St1pe

What a day this has been for Brighton.

If we don't concede early I'll think we'll win. They've got to be nervy at how close they are to dropping out of the playoffs and if we get a bit of space we should capitalise. I just really hope we win. I know promotion is the goal but given how long we've been top and after beating Brighton twice I'd be a disappointed if we didn't go up as Champions. Hopefully an unchanged side. 0-2 Gayle Atsu

There's a fair bit in the match thread on this but he did ok. I liked how he nips in front of the striker to pinch the ball and him bringing the ball out from the back a couple of times really relieves pressure - especially when we were kicking it long in the last 5 minutes. He did have a couple of shaky spells. His communication with Darlow seemed poor. At one point he berated Darlow for not coming for a ball then the next time told Darlow to come for it, he did, then Mbemba sort of half cleared it away as he was approaching nearly causing us some problems. We didn't have to do a lot of defending to really judge though it was good to see him back.

I thought his control and pass leading up to the penalty was sublime - simply magic to bring it down the way he did and put the perfectly weighted ball through for Gayle to run onto. Gayle falling over the defender's legs took the gloss off the move, though. Not to mention the shenanigans of the "Stroud decision". I didn't really notice it too much from where I was sat but it certainly looks a lot better since I've seen the highlights. I seem to have a bias towards Perez though I'm not sure why, I'm desperate for him to do well.

Enjoyed that last night. I think it was arguably our most dominant/comfortable performance since Birmingham at home - until the last 10 minutes when we seemed incapable of passing a ball. There's no point in me waffling on about the penalty because it looks like it has been done to death but the atmosphere incredible up until half time. Credit to the lads in the corner as well they really try and force the atmosphere all the way through the game. I thought Atsu was poor until he was moved to the right and then he looked like he caused problems. I think I'd sign him if his price was reasonable, as a squad player I think he could be useful. I really wanted Perez to step up this season too but he had another two really good chances last night - one that wasn't shown on the highlights after some nice one touch play by us that he totally skyed. Diame had a mixed game but really stepped up in the last 10 minutes and tried to win the ball when none of our players looked like they wanted it. I also thought the defence did pretty well considering they had so little to do, the distribution was good. I've missed having Mbemba nipping in front of the striker and pinching the ball. No idea how they managed to get 2 or 3 unmarked players from that set piece straight after we scored though. I can't imagine that'll go unnoticed from Rafa. I do get the feeling when watching us that we're almost single-handedly being dragged to the Premier League by Matt Ritchie. We're so reliant on him grabbing the game by the balls.

Most aggressive lineup for a long time! Hopefully that translates onto the pitch.

Looking forward to this tonight. I'm always far less nervous going to the game than following on text updates or our awful radio coverage. I'm not sure he will because it didn't particularly work last time but I hope we start with both Atsu, Ritchie and Perez as the number 10. The likelihood is they're going to sit deep and try and counter so the more skilled players in our attacking positions the better. Being really greedy I'd also like to see Diame along side Shelvey in the middle and really try and get at these straight from the off. I'm confident we'll get the win though. 3-0

Weird thing with him at the minute with some fans. Got absolutely slated by fans in the match thread despite no live footage. Heard mixed receptions from people at the game. Abysmal effort for their goal mind. I think he's got quality but needs time and patience given his lack of experience. It doesn't seem like some quarters want to give him it though. Although that seems to be an across the board problem - Jon Stones being a prime example. I personally think he'll develop into a good Premier League player. He needs to stop absolutely bricking himself when he's got the ball at his feet and we're under pressure though. He'd probably suit the Morgan/Huth approach and just smash anything that comes near him. He's colossal in the air for us though.

Same here, but it's infinitely preferable to not giving a s*** because you know it doesn't matter. 100%

We seem to be at the stage of the season where I'm just massively uncomfortable pre-game. I'm absolutely clamming for a good win today. One of those no hassle, early couple of goals ones then I can enjoy the weekend. ?

