Forester

A different way of looking at the Ayew transfer is if he was the second striker we sign, ie to add depth to that department but we get one of the other two in as first choice. I would be very happy with that!

I think we signed Pelle close to 29 from memory

You heard of injuries and suspensions? And never, for one minute of any match, want to play three centre backs? Who is playing right back at the moment?

The level of hysteria on here is insane.. First people slag off a player as not good enough, then up in arms when it looks like Bournemouth may get him. Which one is it? There could be many reasons he is going there, if he is. Firstly they aren’t rock bottom of the table! But it may be they are gambling and not inserting relegation clause in contract. Have a look at clubs that have done that in the past, Pompey, Leeds (fifteen years out of Premier League) etc etc. The reality is that we needed to sign at least one more striker in the summer and didn’t, and it will be massively difficult to do so now unless we are prepared to pay ludicrous money. Why would a top striker (as opposed to promising one but unproven) join the club bottom of the Premier League? We need to have a bit of self awareness. This is why I say that is we go down the Board and Ralph are accountable not Jones who arrived with us in bottom three. If he keeps us up he is a hero

I dont think this means ABK is more badly injured. Just sheer maths that, if on occasions, you want to play three at the back you realistically need five in squad to cover injuries and suspensions

There must be some very embarrassed people on this thread! Nothing has changed for me, which was to judge him at end of January albeit I never thought that would include two semi-finals. I think that there is no improvement in attacking patterns from Ralph, but there is huge improvement in two areas, namely defensive resolve and midfield work rate and organisation. That is why we are not shipping more than one goal per game, and he deserves massive credit for that. Players seem hugely supportive of him, which is a nice bonus but not the be all and end all.

Having witnessed many defeats up there that felt good! And great, passionate support from away fans from start to end with only one nob booing a misplaced pass after five minutes. Christ he must have felt stupid at the end. Highlights for me were: Lyanco (again) and DCC immense at the back JWP a constant attacking menace Superb centre forward performance from Adams second half holding up ball Good, sensible subs and formation change from Jones The key stat for me, which I endlessly bang on about on this forum, is we are averaging one goal conceded now over our last five games. While everyone focussed on needing a striker (and we certainly do, in case Adams gets injured) our four top eight finishes were all built around conceding less than 50 goals. Keeping this ratio going would mean we would get out of trouble

Ideally a win, but crucial we don’t lose as Everton would go six points clear of us. Baz Lyanco, DCC, Salisu, KWP Lavia, Diallo Djenepo, JWP, Armstrong (A) Adams I can’t believe I am proposing Diallo and Djenepo to start, but both were superb on Wednesday and am keen to keep things rolling. So one change for me which is Adams back for Mara

I think this journalist deserves the chance to show over time that he is in fact competent. Just like Jones………!

When you get a moment look up the difference between causation and correlation……

Willy KWP, Lyanco, DCC, Salisu, Perraud JWP, Lavia Djenepo, Adams, Armstrong (A) Not a Djenepo fan but him and Armstrong will both track back and help

Sticking to my assessment a couple of weeks ago, which is to call it no earlier than at end of January following the transfer window, the cup games and the Everton and Villa league matches. Any earlier is ridiculous.

First game I haven’t seen this season so reliant on radio commentary. However real fans will celebrate this rather than the “let’s lose to try to get Jones out” brigade. I learned that lesson two decades ago with Wigley! Positives seem to be: - Jones playing back four and it sounded pretty secure - only one goal per game conceded last two games, which if maintained until end of season would give us a real chance - work rate sounded good, so the towel definitely not being thrown in Anyone expecting a transformation from us looking shite to suddenly playing free flowing football is naive, so baby steps but good nonetheless. Given this could easily have been the result at Fulham too bar bad luck and stupidity at the back, could it be that St Mary’s is becoming harder for our fragile confidence than going away?

Yep, with Pulis as defensive coach and Strachan fitness coach

Huge money for sure. But in reality it would not cost us the entire contract sum. Yes a decent chunk of it, but there would be negotiations as any employee whether on fixed term or not can be dismissed for sustained underperformance. The issue here of course is that it is hard to evidence that in employment law after short spell. So in reality it would be a big seven figure some I expect but nothing like £14 million

Really disappointed again to be let down by inability to defend our box. Can forgive first goal which was a flukey deflection. Yesterday to my mind epitomised why we are set to go down unless urgent attention in transfer window. Didn’t take any of our chances, scored a wonder free kick, and then concede late on. And it also typified Lyanco who was in my opinion absolutely excellent for 90 minutes and then has a total brain fart leading to the penalty. He has all the skills bar ability to concentrate for a whole game, and that won’t do at this level. Good to see KWP getting back close to where he was pre-injury, a better performance from JWP, AMN and Moi plus Edozie continues to impress, other than shooting! Definitely an improvement in terms of organisation and effort, which should both be a given. These next three league games could see us cut adrift if we don’t pick up minimum four points, and hopefully more, against Forest, Everton and Villa.

