Chewy

A minutes silence at our game and black armbands across all premier league and football league games this weekend. If it's too much for you maybe spend the minute thinking about the 10 kids at flamengo

Missed palace, but thought the atmosphere against Everton was good - certainly compared to much of the last three seasons. Do think we need to do our bit, think Cardiff will be very noisy so need to show the players we're as up for it as they should be. Not saying we won't, but hope we balance this passion with being respectful for the minute before. I get that he's nothing to do with us, and not actually much to do with Cardiff seeing as he never played, but whatever the rights and wrongs it should be respected.

Oh, and id definitely start with Austin. Think they'll sit deep so his ability to score and inability to run would suit this better. Then when Cardiff are (hopefully) chasing the game, introducing long against tired legs and a pushed up defence would be a good thing. His inability to score and ability to run would suit this phase of the game much better ...

I'm more in the 'very much could do with a win and must not lose' camp than the 'have to win or we're down' camp. Obviously nervous, not just due to the result, but also the mood it sets for the training camp and next two games. Remember thinking after Brighton that was going to cost more than those two dropped points due to the tone it would set and think proved to be the case. Although the bad run saw the back of Hughes and introduction of Ralph so maybe for the best after all. Despite the nerves, I think we'll win. Cardiff haven't been as bad as some make out, but are still not a very good team. Not having Ings doesn't help but I think we'll get the win. Rarely bet, but I have a feeling Armstrong will score. No idea why, but might just stick a few quid on it.

Glad you mentioned this, it's my usual parking spot too. I remember about 5 years ago they had a couple of guys trying to charge people as they drove in, but only lasted for a game or two (think it was an evening cup or euro game iirc) In a way I can't blame them as its private land, but a couple of quid rather than 60 quid charge notices seems a bit more reasonable, especially as none of the units there trade on a Saturday, so who else is using it? in terms of the ticket it purely depends on the signage being clear. Again, iirc there is a sign ... One could argue how clear it is but I think it's one you'll have to pay I'm afraid. Most annoying.

He doesn't have bad points. Or good points He simply has no point. His name on the pitch is Mo Elyannonymous.

I also think something is very wrong here - I'm not one for moaning at the club, think Ralph has done an excellent job and will support him with the squad rebuild. But ... Ryan is very obviously a better player than Targett. And he must be fit by now. So why isn't he featuring? The above quotes don't answer the issue at all, so we can only have a stab in the dark I'm afraid. Some will think it's a mental / attitude thing, some will think it's a 'mysterious' premier league footballer injury (think of Clyne ...), and some will see it as proof we want rid of all our high earners because we're being done over by the chairman, so are freezing him out. Personally I think it's probably a bit of an attitude issue (not that he has a bad one per se, just that he's not fully in-tune with what Ralph wants), but it's no more than my uninformed hunch.

He's scottish. All home nations are as foreign as any other country in uefa / Fifa rules.

Any fans of going back 4? Spurs looked far more threatening when they ditched the back 3 at half-time. Given our players, I'm generally in favour of 3 centre backs at present, but if Palace play a front 3 we have two spare centre backs, and our wing backs can't get up the field as they need to look after Townsend and Zaha?

Ok, this is off topic but yeah it seems bonkers. However ... most leagues lack any level of interest compared to here, Spain, Germany and Italy so I guess they do things to spice things up and get any sort of TV revenue? I'm actually kind of torn. Since the demise of the FA cup we don't have a 'super-bowl' day any more where the whole country sits down and watches the most important game of football of the year - I think you only get that level of interest for a winner-takes-all end of season spectacle, and I do miss the old-style FA Cup final day because of it. You could only have that IMHO with some sort of play-off system. But then how does that work without being A) complicated and B) simply unfair (which I feel play-offs are)? The league winners not being champions simply goes against the whole ethos of what is 'fair'. But, plenty of sports have it, we operate it for promotion (which is the most valuable game of football in the world) and it generates huge amounts of revenue and interest. It also leaves more teams with something to play for further into the season. Let's face it, we all want Saints to have a wonderful February (and tonight) with 15 points and clear of relegation, but what then are we playing for in March, April and May?? Maybe I've been too influenced by Sky, America, the age of instant gratification or whatever, but I kind of see the point - I'd have been aghast at the very idea a few years ago. In the meantime, have we signed anyone yet? My desire for insttant gratification means I want us to have spunked millions on a player just cos that's what we should do in January.

With their league, the top 6 play-off for the title. Bonkers system but means their 7 point gap is meaningless. They're certainties for the play-offs, and if they win he will get a medal, but they basically have nothing to play for until May as far as i can work out. In his shoes, I'd probably want to stay for the summer and help win the title his team probably deserve, but then i don't have a large cheque being dangled in front of me, in full knowledge that play-offs are a lottery and the team might not win despite 'winning' the league at a canter?

I do hope you're right. What do you thinks best for him? I figure a loan in the championship might toughen him up against some proper centre forwards, but don't know if it's more coaching than game time he needs.