I'm don't think Carr is immune from blame - the Cabella and Rivière transfers were dreadful. Mark Douglas on twitter is talking about the Thauvin transfer to a few fans - Taylor&Besty etc - they're basically saying good player - it didn't work out for here and it's a shame. I don't get why more people don't have this perspective. There isn't a witch hunt to be had for this one.

Carr should be sacked? Give over man! His job is to find quality players. Thauvin has got obvious quality. It hasn't worked out for him here because he didn't want to play for us and we threw money at him to get him here. Unsurpsingly he's showing his quality in an environment he wants to be in. The transfer has been a disaster for a number of reasons but you certainly can't blame the scout for that.

Disappointing. Hopefully this international week has come at a good time.

Brighton at home. Ah of course!

Have Perez and Diame started a game together before? Interested to see how that works out with Diame running from deep and Perez running off Murphy.

Would have preferred Atsu over Gouffran but it's hard to argue with the forced changes as there isn't any other real options.

Watched the French highlights - just the goals mostly - more or less every week this season and he's heavily involved in everything at Marseille. He always looked like he had the ability but he blatantly didn't want to know after the first couple of games here. I'm not surpised Rafa said he wanted him at Napoli. Like others have pointed out he said on numerous occasions as we were trying to buy him that he didn't want to leave. Hopefully it has been a lesson to the hierarchy in future dealings.

I just hope for a good win today. A nice early goal or two and see the game out with no dramas just to settle the nerves a bit and give us a bit of a boost. Everything I've seen from the Birmingham fans this season have been spot on, it's a shame what's happened to their club as they seem polar opposite as a fanbase to Villa but we've really got to beat these today as they're a poor side.

I didn't even want us to sign Clark and yet he's become comfortably the best defender we have. I'm still fairly confident Hanley and Mbemba will be good enough to see us up... hopefully.

This.

That's why I've repeatedly put in pretty much everyone post that assuming Rafa wants to keep him then I don't see the problem. IF we get promoted and IF we pursue Gray to reinforce the front line I don't think Gayle, Gray and Mitrovic would be terrible options to have in the Premier League.

He wasn't better in the Premier, he was exactly the same. His main asset is he puts himself about, but in English football that alone isn't going to get you very far because the defenders can generally cope with it, whether it's in the Premier or the Championship. There is absolutely no way you could have watched Mitrovic live last season and this and say he wasn't much better last year. He had some very good games for us last season. What has he done this year? A good half v Villa and a couple of games v Preston? I get a lot of it will be confidence but last season he was a threat in the air and his link up play was decent in between the poor games. I haven't seen any of that in any of the games I've been to this year. I was a fan of his - I'm not so sure now - I think think keeping him another year makes sense if it's the wish of all parties. If you're willing to credit him for s*** like that last season, then you should also be willing to admit his misses cost us a spot in the Premier League. Absolutely, but that was the major issue with him last season. He missed a lot of chances, he has to take a part of the blame for our relegation but watching him last year you'd have to have pretty strong bias against him to say he didn't look like a striker with potential - if he could sort out his finishing. He wasn't obviously turd like Rivière where everyone knew he wasn't good enough. My point was simply that he was better all round last season than what he's showed so far this year and on that basis - assuming it's the opinion of him and Rafa - then I think another year for him is logical.

He wasn't better in the Premier, he was exactly the same. His main asset is he puts himself about, but in English football that alone isn't going to get you very far because the defenders can generally cope with it, whether it's in the Premier or the Championship. There is absolutely no way you could have watched Mitrovic live last season and this and say he wasn't much better last year. He had some very good games for us last season. What has he done this year? A good half v Villa and a couple of games v Preston? I get a lot of it will be confidence but last season he was a threat in the air and his link up play was decent in between the poor games. I haven't seen any of that in any of the games I've been to this year. I was a fan of his - I'm not so sure now - I think think keeping him another year makes sense if it's the wish of all parties.

I think it's probably a good idea. He's been very poor this season but is better than what he's showing. He was certainly better than this in the Premier League. Given his age and assuming Rafa wants him to stay then I think it's logical to give him time - assuming we still reinforce our attacking options.