S-Clarke

We've got several ways of playing, we switch systems a couple of times in games. We also have the ability to play certain systems to play certain games, against City on paper it was a 4-4-2 with two banks of 4 in a low block. That restricted city to playing in front of us and restricted the space in behind, which is the way to do it against them. Against Brentford at home we exploited the way Brentford played by matching up with their 3-5-2. That allowed us to overload their full back areas and given we were dominant on the ball they struggled to get out. We're incredibly flexible tactically and that is because of the squad we have, we have options to fit into these different ways of playing if required. It's amazing what happens when your bench isn't filled up with L'lundulu, Ramsay, Watts, Jankewitz etc. This is the first season Ralph has had what I'd call his own squad, he's not having to shoehorn Vestergaard or Bertrand into the side, or fill the squad with young players who will quite frankly never make it. We've been able to get talented young players which is right up his street. What this season has demonstrated to me more than anything is how good a coach he is when the players he has have the correct tools in the first place.

He's super talented, but he is still a little raw around the edges. Just saying that's why I think he's best placed here for at least another year as this is a great environment for him to realise his potential.

Happy for Everton to get their win and goals out of the way this week to be honest.

Such sad news. Condolences to you and the family. RIP Minsk

He's done great, but I still believe this summer is the opportunity to change up our goalkeeping situation a little bit. It has got a bit stale over the last 4 or so years. If anything his contract situation is probably seeing his level lift as he's playing for a club really, so if that benefits us between now and the end of the season - win win. I still expect him to leave and a new keeper to come in to freshen that area of the pitch up.

I love Broja, but today you saw the good and bad of him and why he's no where near the finished product just yet (Similar to Wednesday). Physically immense, so much pace and power, but his finishing is erratic and he needs to calm that down. I have no doubt he will but being at a club like Southampton allows him the opportunity to be erratic and grow as we don't expect to win every game, at Chelsea he'd struggle to get a run of games without shouts for him to be dropped if he kept missing chances like that. Different world at the big clubs. Definitely think his best option is to grow and develop his game here and then leave as a complete player to a top club a few years down the line.

Filled the spot really well, great 45 from him. Won so much that was put into the box.

What a great performance, we weren't hugely different from the Spurs performance in terms of our approach, I felt Utd had more of a threat though. First half we struggled to start with, Utd were moving it very quickly and we struggled to get near them. We were off it by a yard or so. For some reason, not complaining, Utd just stopped with the quick play and went a bit more passive - similar to how Spurs played against us, and it played into our hands really. All of a sudden we started finding time on the ball, space was popping up in between the lines etc. 2nd half went the same way, great start with the early goal but that was produced through Moi picking up space in between the lines and leaving their centre backs caught in between two minds. I thought we had the better chances in the second half, although Utd were always a threat on the break as they had pace - that was the main difference between today and Wednesday I felt, the pace they had in the attack always kept them in the game but we stuck at it ourselves. Tactically spot on, the mentality and application of the 11 absolutely spot on. There are partnerships all over the pitch. Special mention to Forster who is currently in his best form since 2016 without question. If he doesn't stay here he is playing himself into a decent contract elsewhere, that's for sure.

Still well in the game. Utd started at a much faster pace than us and it took us a while to get into it as we couldn't get near them. Utd have dropped off a little though, certainly after 30 mins, which allowed us to get more of a foothold as the pace slowed down. Certainly still in for a chance of something, we looked the most likely in the final 10 mins.

To be fair Theo's contribution on Wednesday was terrible. He didn't run for the ball or get anywhere near it and they made it 3-3 on the back of that bit of shit play, luckily overturned - but he's a risk when he plays as we have to carry him. Since he scored at Arsenal last season in that 1-1, he got an injury and since then he's looked done as a footballer. I think he needs to admit it!

The as expected media coverage really, we're irrelevant and they're all desperate for Man Utd to start being good again. Boosts their coffers at the end of the day, we're just seen as a mild irritant at this moment in time.

