CHOULO19

I'm #11. The guy who doesn't know what a gym looks like! I ended up staying up till 3 am.....for some unknown reason I woke up and still have that headache

I wouldn't write Sunderland off so quickly. They have a lot of quality everywhere and even a world-class player in Giacherrini. They can easily go on a run of games if Poyet gets it right. I still think Hull will go down.

I know it's off topic, but how about players that exceeded expectations? Surely Frank has to top that list. He never really had natural ability on the ball, but everything he achieved he did so by working harder than everybody else. That fact that he was in the top 3 players in the world in 2005 is beyond incredible.

I'm really disappointed with Cole, especially that he was incredible in preseason. Looked his old self. Then the season started and he was...well back to his new self! That said, I still want him back for City because of his experience but also because of him being such a big game player. I think this is something that has been criminally underrated throughout his career, because people would talk about about the Drogbas and Terrys but I think Cole was just as much a big-game player if not more. Even in the last two years when his overall play has dropped embarrassingly, in the big games, he always seems to come up with incredible performances and often an Ashley Cole (i.e. a ridiculous goal-line clearance). As for Iva, you can't praise him for exactly what you were criticizing Bertrand for! Iva is very powerful going forward, but his ability on the ball is that of a CB (a typical CB, not our CBs because Luiz and JT, and Cahill to a lesser extent, all have incredible ability on the ball). His is very bad and he often can't make simple forward passes and his crossing is even worse (and needless). Iva obviously has much more experience and is physically very powerful and is an aerial threat, but I do believe that Azpi has to regain that RB spot and soon. PS: Daxler won't be on Bertrand's side, but Iva's, which has me worried quite a lot because we're going to have crosses constantly coming into the area.

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x168wng_gaol-crystal-palace-1-1-fulham-21-10-2013-hd-premier-league_sport *Andy Gray voice* "Take a bow son, take a bow!"

Forward in Jan? No chance unless we sell Ba and get another quick-fix like him (which would make no sense). If we wanted another striker in the team we would not have sent Lukaku on loan..

I see it, you see it, but for some reason Jose hasn't been able to this season. I think the game will be decided by the midfield battle: who will work and press harder and more importantly who will win the second balls. The fact that they play mostly down the flanks is good for us, but I worry about Iva's ability to stop Daxler, especially the crosses into the box which are always his main weakness.

So basically another team that will defend deep, close passing lanes, and leave no space then hit on the counter...great! That's interesting. I'll look for that in the game. You rarely see that as most manager prefer a separate pressing zone for each player because, in theory, if they can exchange defensive roles, they would create gaps while in the process of doing so which, especially in a zonal marking system, could be fatal. Would love to see how Keller works his way around that. I've always loved the tactics in the Bundes Liga, tbh.

Yeah, I think so. I said the same in the match thread. Plus, Daxler has been involved in 3 of Schalke's 4 CL goals this season, so Andre's defensive work on the right wing to could be crucial.

Ryan has had a few excellent games for us, tbh. I remember the one against Arsenal under Robbie where he was MOTM IIRC. Also the match against united last season when Ash was injured, I distinctly remember he was one of the best players on the pitch. But I do agree that he often comes out short offensively, which is a shame because I think he has the ability to be good in that respect. I think technically he's not bad and he's one of our fastest players and a good crosser (when he misses the first defender) so he can cause some damage. But honestly, I don't mind his offensive weaknesses. He is our back-up LB after all and what I want from him is to not make defensive mistakes which Ryan very rarely does. Agree that Frank was not in our best three players, but it was his best performance for us this season (what does that say about his previous performances?! ). But I just wonder if it's something that Jose has said to him because his approach to the role seemed different to me. His passes were simpler and his forward runs where very much limited which is the opposite of what you'd expect against a team like Cardiff.

I must disagree, mate. Kevin is one of the best crosses I've seen. Mata's crosses, are a bit hit-and-miss. He's capable of amazing ones, but he's also capable of some horrendous ones, especially from set pieces where he (like Lamp and Hazard) often can't miss the first defender.

Totally forgot about the game. Palace will be relegated by March at this rate. They have no quality in any area whatsoever.

It was just a little knock and he was only left out of the Cardiff game as a precaution and because we didn't really need him. I don't that will affect Jose's team selection.

Agree about Mata, this isn't his kind of game at all. Willian's work-rate looks great so far, but I don't think he's fit in 100% yet.

Headache. HUGE want-to-rip-my-fucking-head-off headache! :banghead:

I think he will. Draxler, on the left for Schalke, have been by far their best player and has been involved in 3 of their 4 CL goals this season (scored 2 and assisted 1). Andre is the best defensively among our possible options at RW, so it only makes sense to start him. Plus, Andre knows Schalke and German football the best among our players, so his experience there could be valuable.

It's not down to the FA but what the ref wrote in his match report. If he reported misconduct by Jose, the FA have to charge him. At least that's my understanding of the matter.

Match preview here by @Barbara.

I think Jose is cooking something up tactically. He had the final training session at Cobham instead of in Germay as is usually the case to keep the session private. Draxler has scored two and assisted one of Schalke's 4 CL goals. Expect Schurrle to start on his side to help defend against him.

Let him do it!

Bump.

I've watched a couple of his matches so far and while he scored in both, he missed a couple as well which goes along with what he was doing with the U21s. He can come up with some great finishing but can also miss sitters. Bamford usually gets a lot of chances each match because his movement is miles ahead of his age and anything in league one. At 20, it is only natural that his finishing still needs improvement.

I'll do Schalke.

I'll pass on Luiz in midfield. He gets caught on the ball in defense where he has time and space. He's a nightmare in midfield where he has no space and time and still trying to dribble with the ball. Plus his positional sense in midfield is very weak which is only natural for a defender.

I think Garry Neville put it perfectly. The EPL and the English "pundits" are not used to defenders like Luiz. It's a cultural difference and no one style has to be wrong and the other right.