TicV"Establishment"
Alert Team
So many fantastic performers today it's difficult to know where to start... :emoticon:16
From the back is as good a place as any;
DDV: Not been a fan of his but he had a great day. Commanding and collected anything that made it into our box. Very good with the ball at his feet (which the main reason BR bought him in the first place) and excellent throw-outs too. Outstanding double save from their penalty. I'm much less concerned about a Gordon injury after today's showing.
Ralston: Had McGeady in his pocket from the off and even nut-megged him at one point! His performance was summed up nicely when McGeady brought him down for our penalty. Composed throughout and very impressive!
Miller: He had a fine game. Nice turn of speed saw him able to keep forward balls in play that looked certain to go out. Nice footwork and passing too. More impressive than Sinclair on our left today in both directions!
Ajer: Outstanding performance. The only thing missing from his game on Wed night was maybe the confidence to bring the ball out from the back. I'd imagine BR had said as much to him because he done it fantastically well today. The kid is just a wonderfully gifted and natural footballer who oozes class on the ball. He dictated the play from the back with ease. Coped with everything defensively and linked well with KT at the back. A 19 and 20 year old CB pairing!
Just a pity Kolo is no longer there because I'd have had him working exclusively with Ajer. The bhoy has a huge future in the game and will only get better the longer he plays.
Ntcham: Another composed and assured outing from ollie. His passing and movement are superb. Not afraid to get stuck in too. He'll be flying once he's fully up to speed.
Kouassi: Superb performance from him. A dominant, high energy and tenacious display. Mopped up and passed with ease. Easy to see now why we were so keen to get this kid signed.
Between illness and injury he's had to cope with a lot of setbacks since joining us in January, not to mention adapting to a new country, language, style of football, etc. Got to remember too that he's only 19. He's going to be a star and a massive player for us!
McGregor: Unplayable at times today and Sunderland will be glad to see the back of him. He has this natural ability to just ghost into goalscoring positions. It's an invaluable quality that simply can't be taught. He's also a natural and composed finisher. Took his three goals with the ease you expect from him - including his penalty. Has to start against Rosenborg (and I said that before today's game).
Hayes: Tidy performance from him and took his goal really well. Full of running and always willing to track back and put his foot in. Surely has to start ahead of Forrest on the right v rosenborg!
Forrest: I've been harsh on him in the last three games because quite frankly he's been pish poor. He saw little of the ball today but linked play a few times. He's not the answer up front but at least it keeps him off the wing. Shouldn't start the 2nd leg unless there's no other alternative.
Sinclair: Not great again today. His touch just seems to be off at the moment but he showed for every ball and kept at it. Bit of a worry with the 2nd leg in mind. Maybe give Miller a chance there and play Scotty as the striker.
Armstrong resembled last seasons Armstrong when he entered the fray. Benyu again looked lively when he came on. Rogic had a good run out. All the other subs coped well, apart from Ciftci.
Ciftci looked like an unfit player who shouldn't have been on the pitch tbh.
Can only hope some desperate bastard of a scout mistook one of our other players for Cftci the unshiftable and recommends the big lump to an even more desperate bastard of a 2nd division club in outer Mongolia.
I'm now fuckin knackered after writing all that pish and am off to drink lots of Guinness and whisky!
Highlights
[YOUTUBE=4XV4eHwFsTc]
From the back is as good a place as any;
DDV: Not been a fan of his but he had a great day. Commanding and collected anything that made it into our box. Very good with the ball at his feet (which the main reason BR bought him in the first place) and excellent throw-outs too. Outstanding double save from their penalty. I'm much less concerned about a Gordon injury after today's showing.
Ralston: Had McGeady in his pocket from the off and even nut-megged him at one point! His performance was summed up nicely when McGeady brought him down for our penalty. Composed throughout and very impressive!
Miller: He had a fine game. Nice turn of speed saw him able to keep forward balls in play that looked certain to go out. Nice footwork and passing too. More impressive than Sinclair on our left today in both directions!
Ajer: Outstanding performance. The only thing missing from his game on Wed night was maybe the confidence to bring the ball out from the back. I'd imagine BR had said as much to him because he done it fantastically well today. The kid is just a wonderfully gifted and natural footballer who oozes class on the ball. He dictated the play from the back with ease. Coped with everything defensively and linked well with KT at the back. A 19 and 20 year old CB pairing!
Just a pity Kolo is no longer there because I'd have had him working exclusively with Ajer. The bhoy has a huge future in the game and will only get better the longer he plays.
Ntcham: Another composed and assured outing from ollie. His passing and movement are superb. Not afraid to get stuck in too. He'll be flying once he's fully up to speed.
Kouassi: Superb performance from him. A dominant, high energy and tenacious display. Mopped up and passed with ease. Easy to see now why we were so keen to get this kid signed.
Between illness and injury he's had to cope with a lot of setbacks since joining us in January, not to mention adapting to a new country, language, style of football, etc. Got to remember too that he's only 19. He's going to be a star and a massive player for us!
McGregor: Unplayable at times today and Sunderland will be glad to see the back of him. He has this natural ability to just ghost into goalscoring positions. It's an invaluable quality that simply can't be taught. He's also a natural and composed finisher. Took his three goals with the ease you expect from him - including his penalty. Has to start against Rosenborg (and I said that before today's game).
Hayes: Tidy performance from him and took his goal really well. Full of running and always willing to track back and put his foot in. Surely has to start ahead of Forrest on the right v rosenborg!
Forrest: I've been harsh on him in the last three games because quite frankly he's been pish poor. He saw little of the ball today but linked play a few times. He's not the answer up front but at least it keeps him off the wing. Shouldn't start the 2nd leg unless there's no other alternative.
Sinclair: Not great again today. His touch just seems to be off at the moment but he showed for every ball and kept at it. Bit of a worry with the 2nd leg in mind. Maybe give Miller a chance there and play Scotty as the striker.
Armstrong resembled last seasons Armstrong when he entered the fray. Benyu again looked lively when he came on. Rogic had a good run out. All the other subs coped well, apart from Ciftci.
Ciftci looked like an unfit player who shouldn't have been on the pitch tbh.
Can only hope some desperate bastard of a scout mistook one of our other players for Cftci the unshiftable and recommends the big lump to an even more desperate bastard of a 2nd division club in outer Mongolia.
I'm now fuckin knackered after writing all that pish and am off to drink lots of Guinness and whisky!
Highlights
[YOUTUBE=4XV4eHwFsTc]