Dr Jinx

There was always a player in there, even his most ardent supporters were beginning to give up hope we’d ever see him do it for us. But what a turnaround. It’s not just down to being played deeper, it’s about confidence too. The kid was hung out to dry repeatedly by Bruce, asked to do something that’s not his thing and he got plenty of stick from the home support. No matter how much you earn a week that must be absolutely shite to endure week in week out. He’s enjoying it now, I think his grasp of the language is helping too and he’s found his voice on the pitch, actually looks like future captain material. We haven’t seen the best of him yet which is a scary prospect.

Awful news but the timing isn’t as bad as it could have been. Might be harsh but if he’s going to miss the majority of the second half of the season, he’s basically using up a squad place. Can we sign players and not name him in the squad after the window shuts? We need to be ruthless when it comes to getting out of the relegation places.

We won’t go down. 2 wins and other results going our way and we’re neck and neck with a few teams. For the most part the teams around us are doing just as bad as us, it will be a record low amount of points for the safety zone by end of season. I just hope results like tonight don’t cloud the obvious things in the side which need replacing.

He doesn’t communicate. You can’t bring better defenders in when shit like this will still happen. You have to be ruthless when it comes to improving a side. He’s good in spells and will make good saves but he’s not the long term answer.

We had tails up and were the better team throughout, then the goal came around the same time we had started looking tired in midfield, the pressing had stopped and they got a few cheap chances off the cross field ball. Really disappointing how it happened. But, the way we got back into it and could have won it was what you want to see. Joelinton immense again. Never thought I’d say this but actually looks a 40 million midfielder. Also thought Fraser was good before he blew a gasket. Can’t fault that effort.

Yes. He’s a ball winning midfielder now and he always was. I’d play Murphy up top, we need ASM to carry the ball forward, or maybe they could keep switching, give them something to think about

25 million is the number! A lot for a player over 30

My most optimistic points haul from the Norwich game (to now) was 10 points before January 1st. We’re well behind that but could still potentially pick up points against these and Everton. We've had lots of space to play against Man Utd in last few seasons, has 2/3 weeks been enough for the new manager to teach them how to effectively press? Everton will set up not to lose against us and then try and nick it

It would be brutal if the manager went and signed two centre backs, just a total lack of confidence in what we have, but if we’re to stay up he simply has to replace them. Getting them to gel will be another thing.

They know what they are doing. Clearing a path for someone like Kane to come in.

Sule is an interesting one, doesn’t want to leave Bayern, just wants to be paid what he deserves. You’d think the club will blink first in this instance.

Boils my piss when people are scoffing at properly run clubs like Brighton being the best they can be. We are literally the only club in the top flight who have been run the exact opposite way, intentionally crippled. Ashley literally took the copper wiring out of the building when this club was sold. A shell of a stadium, shell of a club structure, shells of players. This isn't speed chess, rebuilding this i mean, this is start from scratch while somehow attempt to get a tune out of the first team. It's going to take time. The news of this guy being interviewed just shows they are playing a long game and not making panic decisions and also seem to have faith in an English run structure, which has surprised me.

We can only assume the new owners will have deals lined up for January 1st or soon after. He’s got to work with this shower of cabbage fodder for another few games so he has to be tactful about it. As soon as replacements are lined up, expect a total clear out, loans etc.. it will be brutal.. anything to get the core of this absolute dross out of our changing room. We all know who. If you can’t change their mentality, just flog them. Lascelles will also have to be sold, you can’t have a club captain essentially training with the kids or being used as backup, bad for morale etc.

On the match itself, positives to take, we did try and play a bit after going 1 down to THAT goal.. even after the second with more calamitous defending, we still had chances. The lack of a penalty decision seemed to take all the stuffing out of us though.. Joelinton was great, actually stick some competent midfielders around him and that’s his position from now on. I’m struggling to pick any more though, the rest of the team were dogshit. Just transfer list everyone apart from Wilson, ASM, Almiron, Fede & Joelinton

This team are not worthy of that support

There’s an absolute conspiracy between the league, it’s clubs and referees/VAR to fuck us over in the hope we go down. Nobody wanted this takeover to go ahead apart from us, now they think if we get relegated, they’ll amend the rules so promoted clubs will have to go through extra checks to ensure PIF won’t pass them. We need to throw EVERYTHING at the January window or the game is up.

Joelinton is good again, needs to pass a bit quicker but much more of a driving force than Shelvey

Fully on Clark that, if you don’t get a call from the keeper you head it away/out, if Dubs did call for it and didn’t read the bounce, it’s on him but it doesn’t look that way.

6-3-1 formation ?

I would imagine they already have an idea of who they want in the door, this guys job will be to oversee contract negotiations. The most important thing is that Eddie Howe will be getting in the players he wants.

Most of this squad know their days are numbered and they are playing like they don’t give a fuck.

A left back and 2 CB’s, a holding midfielder, a striker and a creative midfielder. That’s the minimum we need to stay up.

Probably, and will be totally expected but it's a funny old game. The times when I think we're going to do ok we never do and then anomalies happen from time to time.

We were equally pessimistic before we beat City a few years back, it was totally unexpected and served to give us a lift for the following fixtures, we picked up 14 points from the next 10 fixtures.

As good as Liverpool are, they crumble when VVD isn't there, it just goes to show that in order to play that slick attacking football you need a total rock at the back (or two) to give that confidence. The only player we've ever had which could be described as that (in the modern era) was Woodgate, however all around him were a calamity. Rafa turned us into a well drilled outfit rapid on the counter but man for man such a poor team, makes the job he did here all the more remarkable. We've been having more of the ball, actually 50% against Leicester but we give the ball away so poorly in almost all areas that we're sitting sucks. Decision making is something the manager will have to work on. Like ASM (who needs a rest btw) gets dispossessed so often in the middle of the opposition half, just tries too much all the time. Skip past someone grand, but if there's no great option to continue a run, just keep the ball, play a simple pass. It's why Ritchie or Murphy should play there tonight. Rest ASM sporadically between now and New Year, unleash him when there's some competent defenders around and a proper holding midfielder, we see a totally different player imho