Shak

We just have no idea how to take the game to teams.

Did we hit the bar? Who was it? Murphy?

Wait, we have a game tonight? When did this happen?!

I'm pretty confident that Gayle will score goals in the Premiership, I'd be happy to go into next season with him still first choice striker. Mitrovic will likely leave, Murphy will stay and play out his contract as 3rd choice/target man option off the bench. I'd like us to buy a promising youngster to back up Gayle, someone in a similiar mould as a player who'll be content enough to sit on the bench initially but who Rafa thinks can develop and ultimately take the spot from Gayle. Positions that I think we absolutely must buy players for this summer are left-back, central midfield, attacking midfielder and winger (two wingers if we don't sign Atsu permanently, I reckon we will though). Anything else would be gravy but if we could go into next season with... Krul Yedlin Lacelles Clark New LB Shelvey New CM Ritchie New #10 New Winger Gayle ... as our first choice eleven then I think that would be decent enough. Five big signings (those four and the aforementioned young striker) and maybe another option at CB if Mbemba leaves isn't an outrageous expectation IMO, especially when we'll be getting the likes of Gouffran, Mitrovic, Mbemba and maybe Anita off the wage bill. We'd have the likes of Hayden, Diame, Atsu and Perez as depth. If there's anything left over then buy a top quality CB. Defense does look weak on paper but I feel like Rafa will set us up well and we'll be tough to break down even if the players at the back aren't exactly world beaters.

What a marvellous game.

What a beautiful scabby goal.

Love how Ritchie is so fucking radgey all the fucking time.

Feel like we might see Perez and Murphy in for Diame and Gouffran (hopefully, if he drops Atsu I'll kill him ) and no other changes. He won't play Shelvey and Diame together in CM to start a game IMO and I begrudgingly accept that. How long until Hayden gets back?

The real hero was Atsu IMO, completely faked everyone out with an incredibly convincing preparation to shoot and then squared it to Murphy. Made the goal IMO.

Should start every game. As soon as he has a bad game though I'm sure all the trackback wankers will be looking to get him out ASAP.

Up there with Gouffran against Villa as most undeserving goalscorer ever. Was fucking abysmal tonight.

We were the better team in the first half away to the league leaders and were only behind off a dodgy penalty. Do people expect us to just thump everyone we play? The other team gets paid too man.

Let's post out boners, won't be weird if everyone does it.

Fucking taste my balls!!

Greedy cunt Murphy.

Screamer.

Suppose he's gone a full season on the left without taking on a full back, shouldn't be a surprise that he didn't fancy his chances against Stockdale.

Just score you wanker.

If he told Darlow to immediately come out rashly for a ball he might lose, it worked out perfectly. Obviously didn't speak with enough energy and passion, if he has done so we would have scored by now.

Poor finish there from Atsu. Think we've done pretty well after a crap start tbh.

Ref has been top class.

Diame has engaged donkey mode for the evening it would seem.

Pass it to Atsu FFS

A huge advantage of Gouffran starting up front is that it means no Gouffran on the left.