at all,you have put my thoughts into words,thanks

 

[Quinny851]

People can ridicule me for this, I'm not bothered, it's my honest opinion.

I don't think we've played well in a game this season, certainly not throughout. We've not come close to the Pellegrini benchmark (Spurs away w/Aguero on the pitch). We've looked disjointed, we've not looked cohesive, we've not played, worked, defended as a team. We've not implemented our structured, calm, focuse attacking play anywhere near enough, especially not today, where it took us an hour to move the ball properly. Pellegrini, as I said all through last year that it would come back to hurt us if we didn't change, continues to play 4-4-2 with 2 strikers, it now doesn't work because Yaya does less work, is less effective and Fernando has nowhere near the skill set, or at least isn't demonstrating it, to do the unbelievable job Fern did through most of last season.

Poor selection, poor attitude, lack of motivation, concentration and ultimately desire from several players, that is letting the team down (Clichy was an absolute disgrace today, complete disgrace). It didn't take much for Pelle's system last season to come unstuck, as seen by early away defeats, and we had to really master it and every player really perform for us to make it work, Demi had to step up, so did Javi Garcia, so did Nasri, Kolarov etc. This season the balance of our squad has shifted slightly, and we're now putting guys like Mangala and Fernando under the cosh, only guys like Clichy are hampering the learning process by being useless.

We need to control games, we need to stop let our matches turn into a scrap or an end-to-end ding-dong and letting the other teams have a sniff. We need to utilise Fernandinho and Fernando together, control games, accentuate the abilities of our best players (moving Silva inside to feed Kun) and hiding or dumping the dead weights. Note I think Yaya was one of the ones who tried to get us back in the game in the 2nd half, but I said last season we'd have to move to the 3 to accommodate him this season, and I don't think I'm wrong, the best we've looked is the last 20 mins away at Villa in my opinion, controlled possession and probing.

For me Pellegrini is getting it wrong, we've made 1 or 2 errors in the summer that are now biting us and the only way round it is to hide the weaknesses, we may not end up as rampant, but our season could be over by Christmas if we don't change. Chelsea are on the verge of running off and we haven't a hope of taking 9 points in our final 3 CL games if we keep playing the way we have so far this season. Ultimately, Pellegrini's job is on the line in the next 2 months, whether you like it or not, and we seem to be suffering the same 2nd season syndrome that we did last time we were champions, and it's not acceptable.

Ultimately like the 3-5-2 farce back then, the formation and tactics aren't working, and the mentality from some players is not conducive to a title winning, dominant, elite team. These players have been left in the squad from the last time this happened and they're pulling the same stunt again, and I only hope Txiki takes action in due course. But for now, they either need a really serious motivational and attitude shift, or they need hiding, and I know this line will garner plenty of attention and criticism, but Pellegrini needs to stop being an old man like Wenger and learn from his mistakes, learn that the opposition changes and moves on and learns that your best setup from one season doesn't mean it will be the best the next, you need to evolve and develop and we haven't done that. We have not done that, and I'm really frustrated. We were beaten by the much better team today, they had all the energy, desire, cohesiveness and enthusiasm we lacked.

Agree with most of that. Clichy seems to be made a bit of a scapegoat though. I have real sympathy for him this season. Whenever he's played, he's had Silva in front of him. Whenever Kolarov has played, he's had Milner in front of him. Who out of the 2 do you reckon offers more defensive??

 

[Rammy Blue]

It was 4-5-1 with Milner on the left & Navas on the right Silva through the middle behind Aguero.

No it wasn't, Silva played up front. The closest you could get is to argue it was a 4-4-1-1 however Silva certainly wasn't in midfield.

Silva didn't play in midfield today when Jovetic was brought on but it was still effectively a 4-5-1 with Silva playing in his preferred "number 10" role as they call it.

The very position where he played against Spurs last week.

We're obviously going to have to beg to differ on this one however I find it amusing that you say it was effectively a 4-5-1 but Silva didn't play in midfield as he played as a number 10, which is a forward. ;-)

 

[Millwallawayveteran1988]

People can ridicule me for this, I'm not bothered, it's my honest opinion.

