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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...

What happened to that kid from Real Madrid?

I meant the free kick at the end...

We really do have a spoilt fanbase dont we. Ok, we had Toby, Lovren and VVD in a short space of time, who each on their day are probably amongst the top 25 centre backs in world football (certainly Van Dijk must be top 10), so is it really a surprise they moved on to bigger clubs and possibly as yet we dont have quite as good players there? I think Hoedt has looked good this season and the back end of last year, and Vestergaard has certainly had a few matches where he's been pretty dominant, but not overly consistent as yet. Both are considerably better than Stephens, and I would think would get into at least half of the teams in the division first XI. A few mates who I've watched our matches with have said they thought both of them were pretty good without any prompts... I think everyone agreed that Long was shocking though!

Thought we were far the better team in the first half, but only going in at 1-0 of course the other team are going to come out and go for it. The trouble is with us sitting off continually and praying we hold onto that lead. The equaliser became inevitable, but what on earth was JWP thinking?! My player ratings McCarthy - 7 - one or two really good stops, possibly could've done slightly better with first goal? Cedric - 6 - thought looked good going forwards. Bit shaky occasionally at the back. Hoedt - 7 - dont get the hate. Looked solid and a couple of great tackles to stop Brighton breaks. Vest - 7 - Looks decent. Bertrand - 7 - Got forward well, bit unlucky with the freekick near the end Redmond - 7 - Very lively first half and did a few Brighton players, faded a bit second half Hojberg - 8 - Again our best player. What a goal! Lemina - 6.5 - Looked really good in patches, a bit sloppy at other times. Mo - 6 - Failed to get that into the game, but a couple of good touches and passes. Solid if unspectacular. Ings - 7 - Looked bright and did well to win and score the penalty. Long - 5 - Never looks likely to score. Won a couple of headers, but failing at crucial times. Subs Gabbiadini - 6 - isnt a target man, so dont know why we hoof it to him when we bring him on for last 10-15 mins. All things considered, think he did ok. Lets just play him upfront with Ings and see what he can actually do yeah? Ward-Prowse - 5 - Think he's a bit upset to not be the 'golden boy' anymore, but did himself no favours last night. Absolutely ridiculous push in stoppage time. Probably a bit upset Bertrand wouldnt let him take the penalty, but needs to sort it out. Davis - 5 - Needed a bruiser on, got Davis. Dont know if he did anything. Romeu (if on bench!) or Yoshida next time please!

I was at that match too and he definitely looked dangerous. I remember him doing a ridiculous trick / piece of skill around the half way line before bombing forwards and thinking 'this guy is going to be amazing'

McCarthy set for his debut(?) against Switzerland?

Any ideas of the squad for tonight? Anyone not getting too many first team minutes at the moment likely to play? I was thinking Bednarek but guessing he's away with Poland. Possibly Jack Stephens? I think last year we kept the teams pretty young / inexperienced though so probably wont play him any that have appeared in the first team this year.

Would've thought Hesketh was better than that, but hopefully a run for them and he'll be ready for at least Championship next season. I thought Flannigan was only being kept on for sentimental reasons after a serious of nasty injuries. Hope he does well too!

Made the squad about a year or so ago, carry on like he's started and he cant be too far away from making it again. JWP on the other hand seems to have completely dropped off the international radar.

So, looking a little unlikely Fraser will be leaving us? His mammoth contract looking like a truly epic balls up!

Any ideas who's in the squad aside from the 11 posted above? Any youngsters?

I thought he looked bright in the Burnley game, and certainly think he offers a lot more than Austin outside the box, with some nice through balls and being more mobile.

It's interesting - would've thought Gallagher would've got a chance by now - maybe tonight is the night? I've always thought Hesketh looked like a genuinely creative player, but has fallen completely out of the picture last couple of seasons (whilst always looking good in the U23 team). Valery could be a decent shout for the next couple of years and seems Klarer is doing well. Will be interesting to see if Alfie Jones does well in Scotland and Vokins pushes on much this season (although obviously behind 3 other players for a first team squad place). Enzo Robise for the future too? JWP is now an established player, and perhaps a bit unlucky to be in and out of the team, whilst Targett, McQueen and Stephens are ok squad players for a bottom half premier league team. Just be good to get another genuine starter - although this is a rarity these days in the Premier League...

I think he's looked pretty sharp this season, and was probably our best player (bar Vestergaard) vs Burnley. Looking forward to him pushing on this season.

I think he's looked decent on the few opportunities he's been given - but that's probably just as he actually wanted to take someone on in a time when it looked like players were actively being held back from doing so. Now with a bit more attacking intent (hopefully) we'll see more forward balls, more players taking people on and we'll realise that maybe Sims isn't quite good enough yet. Be good to see how he gets on there - if he's starting and creating lots of chances every game, that'll put him in good stead for next season, but at the moment he's behind a couple of players, so if he's not going to get in the squad, he may as well get some game time and experience elsewhere.

So true!

That's interesting, a few times in the past (obviously before he went to Fulham) I've seen him and thought he looked pretty one footed - but nowhere near as bad as Clyne was!

Of course West Ham have plenty of cash - they've got their massive (basically) free public funded stadium boosting their matchday incomes. Dont even need to pay for the extra police to keep their basic fans in order.