Stottie

If the expected goals stat is calculated properly, I think our chances so far today will add up to more than some of our entire games earlier this season.

Re: contentious decisions, I thought the Ritchie high boot was a red. He kicked the guy in the face. The same for Huddersfield against us.

Three bad misses from us, Gayle x2 and Ayoze, but a probable pen for them. If we keep creating the chances, one will go in sooner or later.

As for today's game, I just want us to end the winless streak at home. One in off someone's arse and then hanging on will do.

Thanks Groo. England have taken players to the WC on reputation alone before, a ridiculously young Walcott for example, so Abraham going wouldn't be that mental given the territory. It's good to know someone who's seen him play's opinion. Kane was clearly knackered after that season going into the Euros, so England's fourth striker, after Kane, Vardy and Rashford, might end up getting some game time.

Watching his goals from the Championship again, about two thirds seem to be from the six yard box or very close by. Against the better defences in the PL, we've not been able to get in behind anything like as much, so those goals have disappeared.

Let's face it, they will be terrified of further racism or sexism (see UK cycling) from the women's coach. That will be more important than coaching experience or ability.

Mbemba is only 23. There is plenty of time for him to come good, given how hard it is to play CH.

Sorry to cherry pick one statement Groo, but you don't think Tammy Abraham has worked out? I've seen articles where pundits are putting him on the plane to the WC. (I personally think it would be a good idea for us to sign Sturridge or Carroll, assuming they're up for grabbing their last WC chance)

That's what his contract is on Transfermarkt. fwiw, Ayew and Carroll are summer 2019, so their value will be dropping too. Sakho's numbers in the PL are 18 goals in 3700 minutes, almost identical to Dwight Gayle. Like Gayle it's been slim pickings since 14/15 with a few injuries in there. If six months of Barkley are worth 15M, six months of Sakho will be worth much less. The striker I'd want from West Ham is the prodigal son AC9.

It's been said many times, but loans in the same division are the biggest problem.

8 out of our 12 defeats so far have been by a single goal. Huddersfield have lost 9 out of 10 times by at least two, 5 of them by at least three. fwiw, Boro conceded one or no goals 22 times last season, but only managed 5 wins all season.

Depressing as feck. The hope with Mitro is that his international performances will determine his value.

Swap him for big AC. He'll be one of the few out there who might accept a pay cut, especially if he's out of contract anyway in summer 2019. Chuck Mitro in if need be. Not that swap deals ever happen of course.

20M! Who are they trying to kid? It's not so much the player he is but the fact that they've signed up to pay him 100,000 a week till 2021. Aging non-first teamers on long tasty contracts are liabilities, not assets. The fee has to reflect that. As a player he'd improve us, but the fee would have to be low and he'd have to take a pay cut. If that's not on, Watford can merrily continue giving him five million a year and he can continue sitting on their bench watching his "Watford legend" status evaporate and generally stinking the place out, which he will if he's on that much and not playing.

The first Deeney red card against Huddersfield was actually appealed, so the folks at Watford must have reviewed it and thought it wasn't that bad. I didn't myself, though my judgement might be clouded by what people get away with against us. The Huddersfield player definitely makes the most of it.

Deeney grew on me as a player last year. He's far more skilful than he initially appeared when he was second fiddle to the lad that went to China for $$$$. He's also a leader and as a young team we need them. He also fits what I think the bill might be in that the fee might not be massive but he's on big wages. So its PCP who'll have to keep reaching into their pockets after the takeover, not Ashley into his before it. In our transfer dealings so far, wages may have been a bigger stumbling block than fees. So all PCP may have to do is loosen the wage budget, not provide such a big sum up front for fees. Deeney's under contract till 2021, when he's pushing 33. Teams that chop and change manager like Watford should not be handing out long tasty contracts to players above 27. It's a recipe for an unsellable player sitting on the bench for 5 million a year.

I looked it up just before the Brighton game but with him in the team, today's result included P17 W6 D3 L8 21 points 16 conceded Without him P5 W0 D1 L4 1 point 14 conceded He's clearly our most important player. fwiw, both Man City and Liverpool got into the CL last season while averaging more than one goal a game conceded.

Haha, get in! We had more quality than them, despite them resting their loads of players in readiness for this. Ref was a berk too, but we overcame it. Onwards and upwards.

Pretty good. Keep at it and a goal will come.

FYP Brilliant. More entertaining than the match was.

Hard to bear on anyone who went out and paid to watch that shower of shite. It was utter garbage. We have big problems. I know the lads are lacking confidence, but there was a lack of even the basics there. Shola would walk into that team.

Hopeless United vs. Hapless and Helpless Albion

Our red card drought would've ended against them, but it was awarded after the game.

This is like being back in the Championship, though possibly worse.