[Bierzo Baggie]

Hoping that Rondon is more "big Cyrille" than Big Vic .....

[WBA Will]

However, Brunt and Dawson both had solid games at full back.

Will, Dawson had a solid game?? Were you at the game bud because if that's a solid game I'm losing my mind He can't pass wind and what on earth was he doing when he just stood there with the ball and just waited for a Chelski player to have the ball off him. He had all the time in the world to pass forwards, backwards or sideways. Clear header on goal and put it over. Both Him and Olsson need moving on and the sooner the better. I cannot believe we have spent £8m on a CB and played him at RB then dropped him. Neither Olsson nor Dawson should be picked in front of Lescott either. Maybe I am losing my mind afterall

I went to the game. Guess it goes to show it's a game of opinions   I thought Dawson did OK defensively for the majority of the game and put in some decent crosses. Maybe could have done a little better tracking Costa for the second goal but I think the real sloppiness there was earlier in midfield. He has had better games, I admit.  I do agree that Chester or Lescott should be in ahead of Olsson though (probably Lescott as he prefers to play as the left sided CB.)

[Stairs]

That was a good match for us. I never expected points from Man City and Chelsea and expecting 3 from an away game at Watford at the start of the season was a bit rich - so we are very much where I'd expect us to be after 3 games.

Plus we are still (I agree with Tp) maddeningly still in the transfer window. Lambert and Rondon are a game or 2 away from full fitness but the performance overall this weekend looked very promising. Play like that in the coming weeks and we'll start winning games.

Saido was not missed yesterday (maybe as a penalty taker). This was a blessing as I am certain he will leave this week. It's just a case of who comes in to replace him and who else that money helps bring in to shore up the defence.

In a weeks time we will have a stronger squad, a fitter squad and the others in the bottom third of the league still have to play Man City and Chelsea and so it all levels out.

[Slick_Footwork]

There were some decent positives yesterday. Although I'm dead against Saido going, we did look better with a 5 in midfield.

McManaman was excellent and looked a real threat - it makes a huge difference to getting you up the pitch when you have someone who can beat players in a one on one situation. Rondon always threatening with his pace. Brunt and Mozza also played somewhere near their best.

The main disappointment was the defending and McLean, who was just as garbage as a remember for Sunderland. I find it baffling that someone who is an attacking winger can be so poor on the ball and fail to pass incisively. For me, him and Gardner are the type of players who wouldn't look out of place playing for bottom half Championship sides.

Still think we're a few players short. Would be nice to get a strong, mobile, central midfield player. We still need a winger who can beat people in one on one situations and chip in with some goals. McLean clearly isn't the answer and is a downward step on Sess and Varela who were both shown the door. We could also do with a dominant centre half to replace Olsson short term and McAuley long term, given that it looks like Lescott might be off to MLS... IMO, with his height, Fazio would've fit the bill rather than Evans, who has always looked weak.

If Saido does go - it'd be nice to see Townsend come the other way because I think he's exactly the type we need. The guy is tricky, shoots with both feet and will score goals from midfield. Alternatively, It'd be good to see us go all out for Bolasie, who seemed to enjoy playing under Pulis and would be a perfect foil for Rondon - it seems like he's on his way out from Palace.