I don't think we've played well in a game this season, certainly not throughout. We've not come close to the Pellegrini benchmark (Spurs away w/Aguero on the pitch). We've looked disjointed, we've not looked cohesive, we've not played, worked, defended as a team. We've not implemented our structured, calm, focuse attacking play anywhere near enough, especially not today, where it took us an hour to move the ball properly. Pellegrini, as I said all through last year that it would come back to hurt us if we didn't change, continues to play 4-4-2 with 2 strikers, it now doesn't work because Yaya does less work, is less effective and Fernando has nowhere near the skill set, or at least isn't demonstrating it, to do the unbelievable job Fern did through most of last season.

Poor selection, poor attitude, lack of motivation, concentration and ultimately desire from several players, that is letting the team down (Clichy was an absolute disgrace today, complete disgrace). It didn't take much for Pelle's system last season to come unstuck, as seen by early away defeats, and we had to really master it and every player really perform for us to make it work, Demi had to step up, so did Javi Garcia, so did Nasri, Kolarov etc. This season the balance of our squad has shifted slightly, and we're now putting guys like Mangala and Fernando under the cosh, only guys like Clichy are hampering the learning process by being useless.

We need to control games, we need to stop let our matches turn into a scrap or an end-to-end ding-dong and letting the other teams have a sniff. We need to utilise Fernandinho and Fernando together, control games, accentuate the abilities of our best players (moving Silva inside to feed Kun) and hiding or dumping the dead weights. Note I think Yaya was one of the ones who tried to get us back in the game in the 2nd half, but I said last season we'd have to move to the 3 to accommodate him this season, and I don't think I'm wrong, the best we've looked is the last 20 mins away at Villa in my opinion, controlled possession and probing.

For me Pellegrini is getting it wrong, we've made 1 or 2 errors in the summer that are now biting us and the only way round it is to hide the weaknesses, we may not end up as rampant, but our season could be over by Christmas if we don't change. Chelsea are on the verge of running off and we haven't a hope of taking 9 points in our final 3 CL games if we keep playing the way we have so far this season. Ultimately, Pellegrini's job is on the line in the next 2 months, whether you like it or not, and we seem to be suffering the same 2nd season syndrome that we did last time we were champions, and it's not acceptable.

Ultimately like the 3-5-2 farce back then, the formation and tactics aren't working, and the mentality from some players is not conducive to a title winning, dominant, elite team. These players have been left in the squad from the last time this happened and they're pulling the same stunt again, and I only hope Txiki takes action in due course. But for now, they either need a really serious motivational and attitude shift, or they need hiding, and I know this line will garner plenty of attention and criticism, but Pellegrini needs to stop being an old man like Wenger and learn from his mistakes, learn that the opposition changes and moves on and learns that your best setup from one season doesn't mean it will be the best the next, you need to evolve and develop and we haven't done that. We have not done that, and I'm really frustrated. We were beaten by the much better team today, they had all the energy, desire, cohesiveness and enthusiasm we lacked.

I agree with some of this but not all. I don't think West Ham were much better. We hit the bar twice and Aguero really should have scored which would have changed the game for me. It was a bad bad miss from a world class player and it cost us big time. That's not to say I think we played well,because first half we were shocking and defensively we are a mess at the moment.

I also don't agree that we haven't played well. I thought we played well at villa, against Liverpool and against Chelsea.

We haven't done it consistently enough though and have been poor in too many games recently. Today first half, Moscow second half, roma at home.

What has happened to Zabaleta and whichever LB who plays overlapping and getting into the box?

For me now we have to play both Fernandinho and Fernando with Zab and Kolorov as the FB's. I totally agree that Clichy was wank but for me he has never been better than average.

 

[Quinny851]

No it wasn't, Silva played up front. The closest you could get is to argue it was a 4-4-1-1 however Silva certainly wasn't in midfield.

