Rousseau

Oh, I just seen yours Frankie... I've added your one to the main site publication. (I was quite proud of mine...)

Oh, wait a minute...

That's it published, Pete! (Apologies, but I'm not competent enough (yet!) to produce the team line-up graphic for you.)

I don't think Porto are what there were. The only reason they got past Roma was because they were 2 men up with an hour left to play (maybe not as long as that). Excellent draw for Leicester. But, it does depend how the teams respond to them. I can see Copenhagen and Brugge defending, which doesn't suit Leicester. I really can't see them getting any points whatsoever. Barca and City speak for themselves, but Monchengladbach are a very good side; really well organised in a compact 4-4-2 (one of the few sides that I admire playing the formation) and break with tremendous pace. Perhaps dB can enlighten us about the German side? Spurs have a very even group. I can see them both struggling and doing well.

Get your predictions in for Friday's game!

I read the OP as asking how far we are away from them in general. In that sense I believe we are still quite a bit behind. Their resources far exceed our own. If it's asking can we beat them next time we play, then yes, of course. In the same way any team can beat another in a one-off game.

If he can pass the ball I can see him in defense; like Javi Martinez at Bayern (DM converted to CB). Wherever he plays his physicality should be a big bonus.

Well, it's the principle of the thing, but yes, it cost me points!

Ironically, we probably have too many options in DM now!

I think the team selection was geared towards solidity, but was also somewhat hampered by the few attacking midfielders actually available! Holt and Windass change the dynamic instantly. Barton and Halliday don't have the necessary ability to receive the ball: they're Givers, not Takers...

The subs certainly made a difference. Kranjcar was willing -- and able -- to pass forward, which the others failed to do. Dodoo and MOH's movement and energy was vital towards the end. (I'm still annoyed at MOH shooting when a simple squared ball finishes the game...)

I must do better. I will do better.

Corrected Standings... IFRAME Not Available. Direct Link to Spreadsheet.

I thought you didn't enter a prediction. I just seen the "...too early for prediction" post, but I see you did enter a prediction at the bottom. My mistake! Apologies. I'll get that sorted. (That's 2 mistakes this week... )

Yes, we got a bonus point. It's good you're keeping me on my toes though!

Great start...

"...he changed his mind on the money on offer." Erm... was that actually reported? I thought the reasons circulating were the failed medical or family reasons?

Apologies. It has been corrected. Thanks for letting me know.

Everyone who entered got a point for the CR, with 8 (SBS, pj_1872, YB, Frankie, rbr, trublusince1982, onevision, Whosthedado) gaining another point for correctly predicting the correct number of Rangers goals. Pete, rbr, Craig and Bearman get another 2 points for predicting the FGS. Top scorers of the week are YB, Frankie and onevision with 5 points each for correctly predicting the Correct Score! Latest Standings: IFRAME Not Available. Direct Link to Spreadsheet. A week-by-week tally of scores can be found here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1-uQa9LP4du35rep3iUemqtj2NihPxHUuAGJFhz2WW0I

I'm more positive than most, but even I think the performances have not been too great. I agree with Cal that conceding a goal a game is not too bad. It's the lack of chances created that is really annoying me; and the last few games have seen us struggle in that regard. But, 7 points is a decent return.

Defending was poor at times, but it wasn't that bad today. The issue today was creating chances; and at that we really struggled. Yes M'well defended well with 5 men in the middle, but our movement and tempo was poor. We have to be better. We did get better second half with a higher tempo and our midfield got on the ball more - Kranjcar especially got on the ball and had the vision to play vertical balls. Dodoo's movement is a lot better than any other player we have; and he can hold it up. The chance at the end really pisses me off! O'Halloran through, and all he has to do is square it and the game is over; but he decides to take a difficult chance himself. His pace is a real asset but we're not using it well enough -- and his decision-making lets him down. I'll take the 3 points, but good god that was hard!

Yes he has, but he has been isolated too. He can't do it all himself. He needs support, and Wallace and Barton have been too far away from him.

I think that's the worst I've seen. Naive defensively, not picking up men -- I thought it was offside initially, but McDonald still should not be getting that space. The worst thing is we can't seem to create chances. Our No.8's (Barton and Halliday) are non-existant, so passes are going wide all the time, playing into M'well's hands. Forrester and McKay are isolated. Forrester is probably better in a No.8 position as he always makes himself available. We're slow, but that's not the end of the world, as long as we can quicken it up to create spaces etc. The midfield is not doing anything.

It's a moot point really, because we have no say in the matter. Interesting to think of possible combinations with the 3-5-2. I like the formation -- Juventus have done wonderful things with it with the tactical nous of Conte at the helm -- and you can see us adopt it with our current squad quite easily. I think Craig makes a good point: we're not conceding from open play so there's no real need to change formation. We must sort out set-pieces, which is a different problem entirely. We could bring in certain players, like Crooks, to provide a more physical threat, but that can be done with the current formation. I don't think it's physicality -- although it has played it's part as we do have a small team. I think it's organisation. How many times have players just not marked their man?

I really enjoy these stat-driven analyses. It's nice to read an objective interpretation of a players performance. I really rate Kiernan. My own analysis last week showed how much of a passing hub he is, having a lot of the ball and distributing well; he finds the forward players relatively often. However, his pure defensive frailties leave a lot to be desired, but no more so than the other defensive players; he is by no means the worst defender we have.