Away Toon

When we go and get some possession and start attacking we look like a pretty decent team, however we are no way good enough defensively to just sit back and let other teams keep coming at us.

Another brain dead fucker we've bought

Of all the midfielders we have Merino looks the best bet to play the furthest forward. As Rafa is unlikely to play three in midfield that would mean replacing Perez. As long as he plays with Shelvey or Hayden in a midfield two he will be restricted in how far forward he can get which is a pity as he's obviously capable of scoring a few.

Without the ball I'm not liking it all.

People keep saying this but there was no sign of chemistry or cohesion between them today. Could have just been the circumstances of course. I think the thinking is simply 'Shelvey's better than Hayden' without taking into account the job Hayden does that Shelvey never does. Not only that. We pretty much had all the possession once Shelvey came on as Brighton let us have the ball knowing we were no real threat. Shelvey and Merino when we don't have the ball will not be pretty. The answer is probably to play a 4-3-3 with Hayden, Shelvey and Merino but Rafa won't do that.

Brighton absolutely bossing this

Shit by the captain to give away the free kick, shit by Elliott to ask for a three man wall, they were never going to shoot, and then more shit from the defense overall.

So the manager who had Harry Kane talking corners, Rooney in centre midfield and who lost abysmally to Iceland has got another job and as a manager in the premier league. And he's 70. Ludicrous

Ashley is on record as stating that "Every penny the club generates he can have, but it doesn't generate enough" I presume that Rafa sought clarification as to what this actually meant and how much we were looking at as a transfer kitty. I presume the answer wasn't that the gross income that would be available but the net profit and football clubs are generally and have always been unprofitable. Ashley has stated that he won't invest any more of his money and he's not going to spend money that the club hasn't yet received. So why did Rafa not understand this? Did they not spell out the reality of what our position was going to be or has Rafa just ignored it and tried to fight a proxy battle through the press to get his own way? Of course the club could be a lot more profitable if Ashley ran it professionally and maximised commercial income among other things but that's a different discussion. Equally other clubs are prepared to effectively gamble money they don't have to buy success but again Ashley has made it very clear that he won't do that so no surprise there. Ashley has to be driven out of the club and that has been the case for over a decade now, that will happen when the ground is empty, or near enough, there is no other reason I can see that will get him out.

All of the above is true but ultimately what difference does it make whether Rafa stays or not? We aren't going to win the league, in fact with the state of our squad and the lack of investment we are more likely to go straight back down. Which leaves two cups we could try to win, one which we just fucked off with that horrible team that got put out. So that only leaves entertainment, I'd settle for an attack minded team even if it ended in a glorious failure, instead we have some inflexible percentage defensive crap that is terrible to watch.

All of the above. This 4231 is so negative and boring and more importantly it doesn't work with the players we have. At the moment it's a race between Rafa walking and the fat twat sacking him if he can be bothered. The club doesn't deserve Rafa and we the supporters deserve some hope and to be entertained, as it is it's boring and we are losing. Nobody deserves Ashley but until SJP has less than 30k in every week and we can start to embarrass both him and Sky he stays.

Looks good on the ball but Shelvey like without it.

One of the greatest bands ever, unbelievable live.

I would transfer list him and try and sel him. He's a liability, not that good and obviously a bit of a twat to boot. Not to be trusted.

Fine him the maximum and transfer list him. Might even get a decent fee for him if somebody is desperate enough by the end of August

Brighton playing the way I expect we will most of the time.

Voted 14th, but without back up for Gayle feeling this is a bit optimistic

Why are we not after Gibbs?

If Rafa plays him as one of the two defensive midfielders in the normal 4-2-3-1 I think his lack of physicality, mobility and pace will hurt both him and the team, if he's prepared to play him pretty much any where else he should have a good season.

I'm sure his brother told him to jump if he got the chance as in general we just don't give young players the opportunity to start. In Liam's case he's 20 and despite the fact we have an absolute non footballer playing in his position he's nowhere near getting a chance for us.

I have an open mind about all the players we sign and hope that they all turn out to be successful. I also don't pretend that I've watched every game they've played prior to joining us, and jump to the conclusion that they are shit/slow/ginger whatever. Once they've played for a few months, then yes you can decide that after all they aren't actually much use. Even then I don't blame Colback, Anita, Dummett etc for not being very good, I blame the club for not replacing them or in some cases the manager for constantly picking them. So welcome Javier Manquillo and hopefully you can show all the doubters on here that have already decided that you are crap, that in fact you are an excellent addition to the squad.

I don't see how anybody is expected to vote before the transfer window closes, and we see who we have bought, and who is the manager.

I was impressed with Clucas whenever I saw Hull play last season. We are desperately short in centre midfield so he would definitely strengthen us.

The only thing getting sold is us the supporters up the river.

Play Woodman and fuck it. He can't be any worse than the rest of the average keepers we have, and he has the potential to be a lot better.