tpv01

I was thinking at the weekend that Harrison Reed could be a good one to see if he would be interested to come back. Proven in championship twice over with two promotions. Adds some needed bite in midfield (esp. important in the championship and he seems a master at that level) and leadership abilities that are also missing. Still gettting a bit of a look in at Fulham but can see if they want to move for more quality this summer with the season they have had. Could be one of those players who is brilliant in the champ and cant quite cut it in the prem so great for any team looking to get quickly promoted. If he had moved away to west London could likely not have to move to get back to Southampton. Could be tempted by knowing the club, unfinished business, taking over the armband from his mate ward-prowse if he moves on.

it looked like selles was telling ward prowse do to the huddle thing after the goal. Not sure the players were so interested as it lasted about 5 seconds. I don’t mind it though and if selles is trying different things and focusing on the psychological advantages. We know most our players are shot of confidence and used to being screamed at by their own teammates and fans. If we can be more like klopp’s mental monsters that could make up for the deficiencies we have elsewhere, and these come backs and strong performances seem to show that.

Captain’s performance by jwp. Was everywhere through the whole game making some crucial defensive plays and his passing and creativity was good (although these corners are still not working. Having to go short as these fizzed in to the 6 yard box “best deliveries in the prem” and so much easier to defend that get an attacking contact). He was probably hurting from another England snub as he would give his all for his country unlike those over privileged big six players that joke of an England manager picks. The bottle on the penalty at the end when it looked like Mara wanted it was huge. With a captain like that in your team it could be just possible. I counted 3 misplaced passes from Lavia which is unlike him. He is still a star though. Not playing him is like giving up the midfield. It was the same when ori was missing. That seems a major error in the first half of Brentford, particularly as there is now an international break (I know he was picked but it’s unlikely he is going to play full games from the start with Belgium).

Seen moi have worse games but that result doesn’t happen with him staying on the pitch. Gave the ball away tragically in the middle of the pitch leading to a spurs break and was hooked after that. Was hoping selles to make those subs 5 or 10 mins earlier. great game from Theo. spurs looked very ordinary. Conte right to be angry but he sets them up like that. got to hope can build momentum at the right time under the new manager, and other teams start to fall apart. Still hope, particularly after a performance and result like that.

Bad game. No width, which has been successful recently. If Walcott can’t play two games in a week I’d prefer another genuine winger like djnepo or edozie to Ely. Lavia had to play from the start. Blunt attack. Would love to have a player like wissa who sat on their bench and came on for a lovely finish at pace. Made it look easy when we know che, Walcott or AA would do the opposite. wonder if we should try someone else on corners. Commentators always say how good jwp deliveries are and how he always puts it into an “area”. They look just fizzed in and hard to attack and easier to block or defend. Never fancy we get anything from them and the players don’t seem to anymore either. Set pieces crucial in this league. Try alcaraz on them and put it up there for someone to attack. annoying when you look at the kwp injury. A cynical foul that will do a hammy every time. Don’t know how professionals can do that to each other. Could be a big blow if it’s a bad one and bree is the alternative or it means no other option that amn and Perraud as fullbacks for the rest of the season.

My MOM today was….the ref. So good to see a competent ref making clear minded decisions and not helping out the big team, crumble to moaning superstars, or make a name for himself. Compare that to the ref for Grimsby and that’s what I fear most about the drop - not the loss of players, lack of big games, tv, but the drop in standard of refs. hope the 7-8 key players get enough recovery in time for Brentford. Particularly the high energy players like lavia, JWP, alcaraz, KWP, sullymana

Was this meant to go back to the keeper unchallenged because the game had been stopped for an injury? It looked that way from my seat. It was clearly not communicated like that to all the players on both teams and could have been another Rangers situation. Our players seemed to be complaining to the Leicester players after. I’m not sure it’s even a chance for that reason but motd and sky seem to keep replaying it.

Lavia clearly a class player. I don’t understand why if you have a solid ball playing midfield of jwp, lavia and Alcaraz they are not given more of the ball and it is about maximising the pass completion of the 2 CBs and GK. should be trying to dominate the midfield in possession. Not able to cut out crosses makes the ability for defenders to mark and win headers, and the GK to be well positioned, a gamble. watching bednerek live you see how often he goes with his wrong foot. A premier league defender should be able to use both feet.

I'd like to see "Nasty Nathan" match the dark arts Howe and Tindall are expert in in the technical areas. The world is against us in this one: the media love-in, a hyped up crowd of self-entitled geordies, and billions of saudi sport-washing blood money. It is only 1-0 at half time and if we can keep it tight it's those decisions that Howe and Tindall are so good at influencing that could make the difference.

Back from game. Agree with most comments but seen little on orsic. He was terrible. The positioning was like a bad player in 5aside hiding because they don’t want the ball. On the ball not much better. Was wondering if they would keep him on to see if he worked into the game but worrying if he was brought in, like alcaraz, as an upgrade. Manager saw enough and got hooked 1st sub. I was excited about AMN after those performances in midfield for West Brom against us and MoM in the cup final for arsenal. He is an England international! Every game he plays he looks worse. Rashford just scored and did his head pointing celebration - maybe that’s the issue with AMN? Not many positives but this was a second string team and Blackpool showed nothing until they scored. Was cruising to a nice win before that and then it was a meltdown. Don’t have any issue with diallo. He came on at 86 mins when it was a scramble and at least showed the aggression the manager is looking for. Same no issue generally with Ely. Showed some nice touches but didn’t really threaten. edozie looked good and has to be a major part of the plans if can handle that with his age.

