Saint Pete

It only would make any sense if we have already decided he's not good enough and are buying a replacement. If there is truth that the club want to sell him against the managers wishes, it's really time for Ralph to stand up and insist Adams doesn't leave before a replacement that Ralph approves is signed. Otherwise we would all know what would happen here! Sent from my moto g(7) play using Tapatalk

It would have to be Ings because his goals are so critical and we don't have another regular scorer. Second place for me would be JWP because his form has been instrumental in our recovery and in making the new formation work without totally exposing the defence. Sent from my moto g(7) play using Tapatalk

Nothing would totally shock me with our "hierarchy" (not sure who would be making this kind of decision at present by the way?). But I don't really buy this story. Apart from anything else, would Leeds be offering Adams the wages that he is on at Saints? Players don't normally choose to move on to a club in a lower division so soon after signing a lucrative deal in the prem (albeit to a club with a great chance of promotion). And he still has a great chance of making it at Saints with the potential of Long moving on at end of season when his contract ends. Sent from my moto g(7) play using Tapatalk

This could beat our record!!

Agreed. Yesterday proved that Ralph is quite right in his assessment when asked about the possibility of Adams being loaned out that he needs him and he has a part to play in our squad this season. It’s too early to say if he will ultimately be a success in this league but yesterday he showed enough again to think he has a chance. There would be no real purpose in loaning him back to a championship club anyway as he’s already proved he can do it at that level. Keep using him as we are now as a useful backup to Long and Ings.

This really is incredible!! You have to pinch yourself that this is the same team from earlier in the season. Massive pat on the back for Ralph and all the players, long may it continue. Sent from my moto g(7) play using Tapatalk

Agreed. Personally I would prefer going back to the rule as it was and then using VAR to eliminate obvious howlers by the officials such as the Henry handball Vs Ireland and the Watford "goal" against us. That is after all what VAR was supposed to be about. Sent from my moto g(7) play using Tapatalk

Surely it was simpler before this rule change was introduced? Intentional handball - free kick/pen Accidental - play on I'm just not comfortable with applying different rules for the same action depending on what follows afterwards. Seems illogical to me. Sent from my moto g(7) play using Tapatalk

Ok, yes, I'll accept the new rule is equally wrong for all teams. Sent from my moto g(7) play using Tapatalk

Yes, it's the rules they should be complaining about, not the application of the rules by VAR, which was correct in this case. Sent from my moto g(7) play using Tapatalk

The rule change is not consistent though is it? An unintentional handball by a defender that stops a goal is not penalised whereas an unintentional handball by an attacker that results in a goal is penalised. I don't particularly want to go down that road but it would make more sense if they go the whole hog and say anything that hits the hand or arm is handball full stop. Sent from my moto g(7) play using Tapatalk

Henry's handball was deliberate so it should have been given irrespective of whether a goal was scored as a result. If the same handball has been committed by a defender that should also have been given. How is it right that a completely different interpretation is now applied for handball depending on whether a goal is scored or not? The new rule is utterly stupid and needs binning at the earliest opportunity. Sent from my moto g(7) play using Tapatalk

Good stuff. Full back? Sent from my moto g(7) play using Tapatalk

I hope someone asked why the club are requesting pitifully low away ticket allocations for games that we always sell out like the upcoming Palace game? Sent from my moto g(7) play using Tapatalk

Is Boufal seeing much of the ball? Surely an opportunity for him to impress today as he should be the main creative spark in this team. Sent from my moto g(7) play using Tapatalk

Big surprise there is JWP starting. You would have expected him to be rested given the amount of work he has got through in recent games. Can only assume Ralph and the physios think he is in better shape than the likes of Hojbjerg and Armstrong and can take another game.

No, not totally. But we do have Long, Djenepo, Obafemi, Redmond and Adams all as options to play up front. Don't get me wrong, if we had unlimited funds I'd love another striker who has a better top level scoring record, but I assume the club are not going to suddenly release huge amounts of funds in this window. So we should focus on the areas where we are most weak first. And our record in the last two and and a half seasons (with exception of a few very recent games) suggests that is the defence followed by defensive midfield. In my opinion we shouldn't get too carried away by a couple of admittedly very good recent performances by centre backs, so if we can move one or more of our squad CBs on permanently and replace with better we should definitely look to do that as soon as we can. Sent from my moto g(7) play using Tapatalk

Yes, it worries me that the very unexpected but welcome improvement in our form will result in the familiar complacent attitude that the club have employed in previous windows. Whilst it's great that Stephens and Bednarek have put in some decent performances in the last few weeks, we surely mustn't believe that we don't still need to improve that area of the team? There have been a few rumours about Vestergaard so maybe the plan could be to move him on so that we can replace with someone better if available? But suspect we will still have issues with finding clubs who will match the wages in his contract. The other obvious issues are with full back cover. I would be happy enough to see Cedric stay, but it may make sense for him to move now if (and only if!) we can secure his replacement now. Left back cover also required if youth options are not considered good enough by Ralph. Ideally, it would also be great to get a defensive midfielder in as we could be really exposed there with just an injury or two. Attacking wise, I think we are OK for now, not a priority compared with the defensive side of the team. Sent from my moto g(7) play using Tapatalk

Yes there would still be the same marginal calls, but shifting the lines would have some advantage in my opinion, because it gives more leeway to the attacking side. It would mean that all the ones in last few days where the attacker was essentially level with last defender to the naked eye would be goals, which to me seems fairer than what is happening with VAR currently. If the attackers are still caught offside, their would be less complaints with that amended rule IMO. Sent from my moto g(7) play using Tapatalk

Some of these offsides being given by VAR are an absolute joke and not in the spirit of what the offside law is intended for. Application of rule needs changing to favour the attacking side in some way. Possibly as just suggested by Souness, flipping it to say if any part of body is onside, it's OK, instead of the other way round. Too many goals being ruled out where the attacker is basically level with current rules. Sent from my moto g(7) play using Tapatalk

McCarthy Cedric Stephens Bednarek Bertrand Armstrong JWP Hojbjerg Djenepo Obafemi Ings Gunn Yoshida Vestergaard Romeu Boufal Redmond Adams / Long

This type of thing really ****es me off. Is it general incompetence on the club’s part or are they deliberately trying to limit the away support numbers for some unfathomable reason? As said above, the Villa ticket sales show the support is there, it just needs the ticket office to do their job and communicate what they are doing properly with the fans.

Got to be pretty happy with a point overall today. 2 very committed teams, fair result over the 90 minutes. Neither side really got going first half, but Palace probably just about edged it and we got a bit of fortune from the VAR call. Second half was much more entertaining. Disappointed to concede from a set piece but it was a clever one from a Palace perspective with everyone expecting a shot. We kept going though and the subs gave us a real lift, especially Djenepo who had the beating of the Palace right side straight away. Ings became much more of a threat once Palace had to worry about Djenepo raiding down the wing. Could have won it towards the end but happy with a point overall and good to see us defend a few corners in injury time without making any howlers! JWP a clear man of the match for me with an all action performance, never seen him make so many tackles and win so many headers all over the pitch, even in first half when rest of the team were slow to get going. Sent from my moto g(7) play using Tapatalk

Suspect it's purely down to condition of players. Sent from my moto g(7) play using Tapatalk

Unpredictable game this given the tight turnaround between games. I reckon Ralph would like to play same team as Chelsea game except Ings in for Obafemi. But will depend on how players have recovered so may see Boufal or Romeu getting a start if some are viewed as too fatigued. Redmond could be a key man today I think. Confidence is key for him so that goal in last game should give him a big boost for this one. Sent from my moto g(7) play using Tapatalk