Vancouver Saint

So up early here in Vancouver...hoping for something concrete...anything...but there's absolutely nothing confirmed out or in - I'm hoping for Austin out decent RB and attacker in. Where has Guan and our other ITK's gone in our hour of need?!

Reality check - we are an extremely ordinary team with very little flair and no attacking edge. We got more than we deserved today against a Palace team that were better than us pretty much all round. Am I the only one that feels we cheated Zaha? - he was the best player on the pitch, he was scythed down by Bednarak who was lucky not to get a red and fouled by JWP who then mock threw the ball at his face for the sending off incident (yes the clapping is petty - but be honest if that situation was in reverse we'd be mad at the ref for not calling a foul). Thought JWP's reaction was immature. Terrible performance all round. Take the point and count ourselves lucky. Let's not have another 11-day break if that's the result. What's the story with Bertrand and Lemina for goodness sake - when will we ever see them again? We lack class. Yoshida needed back too.

Yup. Looks like a magic left foot. Scores Free kicks. Scores penalties. Pace...some dodgy goalkeeping notwithstanding!

A very interesting and respectful thread - fascinating hearing the pilot 'ITC's' points of view - thank you for your input. As a passenger you put your faith entirely in the pilots and the machines. It is impossible stepping into a small plane to know what the pilots's qualifications are (and even then the distinction between professional and private would be unclear - you'd just go on years of flying, perhaps in that type of 'plane). Hindsight is a wonderful thing...single-engined aircraft, history of accidents, private pilot, night, over water... but most of us, I suspect, would have just stepped in as Sala did. Tragic for all involved - Sala, the pilot, Nantes and Cardiff City - and another reminder to smell the roses.

So do you think the 'not worth trading in the inflated January transfer window' syndrome is going to backfire on everyone with inflated prices in the summer? Such a non-event window in general so far - not just for us. Perhaps there will be some bargain moves in the last week?

Says it all. Unfortunately our Academy piggy bank is empty - our days as a milking cow for the owners are over. Fundamental rethink required by Gao if he thought he was buying a cash cow.

Important win that - holding on for that ridiculously long extra time period (seriously ref your blue shirt was showing underneath) was vital. Can you imagine if they'd equalised in that extra extra time - that would have been the third 2-0 lead we'd have thrown away. So happy we won that. Now onwards and upwards. As said above - all hail Hasenhutl!

Whatever the excuses about B-team and youngsters on here...there is no way we should have thrown away a two-goal lead at home with less than 20 minutes to go. Complete lack of defensive pillars we can depend on. I don't agree that losing that doesn't matter. An away tie to Accrington...due respect but that should mean the round beyond that and another game to blood youngsters, so this was a very bad result for us. All credit to Derby who proved again they are evenly matched against the bottom of the Premier league standard. For all those screaming for Gallagher...that was the perfect opportunity to impress - failed completely for me. Flashes to show he has control for a big man...but way short on pace. My tape ran out at the end of the first period of extra time but from what I saw the only person likely to score was Redmond. Elyonoussi - that will have rubber-stamped his exit. Gunn - wonder if definitely not being the No.1 choice affected his game...was that the same guy that kept a clean sheet against Chelsea away?!

Very funny. Can relate. Still can't believe we held on to win that game. On a side note, presume the vote for Valery as MOTM was his mum?

I meant to say - Gabbi sold for £10M, Targett not sold for £15M - doh!

So what has the window told us so far? Looks like the directive from the owners is we have to sell before we can buy. Who is in demand from our squad? SOLD Davis - gone, good deal both ways wish him luck Gabbi - gone, bit of a shame for us but fresh start for him and understandable SALEABLE Redmond - hopefully won't be sold Lemina - mixed feelings on this forum but I think he is class, needs fitness and better management - would we be able to replace equal or better for the money we'd get? - I doubt it McCarthy - good not great, likely to go IMO Cedric - on the block for sure Bertrand - still a possibility someone may come in for him despite the lack of a 'for sale' sign...if they did, we'd probably sell him Hoj - don't see many interested parties and better value staying Yoshida - possible some Asian club will go for him after the Asian cup...would be a loss IMO Romeu - don't see targeted interest...people would take him off our hands if if was a bargain sale...better keeping as still has a lot to offer us IMO JWP - maybe...he gets talked-up by commentators THE REST I've probably missed one or two, but pretty much all the rest I don't see the demand for. Point being we are going to be limited in who we can realistically sell. Can't believe Ralph doesn't have his eye on one or two players from the Bundesliga and perhaps Christian Gross from Brighton - and that having some cash to play with in January wasn't agreed when he signed. If we are keeping investment money up our sleeves is it smart waiting until the end of the January window? - surely the worst of all times to get value for money. We need to do some buying now.

