Saint Pete

23 shots away at Spurs. Stunning performance from all of our lads (and manager) tonight. Incredible stuff.

If we can get in front, Diallo and Long may be useful subs but not much there to get back in it if we go behind.

Yes, I think Ralph sometimes has a naive side to him and this seems one of those occasions. Will be interesting to see how it plays out. It shouldn't really matter that he has announced this if everyone is grown up about it as 2.5 years is a long time and I applaud his honesty. But we know that premier League football is not the most grown up environment and I fear this being known will change attitudes of players and fans when we go through bad spells of results, which undoubtedly we will at times in that period. And that may force a change earlier than would otherwise have been the case had it not been public that he plans to leave at end of contract anyway.

Well, Small had to be hooked at half time despite us "only playing Coventry" as you put it so would have thought it IS relevant to question whether it was the right thing to throw him in alongside so many other reserve players?

Not sure what you mean there. Looks like pretty much Leicester's best available team except Schmiechel? Fair play to Forest, great result.

I think that's the biggest issue. Giving Small a chance in yesterday's game wasn't necessarily wrong, but doing it in such a weakened side (and defence in particular) from the normal 1st team certainly wouldn't have helped him.

Yeah, not unhappy with that. Home draw and not City, Liverpool or Chelsea so it's winnable. And shouldn't be any temptation for Ralph to play the reserves again.

So our plan is to go a couple of goals down, then bring on the real team and hope we can pull it back? Great plan.

You clearly have far more faith in our reserve players than I do.

Yep, I’m very surprised to see that many changes. I would say we are only playing 2 of our best 11, JWP and Livramento. That seems unnecessary to me after 2 weeks off, even with a couple of tough away Prem games coming up. How will we line up? Livramento may play further forward? If so, will be interesting to see how that goes.

I don't like sound of the "contract is clear" part. That suggests club has an option to buy so thinks they can leave til summer. But we've been there before haven't we? Reality is if he continues to improve between now and end of season, it will mean he will have much more options available to him at that point. In my view, I can't see us signing him in that scenario, probably not even on another loan. That is why it makes sense for us to try to do something now, even if just to get an additional year on the loan done now. But obviously we don't know what Chelsea and/or the player have said, they may have ruled that out at this point.

Yes, agree. Although realistically I still think the best we are going to get is an extension to the loan for another season with no option to recall/sell to anyone else before the end of that loan. Chelsea have all the cards here as he signed a 5 year contract with them recently and I’m not really sure what’s in it for them to sell to us now for what we would be prepared to pay.

Not our day.

Yes, agree the sudden clamour about signing more backup at RB (and Ralph's own comments) seemed odd to me. As Ralph has seemed reluctant to use Perraud so far, it would make slightly more sense if we were looking at LB options? KWP is a more than adequate substitute for Livramento and arguably should have been playing at RB more often so far this season anyway.

Think for Prem league it's based on how many "first team" squad players teams have left available. So effectively any absences count, whatever the reason.

Recently, we often seem to get Prem opponents that we are about to play in the league in cup draws. So I predict we'll get Spurs away.

Hard to say whether it would have made a difference with this particular injury but I can't help feeling that we have pushed Tino too far with too many games for such a young player. It seemed pretty clear that he was tired in some of the games in recent months so ought to have been given a rest, particularly given that we did have decent backup with KWP and Perraud in the squad to cover full back positions.

Forster Stephens Salisu Bednarek Redmond JWP Diallo Perraud S.Armstrong Elyonoussi Broja I thought Romeu had a poor game by his standards last night and looked very weary towards the end so would rest him if we can for this one.

Agree with all the above especially the need to sub JWP or Romeu in second halves. With the formation and high intensity style Ralph uses, it seems obvious that it requires huge energy from the centre mids and that they will tire and make more mistakes late in games. Even more so in periods like this with lots of games. Given that Ralph has spoken out in favour of 5 subs being allowed in the prem it's baffling that he is so slow to use the 3 he is allowed in games like this. He needs to trust the likes of Diallo much more.

Back to back clean sheet wins innit? Why make a change at the back?

I'd be more concerned if they were not making the opportunities and getting in positions to score. Sometimes you have to be patient and the rewards will come.

I agree and personally would start with Adams and Armstrong again. They both played well in last game. Che seems to be a striker who goes on a run once he gets in the goals and Armstrong seems like he is on the brink of some real form so would stick with him for this one. Broja will definitely play a part from the bench anyway.

Still baffled by the omission of Stuart Armstrong again. Presumably not injured as on the bench. I don’t understand why we would be starting Moi or Redmond in preference to him, sorry. Otherwise team is as I would have expected.

Big game for Broja and Albania tonight, home to Poland. Albania currently ahead of Poland in 2nd in the group.

Agreed. Remember the 3 all Palace Liverpool game a few years ago that pretty much decided the title as well? It's those games that are the best thing about the Prem these days, which you would lose if the numbers were cut. Suarez crying on the pitch at the end. Golden memories.