Parsley

You carry momentum into your next season though. It's hard to reset that imo. Momentum is something that is massively underrated in sport. Good performances would imo translate into that. Is momentum not irrelevant though if the team's going to be radically different next season?

It's normal at this stage of the season. Obviously agree that the squad needs a lot of work if we go up. I disagree with that. Why? You don't think it's natural for performances to suffer at the tail-end of a 46 game season?

It's normal at this stage of the season. Obviously agree that the squad needs a lot of work if we go up.

Reading 1-0. Kermogant with a belter.

They have Reading and Brentford up next, both away. Let's see how they get on there first; we could easily be out of sight by then if we win our two home games and they drop points (which is very possible).

Well aye, obviously Gayle's been the better over the course of the season. Over the past few games though, Murphy's been one of our better performers whereas Gayle hasn't featured much and, IMO, hasn't quite looked up to speed yet when he has. Agree though that Gayle hasn't had much of a chance to get going again.

I disagree with that, he was fit enough to start vs Fulham. I think Rafa started Murphy as he suits the way in which we are playing at the moment. Murphy's in better form than Gayle at the moment, regardless of the system. Has the system really changed that much by the way since Murphy's come into the team? Shelvey still looks to hit it long for Gayle a lot of the time; the only difference I see is it goes over the top rather than at his head as it does for Murphy.

Injured?

No idea why Aguero tried to side-foot that. Was always going over.

Won the ball?

We will need 5 or 6 players to come into the first team as starters. I'd get Krul back and keep Darlow and let them fight to be first choice, Yedlin will be good enough at right back, Clark will do a job in the middle of our defence and Lascelles as back-up. Shelvey, Hayden and Ritchie are good enough in their positions. I don't know about Lazaar as he hasn't played anywhere near enough games to know one way or the other. Gayle will be OK but I would like somebody better up front. Aarons will have to find some fitness if he's going to stay, he looks good enough but his reliability due to fitness is a problem. Perez did a good enough job in the Premiership to be at least back-up and I hope that we sign Atsu. Dummett can stay as back-up. The players I'd bin from the squad are Sels either on loan or sold, I would get rid of Elliot, Colback, Diame, Mitrovic, Hanley, Anita, Gouffran, Haidara, Mbemba if Rafa doesn't want to play him, Gamez because of his age, Sammy, Murphy, Riviere if we can find somebody to take him, De Jong and Saivet. If Atsu couldn't get into yesterday's injury ravaged team, he's not going to have a future here if we go up a level. I don't see what people see in him. I can't remember a game recently he's stood massively in which he should be if he wants to get signed permanently. Brighton?

Fortunate that we're competing with actual human football teams and not points-collecting robots like a lot of people seem to think. Well put.

March looks a player.

Jonathan Hogg. Good player, liked him when he was at Watford a few years back.

Bad challenge that from Rosenior.

Are you mad? They could still catch us.

Come on Leeds.

Probably our strongest bench of the season to be fair.

Shelvey's probably due a rest in fairness. Pretty minging line-up though.

Might be, might not be. People said similar of Brighton after their games vs us and Forrest. Every team can have an off day. They've looked p*ss poor tonight in everything they've done. Sounds like us last week. Fulham are at least decent to be fair.

Not a total gimme as Bristol City are desperate for a win. Would be delighted with a draw. Tammy Abraham is apparently back for tonight's game too.

No chance man, Rafa hates him. Last time he actually played was Blackburn at St James (loss) in November. Only been on the bench twice in 2017 Was one of our best defenders last season, not even getting a look in this season. Something dodgy going on there surely Chris Waugh did a piece on this for the Chron the other day. Apparently Mbemba's grasp of English is pretty poor and Rafa told him that it had to improve ahead of the new season, to which end it hasn't progressed as expected - hence why he has been supposedly struggling to follow tactical instructions. Original article is here - http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/curious-decline-mitrovic-mbemba-just-12747802

Is Roma v Lyon on the box tonight?

Worth noting that Huddersfield's game in hand away at Wolves (25th Apr) is wedged in between a tough home game against Fulham on the 22nd and another trip to Birmingham on the 29th. Could see them dropping points.