Silva didn't play in midfield today when Jovetic was brought on but it was still effectively a 4-5-1 with Silva playing in his preferred "number 10" role as they call it.

The very position where he played against Spurs last week.

We're obviously going to have to beg to differ on this one however I find it amusing that you say it was effectively a 4-5-1 but Silva didn't play in midfield as he played as a number 10, which is a forward. ;-)

Isn't a number 10 an attacking midfielder?

Isn't this 4-5-1?

Navas Yaya Fernando Milner
Silva
Aguero

 

[Rammy Blue]

People can ridicule me for this, I'm not bothered, it's my honest opinion.

I don't think we've played well in a game this season, certainly not throughout. We've not come close to the Pellegrini benchmark (Spurs away w/Aguero on the pitch). We've looked disjointed, we've not looked cohesive, we've not played, worked, defended as a team. We've not implemented our structured, calm, focuse attacking play anywhere near enough, especially not today, where it took us an hour to move the ball properly. Pellegrini, as I said all through last year that it would come back to hurt us if we didn't change, continues to play 4-4-2 with 2 strikers, it now doesn't work because Yaya does less work, is less effective and Fernando has nowhere near the skill set, or at least isn't demonstrating it, to do the unbelievable job Fern did through most of last season.

Poor selection, poor attitude, lack of motivation, concentration and ultimately desire from several players, that is letting the team down (Clichy was an absolute disgrace today, complete disgrace). It didn't take much for Pelle's system last season to come unstuck, as seen by early away defeats, and we had to really master it and every player really perform for us to make it work, Demi had to step up, so did Javi Garcia, so did Nasri, Kolarov etc. This season the balance of our squad has shifted slightly, and we're now putting guys like Mangala and Fernando under the cosh, only guys like Clichy are hampering the learning process by being useless.

We need to control games, we need to stop let our matches turn into a scrap or an end-to-end ding-dong and letting the other teams have a sniff. We need to utilise Fernandinho and Fernando together, control games, accentuate the abilities of our best players (moving Silva inside to feed Kun) and hiding or dumping the dead weights. Note I think Yaya was one of the ones who tried to get us back in the game in the 2nd half, but I said last season we'd have to move to the 3 to accommodate him this season, and I don't think I'm wrong, the best we've looked is the last 20 mins away at Villa in my opinion, controlled possession and probing.

For me Pellegrini is getting it wrong, we've made 1 or 2 errors in the summer that are now biting us and the only way round it is to hide the weaknesses, we may not end up as rampant, but our season could be over by Christmas if we don't change. Chelsea are on the verge of running off and we haven't a hope of taking 9 points in our final 3 CL games if we keep playing the way we have so far this season. Ultimately, Pellegrini's job is on the line in the next 2 months, whether you like it or not, and we seem to be suffering the same 2nd season syndrome that we did last time we were champions, and it's not acceptable.

Ultimately like the 3-5-2 farce back then, the formation and tactics aren't working, and the mentality from some players is not conducive to a title winning, dominant, elite team. These players have been left in the squad from the last time this happened and they're pulling the same stunt again, and I only hope Txiki takes action in due course. But for now, they either need a really serious motivational and attitude shift, or they need hiding, and I know this line will garner plenty of attention and criticism, but Pellegrini needs to stop being an old man like Wenger and learn from his mistakes, learn that the opposition changes and moves on and learns that your best setup from one season doesn't mean it will be the best the next, you need to evolve and develop and we haven't done that. We have not done that, and I'm really frustrated. We were beaten by the much better team today, they had all the energy, desire, cohesiveness and enthusiasm we lacked.

How very dare you suggest MP is at fault. He's got 50 years experience of management and 300 years of people round him and great scouts and everyfink, you know, right!?

 

[JoeMercer'sWay]

People can ridicule me for this, I'm not bothered, it's my honest opinion.

