Seeing as no-one else has. HULL.

[wanderer10]

Best performance all season for me. The whole team was outstanding, but for me, Mavies and Dawson are responsible for turning us around and making us look almost invincible. First time this season we looked like a top team again.

Must admit I'd never heard of Dawson when he arrived, just assumed he was here as squad cover. But this guy could end up getting us into the play offs. Even Knight looks a good defender playing alongside him. Dawson should be fighting for an England place, not playing in the championship, but very grateful to have him for a few months.

Apologies for managing to find at least one negative, but every time Alonso had to defend it gave me the collywobbles - he looked out of his depth, with all his intentional stumbling he looks like he's trying to drag down his man and get yellow carded every time, and the ref warned him about it. No wonder he got sent off at Forest. He is terrific going forward, but for me, the weak link at the back. Just hope he can sort himself out.

I agree with this about Alonso. He has been one of our better player in the past few months but today he looked like what he used to. Clumsy and lucky to stay on the pitch. By the time he got the yellow he could have had 4. When he had the ball he didn't seem comfortable today either. Hopefully just a bad day.

[BWFC_Insane]

Alonso and Ricketts were both poor.

Full back is an area we need to address.

Though I think Mears is ok.

[wanderer10]

Ricketts is just simply too slow. He is going the way Robbo did

[CAPSLOCK]

If Ricketts slowed to snail pace he'd still be a better defender than Alonso

[Leyther_Matt]

I bet Ricketts was chuffed at having to play right wing back for the last few minutes!

[Dr.Karl]

That is how you set up a 4-4-2. Very much like the Italian version in recent years minus the marauding full backs. Really missed Mavies(my French friend called him petit Zizou), the creativity he provides in either this system or the usual formation has been one of the reasons why we haven't looked like scoring recently. First 10 minutes were just insane.

[Gail Platz]

Would like to see Dawson and Wheats together. Cos I dont like Knight.

Absolutely valid point there

Zat Knight was solid yesterday and doesn't deserve to be dropped after that performance. Wheater can wait his turn. Why change something that worked against a promotion chasing side?

He even tried a Cruyff turn that completely didn't come off.

[Gail Platz]

Alonso and Ricketts were both poor.

Full back is an area we need to address.

Though I think Mears is ok.

Pass round whatever you've been smoking/consuming.

[TKIZ!]

To sum up:


Bogdan: Had a fair bit to do in little spells but made a couple of vital saves
Alonso: Plays well going forward and linked very well with Spearing/Chungy/Mavies but gives me palpitations when he's got a player with speed running at him
Dawson is the difference. As been said before I cannot understand why he's not being picked for West Brom and I would love it if we could afford to keep him but honestly can't see it.
Knight: Seems to revel in having another ball playing CB at the side of him
Ricketts: Steady eddie, I think he's lost a couple of yards of pace as well
CYL: One of his better games for us, fulling of running. I wish the ref would have given him a bit more protection got clobbered a couple of times and got nothing
Mavies: Coming back from his injury he looked back to his best, however he'll need performances like this all the time
Spearing: I don't understand why folks don't like him, he was everything we needed him to be yesterday
Pratley: That'll do Dazza, that'll do
N'Gog: Good link up play, rubbish when he has time to think but cracking when working off instinct.
Sordell: Personally, I thought he played well. Having seen Dawson's first a couple of times I'm not sure that it did cross and I'm sure the goal should be awarded to Marv but hey ho

Subs:
Craig Davies: Not a whole lot to do, shame they changed the formation towards the end and he cut a lonely figure but I still like that he has a very work man like ethic
Wheats: Just good to see him back
Kamara: The tiny bit I saw thought he looked composed on the ball, showed a few nice touches

Are you implying Zat Knight's a ball-playing centre back?

Nope, I was implying that he plays well when he has a ball playing CB at the side of him, like for example Cahill

[Bruce Rioja]

Craig Dawson has bought into what we are trying to do and he is a good guy. He has also brought a confidence to Zat Knight and Adam Bogdan.

Don't that tell you absolutely everything about Zat Shite. Shouldn't he be instilling confidence into this kid from Rochdale, the laughably capped-for-England Zat Shite?

[Jakerbeef]

Would like to see Dawson and Wheats together. Cos I dont like Knight.

Absolutely valid point there

It is in my book.

[Bruno3]

Just wanted to put in a word for Pratley (no - not crap, useless or one of the others that have been used to describe his efforts) - but don't know which word does him justice. The man just runs and runs all day - covered every blade of grass - when it looked like Hull might have a break on he was the one tracking back to cover. He may not have the best ball control and can't hit a killer pass (even though it's obvious he knows where to put it). His efforts allow Mavies just that bit more freedom to do his thing.

[Sponge]

Just wanted to put in a word for Pratley (no - not crap, useless or one of the others that have been used to describe his efforts) - but don't know which word does him justice. The man just runs and runs all day - covered every blade of grass - when it looked like Hull might have a break on he was the one tracking back to cover. He may not have the best ball control and can't hit a killer pass (even though it's obvious he knows where to put it). His efforts allow Mavies just that bit more freedom to do his thing.

