Just watched the 20 minute highlights. I watched the game last night but obviously it's harder to focus on our play and tactics when you're watching such a crucial game live.
A few points anyway:
1) Osman had an excellent game. Having him and Barkley on the pitch at the same time isn't something we've seen too often but it worked very well. Osman quietly went about his business and played a lot of crucial passes at the right moment.
2) THROW EVERYTHING at Lukaku. He is intrinsic to us when we play well. His hold up play tonight was immense, and his lay offs and ability on the ball is improving. He knows where to be to score but also these runs he makes and the space he occupies is so, so important for our other players. Ross's goal wouldn't have happened if Rom wasn't stretching them. He also seems a boss lid who goes mad when we score, and I genuinely believe, Champions league or not, he'd like to stay.
3) Deulofeu was sensational. That first touch for his assist to Rom was out of this world. He had purpose to his runs and was far more unselfish than we've seen him be. He was heavily involved in the goals and though I love Kev, and thought McGeady was excellent at the weekend, he must surely be our first choice winger on this form.
4) Coleman is everywhere ffs. "OH AND NEWCASTLE BREAK DOWN THE LEFT THINGS LOOK DANG... oh, nope, Coleman's nipped in and taken the ball from the gormless Frenchie in a manner akin to the school bully taking the scrawny kid's lunch money". Opposition left wingers/left backs need not turn up and safe themselves the hassle.
5) McCarthy/Bareth Garry do certainly lack a bit of creativity at times. This is an area where James can definitely improve. But that's fine when our front four are clicking like they did tonight. The combination of the pain in the arse Jack Russell, nipping at your heels for 90 minutes, and the faithful old Mastiff just sitting there like "nah mate, really, you don't want to come over here" is just beautiful to watch at times.
6) John 'Massive Stones' is inexplicably flying under the media's radar, isn't he? I can't think of many other 19 year old CBs performing in the top leagues to such a standard. Well I can think of one actually, Marquinhos, who PSG recently purchased for over 30 million Euros. He's come in and made us not miss our captain and star CB, who is 12 years his seniour. That is incredible. And he's hard as nails too, despite looking like a Christian Country Rock sensation. Viva Stonesy.