I don't think we've played well in a game this season, certainly not throughout. We've not come close to the Pellegrini benchmark (Spurs away w/Aguero on the pitch). We've looked disjointed, we've not looked cohesive, we've not played, worked, defended as a team. We've not implemented our structured, calm, focuse attacking play anywhere near enough, especially not today, where it took us an hour to move the ball properly. Pellegrini, as I said all through last year that it would come back to hurt us if we didn't change, continues to play 4-4-2 with 2 strikers, it now doesn't work because Yaya does less work, is less effective and Fernando has nowhere near the skill set, or at least isn't demonstrating it, to do the unbelievable job Fern did through most of last season.

Poor selection, poor attitude, lack of motivation, concentration and ultimately desire from several players, that is letting the team down (Clichy was an absolute disgrace today, complete disgrace). It didn't take much for Pelle's system last season to come unstuck, as seen by early away defeats, and we had to really master it and every player really perform for us to make it work, Demi had to step up, so did Javi Garcia, so did Nasri, Kolarov etc. This season the balance of our squad has shifted slightly, and we're now putting guys like Mangala and Fernando under the cosh, only guys like Clichy are hampering the learning process by being useless.

We need to control games, we need to stop let our matches turn into a scrap or an end-to-end ding-dong and letting the other teams have a sniff. We need to utilise Fernandinho and Fernando together, control games, accentuate the abilities of our best players (moving Silva inside to feed Kun) and hiding or dumping the dead weights. Note I think Yaya was one of the ones who tried to get us back in the game in the 2nd half, but I said last season we'd have to move to the 3 to accommodate him this season, and I don't think I'm wrong, the best we've looked is the last 20 mins away at Villa in my opinion, controlled possession and probing.

For me Pellegrini is getting it wrong, we've made 1 or 2 errors in the summer that are now biting us and the only way round it is to hide the weaknesses, we may not end up as rampant, but our season could be over by Christmas if we don't change. Chelsea are on the verge of running off and we haven't a hope of taking 9 points in our final 3 CL games if we keep playing the way we have so far this season. Ultimately, Pellegrini's job is on the line in the next 2 months, whether you like it or not, and we seem to be suffering the same 2nd season syndrome that we did last time we were champions, and it's not acceptable.

Ultimately like the 3-5-2 farce back then, the formation and tactics aren't working, and the mentality from some players is not conducive to a title winning, dominant, elite team. These players have been left in the squad from the last time this happened and they're pulling the same stunt again, and I only hope Txiki takes action in due course. But for now, they either need a really serious motivational and attitude shift, or they need hiding, and I know this line will garner plenty of attention and criticism, but Pellegrini needs to stop being an old man like Wenger and learn from his mistakes, learn that the opposition changes and moves on and learns that your best setup from one season doesn't mean it will be the best the next, you need to evolve and develop and we haven't done that. We have not done that, and I'm really frustrated. We were beaten by the much better team today, they had all the energy, desire, cohesiveness and enthusiasm we lacked.

Agree with most of that. Clichy seems to be made a bit of a scapegoat though. I have real sympathy for him this season. Whenever he's played, he's had Silva in front of him. Whenever Kolarov has played, he's had Milner in front of him. Who out of the 2 do you reckon offers more defensive??

Doesn't excuse switching off and letting Valencia run off him for the first goal, doesn't excuse passing the ball across into his own box (cardinal sin), straight to a West Ham player, also let his man beat him too easily for the 2nd goal, it also doesn't excuse him jogging back to the halfway line rather than trying to get back on more than one occasion and doesn't excuse his general lack of awareness, enthusiasm, engagement, positional sense, the way, like at Arsenal to cost us a goal, he continually chickens out of tackles like a coward instead of engaging his brain, positioning his body correctly and like Zaba and Vinnie often do, getting a toe on the ball to clear it away without giving away a penalty, and his lack of communication skills. Since he's moved back to LB he's played like he's just got out of bed every time he's stepped on the pitch.

I won't defend him, or have any sympathy. £55 for him not to even remotely try and do his job properly.

 

[Millwallawayveteran1988]

People can ridicule me for this, I'm not bothered, it's my honest opinion.