Yes

At the beginning of the season I thought we would be in bottom seven along with three promoted teams, Leeds, Everton and Brentford. Didn’t imagine Wolves and Wet Spam would be down there, but equally Brentford and Fulham are outperforming expectations. If you look at the table, and we aren’t even halfway through, there really is nothing in it from Bournemouth down, seven places equates to four points, and we have a run of fixtures against teams I expect to be in bottom half at end of season. So give the guy a chance, he has had two premier league games, and the second half of Liverpool was good in my opinion. Added to that we won a league cup tie which Brighton couldn’t do against a league one team who had been playing games while we weren’t. This media story is so predictable. At every club (as in every large company) there are aggrieved people out of favour, want to go etc and when results are bad they leak these stories. You never hear a peep when results are good, and that is because no one lends them credibility. I couldn’t give a shit if some players don’t want to play in a certain formation. When they retire they can try coaching, until then they are payed huge sums to play and they are bottom of the league. Is their suggestion “more of what we were doing, please”? To be clear I wanted Rafa or Dyche appointed, and was surprised at Jones appointment, but that doesn’t mean I can’t see sense in giving him an opportunity to manage through this period. We were heading to the championship before he came, if he finishes 16th with this squad it is an achievement in my opinion.

Willy (assuming McCarthy still unfit) KWP, DCC, Salisu, Perraud Edozie, Stuart, JWP, Moi Adams, Adam I think Baz has potential but needs taking out of firing line for a while, and these next few games are time for experience and calmness. I would also encourage less attacking play from both full backs, certainly not see them both high at the same time, and primary performance metric from them should be “how many crosses into our box were allowed to come from your side”? Need to remember that in Mitrovic Fulham have probably best striker in air in the league. So more of an old fashioned 442 with Moi and Sam providing width. Ask Stuart to do partner JWP which he did well when we had injuries a couple of years ago. This assumes Lavia is still unfit.

Firstly I understand the alarm, and if you look back at my posts I was advocating Ralph being sacked after Brentford game last season and replacing with Cooper, Dyche or Benitez. The first one became unavailable, and I argued for one of the other two when Ralph was in exit lounge. However, if we put aside emotion (never easy!) we have had one Premier League shite performance under Jones (Anfield second half was decent). We need to consider what it says about us as a club for aspiring future managers to hit panic button that quickly. And on the specific proposal you make, it is not credible to reinstate Jones in championship as he would be stripped of any respect from players if placed on gardening leave. The uncomfortable facts are that our squad lacks quality and experience right now, and at the start of the season I had us in a bottom seven with Brentford, Leeds, Everton, Forest, Fulham and Bournemouth. Fulham and Brentford look like they will get clear of trouble, albeit Wet Spam have been dragged in. I think Wolves will climb away easily. With three games still to go until halfway just four points separate the sides I have listed and our next three games are Fulham, Forest and Everton. That is why I am saying we need to wait until late Jan, while accepting that it is scary.

Awful performance, but too soon to begin calling for Jones out. We will have a better view of him by end of January, after six or seven games and the transfer window. The problems are the same problems we had, which is why we are bottom of the league. We will need to pay over the top for players in January, and it won’t be easy to attract quality sat in the drop zone. Worrying times ahead. Things can change quickly and we play a number of teams who I think will be in and around the drop zone in the coming weeks.

A long day but much more enjoyable than same game last year, or Spurs and City this season in that for 60 minutes we actually competed and created things. Felt the second half performance was decent and bar Alison we would have won the second half for sure and possibly nicked a point. Always felt it was a big risk to play ABK on eve of World Cup and so it proved, thought he was poor. By contrast very good performances from Adams and AMN who should be starting week in week out

GB Lyanco DCC Salisu AMN JWP Lavia Perraud Armstrong (S) Adams Moi I would leave out ABK as I think we will get an “eve of World Cup” performance. Will feel like a 5-4-1 out of possession and a 3-4-3 on the ball

Great opportunity to reach final this year. City v Liverpool too