I think we have 4 players (reed, hesketh, sims and Gallagher) who's key formative years coincided with dull, safe managers and terrible football. This meant a lack of game time and opportunities when they most needed it and I feel for them, as I think their careers will suffer as a result. For sims. I think tricky wingers peak quite young and I'd expect him to have made an impact by now if he was ever going to at this level. Hesketh looks tidy with a good brain, and had a decent spell at burton from what I can gather, but is fast running out of time. Gallagher has all the attributes you'd want for a cf, but hasn't been remotely prolific, and has had the additional injury concerns. Reed, although the oldest, probably has the best chance after two seemingly good loan spells at Norwich and especially Blackburn. I think his industry will suit Ralph, although with lemina, jwp, hoj and Romeu may struggle to break in. All are pretty much in last chance saloon for breaking through due to age, and the fact we need to trim the squad doesn't help their cause. Most of the others have a bit more time on their side IMHO. Three who don't are McQueen, Barnes and flannigan. All have been unlucky with injuries. McQueen did kind of break through but has serious competition at left back, the other two have simply not played proper level football. I think they all might be ones to let go, though would like to give McQueen another season. The one who intrigues me is Jones. A few years ago iirc he was touted as the next really big thing, and guan (who I think we all respect) keeps saying we will regret letting him go if we do. But his loan wasn't great and we're stacked for young centre backs so can't see where his pathway through is? For the older ones it does seem a shame. So much raw talent, but with a squad our size I think we probably need to be ruthless not sentimental and move the majority on.

Very fair and reasonable post. 8 million would be good business for us, and a move would probably suit him, but he remains (other than Ings) the only player in the last three seasons we've been able to rely on in any sort of goal-scoring capacity. I wish him no ill, just think he and saints no longer suit each other.

Not entirely true as far as I recall. I believe we pre-replaced him with the next Dutch wonder defender the previous summer. Not saying it worked out especially well, but I'm pretty sure that was the theory ... Back to Adams. Anyone understand ffp properly? In the sense that if they sell him this window does the 8 million (or however much) help them, or does it just disappear into an accounting void, whereas waiting until the next 'season' means the money they get suddenly is available for them to re-invest? Genuinely got no idea, just wondering if it provides a technical accounting reason for choosing when to sell. Logic would dictate if they're in ffp trouble they're broke, so any money at any point would be useful, so thought there might be some reason for monks comments (other than just trying to bump up the price of course).

That's actually a very fair point. I'd argue the equaliser should never have stood but, yes, playing fine but with no cutting edge and a ropey defence is going to cost you actual results I guess. As we had been very good at demonstrating for the last couple of seasons.

It's really funny to see which of the youth/ ex youth players people favour. Hardly any have played meaningful minutes, but it seems that for every fan of sims there's a fan of hesketh, for every fan of Gallagher there's a fan of reed. As it happens I'm with you, have a soft spot for hesketh for no sensible reason whatsoever, whereas I'm not too fussed about sims. Can't explain why, absolutely no idea ...

Back to today's games then, here's hoping palace and Spurs draw, ideally with an injury to zaha as well. Obviously got palace next, but have Spurs early March so adding to their fixtures when they've got a couple of injuries would be no bad thing IMHO. And giving palace an extra game to contend with might be useful.

In fairness there's no way Everton deserved to lose that game (not withstanding the fact they can't defend a set piece). But yes, they really are going backwards under him. Digne was just as sh1t and moany as against us, gueye should have been sent off as he should against us. And the rest we largely anonymous. In terms of building spirit, a defined method of play and creating dynamic football you'd happily pay to watch, he perhaps wasn't the best option. Such a shame ...

totally agree, what else is there to play for for the last 4 months of the season? And from a managers perspective it just puts you under needless added pressure. Puel was already under the cost a bit, got some relief, and then brought it back in heaps with his selection v Newport. I think the only time poch got any stick here was after fielding the weakened team at Sunderland. Just don't get it at all.

Not the worst (j rod wins that) but the most recent i remember was the one we got opening day v West Ham a season or two back allowing us to win after we'd contrived to surrender a 2 goal lead against ten men. May have actually been a pen but remember thinking it was very soft at the time. Of course, being against the hammers I was ok with it!

Anyone else think this could be an option? Granted he's been out of action, but on current form I think Romeu, hoj and jwp must be ahead of him in the midfield pecking order. If we can't get maehle until the summer I'd rather we didn't spend on a stop-gap, especially as a backup.

Actually, transfer market says contracted until 2022. In which case might be an option. Was the stand out player in that particular old firm game, but one match on tv is almost as reliable as YouTube clips for assessing players.

Saw that quoted on the bbc gossip column. Only seen him on tv once v Celtic where he did play very well. On the other hand, his pre rangers career doesn't shout out top quality, Scottish football is weak, and I think his contract is up this summer so 8 million does seem a lot!

I'm not sure what's worse, this thread on a Saturday without a match, or a match day thread when we've let in a goal. Level of emotional and football intelligence on either is worryingly low for a group of (one would assume in the main) fully grown adults.