Sheaf Saint

Nice little flick through to Adams from Djenepo there.

That's a big let-off.

Actually the possession ratio has tilted in our favour over the last 10-15 mins, and it's that that worries me more. We never, ever win when we have more possession than the opposition.

No, me neither. Vest has made a couple of good blocks, but he was so slow to react when the ball broke back to the player who was on on his arse after attempting a scissor kick. Should never have been allowed to get to that from being on the deck and get a shot away. Very poor defending.

https://www.eplsite.uk/stream17.html Click the second one down. The top one is a false link.

Already looking much more threatening with Armstrong back in the side.

Can't argue with the starting 11 - Vestergaard is probably the right choice against Burnley, but that bench is soooo weak.

That was fucking dreadful from Stephens to let Zaha in there. Shocking defending. Great save to deny Ings. Not happening today is it.

6 mins added on.

They did that as soon as they scored.

That's a waste from JWP. So unlikely to score from there. A cross would have been a much better option.

20 minutes left. How long is Ralph going to leave it before making a change? I would make a double change in attack right now - Long and Djenepo for Redmond and Smallbone.

Better so far this half, but still need to buck our ideas up a bit if we're going to get anything out of this game.

That is never a red card.

Apart from that lovely little touch through to Ings during the first ten minutes, he's not had any service so far. I know we're missing Armstrong, but Smallbone looks like a weak link there to me. Very disappointing goal to concede. I'll take nothing away from Zaha for the finish, but we got caught napping when the ball broke to Townsend, and we left him completely unmarked at the back post. Unforgivable really. We've had 72% possession. We never, ever win games with that much possession. Palace are rigid in their defensive formation, and we don't have any ideas or anybody with any real dribbling skill to break through and get in behind. Same as it has been for the last few years now.

That could be interpreted differently though, as adding an extra player will give us sufficient cover in that position, with them all competing for a starting place.

There are always behind the scenes reasons for delays. My 17yo nephew signed a pro contract with Everton recently, and it took them a week to get round to announcing it on their website due to various admin reasons. Granted he's not as high profile as an expensive, foreign-based player joining a PL club's first team, but that brings with it additional paperwork etc... especially when there is a work permit involved.

I can't be bothered to even look for it now, but there was video footage of him while on England duty that summer, signing a young lad's Liverpool shirt while still supposedly the captain of Saints, and saying he hoped to join soon. How much of a massive bellend would you have to be to assume that was OK? (Rhetorical question, of course. Please don't go full MLG and ask me to give you all the variables before it can be quantified.)

Looks like we're gonna be wearing next season's kit for this one...

£10m for a young, English player with PL and European experience, who has already demonstrated his usefulness and suitability for Ralph's system, is an absolute steal. I would much rather we pay Spurs what they are asking for him, rather than miss out because of our own stubbornness and end up having to take a gamble on a player from the European leagues.

Yeah, you're probably right. But it could mean the difference between Bournemouth just needing to win by any margin, and them needing to win by 3 or 4 to stand any chance. I think they are screwed either way. I'm just clutching at straws because I so badly want to see us finish above Everton, who we seem to be quantum entangled to this season.

I really hope Man City smash Watford tonight and hammer their GD. It would give Bournemouth even more incentive to get a win at Everton on the final day and will increase our chances of finishing above them.

Blades can't now make the Europa League places after losing to Everton. Don't know if that works in our favour or not though. Edit: that's assuming Palace don't come from behind to beat Wolves.

We did that at Bramall Lane in September - sang his song when he was on the touchline warming up, and he came over and applauded us for it. Then he did us a massive favour by inexplicably getting himself sent off late in the game. He's still a Saint at heart.

With only a year left on his contract though. And hopefully we won't just accept their first offer anyway.