The Kraken

The Nathan Jones derby is on.

Yep, agree with this. Ralph was hamstrung by Lavia often not being available and losing Romeu, but he was also fairly dogmatic in playing a central 2 throughout his time with us. Not everything Jones has done has been bad, it’s unfair to say otherwise. Solidifying the central midfield has IMO under Jones been something we have improved on. I’m not yet sure if JWP playing as a 10 is really his best position, I personally think he’s at his best at the number on his back, an 8 within a solid midfield where he can burst forward.

At least some of it, yes. Unless you want to tell me that he wanted to play games with his new side but somehow wasn’t allowed? It was his choice to give the players a week off when he took the job. His choice to take them away to Spain for a training camp. So I fail to understand why you say he was handicapped by not having his own ‘pre season’ when he obviously had the opportunity to do just that.

Why isn’t it the same? Saints had the opportunity to play as many games as they liked through the World Cup break. They had almost all of their players available. And they chose not to play a clutch of games. Here’s a link that shows what other clubs did. Hint: lots of them played games. https://www.premierleague.com/news/2889537

Struggling on the crisp XI, only got Rudi Salted Skacel and an even lamer attemp with Nigel Quavers.

Great game this.

No. If you remember scampi fries I think bacon fries are made by the same company. They’re like a slightly smaller but crispier version of a frazzle. They’re very good.

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.