This. Only saw the second half with no commentary - bit of an overreaction here - always want us to win but wasn't too bothered how this game went tbh. Ralph using this to continue finding out more / confirming what he already knows about the squad. He will have reconfirmed Redmond is the only true class player on the pitch today - also that nobody else in our team today is indispensable and some are must move outs with Long and Moi top of that list. Bit underwhelmed by our attacking subs...in particular Barnes who did nothing and looked slow.

This. Well deserved. Hasenhutl will have learned more about his squad too...Yoshida class, Redmond has class needs polishing, Gunn better than McCarthy, Vestergard can play well when paired with a fast CB partner, Romeu solid, Bednarak capable will improve - Valery needs more bite / confidence, Cedric...hmm, has fight but too easily beaten for high balls and no end cross / shot 'up or out...Long - we need more than a willing runner...Austin, has guts and attitude, possible impact sub when we need to play hoof ball into the area, otherwise not PL....JWP just not adding enough (criminal waste of our best dead ball chance - shouldn't happen at this level)

Unfortunately we seem to get teams when they are bouncing back or have their top players returning. I expected a 'full court press' for Chelsea away...low expectations so let our strongest team have a free run at it - thought we'd be good for a draw hitting them on the break and playing with intensity. With PEH out (stupid lah) I'm not so sure.

This. Very obvious from line-up and pre-match interview Ralph had no expectation of getting points from this game and was using it to learn more about the players he has and possible saving something for Chelsea. Is Lemina our poor man's Pogba? He has amazing talent but only seems to use it sporadically - is it an attitude thing with him or is he not 100% fit? I believe Hasenhutl already has players in mind to bring in from the Bundesliga and elsewhere and is using these 'bonus' games in the early weeks to shape up for a long-term solution not quick fixes. Bad results for us this weekend but I think we will see gradual and increasing improvement from us. Shame we have such a tough run of games in January as I think we could go into February still at or near the bottom. We will need to keep faith and patience much much longer than many of the short-term reactionists on here are prepared to give.

Just listened to post-game show - ex ref Dermott wassisname says with VAR their second goal would have been cancelled and it would have been called back for a penalty to us! ...also that our first goal would not have stood for a handball...

Can't complain about the result - West Ham the better team for anybody with a vaguely objective perspective. We looked tired. Vestergard and Armstrong played well. Lemina had a shocker. Puzzled Ings was taken off so early. Anybody else think McCarthy's positioning on their first goal dodgy? The next couple of games will show just how much we need to strengthen the team in January.

Good to see this - he needs to be rejuvinated - hopefully will be under Hasenhutl

No home win for eight months. No win over a top six team forever. No headed goal this season. Arsenal 22 undefeated us 14 without a win. A win. Long and Austin combo. What odds? C'mon down Ralph Hasnehutl! Feels so good to win a game. So happy.

No. We will buy a CB and a fast, goal-scoring forward. We will get fitter. We will reduce the number of individual defensive errors. We will finish more of the chances we create. Confidence will pick up. We will stay up. Keep the faith. Hasenhutl proves to be a lion.

A) Arsenal play their strongest team for some fun / target practice / improve their goal difference...we play like we did today 0-6 B) Arsenal play their B team expecting a stroll, HH works his magic in a week, players show up and gel...2-0 shock win for Saints breaking /Arsenal's run or... C) We play well...hit the underside of the bar three times...two blatant penalties denied...a winner at the death denied for a wrong-call offside...Arsenal breakaway and score in the third minute of extra time ...0-1 You just know it's not B)

So true.

We are unbelievably ****e. Vestergard criminal negligence in defence...but only one of an incredible number of punishable mistakes made by just about everyone. Lemina showed his class. Austin terrible as usual. Defence totally shambolic. Only positive for me is Hasenhutl will have seen just how devoid we are of both defence and attack.

Think we'll win 1-0. Shame we don't have the speed up front we need to be able to counter-attack with Obafemi gone. With no Ings, Gabbi in the toilet and Austin slow we are really short of threat up-front. Lemina to score.

Well I'm really excited about this guy Hassenhuttl. Wasn't on my radar (which is mostly switched off anyway) but sounds exactly like who we need to revitalise the team, get the best out of what we've got and attract some decent signings/ make needed changes in the next couple of transfer windows. Just the belief we might play some decent attacking football again - and maybe even win a game goodness! Credit where credit is due...if this all happens...the board will have made some bold and significant moves in time to salvage the season and build for next.