Sunglasses Ron

I guess the real unknown here is exactly what impact Covid has had on things. It's obviously been an issue for all clubs, but I guess some have been able to deal with it better than others.

The whole Puel 08th placed finish thing always irritates me. Yes, we finished 8th, but I believe we secured 17 (seventeen) less points than Koeman the previous season. Combined with the terrible goalscoring record towards the end of that campaign, I still maintain that giving him the boot was the right thing to do. How he got the Leicester job I'll never know, but that didn't really work out either did it?

Put a tenner on at 100-1 yesterday, I hope I never see the cash but like you I will make appropriate use of it if the worst happens.

We're still as far out as 100-1 to get relegated. That appears to suggest we will be fine, but can't help thinking that a Fulham win at Palace followed by the inevitable defeat for us at Everton and all of a sudden there's just 5 points in it plus positive goal difference for Fulham. You'd have to question what that might do to the fragile mindset that appears to exist within our club at this time. The Sheffield United game is looking utterly crucial now.

We are shite, no doubt now but surely we can muster 2 or 3 wins from our fixtures. I’m just depressed we’re even talking about it given where we were.

Totally agree, but merely pointing out that my opinion on Van Dijk was largely formed after just one game. Sometimes you just see a player and instantly know there’s something there. I really hope the lad realises the clear potential he has.

The thing I like about him (from what I've seen) is that he has the brilliant attribute where he can take a poor touch, but then effortlessly make up for it with a turn of pace, or by bullying anyone near him off the ball. It's that Rolls Royce analogy, where he appears to be able to get through most of a game in middle gear but step it up when needed. I saw it with Van Dijk in first game against West Brom, so there are definitely similarities there. So in summary, bags of potential and I feel this guy can be whatever he wants to be in the game.

Fulham’s fixtures after Palace are Tottenham, Liverpool, Man City and Leeds. Whilst they could get within 5 points of us next week, it would be damn difficult for them to get any closer I’d say.

I’m not saying they’re any good, just pointing out how crazy this game is sometimes.

Yet they beat Man Utd away and we...

Feels like a win, much happier now 😇

Doesn’t mean VAR wouldn’t overall it if it was awarded to us 🤪

I reckon we'll lose our next 3, to make it 9 (nine) on the spin. You know, just to pi$$ us all off for the sheer irony and facilitate all those 999 jokes. We'll then rediscover how to play football and become world beaters, enjoy the summer break, then be rank awful at the start of next season (as we always are).

Good overall debut from what I've seen. I know it's the elephant in the room, but you can see some clear comparisons here with him and VVD. No pressure lad 😃

VAR cup tied too right?

Surely there's always a risk / reward ratio to consider. If he gets crocked in the next 12 months then it could be game over with no big pay check. Whether Saints are able to find that sweet spot is another question altogether though!

Liverpool getting murdered, this is cheering me up a bit 🙂

I have really high hopes for Salisu, but not to the point where I think he should make his debut in what is now our most important fixture of the season (both because it's the cup and because we need to reset ourselves). Would like to see him in the league a few days later though!

Dude, we’re 15 points above the bottom 3. Have a word with yourself.

To be honest, I accept mistakes happen and that they can change games. But this was a callous, cold-hearted, decision by a maniac that undoubtedly resulted in another appalling scoreline that we now have to live with forever. If there is any justice the individual(s) responsible should be severely punished as this has caused actual mental suffering to the club and its supporters.

Well that's good to hear, I really wasn't expecting that. Shame about the damage it caused, as the history books will still show 9-0, but at least it strengthens our hand on Saturday.

Can I check something. Was Dean originally encouraged to view the monitor to overturn his penalty decision and book the guy for diving?

I assume I’m not the only one unable to sleep tonight (again)? This fucking hurts (again).

Minamino must be thrilled to have joined 🙂

I assume they binned "clear and obvious"?