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Imagine if where we'd be if we signed an 18m striker... I'm looking forward to our 3-8 million pound striker arriving in January.

Bertrand and Boufal were running rings around them. J-Rod looked lively and was good in the second half with a couple of goals to boot! Very relieved he put that goal from 2 yards in - thought he was cursed from that distance!

Probably had the most touches, doesn't accommodate for all the indecision and slowing down of play! Probably a 3.5/10 performance

Didnt see Hjojberg or Boufal in the video? Maybe just missed him but would be a shame if they were both missing. Maybe doing the Xmas challenge thing.

We are particularly blessed in midfield to have 7 or 8 players who can all do a good job in the prem, with Romeu, Hojbjerg, Davis, Clasie, JWP, Redmond, Tadic and Boufal joined by Reed, Sims, McQueen and Hesketh from the academy to mean we're pretty well stocked to mix and match there and keep a good quality through the team. Likewise, at full back, Cedric and Bertrand are pretty well supported by the likes of Cuco (who has had some good games despite what people have said), Stephens looking ok in his one appearance and Targett and McQueen proving themselves decent on the left side. It's upfront we're struggling, with Austin looking like the only striker we have capable of getting a goal and it not looking like he can do 90 mins twice in a week, with J-Rod and Long desperately out of form. We have some good youngsters there who might make a breakthrough there, but I doubt Olomola, Gallagher, Barnes or Seagar will do much this season (or be expected to)! What's really good to see though is that we could almost field a pretty strong all English / British team, or even all academy team in the not too distant future!

Hennessey is generally pretty poor, but yes, seemed to have his best ever game against us last(?) season. As I'm fairly local, have made it to a few games, and he's not great, but the real weak point is Martin Kelly at left back who is nowhere near good enough / comfortable on the left. Similar to when we used to play Yoshida at full back (but worse)...

Thought he played very well last night. Snapping at their heels and some good passing, as well as a great finish for the goal. He's maybe not a standout player in terms of skill, but has a good passing range, decent in the tackle and has had a couple of decent strikes on goal recently, and deserved his goal last night.

Reckon tonight could be the night Schlong breaks his duck. At least hope so!

I think this is the main thing - and he's done a number of other world class saves since he's been at Everton - when he looked like he'd never save a shot on target some matches with saints. He saved them another 2 goals at least.

I'd let him go at least out on loan. Hasnt looked anywhere near good enough ever since his injury in the multiple comebacks. Not saying I think he's a bad player, as he was good the season of his injury and before that, but needs some games at a lower level to build up confidence to score goals (and prove he can be relied upon).

What's our lineup for this? Any news on Hesketh?

He was the other one (with Redmond and JWP) who trained with the senior team. Looks like we've probably missed the boat on him. Depends if Conte puts more trust in youngsters than some of the previous managers. What's Loftus-Cheek upto these days? Seems to have a bit of an attitude, but always looked pretty good too. Doubt he's getting many games at Chelsea?

I think he's a little behind Hesketh (who is a superstar at that level), but great to have some promising players coming through as always. I saw that Vokins played again last night - didnt he make his under 21 debut last year at around 16 and get quite a few games? Exciting to see the youngsters coming through.

I for one hope the club do put in a few over-age players to get some match fitness - like others have said Gardos and J-Rod are screaming out for games and it'll be better to give them a run against an ok Crawley team than just leave them on the bench and expect them to do a job in the first team when they're so short of match sharpness. Be great for the youngsters also to go far in the competition. I'm not saying I fully agree with the competition, but if we're in it, we may as well use it for what it is.

Thought Hojbjerg actually played well. He has a habit of doing something really good and then doing something silly though - a couple of great examples where he somehow won the ball past someone with a great bit of skill and then let himself down with the pass. Also looks hesitant going forwards. However, overall I'd say it was another promising performance from a good asset to the squad who's only going to improve. Ward-Prowse was excellent second half, after being his usual 'I'm too scared to shoot' self in the first half. Tadic being marked down by some people for the poor penalty, but Inter knew exactly what they were doing and saw how lightweight the ref was so knew they could get away with delaying the penalty as long as they did, scuff up the penalty spot, elbow someone in the face and crowd out the ref with him barely doing anything! The linesman on the Kingsland side was also ridiculously bad! I'm not even sure he did anything without being told by the ref first...!

Martina is probably running on empty with the amount of ground he (usually) covers and the amount of games he's played recently. It wasnt long ago that he was very good in the last Europa home game vs Sparta Prague. Not sure what's up with Cedric, but obviously the sooner he's back the better for rotation and keeping players fresh, however I personally dont think there's too much between them. Cedric probably a bit better all round, but Martina has had some great games. I think Ward-Prowse is almost certainty to start and looks like Yoshida is the choice for Europa games too.

Surprised about Debayo leaving. I was wondering why he hadnt heard from him - and quite weird as surely Southampton is a better place to learn and get into the first team than Leicester who I cant remember having many young players from their Academy playing in their team?

What (UK) time is kick off and is it on BT / other UK TV or should I search for a stream?

Anyone got a stream??

Fingers crossed not - who plays right back for the u23's? At worst case looks like we could be without any full backs for the weekend as doubts over Targett, Cedric and Martina, with Bertrand (and Pied) already out. Step forwards Jack Stephens, Sam McQueen and maybe Valery / Bakary?!

Any news on the good lad Gardos? He's been in recovery / about to make a comeback for about 6 months.

I missed Targett out as well. So who's going to play left back at the weekend? I'm guessing Yoshida? Always been a bit of a nightmare at full back, but guess we've got no other choice, unless Sam McQueen gets a game now they've seemingly converted him...! With Cedric, Bertrand and Targett out looks like we'll have Martina - Van Dijk - Fonte - Yoshida with Stephens and maybe McQueen on the bench?!

Missed the first 30 mins but did Hesketh play badly or was he injured? Seems pretty unclear.

It wasnt Palace's best team, but four of their best players (Dann, Cabaye, Benteke and Zaha, i'm only excluding Townsend as possibly in with that bunch) all played part of the match whereas we left out Van Dijk, Bertrand, Forster ?(and Boufal!!) completely. Difference is we've got strong youth team players to call up, whereas Palace dont.

Palace arent fielding a youth team as some have said - they're likely to have first team / squad players who have been out injured / on the bench playing, including the likes of Cabaye, Hennesey, Lee, Mutch and Wickham - which is probably the Palace equivalent to the sort of team we might be fielding with JWP, Yoshida, Targett, McCarthy etc. Could be a tight game, but I reckon Palace will field more first teamers and edge it - with a goal coming from a defensive mistake!