Forget it, pointless competition that just risks injuries that weakens the team for the PL.

I don't care what competition we're playing in. If people have payed to watch you, you owe it to them to at least try and put some effort in. Tonight was a disgrace, especially Wickham and sako. Lee zaha benteke and Hennessey are the only ones who can come out of that with any degree of credit.
Can't decide what was worse, tonight, the first half against Bournemouth, or villa away last season

Edited by gazzagoalie (21 Sep 2016 10.45pm)

On the train back from the game. This a good summary. I'm bemused why none of the kids didn't even make the bench. They could of done better! The fact our first shot on target wasn't until the 83rd minute says it all really. My ratings below:

Hennessey - 6 - couple of good saves but can see why AP prefers Mandanda. Distribution is slow and poor.

Ward - 5 - perhaps unsettled from changes to back 4. Doesn't seem to be Mr. Reliable any more.

Dann - 6 - all was calm till he went off with a hamstring injury. Hope it's not serious cause we have a great big hole in defence without him.

Delaney - 5 - assured defensively but distribution was poor again. The chipped ball forward has become so annoying. Not that Wickham would have held up a good chipped pass forward in any case.

Fryers - 6 - caught out a couple of times but not a bad performance for someone who has not played for a long time. Got forward when he could.

Zaha - 6 - quiet night by his standards. Forced a few corners but no golden delivery which presented a clear cut chance.

Lee - 6 - neat and tidy particularly when given some terrible balls to control, but never threatening to create something positive.

Cabaye - 6 - clearly needed the run out but why is he playing so deep! Ledley and McArthur have nothing to loose sleep over.

Mutch - 4 - why is he still at the club? Giving a youngster a chance would surely have been more beneficial. Gave nothing for the cause other than a couple of wild shots from outside the box.

Sako - 3 - desperately short of fitness and looks a stone or two overweight. Rarely takes on a full back. Is the wing his best position? Surely he has to shipped out in January and Kai Kai recalled.

Wickham - 4 - looks like he's accepted being back up striker to Benteke already. No fight or willingness to hold up the ball.

Subs

Kelly - 5 - why the need to recklessly dive in when Long was going nowhere. We were comfortable until that point albeit without creating anything. Worrying if it's Kelly and Delaney against Defoe on Saturday as neither have pace.

Benteke - 6 - he was stripped to come on when Southampton scored their second. Had our first shot on target late on which didn't trouble McCarthy but showed a willingness.

Puncheon - 6 - little time to make a contribution to the game.

Overall very very poor. Reminiscent of second half of last season but with the addition of pointless possession in our own half. Fans singing "we had a shot" in 83rd minute doesn't make good reading does it? First XI picks itself Saturday.

Hopkin looking to curl one....

Pandemonium ensues!

We beat a promoted side in Middlesbrough and a bottom of the table side in Stoke and many feel we have "Turned a corner". Think again.Some of the 'Fringe' players are not up to the job and I fear that with injuries etc we are going to be badly exposed.A long hard season beckons.

Worrying that we couldn't even score against McCarthy!

Now we see the folly of only having 7 defenders in the 25 and letting any promising youngsters be sold or go out on loan. Presumably either Ben Wynter or Phillips will have to be in the squad on Saturday.

From what I have read, the performance was dire and the "Fringe" players never covered themselves in glory.Why am I not surprised ? Absolutely diabolical and I feel sorry for our supporters who travelled down there to witness absolute dross.Worrying times.