Orly

That was awful ball-watching from both Turner AND Bassong. Neither have covered themselves in glory so far, Benteke has been all over them.

Yes, it was when Durham was lambasting Jamie "Helium Scouser" Carragher''s retirement from international football that Mr Carragher phoned up and made him make a brown fish in his underpants.He is just a professional Troll.  He was doing it way before these teenyboppers with their new fangled flame-wars/hoola-hoops and pac man video games.I very much doubt he actually truly holds any of the opinions he spouts on Talksh#t.On a final note - I need to find the person who composed the Selco builders advert and exact retribution upon him. Words cannot describe how much I hate that advert.   (Autoglass following a close second)

[quote user="Yelloow Since 72"]I''m not sure that we''re comparing like for like here. Howson and Johnson have had a lot of playing time already this season, whereas this was Tettey''s second start, and first in the PL. I think his touch will improve as he plays more games and I also think he will score goals, something lacking from CMF previously. It''s his potential that is exciting for me, as an effective DMF who can also go forward effectively and score goals. He could make a huge difference this season.[/quote]That''s true Yelloow.  I''m not suggesting Tetty / Howson / Fox are similar players, as a matter of fact, Johnson is probably the closest match from last seasons'' squad.  Re; Tetty''s touch - I think he is lacking a little match fitness - which is to be expected - as I noticed his touch get heavier towards the end of the game.  I''m not convinved he has the best first touch in the squad anyway, but if he is as effective as he was on Saturday, you won''t hear me complaining :)The pleasing thing now is that when we need to shut up shop, and put in some tackles, we now have not 1, but 2 physically robust players in the centre of the park.  And whilst I rate both Howson and Fox as far better "Footballers" (in terms of their ability with the ball), we were continually getting over-run in midfield at the start of the season - the fact we couldn''t get close enough to pick up more than one booking is testament to that fact (yes, I know obtaining bookings isn''t a pre-requisite to winning football matches, but I believe it was symptomatic).However, I certainly hope Fox & Howson get plenty of game time when we are playing ''lesser'' teams, by which I mean the likes of anyone not expected to be in the Top 6 - 8 at the end of the season, as we will need their ability to retain possession to put the opposition under pressure.

[quote user="Gareth"]Was I the only one who thought his first touch looked a little heavy? Despite that, great performance him and Johnson were energetic, strong and disciplined. I think that against teams that''ll look to dominate possession, Tettey and Johnson will be our first choice holders whilst against teams we want to beat (or think we can beat) Fox might come in for one of them. Our biggest problem today was that in the final 20 or so mins we were giving the ball away far too easily I feel that if Fox was in the side that wouldn''t have been as much of a problem. In summary, I''d like to see Fox in for one of them against certain teams and the Johnson/Tettey pairing should be used against the ''big'' teams.[/quote]100% agree with everything said here.  Thanks for that -  saved me having to type it myself.

[quote user="Phyxius"]Bradley Johnson, he was a rock in midfield, made some great tackles aswell.[/quote]^ This.

[quote user="dpit"]Ugo on Sky this morning and named him as best right back he has played with (although he spelled his name Norton). Quite an acolade given the teams he has played in. Made me realse just hiw much we''ve mssed him this year.[/quote]Agreed.  We certainly have.Russell Martin has been performing reasonably well I thought at RB, but I was surprised as anyone when he excelled in central defence last season and would prefer to see him there.Naughton was a different class at RB and I think his distribution is actually better than his club-mate Walker.

Technically, he is awful. But I''ve grown fond of his big lumbering ways and don''t subscribe for a second to the "lazy" criticism often aimed at him.  He is and always has been a battering ram, and so long as he is used solely for that purpose, he will be of use this season.It''s not the retention of Morison that''s the problem anyway, it''s the (much discussed) lack of strikers at the club that''s the real issue.  More strikers, more competition typically means higher performance levels (although not quite that straightforward).

