FustinoSolano

As many others have said I really wouldn't put it past Ashley to sell Gayle, then just put out some smokescreen to say we tried to get someone in but failed at the last minute. If this happens I can see it being the final straw for Rafa as he rightly won't stand for such nonsense. I really hope I'm wrong and that we either keep Gayle or have a replacement in the bag plus at least two other quality signings but this is Ashley we're talking about and he has previous for such behaviour so I fear the worst.

Seemed to be playing within himself, as if he has no confidence in his body to hold up. Insane that we only have a half fit Gayle, a player who Rafa clearly doesn't rate and a Stoke reject as our only strikers. Let the good times roll!!!

Rob Lee was 27 when he signed... just saying

Probably our most consistent player this season and worthy of the player of the year tag. Thought he would be nothing more than a bit part player when we signed him, fill in for injuries and suspensions etc but he's been excellent. A very pleasant surprise considering how he had done at Villa.

Messi is just outrageous, how anyone can compare him and Ronaldo is beyond me. Similar goalscoring feats but Messi is the far superior footballer.

Favourite moment (apart from the goals) had to be the Brighton fans ironic cheer after the Atsu mishit which led to the Diame goal, two seconds later and they're not so cocky!

Don't rate him at all but had his best game for us for quite some time (which admittedly isn't saying much) and that may be something to do with how abysmal Villa were but if he can perform like that while Hayden is out it won't be too bad. Still woefully limited as a professional footballer and would want him nowhere near the team if possible though.

He's awful, thing is when he first signed and played a few games he looked OK, nothing spectacular but tidied up effectively enough and made no silly mistakes, looked a limited but useful squad member. Now I just want his as far away from the team as possible, offers nothing going forward or as a defensive shield. Must be the first on Rafa's list to be binned in the summer, promoted or not!

Wenger was at Grampus Eight for a couple of years prior to joining Arsenal. I remember there was a lot of raised eyebrows among fans, pundits etc at the time.

Couldn't agree more. It was the first time I'd heard fans audibly get on his back on Saturday, plenty of moans when he refused to run a few yards to make a challenge or when he gave the ball away cheaply.

Thought he was really poor today, work rate was unacceptable, body language all wrong. The worst type of response after Rafa showed a bit of faith in him after his mare at Oxford. I always hoped and believed there was a decent centre forward in there but unfortunately the more doubts I have about him. His mobility and movement for a player of his age is shocking. It's a shame it hasn't worked out but as has been stated I'm convinced he'll be away in the summer (If Rafa stays).

Only saw bits and pieces as still at work but we looked poor from what I saw and have heard on here. Saw the two Perez incidents near the end and both were awful, lacking confidence or not the first was an unconvincing attempt with no pace or conviction in it and the second was even worse. Was really hoping he's be a decent player for us, especially in this league but he's gone backwards at an alarming rate. As for their second goal, I can only assume Darlow hasn't given Clark a shout there, as a defender he has to try and get something on the ball if he doesn't know what's behind him. All in all a very disappointing last couple of days with the Townsend saga and then a poor result and performance tonight. Rafa needs to lift them somehow for the run of games coming up.

Would definitely take Townsend back but I feel the need for a No 10 and decent central midfielder is far greater. Perez and Diame are just not good enough to play behind Gayle and as was proven in Shelvey's absence we look completely lost when he's not there to pull the strings. Still think we'll have enough to go up but if Jonjo got injured I think it could be touch and go.

His second reminded me of Tino's goal away to Liverpool many years ago, think it was in the second 4 - 3 defeat?? So nice to have a natural goalscorer in the team again, not only that but he also puts in a hell of a shift, reminds me of Bellamy in that way but Gayle is a far superior finisher. I wasn't overly convinced when we signed him but proving to be a huge player at this level, hopefully he can keep it up if / when we get back to the prem.

Despite him being at the unwashed last season I know very little about him if truth be told. What is the general feeling towards this signing, happy, meh, disappointed?

Awful team selection yesterday, Anita on either wing is just never going to work. Diame seemed completely lost and offered no support to Gayle, the whole team was lopsided and negative, to go this way against Huddersfield at home is slightly worrying but I still think Rafa will sort it out. Desperately need a new left back who can go forward, a right winger, creative midfielder and a striker!

Not his biggest fan but was one of the better ones yesterday in my eyes, at least he tries to be positive with the ball and actually passes forward as opposed to Colback, Anita, Tiote etc. He is poor defensively and needs to work on that but he is capable of opening up teams with a pass, for that reason alone I'd keep him in the team for now.

Sels Janmaat Lascelles Hanley Dummett Anita Shelvey Colback Ritchie Perez Gayle Would prefer Hayden in to Colback but I think that's the team he'll go for, as mentioned by others it does mean we have decent options from the bench.

We should be gutted he's getting sold, but we're not... that tells it's own story! Obviously an extremely talented footballer with fantastic technique but clearly has huge character flaws that allowed him to sink into the sea of negativity and apathy that set in very early on last season. He should have been a shining light that should have got us out of the mess, in the end he was one of the major reasons we went down.

Young, energetic, good passer and as already mentioned a far better player than the absolute dross we've had in midfield this season. Another who was badly judged and cast aside unfairly. Would have him back in a heartbeat as I think he's be quality in the Championship but can't see him coming back.

Diabolical today, probably his most anonymous display and that's saying something. Looked a quality player for about 5 games earlier in the season and has been woeful since. Hardly surprising we're in this mess with him, Sissoko and Colback playing most of the season in midfield. Another one I will gladly see the back of when we're down. Talent is there but has the heart the size of a garden pea!

Interesting to see most have got De Jong in, a few weeks back and I doubt that would be the case. Hopefully he can stay fit and make major contribution. Clearly a decent footballer (when fit) and maybe has the leadership qualities we've been lacking all season.

Elliott Janmatt Mbemba Lascelles Mbabu Sissoko Shelvey Wijnaldum De Jong Townsend Mitrovic Harking back to Euro 96 and the Venables Christmas tree! Probably doesn't suit Townsend playing in that role so maybe put Perez in for him.

Was actually thinking about this the other day even before I'd seen this thread. First time I'd done it all season and the reality of the situation suddenly dawned on me that we probably will be going down. For some unfathomable reason I'd foolishly believed we had the players to get out of it prior to the last few weeks. Sadly I can't see us winning enough games to get out of it now.

Been saying for months to drop him but when I think about it after the anger of another pathetic performance has subsided I'm not sure who I'd bring in for him. Perez doesn't suit a wide role, Gini is wasted out there, Aarons clearly not ready or fully match fit. We have no natural right winger at the club so as much as Sissoko frustrates and infuriates I can't see any viable alternative, certainly not for tomorrows game.