STM

Poor sods. Someone find the "breakfast photo", the one with the dream coaching team looking like cavemen.

Carver.

Put every penny you have on a good start by the way. Pardew takes time to stamp his DNA on a side.

Going from Pulis, a manager who sets up well defensively but holds no desire to attack, to Pardew who sets up poor defensively and claims to play attacking football. They are in for a nasty shock.

Good post Steve. There are two other possible reasons why Joselu starts ahead of Mitro. The first is attitude, if Mitro doesn't behave the way Rafa wants, then he has to set an example of how to behave. The other, is that perhaps Rafa doesn't want Mitro getting injured because he intends on selling him in January. There was rumours of a swap this week.

He needs to be on set pieces all the time.

I said this after the Watford game but make no mistake, he's the one player in our squad, alongside Merino, who can do something outstanding. There has to be a solution where we can get Hayden, Merino and Shelvey all on the pitch. Merino is our best player, Hayden provides the energy and Shelvey the sparkle.

Such a big point. If we hold on.

Huge moment in this season.

Win it.

This.

Perhaps because they are lacking in confidence.

We look like losing. Even Tony Cottee said we looked slightly the better side and he hates Rafa.

Who gives a fuck how we look? Result is everything, especially right now.

Plenty of updates lads. Positive ones hopefully.

He will score today.

Yep, barring Lascelles and Atsu.

I know Perez got alot of stick but I'm delighted it's him and not Diame. Merino/Hayden pisses all over Shelvey/Diame. The former can actually run, for a start.

Plenty of positives about that line up.

Hayden is good news.

Got to be Mitro. Saivet perhaps?

I think we will win.

I just don't rate him highly. He positioning is poor, his discipline is poor, his athleticism is poor and he's not a leader. His short range passing is ok, as is his set pieces but nothing spectacular. Of course his long range passing is very good but we have no pace or movement in our side to exploit it. Him getting suspended also resulted in better performances from us.

Nice little turn in the second half, when he headed wide. Should keep his place.

Still love the man.