VectisSaint

This is the basic reason, fitness/stamina. Instilling this half way through the season is almost impossible and some players will never get to these levels. Needs a good preseason of hard work and some changes of personnel in order to play the fast pressing game Ralph wants and be fit enough for 95 minutes.

Hopefully won't make the mistake of playing Bednarek on the left again like he did against Newcastle. Play him on the right with Stephens on the left again and I'd go same team as you. Would like to get Lemina in but would have to be in place of JWP so probably won't happen.

Nando's

It will all be sorted before Huddersfield come to town.

Opta have timed it at 6 seconds

Hopefully RH learns the lesson from Saturday and swaps Bednarek back to the right of Yoshida, as the graphic might suggest.

Prowsey has been with Saints since he was 8. I think my maths would say that was a long time Stephens who joined when he was 18ish.

Of course I meant Bednarek on the left, saw it as I pressed submit but had no posts left ?

As things stand, the position is little different than it was before today, except there is one less game for the others to catch us up. OK if Cardiff get something from the Scousers that might put a different perspective on it, but really don't think they will. Really shouldn't have expected anything today if we are honest. Ralph ****ed up with his changes, specifically playing Bednarek on the right and playing JWP as RWB or whatever he was. OK, the performance first half was a shambles, don't think it will happen again, and Valery and Vestegaard will be back. Move on, nothing to see here. (assuming Liverpool do what is expected tomorrow)

Big guy, goalkeeper allegedly, very expensive. Guess that would be him.

Mr Le Tissier is not a geordie as far as I know. Unless they moved the Channel Islands to Tyneside.

It hasn't been the Manchester Guardian since 1959. Its not even based in Manc.

It would be interesting to see how we have done since Ralph took over.

His company may have done (Stratolaunch), but Paul Allen certainly didn't.

Don't think we will get a bonus for Clyne.

Boufal is a very gifted footballer. His dribbling skills are in no doubt, he is also good at tracking back and defending (though as others have said often it is because he has lost the ball either directly or indirectly). His issue is that he has little or no end product and that is because he does not look up when he is playing the ball. It is his style and it is how he plays (and probably always played). He does not possess the vision to bring other players into the game. It is very difficult to coach that out of him and to transform his style from a skilled footballer to a team player. Maybe Ralph can do it, I have serious doubts.

The only way Brighton will pick up points this season is if they replace Houghton now. They won't though. 11 points since January, 5 defeats on the trot (4 in the PL), they have been on a downward spiral for a long time, their early season form gave them enough points that their abysmal run went under the radar. Houghton does not have the wherewithal to turn it around, nor does he have the squad. Its just whether Cardiff have enough to catch them.

Norwich achieved the first back to back promotions since Man City in 2000. It really isn't that unusual.

I think Ralph has formed an opinion. Moi didn't even make the squad on Saturday. Ralph tried to use him and gave him a few chances, but he never showed any glimpses of anything decent, and I'm reasonably sure now that he will not feature again. Hopefully we can sell him in the Summer, but have my doubts, probably have to loan him back to his Norwegian club.

They may have had the points but they have looked the team most likely to fail for a long time now. The way they have been playing they have been in terminal decline, and Houghton does not have the wherewithall or the squad depth to turn it around. Said it weeks ago when people were leaving them out of the mix for the run in. With their remaining fixtures Cardiff may yet still pip them, their midweek game is the key, a Cardiff win and I suspect Brighton might well go down.

Echo: After Krueger had been informed, both parties decided it was in the best interests of all involved for the former ice hockey coach to depart immediately. The Daily Echo understands that vice-chairman Martin Semmens will step in to take control of the day-to-day running of the club and is the frontrunner to take charge on a permanent basis.

Yes he is, how is his recovery going? Is he actually back at Southampton, seems unlikely he would stay at Boro where he was on loan. Was the loan cancelled? The lad seems to have disappeared/been forgotten.

Becoming obvious we won't see him again this season at least. I don't understand why someone at the press conference doesn't follow up and quiz Ralph about it. Ralph is usually very open, can only assume there is some sort of embargo. The old excuse that it gives opponents information is no longer valid when we only have 6 games left. No one ever asks about Sam McQueen either.

Whether they are on fire will depend on their Opta stats, especially their key passes.

Hope the lad knows what he is doing, joining Coventry doesn't appear to be the smartest option at the moment.