Beren

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He isn't the quickest, but I thought his presence in the box made a big difference. It was good to have a focal point for attacks, and someone who you felt could realistically get on the end of balls put into the box. He had a header from a corner straight at their keeper, a flicked header tipped round the post and generally made a nuisance of himself without really needing to use much pace. Maybe I'm going a bit far, but I think it also made our playmakers (I use the term very liberally :lol;) a little less tentative about putting balls in the box as well when they were in good positions. In the absence of Gayle, I wouldn't mind a Gouff/Murphy combo up top.

I don't think there is much of a long term future for "this" squad. Obviously there'll still be a fair few players still here next season, but I do think that shift and add plenty in the summer. Maybe. Bit of a broken record player, but I am sceptical of what can be achieved in a single window - and how quickly a significantly altered team could hit the ground running next season without having played together for at least half a season. Especially our defensive unit.

I thought Brighton started really well but were very sloppy. Hope Hughton has a word with his diving striker too.

Don't watch religiously any more, and I'd wager my expectations were lower than most, but even if we had lost I'd have thought that was a reasonable performance. The script of the game worked out perfectly for us in the end. They really ceded the initiative after they went ahead, and were happy to chase the ball for the rest of the game - so they were gassed at the end. Thought Gouff did okay up top, industrious if not incisive or clinical. Shelvey started poorly but showed real quality eventually and Atsu was bright. Yedlin was disappointing. I'd forgotten how hysterical these match threads are Still have big reservations over the long-term future of this squad, but promotion is still looking eminently achievable.

Folk were conceding the season on here after 20 minutes tbf

Brighton didn't count on Paully, like.

Great take

Casual assault from the sidelines from Mitro What a lovely goal though. Honestly.

Worldie finish that

Colback should have hit the deck there

Decent

Breaking News: mitrovic takes a slash

how would you call it? its horrific man Yeah I know. It's like Kaka pulled an Agent Smith in the football forum.

This thread

Good movement from Gouff tbh

Yeesh. They're winning mini-battles all over the pitch in this opening spell. Need to assert ourselves and put our foot on the ball a bit.

Betfair inexplicably gave me a load of free bets, so I've spread it around various likely FGS. I'm sure Paully's Darlow FGS wil come through though

Really polarised opinions, that selection! Mitro's stock must be very, very low with Benitez. Understandably IMO.

Sad thing is, I bet Ranieri is watching somewhere and is delighted for his players

He's 10/1 to score next

Happy fucking day! Put £20 on. Makes up for my recent shitshow.

Presumably as there is a possibility Huddersfield will overtake Brighton. I agree that first or second doesn't make a jot of difference FWIW.

Still reasonably confident with an effective 6 point cushion to 3rd but with the January window gone, we need a lot of new faces in the summer and it'll be a lottery as to whether they can gel and hit the ground running next season. No point going up with this team/squad tbh.