Very pleasing that, when we scored, only our two strikers

[redgunamo]

were in West Brom's penalty area.

Santi looked great too, skinning his man before getting to the by-line and standing up the cross.

Well played.

[Luis Anaconda]

twice Santi's size and failed to knock him over when he tried

[Billy Goat Sverige]

[Sir Charlie of Nicholas]

Also some encouraging signs from the erstwhile Welsh Jesus, I thought.*

*These opinions are based solely on MotD highlights.

[redgunamo]

[Dorset Gooner]

[redgunamo]

[Luis Anaconda]

by the sounds of it our pack just beat them up which is no great surprise. Lawes was immense so I heard

[Luis Anaconda]

Santi that is. Ramsey certainly looked more like his old self but I only saw from about 40 minutes in

[Billy Goat Sverige]

And as you said the pack absolutely demolished them. I can't see how we don't beat them in the World Cup group, we always win the game in the set piece against them.

Ford was really good too i thought. He missed a few kicks but his kicking from hand was brilliant. I'm not really a fan of Barritt but he played well in defense. Twelvetrees was poor. I don't really see how he plays for Gloucester but he must be playing well there, which then makes me wonder why he struggles so much at international level.

[Rich]

KP should also learn to keep his mouth shut.

[redgunamo]

actually have a proper forward division now.

Otherwise it is, as you say, encouraging.

[Luis Anaconda]

Yeah I am not sure about Twelvetrees - he was worth another go. Think Baritt is a great man to have around. I think our best centre partnership is him and Tuilagi still. Sod this second receiver lark

[Luis Anaconda]

Hiding to nothing - players are rusty, conditions are nothing like they are in the world cup, we seem not to have taken a bowling attack and I can't imagine many of them felt like playing on Saturday anyway. I think he'll stand down as one-day skipper after the world cup anyway. Basically not being humiliated will be an achievement so if he can manage that he can concentrate on getting his form back in proper cricket.

[Ben.]

Hales instead of Cook could make a real difference, not to mention that getting him away from one day might even get back Cook the test player.
All those years we were playing longer form players in t20 then they were humilated by Lumb and Kieswetter for the Lions and changed it up just before the World Cup.
I like Cook but he is clearly not suited to modern ODI cricket, I don't think it's fair on him tbh

[Luis Anaconda]

Saturday by two of the finest test playing batsmen you are ever likely to see. Looking at the Top ten all-time runscorers only Jayasuriya stands out as a non-orthodox specialist. Can't see why we can't combine the two.


Notice the Bundesliga is upside down this morning :hide:

[redgunamo]

pretty decent figures in both forms, I think.

Although maybe T20 has changed things again?

[Ben.]

if you have a decent array of shots and the ability to hit boundries, Sangakarra and Jayawardene are just outstanding cricketers.
Cook's technique has always been questionable, he basically has two shots, even when he was scoring runs if it's short he'll cut it, if it's straight he'll clip it off his legs, anything else he'll leave.
Having to play everything outside off stump was always going to be a problem and now his test form has gone back to that confused state where he is unsure whether he should be leaving or playing, this was always a risk.
Can't believe Dortmund are still this bad, you keep thinking they have to start picking up, imagine if they finish bottom would there have been a worse bet? :hehe: