SNSUN

I've guessed a back 4 for this. I also think Targett will be rested unless Bertrand is closer to returning than we think. Also need to rest one of the centre backs, my guess is Vestergaard. Gunn Cedric Stephens Bednarek Ramsey Slattery Romeu Elyounoussi Redmond Long Gallagher subs: McCarthy, Vestergaard, Targett, JWP, Armstrong, Johnson, Barnes. While it's a good chance to play the youngsters normally, the fact it's on BBC and with an interesting tie at Accrington to potentially follow, means we need to be taking it quite seriously. Plus, if we bring one or two players in this window of quality, we could go on to have a decent cup run under Hassenhuttl if we win this.

If Cedric does go, we need a new first choice right back. No disrespect to Valery or Ramsey but I'd crap myself if we were to rely on them for the rest of the season. I still hope our business reads: RB in - Cedric out CB in - Hoedt out Striker in - Gabbiadini out Winger/attacking midfielder with pace in. Forster out. Too much business to do in January?

Not gonna lie, I’d out some large insurance bets on at half time but this win is worth every penny. Especially with Long getting what ended up being the winner. We clearly need incoming players this January but every 3 points between now and the end of the season is massive, as safety means Hasenhuttl can rebuild this squad to his image.

Truth - with our injuries as they are, I very nearly put Long in my Fantasy team this week as I needed a cheap option. Bit gutted now. Maybe an insurance bet needed here...

Accrington Stanley? Who are they?

Managed to watch the second half of the second half on a dodgy stream. Looked awful. No cohesion. Signings needed. Plus side, Redmond is bang on form, and Hojbjerg is back for Everton.

Reading the Derby forum, didn't realise Marcus Barnes is the younger brother of Giles Barnes, a once decent young player for Derby (and decent FM signing of old). I hope he gets a few minutes against his brother's former club. He also has history in the FA cup 3rd round having scored his debut goal in it for Yeovil. #FACTS

With Liverpool so often raiding us for talent, there's a very bad Ferry cross the Mersey joke in there somewhere...

Wow Bournemouth really going for it - using the "raid a top 6 club" model. (Which actually was something I'd wished we'd done with Chelsea over the last few years rather than sign the dross that we've actually brought in.)

Typical Chelsea, always miss directly what's under their nose and go off and sign other players. Batshuayi, Abraham, T. Hazard, De Bruyne, Bertrand Traore, and seemingly now Hudson-Odoi all quality players that for one reason or another they seem to overlook. (Not to mention others...) I think Abraham would be a decent signing, still raw but he's already shown he knows where the goal is and could go on to be a top striker in a couple of years. Was hit and miss on loan for Swansea though at this level. Wolves interested in him. (Personally I'd like to see Batshuayi here - Palace interested in him...)

Also if the Derby game goes to a replay, we would have Hoj back for Everton...

Bloody fricking transfer window been open for nearly an hour and we've not signed anyone yet. Hassenhuttl out (Well someone was bound to say it...) Happy New Year all! We still had Pellegrino in charge at this point last year so I still think things can only get better.

Beat City tomorrow, and we are only 10 points behind Leicester in 8th. OK, tongue in cheek, but this League is still very close outside the top 6. A few wins against teams around us by the end of February, and a few Hassenhuttl transfer gems in January, and we could well be looking to finish in the top 10 come the end of the season. (Though in the most recent table I did, I have us as finishing 13th.) As for relegation I still think it's Huddersfield, Cardiff and one other...possibly Burnley or Newcastle or someone slipping like Bournemouth. Relegation shouldn't be our concern long term.

Merry Christmas Saints fans, but it came early thanks to jolly old St Hassenhuttl.

Cracking save just now by Gazzaniga for Spuds in the Carabao...

The emergence of Valery will hopefully buck Cedric’s ideas up and push him into performing well again. Starting the season with no competition can’t have been good for his motivation. Stick with Valery until Cedric is fit, but then judge them from training. We also don’t want to burn Valery out so I think rotation is the way to go long term.

