Mariappa

[Millsy]

How did mariappa do?

Is it true that he's shorter than the average dwarf?

[CayeneMatt]

I thought he looked pretty vertically challenged in the flesh, though I guess you need to be 6' 4 if youre standing next to Gorkks and you don't want to look like a short arse. He's got massive shoulders though.

You could argue he was at fault for both goals, although the first one was almost undefendable.

And the look on Brians face when he attempted that 30 yd shot suggested a return for Pearce unless ge's careful!

[RockheadRumple]

I thought he was great, but I'd rather play him alongside Pearce rather than Gorkss.

[Barry the bird boggler]

How did mariappa do?

Is it true that he's shorter than the average dwarf?

He did well. Believe his height is around the 5' 10" mark so not exactly a dwarf but in Central Defender-land just seems so. Good in the air though, bit of a Noel Hunt spring on him apparently.

[Ian Royal]

I thought he was great, but I'd rather play him alongside Pearce rather than Gorkss.

The only question there is that it leaves our back 5 rather inexperienced. But in general I agree. Pearce was by far the better of the two in the games he played.

[JordCot]

Encouragingly if his height wasn't much of an issue (which it didn't seem to be) against Ba and Cisse, it shouldn't be a problem against many teams this season

[biscuitman]

You could argue he was at fault for both goals, although the first one was almost undefendable.

You therefore could argue that Alex Mc was at fault! Demba Ba's first was a quality goal, his movement in getting into positions to score is impressive.

[E. Andrew]

You could argue he was at fault for both goals, although the first one was almost undefendable.

You therefore could argue that Alex Mc was at fault! Demba Ba's first was a quality goal, his movement in getting into positions to score is impressive.

It's hard for me to tell, I can only think about syrup.

[melonhead]

once its gone past you, and ba has gone past you
but hed switched off to let that happen


played well though, just had a couple of lapses

still thi8nk gorkss should have been dropped not pearce, and only survived probably due to his goal midweek

[maffff]

watching that over and over Ba sits comfortably between Cummings and Mariappa. Maps had switched off but the angle of Cummings tracking back seems suspect to me. I felt there was more he could have done.

Still. Can't fault the finish, he still had lots to do.

[trueroyal1871]

Mariappa was great in the first half and seemed to win absolutely everything even in the air which impressed me given that he's only 5'10" and he switched off for Ba's goal and should have made it more difficult to get between him and Cummings, however Cummings made the wrong decision to go to the right of Ba instead of staying on his left but it was a great pass by Tiote and a fantastic finish by Ba. Both Mariappa and Gorks should have done better for the equaliser even if it was a hand ball that wrong footed McCarthy.

I personally he done enough to start again against Swansea on Saturday.

[Royalwaster]

once its gone past you, and ba has gone past you
but hed switched off to let that happen


played well though, just had a couple of lapses

still thi8nk gorkss should have been dropped not pearce, and only survived probably due to his goal midweek

Surely, Gorkss kept his place due to his size and heading ability? I'd have thought that if Gorkss is fit, he'll always play unless we're up against a dwarf team?

[HoneyRoastHoax]

Wasn't it Mapps at fault for letting the cross come in for the hand of Ba?

Wasn't tight enough, cost us the game.

[cmonurz]

Returning to the sentiment of the arguments re Feds, about confidence and the faith of our players in the manager – I can’t imagine being dropped has done Pearce much good. He’ll have to suck it up and force his way back in, but for now the message seems to be ‘you’re too slow’, and there’s ultimately little he can do about that.

[MouldyRoyal]

He doesn't seem the type to whinge and get downhearted about it though.

Sensible level-headed player.

[cmonurz]

He doesn't seem the type to whinge and get downhearted about it though.

Sensible level-headed player.

Yeah I suppose so - but he's ultimately done not a lot wrong at all, if anything he's been out best defender, deserved his Ireland call-up and was going from strength to strength.

[melonhead]

once its gone past you, and ba has gone past you
but hed switched off to let that happen


played well though, just had a couple of lapses

still thi8nk gorkss should have been dropped not pearce, and only survived probably due to his goal midweek

Surely, Gorkss kept his place due to his size and heading ability? I'd have thought that if Gorkss is fit, he'll always play unless we're up against a dwarf team?

pearce has been better this season imo
and at the end of last.

if it wasnt his goal it was purely gorkss experience that kept him his place

[melonhead]

Wasn't it Mapps at fault for letting the cross come in for the hand of Ba?

Wasn't tight enough, cost us the game.

questionable for both goals on sat, plus at least 1 Vs QPR

imo


other than that hes been gr8 though, and ill put it down to lack of games, and new partnership for now

[HoneyRoastHoax]

Wasn't it Mapps at fault for letting the cross come in for the hand of Ba?

Wasn't tight enough, cost us the game.

questionable for both goals on sat, plus at least 1 Vs QPR

imo


other than that hes been gr8 though, and ill put it down to lack of games, and new partnership for now

greed

[pea]

Tbh, I think the choice probably came down to simply Pearce being more comfortable on his right like Mariappa and Gorkss being more comfortable on his left. They're both pretty equal, so makes sense to bring Mariappa in to his natural position and keep the one who fits naturally alongside that rather than playing Pearce or Mariappa in a different position to that they have been used to playing their whole careers more or less.