Lighthouse

You're an odd bunch.

Mike, Baj and I aren't going all the way into London for a curry. You'll have to lower your standards for X-mas, Corriander Lounge was fine last time. I'll admit you and alps are a bit off a loss, one less round of Cobras probably.

1. Gabbi’s equaliser at Wembley, went ape sh*t for a good minute. 2. Lambert’s penalty to beat Millwall in injury time. 3. Lambert at Fratton 4. Phillips vs Villa in 2005, first goal I saw live. 5. Barnard’s winner against MK Dons Honourable mentions to: Chaplow in a Cup tie against Man Utd in league 1. The o.g. Against Inter Milan

Having re-watched the highlights, you’re right; the keeper was in a much more favourable position than I remember.

I do think there are situations where a goal should be awarded, like with the penalty try in rugby, if a foul prevents a certain goal. Can't remember the exact position of the 'keeper but as I remember it that was 100% a goal without the handball. If not in this situation, then some others like the Suarez vs. Ghana incident, a goal should be awarded.

The same? He doesn't offer any mobility. I'm baffled as to why he was our only striker on the bench and why Gabbi wasn't there. He's the absolute last person you'd want to bring on when you're winning away from home, he puts zero pressure on the defence and runs like he is carrying a piano.

We haven't won a home game Long started since we beat Palace in April 2017, under Puel. Bournemouth - Came off the bench when we were already 2-1 up. Everton - Came on when we were already 3-1 up. I guess you could argue we won 1-0 after he came on but Everton we're dogsh*t and already well beaten. West Brom - Technically we did win when he started but he played 80 minutes in which both teams were dreadful. Boufal scored 5 minutes after Long was subbed off. West Ham - Came on at 2-2. Was nothing to do with the winning goal. I've no doubt he is a key part of how we play but how we play is terrible. Too many people want to give us credit for putting a shift in and putting pressure on defenders, when that's the bare minimum we should be demanding of our team. Long running around after defenders doesn't help us defend from the front, we leak goals like a seive and as a striker he couldn't hit the side of a phonebox if he was stood inside it.

Long is a Championship striker, no matter how hard he works. His scoring record is absolutely pathetic and we have put in many abject performances as a team, despite him 'putting a shift in.' Better than Austin isn't saying much as Austin offers very little. People always say he takes his chances and is a natural scorer but he isn't even doing that any more. He missed a free header against Everton and a penalty today. I'd go with Gabbi and Ings. We just need to play better in the build up to spot Gabbi's movement.

That was certainly my concern and nothing will be proven otherwise until we are well into the season. If he plays to February/March without picking up a serious injury, then my fears will be eased somewhat. If, on the other hand, he does he knee ligaments (for the 5th time) in October and misses the rest of the season it wont look like such a good deal. Having said all that, 2 goals already, which is pretty much Long's average for the whole season. 4 more and he'll probably win our golden boot, regardless.

Gunn will be worth £135m sitting on our bench? Quite the prediction but even if he displaces McC (which wont be happening in the immediate future) I can't see him being a big cash cow.

Get in!

I wish we were Brighton.

Here please.

Long starts again. Gabbi not in the squad again but there is room for 3 central midfielders on the bench.

Does beg the question of why we signed Gunn. I know he looks better than FF but from a financial point of view it seems like madness when we've already got Fraser as back up and we can't get rid of him. Yes, he is a weakness but he isn't hopeless. Given choise I'd have spent the Gunn money on a decent AM or a decent RB.

I'd have a front 3 of Ings, Gabbi and Redmond personally, with Armstrong in behind. Don't want to see either Austin or Long starting.

And? What’s not to like about that?

I’m not bothered personally and I agree it’s better for Saints. I just find the big club bias rather irritating for the sport in general. Players like Cleverley and Heskey getting more caps than Le Tiss or Kevin Phillips.

I remember the 'cool kids' doing that when I was in 6th form.

Yes but it's a good game for Man Utd and that's what counts. Who could forget Calum Chambers having 2 good games at Arsenal, which got him into the squad, or Walcott in 2006 who didn't even have to make an appearance.

Based on the stunt he pulled off last year, I reckon he should be knighted in the New Years honours list.

He may be our top scorer but 14 goals in 2.5 years is a pretty meagre return for a striker. I’m sure some helpful soul will be along with some stats comparing his goals per minute ratio to Aguero or something but his lack of game time is a glaring weakness, not en excuse. The fact is he isn’t fit enough to play more than he does and hasn’t been for many years. Thankfully, none of the ‘whinging’ on here has any bearing on the teams performance.

Well, he played 130 minutes without scoring in more important games, which we didn’t win, so yes it does matter. No complaints about last night in isolation but criticism of Austin is well founded in many areas.

They seem to have forgotten about the other 130 minutes he played before last night. In fairness, they were pretty easy to forget but he did play.

That was a reaction to the Brighton match, where he was very poor, lacked pace and was a disappointment. It’s not writing him off.