SaintTex

This feels like a BIG GAME psychologically (for both players and supporters) despite it only being September. - A win will validate the thought that we have been playing well to start the season, despite just 4 points from 5 matches. Optimism will abound. - A loss will have everyone questioning whether we are just as bad (if not worse) as the other dross in the league. Relegation talk grows.

statistically more crazy... 9 of our last 10 League Cup draws have been away from home 2018/19 - 3 away matches 2019/20 - 3 away matches 2020/21 - 1 home match 2021/22 - 3 away matches (so far)

So negative, Ottawa! 😀 by all accounts we have had a pretty good first half. i know, I know… our second halfs are a horrorshow.

This is a good game to get KWP and Livramento together on the same side. What do we have to lose? GK KWP Stephens Salisu Perraud Romeu JWP Livramento Djenapo Armstrong Broja Djenapo/Redmond... not sure it matters... but would switch out for S. Armstrong if fit. Adams, Tella, Diallo - likely impact subs

For what it's worth, All 3 of the NBC commentators here in America (Robbie Earle, Robbie Mustoe, and Tim Howard) predicted these 3 clubs to be relegated on the broadcast here yesterday: Norwich, Southampton, Watford unshockingly, they all picked Chelsea, Liverpool, City, United as final top 4.

i think Stephens didn't recognize the danger/threat in the lead up to the second goal Saturday. He got sucked in and marked a man JWP basically had covered (or at least JWP was even with), where the real threat was the man on the outside (Salisu was a step behind him) - that man received the ball on the outside right and basically sprinted into the box with the ball unimpeded (which led ultimately to the goal).

more like Norwich is unlucky starting the season with Liverpool, City, and Leicester.

someone like Newport maybe 🙂 cut out 1 against Newcastle and 1 against Man U and we are on 6 points and 8th place instead of 2 points and 13th. (but probably every supporter could do this type of calculus for their club)

What was Stephens doing there????

well they are both out of contract at the end of this season. I think it is wise to re-sign one of them (although i would prefer it be Forster) ...and THEN go out and and spend some cash on a starting GK next summer. If for some reason that doesn't work out, we always have one of them for 22/23.

Well if so, it is at least £9m less costly. Hoedt £15m Lyanco £6m --- Feels more like a Florin Gardos signing - unknown, late in the window, signed for about £6m

this. this. this. I cant believe we are not looking to immediately upgrade the Right CB starting position.

7 million should be the going rate for a CB backup and not a starting CB... ....that is if the goal is to stay up.

this CB move better be in addition to and not the only.

is there a centre back from the Championship we are not linked to?

i am going to defend Salisu a bit here... from the angles i saw, i think he believed that if he did get a head on it, it was going go more backward than up - didnt want to risk looping it into the back of the net over McCarthy. McCarthy HAS to communicate there. Be Vocal!!! Don't they drill that into goalkeepers from U9 up? He is quiet as a church mouse.

And to pile on, our offense is rudderless. Has been since the departure of Tadic. we have no one directing or leading our offense. Our one goal, while nicely taken, was gifted to us.

S. Armstrong and Tella should have come on in the 60th minute.

If JWP is sold, it will be like selling the soul of the club. it would be one thing if he was making a stink to go, ie : Lallana, but he isn't.

i am with you, but for better or worse, the club are going to target players they think they can sell for more money 3 to 4 years from now. Delaney is not that. on a pure football level, i think he is exactly what we need NOW and could shore up our defensive midfield. and then we still need : a £8m LCB, minimally, but think we should be more ambitious and get a £20m RCB

in regards to the match last night, we could have used a lot more 1-0 victories last season instead of our usual 1-3 losses. Defense is where we really need to get better (that is assuming we buy an additional striker to freshen up our striker roster with Ings being gone)

20% of £10m = £2m the clause is for 20% for any fee above the £20m Ings was sold for by Liverpool

he may have wanted it, but was anyone offering it? With that dead end, it became about the money, which i don't begrudge him. You want Danny for one more year + £0m? OR you want £30m and at least a fighting chance to bring in some quality to replace him?