The Kraken

It’s a throwback watching a game where one of the stands has been demolished. Although I had a search for what they’re building and I thinks it’s bloody ugly.

I think I only recognise just over half of them. Bottom row second from the left is Stephen Graham with a wig.

Ooh, haven’t had them for absolutely ages but yeah, they’re good.

I bought a bag of frazzles just the other week. Solid crisp. McCoys are excellent, I’m a big fan of the S&V, cheese and onion, plus the Thai sweet chili.

Bacon fries instead of frazzles? Controversial.

Disgusting rat of a player goes to a disgusting rat of a club.

Yep. As frustrating as it was seeing a lot of our players go the club did alright with some of them to not just capitulate to demands to let them go. Pretty sure we got an extra year out of Schneiderlin and Wanyama, and we held Liverpool feet to the fire over the VVD saga. The sums have risen so it’s quite something to see a football club of Brighton's stature turning down £60m. As you say, the player will leave eventually, but hopefully more on Brighton's terms.

It’s similar yes. I just like that they did it, something to stem the exodus. Same with VVD.

They’ve also been able to turn down a £60m offer for Caicedo, then dropped him and told him to have a few days off until the transfer window is shut.

Chelsea have decided that they need another right back so they’ve spent £31M on a teenager from France. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64444185 I think that takes their season spending up to £470m.

This tickled me and it’s a great analogy. You can see the quality is there but it’s all just going far too slowly. When he gets up to full speed it’s there, but just doesn’t happen with any sort of regularity.

Edozie had a few lively moments but, true to form, little end productivity. At one point isn’t he first half I thought he might have got his confidence up and would produce more, but he drifts out of the game too easily. He strikes me as an impact sub who needs work, but we’re so short on quality that we keep putting him in, it’s perhaps too early for him to be a regular starter. Orsic looked a mix of just about alright and dreadful. Not impressed so far, can only hope there is much more to come.

Why would Arsenal want him back?

His fitness was definitely questionable earlier in the season, he regular looked puffed out and caught out of position. Looked sharper today, but you have to take the quality of opposition into mind. Hopefully he’s early himself a first team spot, as him LB and KWP on the right are definitely our best options.

That’s where I’m at really. I didn’t have too much of a problem with the line up, save for one or two little changes (I said before KO I’d prefer Alcaraz to get a good run out). This was an opportunity for some players to come in and do what Perraud did: show some real heart and determination and give the manager a selection headache. Also show than the squad as a whole are moving forward under Jones by putting in a good performance in his mould against struggling championship opposition. Honestly, if you knew nothing about it and watched the last 25 minutes or so, you’d have though Blackpool were the higher ranked side. The first hour was not so bad but still rife with problems that are all too familiar: sloppy, not enough intensity.the last 20 minutes was chaos, a team without an identity looking a bit lost. Must get better.

The difference between him and KWP is so noticeable. When KWP gets the ball he’s immediately looking to see how he can get forward: with a pass, a dribble, he looks to be positive. AMN is on his back foot most of the time and often just wants to get the ball then give it away straight away. There were many times he could have received posession and just didn’t show for it. Absolutely poor on-field attitude, an absolute nothing of a performance today.

Lavia will be sub at Newcastle, it seems like that’s Jones’ plan, he wants Diallo in there.

You picked AMN? You daft fucker.

I’m sure he’ll come out and say the right things in his interview: “we looked comfortable then we weren’t brave enough, got too sloppy, we’ve got to be more aggressive, last 20 minutes was not good enough etc etc”. The problem is, he’s good at identifying the problem, he just doesn’t seem to be able to do enough about fixing it.

I don’t see a lot of point in keeping him except for if we’re desperate due to injuries. Diallo and Lavia are getting the nod ahead of him in midfield, Lyanco has played RB instead of him. I’d have rather seen Payne get some time in there for this game than seeing another shuffling, ambling, back-footed display from Maitland Niles, he’s just so passive.

Probably nailed on this one.

Thank fuck for that.

That free kick from Lyanco sums it up, a hopeless punt to nobody that just gives it straight back. This is so absolutely poor.

The last 5-10 minutes have been absolutely honking. Desperation stuff, no composure at all.

This half has been quite poor. Just need to hold on, a replay would be crap.