Beren

Probably not starting, but I wouldn't mind seeing Nile Ranger wide right in Barton's absence. We know our other combinations are fairly ineffective and whilst I don't think he knows what he's doing half the time, and he will concede possession cheaply now and then, he's also capable of a little bit penetrative force, pace and trickery down the right and a lucky bobble here or there might result in a goal.

If he'd got a red card on the spot, is that an immediate one match suspension?

Don't think I suggested we were, but we are differentiated from Stoke/Blackburn in our desire to come forward/score goals and the fact that we can play some nice stuff on the deck. Agree with AlanSkarare's post too.

Given the current situation my only idea (admittedly full of holes!) is to concentrate on our defence, ignore the crowd's displeasure at our lack of attacking ambition and consequently coax the opposition out of defence thus opening the game up a bit.

I think everyone has identified we have a problem against anti-footballing knuckle-dragging teams such as Blackburn/Stoke, and I'm sure the next time we fail to hammer such a simple (but effective) side the team/manager will be slated, but does anyone here have any ideas for how we can approach these games with the personnel/resources we have available? (ie Ben Arfa injured ) These types of teams at SJP will be more problematic to deal with because the pressure of the crowd to attack will lead to rushed attacking rather than patient build-up/passing, which leads to frustration and a vicious cycle begins. Away from home, I think we might fare relatively well against such sides on the counter-attack but at SJP we do look bereft of ideas, guile or real incision at times with so many opposition bodies in their half and no space to play in. Tactically, where do we go from here?

You have a way of stating opinion with enough conviction that you believe it to be fact Ronaldo, but that doesn't make it so. I will go as far to say he's been an outstanding performer this season. He's lead the way in passing it out of defence instead of hoofing/surrendering position to the opposition which is a rare quality in this league. His general defensive play/reading of the game has been very good too. Williamson hasn't made a catalogue of howlers, yet his thread received a fair bit of attention. Similarly, Tiote - who has arguably had a better season than even Colo - made a mistake and has had hearty commiserations over an error which lead to a goal in his thread. So, to me, it is peculiar that Colo's thread was left unblemished by tonight.

You don't have to do anything you don't want to do, Ronaldo. If a mistake leads to a goal for the opposition, then yeah, it's probably quite likely someone might bump a player thread.

I did appreciate the grief in his reaction when they scored. He cares at least. He's been a sublime signing for us and a star performer this season. I would hope he learns from this though because he has been close to conceding possession in dangerous areas before and only really escaped punishment through a little bit of luck.

Jointly at fault for Roberts' goal (slightly more so IMO), yet his thread has gone unbumped. Peculiar.

Good post. The way I see it, we were tasked with breaking down a side that had very little footballing ambition. That's just a fact that had to be dealt with - and we succeeded. Carroll scored. Unfortunately, we also made two fairly uncharacteristic gaffs in our box and they got two goals. They didn't really have much of an attacking sniff, those two mistakes aside. Maybe we could have created more going forward, but I don't think we were impotent by any means - Ben Arfa out, Ameobi carrying a knock, Ranger vastly inexperienced and a thin squad - nothing we didn't already know before kick-off. Not much Hughton has done wrong here. With retrospect, I think Campbell would have played fantastically tonight - pretty much tailor-made to deal with Roberts' brawn. That said, hindsight is 20-20 and dropping Colo/Willy after Sunday would be rather strange if it was done for anything other than fitness reasons. Roll on Fulham and redemption.

100% agree with you - Barton is in the wrong and should take the forthcoming suspension on the chest (forgive the quip ). It's the manner in which it has been referred that irks me tbh.

Once again, can't help but feel that the media (in this case MoTD) has chosen to shine a light on this incident and refer it publicly to the FA. Conversely, Cattermole going forehead-to-forehead with the referee or any number of other incidents..... media discretion = power, IMO.

Their respective longest-running top-flight teams record impliedly mocked our recent relegation season.

I may have been guilty of that too (if guilty is the right word) because I was quite saturnine about his arrival as I recall.

Double dive at WHL

Bentley

Ack! Knew I should have made VDV my captain.

Goalfest!

Another great strike!

Really good goal from Fuller.

Stoke 1-0.

Brum are more negative than Stoke so far tbh.

He needs a rest imo. We need to stick with 4-5-1 and Pav needs a chance (even though i don't particularly rate him). Sunderland struggled against Ameobi/Carroll/Williamson... and then again against Stoke... hope for your sake you rest Crouch a different game than this one.