I don't think we've played well in a game this season, certainly not throughout. We've not come close to the Pellegrini benchmark (Spurs away w/Aguero on the pitch). We've looked disjointed, we've not looked cohesive, we've not played, worked, defended as a team. We've not implemented our structured, calm, focuse attacking play anywhere near enough, especially not today, where it took us an hour to move the ball properly. Pellegrini, as I said all through last year that it would come back to hurt us if we didn't change, continues to play 4-4-2 with 2 strikers, it now doesn't work because Yaya does less work, is less effective and Fernando has nowhere near the skill set, or at least isn't demonstrating it, to do the unbelievable job Fern did through most of last season.

Poor selection, poor attitude, lack of motivation, concentration and ultimately desire from several players, that is letting the team down (Clichy was an absolute disgrace today, complete disgrace). It didn't take much for Pelle's system last season to come unstuck, as seen by early away defeats, and we had to really master it and every player really perform for us to make it work, Demi had to step up, so did Javi Garcia, so did Nasri, Kolarov etc. This season the balance of our squad has shifted slightly, and we're now putting guys like Mangala and Fernando under the cosh, only guys like Clichy are hampering the learning process by being useless.

We need to control games, we need to stop let our matches turn into a scrap or an end-to-end ding-dong and letting the other teams have a sniff. We need to utilise Fernandinho and Fernando together, control games, accentuate the abilities of our best players (moving Silva inside to feed Kun) and hiding or dumping the dead weights. Note I think Yaya was one of the ones who tried to get us back in the game in the 2nd half, but I said last season we'd have to move to the 3 to accommodate him this season, and I don't think I'm wrong, the best we've looked is the last 20 mins away at Villa in my opinion, controlled possession and probing.

For me Pellegrini is getting it wrong, we've made 1 or 2 errors in the summer that are now biting us and the only way round it is to hide the weaknesses, we may not end up as rampant, but our season could be over by Christmas if we don't change. Chelsea are on the verge of running off and we haven't a hope of taking 9 points in our final 3 CL games if we keep playing the way we have so far this season. Ultimately, Pellegrini's job is on the line in the next 2 months, whether you like it or not, and we seem to be suffering the same 2nd season syndrome that we did last time we were champions, and it's not acceptable.

Ultimately like the 3-5-2 farce back then, the formation and tactics aren't working, and the mentality from some players is not conducive to a title winning, dominant, elite team. These players have been left in the squad from the last time this happened and they're pulling the same stunt again, and I only hope Txiki takes action in due course. But for now, they either need a really serious motivational and attitude shift, or they need hiding, and I know this line will garner plenty of attention and criticism, but Pellegrini needs to stop being an old man like Wenger and learn from his mistakes, learn that the opposition changes and moves on and learns that your best setup from one season doesn't mean it will be the best the next, you need to evolve and develop and we haven't done that. We have not done that, and I'm really frustrated. We were beaten by the much better team today, they had all the energy, desire, cohesiveness and enthusiasm we lacked.

Agree with most of that. Clichy seems to be made a bit of a scapegoat though. I have real sympathy for him this season. Whenever he's played, he's had Silva in front of him. Whenever Kolarov has played, he's had Milner in front of him. Who out of the 2 do you reckon offers more defensive??

Doesn't excuse switching off and letting Valencia run off him for the first goal, doesn't excuse passing the ball across into his own box (cardinal sin), straight to a West Ham player, also let his man beat him too easily for the 2nd goal, it also doesn't excuse him jogging back to the halfway line rather than trying to get back on more than one occasion and doesn't excuse his general lack of awareness, enthusiasm, engagement, positional sense, the way, like at Arsenal to cost us a goal, he continually chickens out of tackles like a coward instead of engaging his brain, positioning his body correctly and like Zaba and Vinnie often do, getting a toe on the ball to clear it away without giving away a penalty, and his lack of communication skills. Since he's moved back to LB he's played like he's just got out of bed every time he's stepped on the pitch.

I won't defend him, or have any sympathy. £55 for him not to even remotely try and do his job properly.

Totally agree. How he got another 4 year contract I don't know.