Davvo

I too think we'd see a truer version of Mario if he had a partner, but the lack of one isn't making him miss chances, or fail to get into good positions. The lad needs to run more, and stop f***ing about with defenders, like he's in some private f***ing wrestling match. His sole focus needs to be getting in position to score.

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It may well be as simple as that, with Suarez it was led from the front and the others followed, how could you not. Also, in the front 6, we've replace Coutinho with an extra CM(Allen/Can) , and replaced S&S with Balotelli & Coutinho/Lallana. No wonder we're scoring fewer goals really.

How hard can it be, f***ing amateurs. Love the manager answer, classic Kenny.

I didn't compile the Stats, just passing on the message. I don't know where they got them, but a quick google search brings up this My link . Shot Assists per game : down 4.65% from last season Shots per game : down 7.02% from last season Goals per game : down 51.09% from last season Not a huge fan of raw stats by any means, but that's pretty stark in terms of us clearly not taking our chances to anything like the same level as last year. Surprised me too, but seemingly is backed up by facts.

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Agree with this, I've gone full circle on the Stevie issue. I'd use him more sparingly, and further forward. For example, start games like Chelsea, being replaced on 70 or so if he's knackered, and be rested more often in other games, available from the bench to break a deadlock vs Hull etc. More high energy, goal threatening, short bursts, with plenty of rest, rather than more pitch time, at low intensity, in a deep role.

It's strange, really has gone backwards. Gets knocked off the ball far too easily too, and no threat going forward.

Interested to know what it is that you seem to have against him, is it just your perception of him from press conferences, or word of mouth from colleagues ? You seem pretty sceptical. Agree with the Skrtel blindspot by the way.

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Agree the next game is the hardest. Still don't fancy being left with an Olympiakos/Roma situation at the moment, with our goal scoring.

Nope, if Basel win at home vs already qualified Real, then it turns our games vs Basel into a 2 leg tie, to decide 2nd place. They beat us 1-0, so a 2-1 win for us would see them through on away goals. A 1-0 win for us would also likely see us out on goal difference in that scenario, as we would be level on head to head. To keep it simple, we need Madrid to get something in Basel, or 2 wins may not be enough.

Exhibit A plays for Stoke now.

There was some stat at the weekend, Carra and neville maybe, showing that we are creating as many chances as last season. Our main issue is we aren't putting them away. That's not just Mario's problem, but he's the primary reason for us not scoring, he's missed a truckload, especially when you include airshots, miscues, and plain poor positioning. If you think he's only missed 3 good chances, you must have been asleep through most of our games.

I love that the English fella has suggested May/June as an alternative to June/July, because 2 or 3 degrees is going to make lots of difference .

He could put it in the net when he gets a chance like, he's had plenty. He could also work as hard when we've got the ball, as he does when the opposition have it. He's not the only problem by a long stretch, but if he'd bagged a few of the sitters he's missed, he'd be much less of a problem.

Failure to try something else with Balotelli, is beyond frustrating.

Concerned that last season was a result of him being almost forced to go 2 up top, due to the brilliance of Sturridge & Suarez, and the need to play to their strengths. Without them, we seem to have regressed to the 'possession and controlling the game give us the best chance of winning' philosophy, which didn't work well at all the season before last. Playing the way we did yesterday, you leave the outcome of the game in the hands of either a) a moment of brilliance or b) a mistake. We may be controlling possession, but we're doing nothing to control the outcome.

He seems to be getting progressively worse, which perhaps points more to how the team is affecting him, when we were hoping for the reverse.

Was it ?