Jonty

Played probably the best pass of the game with the outside of his foot I believe through to Hazard on the right wing, who then couldn't get a cross in, and made a few other neat incisive passes too. You wonder if we'd had that passing ability the entire game if we would have spent most of it chasing the ball around and losing it every time we got past half-way, first 20 minutes of the second-half aside.

Fair point there was no incentive to change when we were winning games, this is really our first chance to see whether Conte is going to drop out of form players or try to play them back into form.

Thought he was poor against Watford and Swansea, even in the other 2 games where he wasn't bad it's not as if he was lighting up the match, it's evident even on his better days that the team as a whole would benefit by having some proper width outside Hazard on the left.

Did more in his 5 minutes on the field than Oscar did in 87 minutes. Surely due for a return to the starting line up? Or are we going to continue to let Oscar run around for most of the game until we decide it's time we actually create some chances and bring him on.

Can they keep him there?

Honestly thought Luiz was our best player today, not that that is saying much.

He was better than the invisible man Oscar, other than that he was about as poor as most of the team today, don't see any reason to single him out.

Truly was groundhog day today, third season in a row where we've splashed the cash for an expensive full back to replace him, only for him to inexplicably continue to play virtually every minute.

When there is an absolute shambles of defensive organisation, I wonder why the GK hasn't done anything about it. No-one was better placed to tell the defence that there were 4 liverpool players unmarked at the back post. While I would always see Cech organising his back line, particularly at set pieces, it seems since he has left we've been sorely lacking that. And with JT out that was amplified, leading to an embarrassingly poor set piece defence. Did make a good save from Origi near the end there though.

I await the pinning of blame for that calamity of a half on our debutant, really he was probably one of the least useless players and if anything the goals highlighted (yet again) the faults of Ivanovic, Cahill and Courtois.

If he makes a mistake that costs us a goal, I don't think I can ever return to this thread due to the sheer volume of smug I-told-you-so'ness that will envelope it.

Supposedly he's about to sign for Melbourne Victory, might get the chance to see him play again if true.

Is this our new resident African football expert?

I'd say he is the least impactful player of our 6 midfield/attacking players, he's not playing badly but when he picks up the ball it doesn't exactly fill me with the expectation that something impressive is about to happen. But I also don't see Pedro or Moses having any greater impact so for the forseeable future he may as well start ahead of them. I suppose you could say he is the Cahill of our attack. Unspectacular, usually not too bad, and good enough to play so long as we have no-one better. Must say i'd like to see Fabregas get a shot playing there though.

Costa to get booked in the 2nd minute, survive about 15 calls for a second yellow and then score a 92nd minute winner would do me quite nicely.

Fair enough, clearly I and other Shed End members have a short memory.

Don't think we've had a young attacking player this prolific in the Roman era? His output is far above even what Bamford was producing for Boro the year he won Championship player of the year.

Forced City, who had dominated the game in the first half, to totally shut up shop for most of the second half, it was quite a bit difference. On the other hand, Pep showed why Wenger cannot emulate his success, as he showed he was prepared to defend a narrow lead and go quite negative.

I think you've gotten that the wrong way around. But Adam Johnson certainly agrees with the sentiment.

The tactics or team selection he started with was appalling, but his changes at half-time showed his ability to really change the game.

Woops didn't realise Lingard was that old, the other I was referring to is Rashford.

With the amount of speed Liverpool have and the way we were pressing in that Swansea game, might not be the worst situation to have someone a bit quicker in for JT at the back.

I too thought Kante was good overall, particularly in the first half. An interesting thing I did notice in regards to the breakaway goal, when the ball was played out to the wing and the last man (possibly Dave?) chased him out there, a replay showed that JT (pretty sure was JT, could possibly have been someone else) was actually in front of Sigurdsson around the half-way line, but slowly jogging back towards goal, while Sigurdsson ran straight past him and ultimately won the penalty.

I sure as hell wouldn't, Willian was our best player last season and has has another good start to the season..Martial on the other hand has fallen below two teenagers in the United pecking order.

My memory is evidently sh*te, I wonder how many Shed End MOTM's he's won though in the few years he's been here, seeing as Plokoon seems to be keeping track of it.