Altamullan

Ok, just had a look at the differences in the squads (we still have 13 reigistered players, including those on loan from 2015-16). The differences are (pre January window): GK: Krul vs Sels (though it has still been mainly Elliot and Darlow who played both seasons). DF: Janmaat, Coloccini, Taylor, Mbabu, Williamson vs. Yedlin, Clark, Lejeune, Manquillo, Gamez (I’d have Janmaat). MF: Wijnaldum, Sissoko, Anita, Tiote (RIP), de Jong, Thauvin, Obertan vs. Ritchie, Atsu, Hayden, Shelvey, Murphy, Merino, Diame (forget about cost, on what they offerred I would have Wijinaldum). FW: Cisse, Rivière vs Joselu and Gayle (f*** me... it’s like a punch in the throat vs kick in the nuts). January additions: Townsend, Saivet, Shelvey, and Doumbia vs. Kenedy, Slimani, & Dubravka. (Edit: 2015-16 (Aug-Jan) had 21 points from 23 games (0.91 or 35 for season) ; 2107-18 (Aug-Jan) had 24 points from 25 games (0.96 or 37 for the season).

It isn’t debatable - that squad absolutely pisses all over this one FFS! Sorry, but by ‘that squad’ do you mean the 2015-16 relegation squad absolutely pisses all over our current relegation threatened one? Might have to go check, but really don’t think I would swap many of the ‘differences’ mind.

Get in!

Was interested to hear that although Hodgson was a Palace fan, as a boy, and grew up near the ground, his father was a Newcastle fan. A Geordie relocated to London for work. Must be a strange one, even at 70, to find yourself managing your team against your father’s team, perhaps at a ground where you both sat together and watched them play each other.

Anybody notice Lascelles being body-checked/obstructed, in the box, when setting off for Shelvey’s freekick? No? Fair enough, you’re in good company and it’s evidently not as note worthy as daring to put your hand on someone’s shirt in the box; even when the ‘accosted’ individual is all over you like a rash.

John Fitzgerald Kennedy was grassy knoll That's what he's saying. Was named after a hospital and not John F’s brother? Think he was saying which assassination Robert was shot at a hotel and died in hospital. Yep. Thanks man JFK shot and died 22.11.63 Delaney Plaza, Dallas, Texas (supposedly from grassy knoll). RFK shot 5.6.1968 LA, died next day Good Samaritan Hospital. Robert was known as ‘Bobby’ we SOOO should call Kenedy, Bobby; howay man, couldn’t be more fitting! He was one of four brothers destined for political careers. The eldest (Joe) died in WWII, Jack (JFK) was assassinated, Teddy the youngest was the only one to survive their poor mother (Rose died 1995, aged 105!!; Ted died in 2009, outliving his big brothers by 49, 23 and 35 years respectively.) None of them were any good at footy.

Barely anyone in our team is Premier league quality. It would probably go a long way to explaining why we can't string two passes together if you look at it objectively. Don’t buy this and frankly sick of hearing people trot out their trite, half thought through, assertions. Make a f***ing list of the first team players who ‘graced’ the PL this weekend. Is our squad really qualitatively different? Fundamentally less than? Cast your mind back to Wednesday, to Swansea, to Stoke. To the eight games we have lost by a single goal. To the seven we’ve drawn and had chances to win. It is f***ing tough to take like, but newsflash, you’re deluded if you think any positive is Rafa’s genius and any negative is down to our players. They did a f***ing sterling job today. If you stick all the time you rarely win the low probability games. If you twist too much you lose more than you should., but win some you shouldn’t. We’ve got three points from half a dozen winnable home games. If I was the manager, I’d be looking in the mirror, not belittling the players. Rafa will be doing similar. Hope it doesn’t matter come season end.

Just logged on to post the same. I have a really strong feeling we will beat them. Searching for justification these come to mind. (1) we are so due a bit of luck (bias aside we’ve really not had anything approaching good luck for an age); (2) they can go missing/don’t like it up them (which means first goal is crucial at SJP) ; (3) three of the last four games we have been a good striker away from a victory. Slim man 2 (Murphy 1) some Traffordian wankspalsh 1. Howay the lads!!! On the biased Sky again (Aurora studium) 3-1.

Going to allow myself a moan. Swansea (H), Burnley (H) and Palace (A) all 1-1. All winnable January games. Slimani/Jorgensen/goalscorer (annnnyyybbbboddy) upfront. Surely we’ve got at least 4 more points? Could be critical.

Zaha realistic? Say nowt. Shush!

Nah. He shops at Sports Direct.

Zaha is some player mind. I’m adding him and Choupa Moteng to my realistic wish list for next season. Velcro insteps, fast, big and exciting.

Most important message from today. Whatever tactical wizardry was occurring beyond my understanding, we did well to cut off supply to their forwards. They were basically at full strength today, which I hadn’t expected. If we’d had more to worry them through the middle, we’d have beaten them comfortably, IMO.

Sky persistently take a negative slant on us. Appreciate they think they need an angle on any game, rather than just reporting with minimal opinion/interpretation what actually occurred (God forbid), but the angle they seem to prefer in our games is as negative as they come. Banging on about being lucky to not concede another pen as I type. Fucking mentalist reasoning or just plain biased.

Need Merino on. For a bit of composure.

Few minutes delay watching the action. Soft as they come penalty (Clark and Benteke hands are on each other, assistant (c***) gave it). Penalty placement identical to Joselu’s with more pace, Darlow very unlucky not to keep it out. Kenedy looked tired; and a bit p*ssed if to be subbed.

Just watched that shit pass to Perez breaking from a corner... man he’s so one footed! ?

I can see him staying. Putting together some very good players in a very young squad. Champs League 2021 ;-)

In case anyone is still unaware, he’s named after Robert Kennedy (hospital, not grassy knoll) and his uncle Pele; of course.

Sounds is a miserable bitter cunt. Wonder if he is the actual origin of the dour Scots myth?

Think I must be watching a different game, to the one provoking some of the posts in here, or I’m more pissed than I think. We’ve clearly been the better side. Had the better chances and if anybody is unlucky then it is us only to be one up. Stats seem to back it up 6-2 shots on.

Just seen the teams...

Thanks, man. Had a back three, only one played.

Left Hagazi out too. Neither Jones nor Laporte played. Will the scores for Hegazi and Clarke (if he plays) be automatically included?

Hugill is a ‘bold’ choice mind. Really risky in terms of both looking like a fuckwit and said fuck wittery having disastarous consequences, clearly aligned to your own managerial choices (picked not dealt).