Sheaf Saint

You mean the fact they have all been subjected to crippling international economic sanctions designed to de-stabilise their governments?

I'm hoping it's just precautionary. He had only just come back from his hammy injury and played the full 90 in midweek against Palace. If it was feeling a little tight then it was probably wise to take him off when we did rather than risk doing any more damage.

Started watching Nightflyers on Netflix. Based on a novella by George RR Martin, apparently. Only on episode 3, and the concept is decent enough (some parallels with Event Horizon) but not too sure about the execution of it so far. The production is slick enough with some stunning visual effects and darkly atmospheric music and FX etc... but the script and acting are very cliched, and the main characters are just a little too bland/weak. Feels heavily edited in some parts too, which you wouldn't think is necessary for something produced exclusively for on-demand viewing. I'm gonna stick with it though. It's got me intrigued enough to want to see how the story pans out.

Yep, heard on the radio news that a privately funded search operation using sonar and a remote submersible has found it, mostly intact, at the bottom of the Channel. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-47111632

Confidence has never been Shane's problem. A basic lack of ball control and shooting ability has. A few negative comments on an online fans forum are not going to have any influence on that.

That's because he never got to point E. The downward tug of the shirt from Crouch prevented him from even getting to point D. I admire your persistence, but sometimes you just have to hold your hands up () and admit you're wrong.

You're right Nick. Let's ban anybody from posting any criticism whatsoever and start new threads dedicated to how absolutely wonderful all of our players are. After all, that's what fan discussion boards are there for, right?

With Hoj and Yoshida, and hopefully Bertrand, back in the starting 11, then I would expect to see a much better performance all round than we saw over the last two games against Palace and Burnley. Up front though, I would be more inclined to play Gallagher than Long if Ings isn't fit (which seems likely). He couldn't possibly perform any worse than Long did yesterday.

So what are you suggesting then? That Stephens intended to handle the ball? I know he's not exactly a fans' favourite and takes some stick on here, perhaps justifiably. But he really isn't that stupid.

What is even the point of having him on the pitch anymore? He doesn't have the pace he used to, and that was his only positive attribute. Without it he is not even a L1 level player. He contributed literally nothing when he came on today. And the way he surrendered possession every time we managed to clear the ball up to him while under intense pressure towards the end was pathetic. I get that the objective for the January window was to clear some dead wood, but why is this fraud of a footballer still here?

I can't disagree with that, but that doesn't make him a c*nt (which is what I can only assume the poster was calling him).

This says a lot more about you than it does about Jack Stephens.

To all those of you slating Stephens - it's not like he deliberately handballed it. He jumped and was being climbed all over by Crouch, who then headed it back against his arm with nothing he could have done about it. No different to Yoshi's in the Asian cup final yesterday. Just a fluke ricochet against an arm. If you think it's fair game to slag him off for it then you're an idiot.

Would have taken a draw at HT as we were very poor in the first half. Scored a good goal but still didn't create much at all. Burnley had by far the most of the play in the second half, mostly due to Shane Long's total inability to keep possession of the ball every time it was played up to him. They should have had a pen in the first half, and hit the woodwork, so it's no more than they deserve. Shame we couldn't hold on to that lead for another 30 secs, but it would have been a very undeserved win anyway if we had. Another point against a well organised team - another step closer to safety - especially if Cardiff lose later on. Not great, but not a disaster either.

Bugger. Oh well. Didn't expect to hold on to that lead, but annoying to give it away in injury time.

What is the actual point of Shane Long?

Good block/clearance from Vest.

Palace 2-0 Fulham now. Chelsea 5-0 against Hudds.

That was a lovely hit from Barnes. Deserved a goal really.

That's a bloody lovely finish that is!

Us. Header from a JWP corner (didn't see who it came off).

Looked like it could/should have been a penalty in real time, but in the slo-mo replay you can see Barnes is already going over before there is any contact. Poor from Alex though. Got his positioning all wrong there.

I'm guessing PEH must be injured because he's not even on the bench. Interesting to see Sims and Jones on the bench though. Wonder if either of them will get a run out?

Or it could be the same 3 CBs as recently with JWP at RWB, as he finished the game against Palace. Would perhaps leave us a little light in midfield, but do we really need two holding DMs when we're playing 3 CBs? I'm guessing not.

Yeah I wondered that too. And I imagine there must be a Burnley equivalent of this forum where they are all already consigned to the fact that Ings and/or Austin is guaranteed to score against them tomorrow.