BlueKnight87

Against them I would go back to basics with what we were doing under Gerrard without playing a number 10 against them in a 4-3-3.
When we played with a base of 3 combining of Davis, Kamara, Arfield, Jack and even McCrorie early on we controlled and sometimes dominated games that we didnt even win (LC final comes to mind). Our record with that was 4 wins and two defeats - one of them being that LC final and a dodgy sending off for Morelos and we still nearly knicked a draw.
Even under Beale our best result against them was with a base 3 of Jack, Raskin and Lundstram. Our best result under Gio against them the game turned around with taking off Aribo for Arfield and finishing the 90 with Arfield, Davis and Lundstram who was replaced by Kamara during ET.
We got a wee bit of success with Roofe and Alfie up top against them but I'd argue two of those games were some ofthe worst performances against them under Gerrard. The 1-0 game with the own goal and McGregor being world class and the Helander game though we were fucked with covid iirc. We only started playing Roofe and Morelos once we knew we were better than them too.
We tried a diamond in his first game, we tried that fucking stupid 5 in centre mid tactic when we lost two nil and we played Hagi once in midfield at parkhead and it was a slog despite drawing.
This season we've tried Cantwell twice and we've had Lawrence yesterday and you just lose control of the game imo. I like them two playing together or even just one especially against packed defences cause they can create and aren't needing to run about like mad.
However, against them, we need to go back to that base 3 and right now that would be Lundstram, Diomande and Sterling. You can control the game, mix it up and protect the defence.

We are utterly awful in transition defence - their 3rd goal a superb example of what I've been moaning about with @McEwan's Lager all season. 
Players just get pulled out of position and consistently make the wrong decisions then leave our defenders man-for-man at the back and 3 of our 4 defenders playing yesterday are truly awful 1v1 - we've conceded goals like that all season. Dowell is getting slated for jogging back but his initial position when Cantwell turns the ball over is the primary issue
Given Clement has been in the door for months now and we've seen huge improvement in every other area of our game, I'm assuming he has been working on it with the team but they're just not good enough. 

I thought Diamonde came onto a game in the second half, no coincidence when we had far more possession, first half he looked lost and was chasing shadows.
I'd definitely want sterling in there though, he's a monster of a player, physically a nightmare for an opponent.
I've tried to be patient with Tom Lawrence, but honestly I don't see anything about this guy, one good season in the championship, I'm not even sure where the hype comes from to begin with.

We do seem to have an issue where we don't come out flying and put ourselves under pressure against them by giving up daft goals.
Suns out, at home, none of their fans in, and we've got players still asleep at kick off. The first half performance was diabolical. We did well second half to get back into it but if we come out with the right mentality then we may actually win the bloody game instead of rescue a point.

I’m an idiot that much is a given but why is peoples comfort blanket and default position that it’s do with “bottle” and we “melt” etc?
People talk about bottle, the leagues basically gone at half time and we have a two goal deficit to turn around. We ended up not losing yesterday and the dessers goal by the letter of the law should stand. Teams who lack bottle or melt don’t come back from 2 goals down then concede a goal to go 3 2 down with about 2 minutes to go and still don’t lose.
i think it’s peoples way of coping is just shout bottles gone. We’ve lost 1 game domestically since December. Yesterday probably goes against those who are claiming it’s a bottle issue.
as I say I’m an idiot so maybe I just don’t see it and it’s staring me in the face 

I know that any time that mob drop points its got to be someone else's fault but theirs, but fuck me the narrative about them being cheated yesterday is off the scale.
They got a pen and our goal was chalked off. They're rewriting rules over the justified Silva pen. They're also doing mental gymnastics to fully blame Beaton for his decisions on var against Hearts but also fully blame him for Walsh's decisions on var yesterday.
Beaton was stinking yesterday, and var refereed the games big decisions for him. Him trying not to book players too early was in scum favour as several should have been booked before they were. He's a poor ref but by fuck he never remotely favoured us yesterday, absolutely nowhere near a performance that showed corruption or bias in our favour.
Never defeated, always cheated.
 

In the end, it was the scum’s arses that collapsed and they couldn’t hold onto first a 2-0, then a 3-2 lead, even when presented with a couple of gifts.
Just hope that is on both sets of players’ minds for the trip to the sty.

His theatrics today were embarrassing.

Tried to give it a few hours before giving my thoughts. Wild game from the first seconds.
Part of me is still angry at how bad that first half was. Part of me is happy with the character to come back twice and get a point. 
 
Don’t want to go through every player as I’d be here all night given some of the performances first half. But I want to mention Tom Lawrence. I’ve never ever understood the love in our fans have with him. When he arrived he had a couple decent games and then missed the full season and all we heard was he’d be like a new signing. To say he’s bang average would be me giving him a compliment. He can’t press, he’s too slow, he gives the ball away constantly and his decision making is shambolic. He should be nowhere near starting for us in these next 7 games. One of a number we need to move on in the summer. 

No point bothering about who might hypothetically take points off them. It's in our hands. Focus on us. We win our matches and avoid defeat against them and we win it. 

It's been that way for years now with media coverage. 
Always a bias pro-taig pundit who will push thier narrative.

His theatrics today were embarrassing.

I try and be a half-full type of person and see no need to change after today.
Obviously if had won today we would have been in a better place, but there are still a lot of football to be played and I will be taking it one game at a time as I always do.

Half full. 
We've come back from a nightmare first half to take a point. 
Win our remaining games and its ours. Piggery will be the acid test but I don't think it's impossible to go there and get a result.

Goldson has been poor for a while and today was brutal. 
Defence will need upgraded in the summer.

It was a shock how bad we were.
I'm hoping Ridvan and Sima getting back to fitness we'll see a bit more balance in the team as Sterling needs to be in that midfield. It's still a much better scenario than when Beale left no matter how this season finishes, we need to keep remembering that. Beale's team wouldn't have came back from that first half

Can't believe this thread hasn't been bumped.
Liability again. 

Honestly get this thread in the bin. Take him and his goals out the team and the scum would have won the league by now.

Sterling should be in midfield.
 

Just going like the other games. Only start playing when game is already over at 2 down.

Just take silva off now. 
Embarrassing 

Just take silva off now. 
Embarrassing 

The lack of hunger and desire shown right through the team is unforgivable. Tav, Diomande and Goldson having horror shows, Lawrence and Wright anonymous and Silva an absolute greetin faced shitebag. Bad day when you want Barisic to come on against them but we need Sterling further up the pitch. Sima, Cantwell, Matondo…get as many subs on as possible, that first half team needs ripped up. Tactics and press a riot too and thats on Clement. Absolutely shat the bed here.

It's a mentality that has seeped in the last few seasons. 
Terrified against a quite frankly average side. 
How you get rid of this I don't know. 

Our record against them is howling, its an embarrassment. Its clearly more than the team when it happens years after year.