S-Clarke

First Monday night win since 2002?

I will say though, Brighton confirmed what I've thought about them this season. Well coached, decent tactically, move the ball well through the middle thirds - but completely and utterly toothless.

😀. It's all in the 'e'

We did not deserve that at all! First half in particular one to forget, 2nd half...if anything, we kept the ball a little better and were less sloppy when we did have it. Moved it a bit quicker, and sprayed it down the flanks (how you get in behind teams with 3 CB's). We were a lot more gritty as well. For me, VAR doesn't keen need to get involved in those sorts of calls. It wasn't clear an obvious, it was impossible to say if it was inside our outside the box...just let the ref judge it on the field of play. Obviously we got a pen from it, but from my pure honest assessment this is where VAR is going wrong. On-wards to Saturday, let's hope we get a better performance for the entire game.

Ings on, Moussa off.

Brighton are condensing it well, they are a well coached team. 3 at the back isn't easy for our formation either, we usually have a spare man - from either flank, or one of the two up top...but they're all covered by Brighton players, so we have little to no space. So credit to Brighton in that aspect, but we need to keep the ball better and move it quicker - that will open the space. At the moment it's all being played in front of Brighton (when we have it) and they are set in their shape, it'll be impossible to get anything if it carries on like that.

He's run a lot, mainly into blind ally's though. Armstrong hasn't run at all and just keeps falling over. Both dreadful.

He's a Championship level player. Purple patch game him his moment in the sun with England, but he's no better than Championship really.

I'd say Stephens is probably ahead of him. Chances of him getting on are slim to none. he's just making up the numbers tonight.

Not entirely sure we deserve to be 1-1, apart from the final 5-10 mins, we have been utterly diabolical. I'll certainly take 1-1. Playing with 9 men really. Less said about Moussa and Armstrong the better, shockers - both of them. Adams and Walcott totally isolated because of the lack of anything from Armstrong or Moussa. Good goal to go in on, but christ - so much to improve on. Would certainly sub one of Moussa or Armstrong.

They're better than you are suggesting. They lack a killer instinct up top, no question - with an Ings in that side I reckon they'd be top 6 or 7 at this stage. Their lack of goals has kept them drawing games rather than winning. That will prob be their downfall, but they certainly play good football but just lack a killer threat.

Not sure you can read anything into the Arsenal result. They've won all their games in Europe this year, they have a group full of utter dross.

Even him.

A kid would be able to get that squad promoted. Massive failure if they finish outside of the top 2.

That's good news, I was thinking he was one of those 'not wanting' to sign. He's a decent CB, well worth the renewal.

Nah, he was good against Newcastle. The goal capped an all round energic/high energy game from him I felt. But I have to agree that he was poor against Utd.

Vestergaards performances need to be put into a bit of context. He has improved in certain aspects, that's undeniable, but he looks better because we have been playing on the front foot - he is then able to get on the ball and play, rather than chase behind him. His reading of the game has been better though as is his decision making. However....as soon as any real quality or pressure is put onto our centre backs, they buckle. So, like you...I wouldn't say he's been brilliant, decent, yes,…but we still buckle when we are on the back foot for any prolonged period of time.

He's a nice lad, good around the dressing room and a popular guy - no doubts about that. But are those reasons alone enough to offer him a 2 year deal on probably 50k a week? We could have re-employed him as a player liaison officer. He is not a very good player, but in terms of a goal scorer (what he's part of the squad to do) he is diabolical and always has been. One good season in the Champ for Reading, but other than that he's missed more sitters than scored actual goals. No problems with loyalty, but what are we keeping him around for? It's certainly not footballing ability or what he can offer us at the top end.

They fell apart once he came on.

Probably something like Palace at home, Burnley away or Newcastle.

Yeah, without a doubt. Long is a player who needs games to get up to speed, and even up to speed he doesn't score very many goals. If he's just going on as a sub here and there he's going to be as effective as Jermaine Wright coming out of retirement. So, on the basis of how we are using him, then yes - a total mistake and a real waste of 2 years wages. We should have let him go and invested in a young replacement, there are many players in L1/L2 who would do better than Long.

We beat Everton with a 2-0, same against Newcastle and West Brom. It's been our 'go to score line' at home this year. The problem is that up against quality we just buckle eventually, whilst our CB's are decent I still don't believe they are top, top quality. The backline seems to lack leadership when the going gets tough, but it looks pretty tidy when we are on the front foot and they have the time to pass it around. If they are put under any real pressure they do seem to melt a bit.

Brighton are a funny side, they look to play with quality between the lines, but they're a bit blunt. Lots of nice passing, but very little impact - and that's born out by the results they've got so far, lots of draws, defeats where they've 'played well' etc. Fans are getting fidgety with the manager because I think they're seeing it as a tippy tappy approach with no real end product. It will be a tough game though, we should have more of an end product I'd hope.

Thought Wolves looked really handy tonight, Arsenal are full of rubbish nowadays though aren't they? I remember the days you used to fear them - Henry, Viera, Gallas, Sanchez, Petit, Bergkamp, Pires, Van Persie etc - they always had superstars, but they don't seem to have anything anymore and it's a game that you now earmark as a chance for 3 points. They have a few 'decent' young players from their academy who are now thrust into first team action, and a selection of 'experienced' crap to beef out the side. Not sure where they're going atm, their fans wanted Wenger out for years but it's clear to me that the reason for their regression is squad quality. (or lack of) The injury to Jimenez looked a shocker - reminded me of the Petr Cech one 10 years or so ago, can't imagine he's got away without a skull fracture of sorts?

I think most people have moved on and gotten over it. It's a forum, so all about airing opinions and views on 'why' we let it slip in the way we did. Not seeing anyone 'bedwetting'. No doubting the quality we came up against, but in any situation it's not good to throw away leads like that.