Certainly a long way to go, but home draws can't be sniffed at as it gives us a great chance to get to the last 8. From there anything can happen to be honest. We've put ourselves in a great position whereby we can go a bit stronger in these games if we wanted to as well.

Ballard is certainly an exciting one isn't he. Seems like a scoring machine at every level he's put into.

Do you think Kane will leave? I think his chance was last summer and I don't think he'll get another opportunity for a 'big' move. This summer has the likes of Mbappe and Halland floating around to be nabbed and I'm sure City will be aiming for one of those as opposed to Kane.

Agreed mate. I was going for a point from these two as a good outcome, but 3 already is more than I imagined. Puts us in such a good position as the games after this are comparatively better. Although this is Southampton and we know how that works...

I think it'll be between Norwich, Newcastle, Watford, Everton and Burnley. Brentford have possibly done enough in the first half of the season to afford the run they've having now, they're good enough to get back on it in the coming weeks and pickup the handful of wins they need. I'm pleasantly surprised by where we are at this stage and hats off to Ralph and the club for putting us in such a good position. From here, given our remaining fixtures, I don't think we'll be looking over our shoulders at any point.

Thank you for continuing the good work Minsk has put in, would have been a shame to see it wasted. It's so positive looking at this though, the head to head comparison is kind of suggestive that we may end up in the 50's points wise this year. I didn't see that and I thought we'd struggle without Ings goals, but credit to the scouting as we've filled the hole better than I could have imagined.

Why are West Ham being so anal about this? I noticed Zouma played the race card as well, which is ridiculous. Both separate 'crimes' and both equally deplorable in their own right.

Definitely good to see us continuing to bolster the B and U18 ranks. Prior to the summer window it's been neglected for a while but we're clearly baulking it up massively. It's not all about these players making it as first team players for us, but it's about creating a really good/competitive B Team/U18 team for other players to benefit from being part of as well. If you've got winning underage teams then your talented players are going to develop at a faster rate. I'm glad it's getting more focus now.

He's a good player, but I've always thought he's more of a 'support' player than your 15-20 goal a season main man at the highest level. His attributes as a support striker are priceless for us, he provides great legs and presence up top for someone with more pace/ability to thrive from. I'm pretty excited about this Broja/Adams partnership if i'm honest, it could be epic. That header hasn't had enough coverage though, it was terrific technique to get the power and direct on that. You won't see many better headers!

No actual CB's in the Leicester starting 11 today, Vestergaard sits on the bench. That is the best £15m we'll ever make. The 30m for Ings doesn't look too shabby either.

Hoj was always mr average, good at waving his arms around but does lack ability. Put him in a team with lots of good players and he'll do alright turning the ball over for 90 mins, but make him an important part of a midfield with a lack of quality around him and you see the real Hoj. Part of me thinks that Ralph is quietly content that he wanted to go as that allowed him to evolve the team a bit more. I'd struggle to see him our midfield nowadays, he's too passive and sideways.

I think (i hope) the club is looking for a Romeu successor, someone we can bring in whilst Romeu is still here in order for him to grow into the side. Diallo isn't that player. Diallo is more of an advanced midfielder in my eyes, probably more of a JWP alternative. That's why JWP and Diallo often get overrun in there when it's just those two.

I'm surprised we haven't seen more 'open play' asissts from JWP before now, but that position just right of central midfield 40 ish yards out is perfect for someone with a right peg like his, as long as the players make the right movement in the box it's another great weapon in his growing armory. Those two crosses yesterday were very De Bryune esque, I was staggered at how much space he got to take a touch and play it in though. Other teams aren't going to afford him that much time!

He needed to calm down a bit yesterday, those two attempts were a bit erratic (the one he pulled wide was a bit glaring). But his physical presence and physical attributes get him into those situations so many times. The calmness in his game will come with experience and once that settles down he is going to be an absolute machine.