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Reader Comments (12)

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Paul Gladwell
1 Posted 01/03/2014 at 21:28:06
Strange how we see games, I thought it was one of our worst home performances this season and Pienaar was poor, always slowing things down, always dragging back the ball and passing poorly.

I had to question our manager for bleating all week about Lukaku and his training ground work and then not playing him and failing to bring him on at half-time despite us not even looking like getting a shot on goal.

On the plus side, we still won and Stones looks class for his age.

Guy Hastings
2 Posted 01/03/2014 at 22:28:59
Li Tie — player hair rating: 9.

I liked him as a player too.

Si Cooper
3 Posted 01/03/2014 at 22:35:56
Having now read three reports on TW, I take it 'there was nothing to see' when Barry got intimate with Nolan when he would have been through on goal.

Nudge, nudge, wink, wink, say no more.

Harold Matthews
4 Posted 02/03/2014 at 05:58:33
Paul G. These big lads have to be nursed with care. The need for a goal gave him more time than I expected. The first game back is usually trouble free but if it's overdone, a second game within a week can cause leg problems.
Colin Williams
5 Posted 02/03/2014 at 16:57:56
Great to see Stones have a quality game (again), please stop stupid comments about him, "Not being good enough". Really!!!
Chris Leyland
6 Posted 02/03/2014 at 18:05:01
Colin I agree that Stones did, by and large, have a good game. However, his lack of experience showed on one occasion when his mis-control on the edge of our area nearly allowed that lanky streak of piss with porn-star hair to score.

My man of the Match choice was either Baines or McCarthy.

Sam Hoare
7 Posted 02/03/2014 at 18:16:42
Chris, not sure you can blame a poor touch on lack of experience necessarily. I like the fact that Stones tries to control the ball and pass it out rather than resort to hoof. On that occasion he had a heavy touch but his confidence is a good thing.
Peter Askins
8 Posted 02/03/2014 at 18:14:27
I'd go along with Stones as Man of the Match. Granted, his one mistake allowed Carroll to hit a fizzer from thirty yards, but if he only makes one similar mistake per match, I'd be thrilled.

I watched Stones quite closely yesterday, and was mightily impressed. His positional sense was fine, which for one so young and inexperienced at this level, was very surprising. He also put in some fine sturdy challenges, one of which was wrongly penalised by an over-fussy ref, which indicated that Stones wasn't scared to match the physical presence of the likes of Carleton Cole (then Carroll), and Nolan.

Finally, I noticed that Stones was most often given the task of challenging Carroll in the air, and again he surprisingly won more than his fair share, despite being the shorter of the two.

Overall, a very impressive game by Stones, in the key match-up of the day, which went a long way in deciding the outcome of the game.

Jamie Barlow
9 Posted 02/03/2014 at 18:24:36
No idea what you’re talking about Si.

One of the best moments of the match was Stones bringing the ball out of defence and playing a 40 yard ball to Baines on the wing. It was as cool as you like.

I also love his interviews. A really likable lad and always smiling.

Patrick Murphy
10 Posted 02/03/2014 at 18:33:15
Si is referring to the non red-card for Barry in the challenge with Nolan at the time I didn't see anything in it but watching the replays and Motd's usual let's find something wrong in the Everton game Barry was indeed lucky to escape punishment. Talking of Motd how come Hansen et al weren't as resolute about rat-boy as they were about Pardew? BTW didn't Big Dunc spend time in prison for a similar incident all those years ago.
Raymond Fox
11 Posted 02/03/2014 at 19:09:18
Barry was lucky, we won one there.

Funny game to look for a MOTM, I didn't think anyone was outstanding except for Lukaku, who changed the game when he came on for his short stint.
I'd probably give it to Baines, with considering his inexperience Stones a close 2nd.
Stones had a very poor game against rs. and I would not have played him in this game!
The lad proved me wrong, and had a good game, especially up against their front two.

I thought Alcaraz was fit, he would have been my first choice but he wasn't even in the squad, Browning was on the bench instead!

Colin Williams
12 Posted 02/03/2014 at 22:43:00
Chris, please! "... lack of experience"!?! How do you you gain experience? He's a young man with a great future. Stonsey will become the best centre-half in Premier League.

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