Cf

Longstaff is done.

This feels like it's got quite a few goals in it.

Should be 1-1 this.

I think this is a little harsh based on what we were left with after Ashley. We could have definitely done better. But we could certainly have done much worse. We've managed 4th/7th so far with the business we have done, and despite a rocky start to the season I think 7th+ could still be on the cards this season. Our transfer business was never going to be 100% right.

I expect us to be full strength for this. If we had a CL game we would be. Treat it like that. We need to get our first XI clicking and this is a great chance to get some confidence in, especially if Chelsea field a weakened team. We have to be strong favourites for this. If we lose then Howe out, Saudis out, etc, etc

Will get as many minutes for us this season as Wilson.

Was avoiding this thread over the weekend but now it's calmed down a bit thought i'd add my own twopenneth. Obviously the vibes around the club don't feel great at the moment, but I'm still willing to put that mainly down to PSR. With PSR in mind has our transfer business been perfect? No. Was it ever going to be? No. We started with a squad decimated over the years with very few saleable assets. Howe has enough about him and enough in the bank that I'm happy for him to be given the chance to turn things around. We've had two windows now with essentially no signings. We've got Mitchell - January is a test of whether they've worked together to sort out some of the most pressing issues in the squad. Given the squad as it is currently I'm not sure who else we'd get in that would have the squad as it is now performing at a better level. They'd need a transfer window or two and at this point I'd rather go for consistency and give them to Howe. It's not to say I have 100% blind loyalty. There are obvious deficiencies which need to be ironed out. But this isn't the same situation as sticking with a Pardew or a Bruce for instance.

Finally

When a player hacks someone to the ground, frantically turns to the ref and goes "it was outside the box! it was outside the box!" and your conclusion is "i'm sure nothing untoward occurred there, play on" then it's time to consider if you're in the right profession.

Why don't they play on there the same way they would an offside flag? Because the foul call is more subjective?

Have begrudgingly felt VAR has been decent in it's last few games for us apart from the non intervention for the penalty in the Brighton game.

Might be against the grain but I don't think that was too bad a performance. Again we made chances and just weren't particularly clinical with them. And bear in mind it was away to a team who I think will be challenging the top 4 this season. Areas to improve for sure but we desperately need to strengthen in January.

Pope

He's going down before the contact.

Fuck off. No way that's a pen.

Going to be decided by the subs this isn't it? Which means we lose

Took 2 players in one go but Barnes finally gets a free kick.

Where did 7 minutes come from? Big six not winning?

How's that not a foul on Barnes come on.

Be nice to have the ball again at some point.

Close but I think they're both ok.

Thought he'd managed to miss that somehow.

Get in!!

Better.

This drop ball if it hits the ref continues to be very silly.