Beren

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.

Clattenburg is refereeing that one - poor Stoke(!)

[i got Jones too, btw ]

Yes, Mr Fantasy Football.

No Crouch then?

I like it.

Don't think he's actually hit his stride this season yet, IMO.

New forum rule right there, "if anyone posts a Tiote-face after one of your posts you have to change your mind in the most extreme manner possible in the following post".

Shola is priceless, it's true