Playing excellently today. I was envious of Reading on Wednesday with how they had Charlie Adam running the show but Dougall is doing the exact same thing for us today it’s great to see!
I really hope he gets more and more game time he’ll only get better hasn’t played much over the last year due to his 2 injuries so still isn’t firing in all cylinders but is the best protection for the defence in my opinion we’ve just got to get him to his best.
Agreed. Much improved today and found the feet of the attackers with ease. Don’t know how he got booked after two clear fouls on him.
His biggest positive is he is always looking up the pitch. He doesn’t just ship the ball from side to side. Tried to play the killer ball a couple of times and was inches short. Those were the kinds of pass that MOTD would show 340 times if it was made in the PL. We’re a more effective team with him in it.
Good to see him looking more like the player he was pre-injury. Deserves to keep his place on that showing.
I didn't see much protection half way through the second half when we were being slaughtered. Whether that was down to Dougall I doubt very much. But if AH was there instead, who knows if we could have steadied the ship?
With how open the game was you could have put the worlds best defensive midfielder in that position and it wouldn’t have had much of an effect on either side. Today was a perfect example of 2 sides who overcommitted when going forward leaving their defence open the difference was we were better on the break.
There were occasions when Diaby and Andersen were winning defensive headers in their half of the pitch, we were so high up. A decent through ball from the opposition and suddenly the whole defence is running back towards Radlinger. The defence doesn't want to be constantly turned like that. How are you meant to pick up runners? It just leads to chaotic defending.
Anderson was atrocious for that first 15 mins, he gives me the jitters every time he has the ball at his feet.
This. Why can’t the Coach see it. Game after game. IMO Dougal has been v poor this season. But the he has been in and out. He’s such a good player we do need him to step up. And with such a terrible defence, even more so.
Just needs a run of games, like any player. We've seen his class and ability before so I've no doubt he'll only get better.
I presume the Coach can see it, but the directive from above is that this is the style of play we want to adopt, because that's what successful teams like Liverpool do. Feel sorry for the defence because it puts them under unnecessary pressure and makes them look worse than they are, imo.
His passing & interceptions have been superb the last two games. Once Halme’s back fit I really hope he replaces Anderson at the back & Dougall keeps his spot