You've pretty much described Muamba at his best (and, although he's now virtually beatified, it's worth remembering that for a long time, as with Pratley, Muamba was the fans' – and this forum's – whipping boy).

[BWFC_Insane]

Pratley is not like Muamba.

He's like a less good, but more mobile and athletic Kevin Nolan.

Covers so much ground its unreal. And clearly has an eye for a run or two and arrives in the box well.

I think he could get 10+ goals if played behind the right front man in the right system.

Anyhow we're seeing the player that I expected to when we signed him. Another one that Coyle completely mis-managed and never even tried to get the best out of.

[89bwfc89]

Always had a soft spot for Pratley. He tries and he looks like he wants to be here playing for us. I really was chuffed when he got that goal, it'll do wonders for his confidence.

[coffeymagic]

When Radio Manchester dropped off the air (for contractual reasons) I tuned into 5Live Sports Extra to see if they had us on commentary (fat chance). It was the rugby so I tuned to yer very own 5 live.

'Another goal at the Reebok....'

Oh for Christ's sake - I thought to myself, what's going on now?

THREE NIL? THREE? 3?

Obviously I knew the eventual capitulation would come and was just preparing myself for the dramatic last minute winner from Hull when the full time whistle went and we'd won. 4-1.

What a difference a win makes. Great move for Pratley's, great finish from M Davies and great pressure for the other two.

That's more like it Bolton. In a million years I couldn't have seen that result coming. Is it really all down to Dawson? Does he have the quality that relaxes the rest of the team? Good to see some competition for places now too. Getting to the stage when no one is guaranteed a place in the first XI.

Let's see if we can put our foot on the pedal now and pick up some back-to-back's eh?

Come on you Whites!

[bobo the clown]

Pratley ...... Another one that Coyle completely mis-managed and never even tried to get the best out of.

He has a lot of making up to do to convince me he'll make it, but tbf, he's making a good try at it now.

But, yes, you get the impression that Coyle was like a kid at Christmas. I want, I want, I want .... opens the package & adfter a little play puts it down & ends up playing with the box it came in.

[BWFC_Insane]

Pratley ...... Another one that Coyle completely mis-managed and never even tried to get the best out of.

He has a lot of making up to do to convince me he'll make it, but tbf, he's making a good try at it now.

But, yes, you get the impression that Coyle was like a kid at Christmas. I want, I want, I want .... opens the package & adfter a little play puts it down & ends up playing with the box it came in.

He's clearly not premiership class on the ball most of the time (with the odd exception, the pass at Forest for example).

BUT nobody can tell me that the Pratley we're seeing now wouldn't have been massively useful in midfield in the relegation fight last season.

If Coyle had got this level out of him he could have made a difference when we were struggling without Muamba, NRC had an injury and we were short there.

[Lost Leopard Spot]

On Saturday I was not able to watch/listen to/log onto the match. I was in a car, driving, at kick-off time, on the way to the airport with friends who live abroad aboard. I asked Gobby Mick, sat in the front passenger seat to use his phone to catch up with the team news. Apparently he'd never done that kind of thing before (I suppose after 10 years of living in France there would never have been any opportunity to explore the ins and outs of BBC Sport webpages) so it took a while for me to instruct him where to navigate to on his phone. Then we lost signal for a while. Finally he got there and said it was 11 minutes into the match. "What's the score?" I asked automatically, "3-0" he said nonchalantly. "Oh fer fecks sake" I wailed. That's what pessimism does to you.
It was only as he reeled out the scorers that I realised it was us that was 3 nil up.

[mrkint]

Pratley ...... Another one that Coyle completely mis-managed and never even tried to get the best out of.

He has a lot of making up to do to convince me he'll make it, but tbf, he's making a good try at it now.

But, yes, you get the impression that Coyle was like a kid at Christmas. I want, I want, I want .... opens the package & adfter a little play puts it down & ends up playing with the box it came in.

He's clearly not premiership class on the ball most of the time (with the odd exception, the pass at Forest for example).

BUT nobody can tell me that the Pratley we're seeing now wouldn't have been massively useful in midfield in the relegation fight last season.

If Coyle had got this level out of him he could have made a difference when we were struggling without Muamba, NRC had an injury and we were short there.

It was noticeable how good Pratley was - and indeed, how intelligent he was - at Watford, with his movement and running. Always seemed to have space when he picked up the ball and dragged defenders this way and that. Operating between their defence and midfield, no one knew who was supposed to follow him. And if you have someone like that who is also a goal threat, it don't half give space to those who can utilise it properly (Mavies, LCY, etc).

It sounds a bit callous to say but even so I will - if he had a hint of ability with the ball at his feet he'd be a world-beater. It's so frustrating watching him do the right thing in terms of receiving the ball in space, and then knock a five yard pass into the stands, somehow. But even so, he still brings something to the team and is rather selfless in his job. If he can chip in with a few goals a season, be tackle back, and create space for those with more ability around him, then good on the lad.

D-Pratz