WHAT THE CRAP IS GOING ON!!! I't an awkward situation - I want to gloat at my Arsenal supporting friend but I know what we're like, and am holding myself back. Still a lot of work to be done in the second half. A 3-1 lead would be comforting...

Cedric and Bertrand are virtually no brainers, seeing as we started the season with only Cedric at right back and no back up, so have had to promote the best option we have from the youth, and Targett is no Bertrand. That leaves the Centre backs. Jeez. Do we play 2, or 3 in the hope that the three of them make a passable duo? IMO that's just one extra poor centre back to make a mistake. It has to be two at the back or it stifles creativity. But picking may as well be done by putting their names in a hat and picking out two. In my head our best chance of survival through until January when we can remedy it, if we do, is Yoshida and Hoedt. Give them some games together. However I'm tempted by Stephens in Yoshida's place. Hard, hard decision but it's Cedric, Yoshida, Hoedt, Bertrand for me. In January we need a right back, centre back, Defensive midfield brick schithouse, creative midfielder, winger style player and a striker. Over to you Hassenhuttl.

While it is the easy decision, it is also one that had to be made as results just haven't been there. We need a manager that can get a tune out of a pretty average bunch of players, and one that can bring in some decent players in January. I don't fully blame Hughes but if he didn't want to sign those players in the summer then he should have put his foot down. He pussied out, we signed the likes of Vestergaard and Elyounoussi, and it has cost him his job. Who's next? Sanchez Flores or Sousa? Whoever we bring in will have a hell of a job on their hands. Please don't go for the cheap option. Wenger/Arteta combo as DoF and coach? Pipe dream.

Van Dijk with the unexpected assist, thought he'd spooned it and walked away! Hate a Liverpool win but it helps me in the Fantasy Premier League...

Sammy. That dog is a show-off tosspiece.

With one minute to play, and no injury time, with the game going to penalties, and Austin and even JWP on the bench, I question Hughes's decision to bring on Gabbiadini anyway. That was either a sub that needed to be made twenty minutes earlier, or it should have been someone more specialist at taking penalties. Hughes out.

Hughes Out is a given now, we're sinking like a stone. Who to bring in is tricky though because of our circumstances... 1) To keep us up? Obviously Allardyce is the man here, I wouldn't want Moyes personally. 2) Preparing for the Premier League long term (a risky strategy considering our situation)? Rodgers or Jardim or someone from Europe that has a decent record and a name in football that could attract a better class of player. 3) Accepting that we're probably doomed and we might as well build for the Championship? Jokanovic is the man for this. 4) The dirt cheap, extremely dodgy option: Carlos Carvalhal 5) The comedy option: Bob Bradley (God Swansea have had some crap managers) 6) The "I've never heard of him so he must be good" option - Well I've never heard of him so how can I put him here... 7) The "Unite the fanbase, Living in a Dreamworld" option - Pep. I wouldn't be against Jokanovic really, helped take Watford up and took a poor Fulham side (when he took over) and got them promoted and although he struggled with Fulham this season, it can't have been easy having such a large number of players brought in. He would be a risky option for the rest of this season though, but definitely someone we would need if the worst were to happen. Rodgers was my choice a couple of years ago when Puel got the nod, but I don't think we'd have a chance now. Otherwise it's slim pickings on that list on this thread. You can't knock Van Gaal's CV though, boring though his teams may be, I wouldn't have a problem seeing him here. Again I think we have little chance. Sod it, bring in Tisdale.

Gunn Stephens Bednarek Vestergaard Targett JWP Romeu Davis Elyounoussi Obafemi Gabbiadini Would be my team for this to change things up a bit. I'd quite like to see Armstrong and Davis play together but I can't see it happening as Armstrong is probably a nailed on starter for League games following his brace.

What the holy crap just happened? We better bloody win this game...