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Is this on TV?

Redmond's been our best player in probably a quarter of this seasons games. Doesn't mean he's been amazing, but I think him and PEH (and possibly Lemina when he looks like he can be bothered) have been our best players. Shame Ings has tailed off so much. Just seems to be the training which must be shocking as I agree, most of the players are capable of more.

How on earth would we not have any money? Just how much are we paying the staff behind the scenes? Every other team (even those without a billionaire owner) have cash so why wouldn't we after seasons of massive transfer profits and all the TV money? I know we have given silly big contract extensions to players like Forster, Stephens and a host of the other young guns from a few years ago, but surely that doesnt mean we are worse off than clubs like Huddersfield, Bournemouth, Cardiff?

Come on 'down to the bare bones' but looking forward to whichever of Targett, Austin, Armstrong, Ely, Romeu and JWP start actually show the boss what we've been missing and why they deserve more of a role. Please can we get Vestegaard back in against Mitrovic?

I thought when Hughes came in a few players said that he'd upped the training?! Were they just rocking up for a quick game of 5 a side before?

Well, I guess it goes on the players who have played most games, but extremely harsh of them to put Ings in whilst the likes of Jordan Ayew have escaped!

I cant believe we've gone into another season with Long as one of our main attacking options! Austin at least does score occasionally, but I'd agree, he's lucky to still be here having done next to nothing for a year or so. I'm sure 75% of Championship clubs would take him though. Davis the same really - surely Rangers for him, or didnt he start at Aston Villa? All three are clogging up space and realistically never going to play too much (if we have the right manager that is). We've only got a 'deep roster' as we have so many average players clogging it up. Get rid of those 3, along with Forster and get in one high quality main target man or super pacey winger / creative player and I think we'll look much better.

LOL We definitely live in a 'I'll believe it when I see it' situation when it comes to Saints. Would be surprised if Mitchell wanted to come back, but he obviously had a good record for us so would welcome it.

I hope so. It really is a joke, and pathetic for the guy to even entertain the idea. As others have rightly said, he'd leave a much better legacy if he could ask clubs who may want to get involved to donate to local grassroots and community football schemes.

We've missed a trick there. Would've loved to have someone so widely respected as Ranieri with us (much like when Koeman was our manager) - pretty sure he would've commanded the respect from the players straight away and we'd see an up-turn in fortunes. Now the Fulham match has gotten much tougher and I'm guessing we'll another patchy performance and a late goal from the opposition!

Yes, well would be interesting to see if Hughes actually was being told who to play (or not as the case may be) to see if he really is poor a judge of a player as some of his selections have shown. Fingers crossed for Yoshi, Vestergaard and Gabbiadini back in the team!

Wow. Wasnt expecting that, but glad there's some positive action taking place. Surely spells the end for Hughes too as no doubt a new person would want their own manager. Probably wont change too much short term, but will be great to have someone signing good players and not rewarding average ones with bumper contracts, and having a manager who plays their best team and invests time into the youth.

We dont really have another right back! Bednarek and Stephens have both played there once or twice and done ok, but obviously not their position. Valery in the U23 looks like a decent prospect, but probably not ready...

Maybe playing the best team would be an idea? McCarthy Cedric Vestergaard Hoedt/Yoshida Bertrand Redmond Lemina PEH Moi Gabbi Ings Get Targett and Bednarek back in the squad. JWP to come on second half to whip some crosses in if we're struggling

Although I've never been his biggest fan in the past, I think the treatment of JWP has been a bit out of order. When he's played I think we've genuinely looked more likely to score, as he's one of the few players who looks like he wants to play a forward pass. He's also seemed to add a bit more bite to his game - previously he seemed pretty lightweight and a bit too 'nice' - I've seen him make some good and bit more tasty challenges over the past season or two too.

Isnt it well documented that Palace were paying a 'last legs' Cabaye over 100k/wk, and are now paying Sakho and Benteke similar and Zaha much more than that? Reckon they'd be above us. West Ham and Everton almost certainly higher than ours too, and I imagine Wolves' is probably at least trebled from that figure!

Genuinely surprised he's scored more than once! Wasnt he on a record 45 games without scoring or something?!

Got to be with you on this one. There's no excuses for not beating Newcastle at home. I went to the Palace v Newcastle game a few weeks back and even though Palace were poor (and we rightly beat them), Newcastle were terrible. Set up to attack (like we should be doing at home anyway), and we should easily put a couple past them.

And this is a major part of our problems. Good players completely dropped from matchday squad, then suddenly starting, then off again, whilst some players seemingly just keep getting chances...

Isnt one of the main problems that he persists with these no-hopers and keeps better players (i.e. Gabbiadini) on the bench? Personally have thought Gabbi and Ings have looked like they could be pretty good together as both pretty intelligent players, whilst Austin has completely lost it and less said about Shlong the better...

It's especially weird as two of our best players at the time, Mane and Wanyama didnt even come onto the pitch until the 65th minute, by which point we were already 4-0 up. I noted that Shane Long didnt score...!

Probably Yoshida, as I guess none of the others consider themselves as should be first team players. I'd be surprised if JWP wasnt pretty peeved too.

I'm hoping to see Gunn, Targett, Bednarek, Yoshida, Romeu, Ward-Prowse and Gabbiadini all come in. Possibly Stephens at right back (in the absence of any other right backs, unless Valery plays!) and hopefully Gallagher too. With the amount and quality of signings Everton have made, I fully expect their second string to be a fair amount stronger than ours, but there's some good players in there who could make it a decent match. Hughes needs a win quickly, or can see the fanbase turning on him and his excuses pretty quickly...

We have too many average players so may be better to work on a core 17 odd senior players and get rid of the rest to be topped up with promising younger players. Sell (assuming anyone will take them): Forster (massive wage saving), Long (not good enough, probably high wages), Davis (not in best team, high salary), Austin (not convinced good or mobile enough), Stephens (not good enough, no longer that young), possibly Romeu and Ward-Prowse as both have done little last couple of years. Would be a shame on JWP but cant work out what position he's especially good in. I'd want to have a go with Boufal, obviously a game changer on his day, but whether he can do it consistently is a big if. Get Gabbiadini more involved. Other than that I think the team we're playing most weeks with Hojbjerg, Lemina, Redmond, Ings etc with the back 4 is our strongest team with the current players. I'd give Gallagher a few games off the bench if we want to go a bit more direct - could work well infront of Ings. Signings - agreed that we should be looking at Championship again.

Guessing Yoshida will be gone (unfortunately). Stephens needs a loan - not sure he'll ever quite be good enough, but some regular football at either top end of Championship or somewhere like Cardiff? Even Europe would be good. Not sure what that means for Bednarek who's always looked pretty good to me. The striker could be good as Hughes obviously doesnt fancy Gabbiadini and Austin hasnt been great in his limited appearances. Shlong shouldnt be playing regularly for a decent premier league team...