[quote user="Chelmsford Canary"]http://www.therationalpie.com/chelsea-v-norwich-review-the-blue-authority/ The above review describes Tettey as "the worst player on the pitch with his wayward passing and aimless shooting." anyone else think this is incredibly harsh? [/quote]I think it''s only slightly harsh at best.Hopefully it''s down to a lack of match sharpness/fitness, but I wasn''t overly impressed with his performance.  I''m perfectly willing to give him a couple of games before writing him off, but IMO he needs to show significant improvement all-round (particularly technically) if he is to maintain a starting berth ahead of others such as Fox/Johnson/Howson. 

[quote user="The 12th Devine"]Howson and Tettey suggested more good than bad today ... 38 games is a long time and I can see both playing a notable part. Hoolahan likely to figure less and less as season goes by, especially against the best sides - has always been a flat track bully; top lad, very good one footed player but ultimately not a top half of premier league player (well at least that won''t be a problem this season I suppose!) Johnson doing ok this season but I always feel it''s exertion over enterprise with him and time will be his undoing. I never wanted Hughton in the first place but will give him time to sort this out because after Fulham we were quality for three or four games and deserved more. We''ve always needed a) another striker b) another defensive midfielder and c) if honest, Ayala! But ... we can still be ok. Two wins by mid November and we can get back on track.[/quote]Good post.Disagree re: Hoolahan though - whilst strength is admittedly one of his weakest attributes and cost us 1 goal today, we have no-one else who possesses his intricacy, or dribbling.  I would hope that he continues to feature at the very least in a squad capacity - starting winnable home games, and being used to unlock defences in tight away games as a substitute.

[quote user="Gingerpele"]Bradley Johnson in every position, as well as manager, majority owner, CEO, chief exc, prime minister. Will solve all of our problems.[/quote]Hehe.I must admit, I was one of Mr Johnson''s biggest critics last season, when people where talking of an England call, it was inconceivable to me.Whilst he does have a tendency to let the game slip and pass him by,  this season he has put in a couple of storming performances where he has actually exhibited a decent first touch and a reasonable passing ability which - combined with his undisputed tenacity - have resulted in him slowly winning me over.I thought he played reasonably well today.

I thought I''d write it twice within the same post to emphasise my point... o_0 Stupid accidental re-pasting

""""Orly- if you think tettey looked lost well I am lost for words. you either know nothing about football or are a troll."""""That seems like a entirely knee-jerk free reaction.  Dare I suggest there are other people - who perhaps even approach the towering zenith of your own staggering football knowledge - who also thought Tetty looked a little dubious?Wait, that''s means I''d suggest that your opinion isn''t the only opinion in the world.I best not then.Let the "battle of the new members with post counts under 10" commence! *cue Star Trek battle music*That seems like a entirely knee-jerk free reaction.  Dare I suggest there are other people - who perhaps even approach the towering zenith of your own staggering football knowledge - who also thought Tetty looked a little dubious?Wait, that''s means I''d suggest that your opinion isn''t the only opinion in the world.I best not then.Let the ''battle of the new members with post counts under 10'' commence! *cue Star Trek battle music*

Ruddy 6.5Martin 6.0Barnett 5.0Bassong 5.0Garrido 5.0Bennett 5.5Tettey 4.5Howson 6.0Johnson 6.0Hoolahoop 6.0Holt 7.0

He may not have been excellent - sure, he made a few mistakes (however still considerably less than Tetty who looked frighteningly lost, as if he were looking for League 1, or perhaps the lower championship), but if that''s all you saw from him then that''s all you were looking for. He retained possesion well, and made several surging runs from our own box deep into their half.Special mention for Johnson - actually looked quite handy on the left. I''m not his biggest fan, but he added steel to the left side (noticeably missing when Surman plays), and still managed to put himself about, as humorously highlighted when he floored two chelsea players in a matter of seconds and walked off with a shrug of his shoulders.  More of that please, it''s been lacking of late.

Rather annoyingly I missed the goal, but his link up play, first touch, and vision were back to the standard of last season which is nice to see.He really is our only potent all-round striker at the moment, so long may his presence in the starting line-up continue.

[quote user="Cantiaci Canary"]If you can''t see that Howson is one of our bright stars today then I must question your understanding of football.[/quote]This ^