Thiago

Yeah, no major issue for me tbh. I know he was reportedly belter for Switzerland, but I still only ever feel comfortable with Schar in a back three. It lets him use his best skills and covers up for any mistakes he may make. He's an odd player in that sense - not quite mobile or technical enough to be a midfielder but not consistent enough to be a reliable defender.

Honestly, we could form a case for everyone to be replaced in this shit heap of a team (except Joelinton, love you). For me, Wilson is marked as one I'd happily keep regardless of division.

He's one of the few I'd want here next season.

Did he look quicker/lighter on his feet last season or am I just being deceived?

In an odd way, his performances just show how bad Darlow is. I don't feel as comfortable slating him for the goal because the ball is wet and he's stretching for it.

He was relegated with that shite Villa side for a reason. Rafa did well to get a tune out of him and use him for a season or two before trusting Schar and Lejeune more. I mean fuck me, he cost £5m. Palace spent four times that on two different defenders this summer. At any normal club he'd have been fucked off the year Rafa left, but we haven't been a normal club under Ashley. I try to never lose sight of the fact these lads are human beings, but he's not good enough.

One final thought; on night's like these a massive fuck you to Mike Ashley and Steve Bruce. We shouldn't be relying on Ciaran Clark and Isaac Hayden in 2021. That fat cunt knew it and did nothing. The fact Bruce hung on for his payoff makes him just as contemptible. Glad they're fucking gone, and if you need a positive to clutch onto just be sure that we are moving further and further away from their darkness every day.

Hmm. Interesting one that. I think players rating trite on night's like these because we've basically got one idiot and 10 men. Pros - The fight among the group after suffering a setback. Joelinton typified that for me. Won't have a bad word said about him. - Even with 10 men we managed to create the odd half chance. - Lewis and Fernandez came in and showed a marked improvement on Ritchie and Clark/Lascelles. Cons - Ciaran Clark. He simply can't play for us. I don't care if it's form or ability he's playing at a mid-table Championship level. - We've basically been undone by one moment of brilliance which is why we're on 7 points and not 17. - Another winnable game gone.

ASM is like Ben Arfa. Pop him in the middle and he's lost and so much easier to defend.

Nolan was totally our talisman the year we went up. Carroll in the six months after that was really who we played to.

He was, but I think people forgot just how geared we were to him and his strengths. The Ashley era was a lot of that tbh - playing to a talisman. Nolan - Carroll - Cabaye, we put all our eggs on guy changing the game. In Andy's case, it was Joey Barton and good service from out wide that helped make him so unstoppable.

Sorry I should have qualified with 'this season'. Like it didn't check West Ham's shite penalty in August but seems more than happy to get involved at other times.

I know every fan feels this way, but outside of the point at Palace I've not seen VAR benefit us at all. Seems to decide when and where it wants to involve itself.

Yeah. Bruce basically steered us towards the rocks. LIke even Rafa, it took time to build the defence.

A lad who only ever left Birmingham for two months in his career lecturing us on how shit Newcastle is. Honestly, he sounds like a simpleton.

I've seen worse individuals stay up, but the problem is our lot have received no real coaching for two years. I also think we're seeing a consequence of stagnation. They're not all past their physical prime, but when you've been in the same job 5 years with no challenge, no new faces to push you, complacency becomes a bigger shadow. My hope is that some see this takeover as a challenge to survive.

Ha. The whole thing was a nice reminder about how little diversity there is in our ranks. Personally, felt like I learned very little from it. Waugh offers a brief departure from the Fleet Street poetry, but so many on the beat here appear to have very little idea about football apart from what the eye can see.

Simon Bird is such a twat. I was so disappointed to see him invited to the True Faith talkin.

Major Partridge vibes about this.

Yikes. In an ideal world he'd have ended up back here where there was good will and patience for his long-term vision. His history down there meant he really needed to start fast and it's not even like he could correct the transfer fuckups of the past this summer. I do wonder if Mandy Stavs will be in touch if/when he goes with our situation in mind. A lot of that is contingent on us going down/stopping up, but it would be interesting. I do worry he's in the cycle of not really thinking his jobs out and getting a reputation for being not that good when in reality he just keeps picking bad projects.

If we went down narrowly would people want him to stop on?

I feel like he's lost his edge post Spurs.

I can absolutely see why some of them hate Johnson. He's got Apprentice applicant written all over him.

I think Ashley has conditioned me to expect it. Wish I could have a greater sense of hope.

Ah my apologies I've misread/misunderstood him.