Agree with that top 6 100%. Barring any quality incomings we would be best to form the starting team around that. Baz in goal as I don't think he has been that bad. Started the season great and we forget how bad McCarthy has been the last 3 seasons. Defence can be picked from the rest. Salisu and ABK have been linked with big moves. Must be players there. KWP is quality and important player. I dont mind a CB like Lyanco as fullback. Enough teams are playing with that asymetric full back system - arsenal with white, newcastle with burn, city with Ake or Stones. I dont see why people are against it. Adds height at corners and can slip into different formations with 3 or 4 at the back. Modern teams dont need to be perfectly balanced on the left and right anymore.

I agree with this (although I also don't like to see it). Could also give the example how walker-peters was given a yellow card for time wasting on a throw (in the 1st half!) but we didnt get any Newcastle players booked for the same when they were running the clock after scoring. The foul on Djenepo was GBH. But what I dont get more is the manager also doesnt do it (although I dont like seeing that even more. Klopp, the skull-man at chelsea, conte, being the worst). Wasn't he meant to be nasty nathan? He was more harsh with Djenepo for not coming short than at the ref or 3rd official. Eddie Howe and Jason Tindall are the most sly in the league at being in the ear of 3rd official. Our players have always been a soft touch but the manager is not doing what modern managers unfortunately should be doing (at least to not be at a disadvantage when there are so many other disadvantages we have).

They were there for the taking first half but we go in 1 down to a horrible goal. Should be 2 goals up. agree with suggest subs at HT. Not hard enough in the middle and Moi should have put che through when 1 on 1

Wouldn’t be surprised to see AMN start. He is needed without Lavia or Romeu and hopefully adaptable enough to be match ready (previous loans and adapting to different managers at arsenal). Would be happier to see him in the team today than not. On moi, ralph seems to give players a shot at the start of the season. Last season it was moussa who started the first lot of games, did ok at best, then disappeared after ralph had felt he had given him a good go. Same could be for moi this season. also agree on ralph using 5 subs like rugby teams to keep intensity high. Maybe he sees Aribo like that as a perfect player to come on against tired legs and tired minds and commit players in the box.

I find this behind the scenes stuff interesting and tell us a lot of what is happening. What really happened there? There is also a clip in the highlights where Ralph is pointing at himself. What’s that about?

I think that is exactly how I would say they won it. They were first into tackles, won second balls and were prepared to do the "dirty stuff" to get the win. I saw a lot of bottled tackles. Saving themselves for the cup? It wasnt pretty from newcastle but they got the win. Teams that use a free kick on the byline at half way to bomb one into the box to aim for all the 6 foot plus players they have just bought is not the type of football I like to watch but last night their style, and a bit of a timid approach by our players and manager (would have liked earlier subs), won it. Definitely an unenjoyable loss based on: two losses on the trot after all that hope, goals made and scored by their new players that wouldnt have been there for the original fixture, their winning run has saved them, and making it only the second loss at home at all season with Newcastle being one of them which doesnt sound good.

We were terrible in the second half and didn’t deserve anything but to concede a penalty in the 90th minute is hard to take. do we have an answer if the awarding of the pen was legitimate? Has that “handled in the build up to a goal” rule quietly gone away in the second half of this season or if it hasn’t can it be applied to awarding of a penalty (which is basically a goal, especially if taken against a Southampton keeper)? I am not a fan of VAR and would get rid of it and go back just to the goal line technology, but I would just like to know if awarding of that penalty was wrong by the rules or not?

Defensively like a rabbit in the headlights. I don’t see it 6-2 for us. As soon as redmond scored they upped their game and we were hanging on. Few breaks with Walcott and Che but going to happen when they are throwing bodies forward. shout to djenepo. Came on and only one with a cool head all game. Might have lost it if he hadn’t brought in that control. Some great cameos from him in more defensive roles this season. Think he is going to be a real asset for us as Ralph gets more time to work with him and mould him as a reliable starter and dangerous going forward. Left field MoM choice.

Redmond decent today. Starts next game same position on that performance.

I watched that Fulham game too and totally agree. You didn’t mentioned the pen they did get at the very end to get the undeserved draw - banging a free kick to the middle of a wall which may have touched a hand (not convinced it did and even if it did it would have slammed into the body so didn’t prevent a goal). seeing them moan about the decisions last night is a total eye opener for me. I had no idea they were that detached from reality. I felt we were a little hard done by in the Fulham game but reasoned it against the pen we did get against Brighton so it balances out....as it should. Nothing to complain about compared to that handball goal Watford got against us a couple of years ago and other refereeing aberrations. On top of everything else, their greed in this project big picture makes me ill. Club of the people when they dump the rest of the league at the first sniff of money and all of sudden they would qualify for such a league after winning their first ever premier league (following in the footsteps of bigger teams like Blackburn and Leicester).... Most disgusting team in the league

Put Ings as MoM. Such a clever player for us. Holds up ball, makes spaces for other, always always dangerous in any situation, launches press and works very hard. Good we had the game wrapped up to rest him for big games coming up. diallo also massive kwp tired and played a lot of football. Reintegration of Valery may give an option to take him out at times.

Stick that ferry up your mersey

Jan Bednarek signed as a 21 year old for 5 MM (10 MM in today’s money) on 1st July 2017..... .....didn’t play a minute of premier league until April 2018. And look at him now. Solidly our number 1 centre back since Van Dijk left. no rush with young centre backs not used to the league. Make a few mistakes by not being up to the speed and never see them again.

Could give redmond benefit of the doubt and say that he had the wrong footwear on. A few players were slipping and conditions got worse through the game. We know players always go for boots with minimum grip. Tough game to come into for a player like that. Mahrez looked equally bad when he came on in a similar role. Liked how we passed it today. Against Arsenal 1st half it was sloppy like we were believing the hype. This was tighter and more assertive, and city really had to grind this one out. Not heard any mentions for che whose hold up play was excellent against two quality CBs. Fast becoming out most important player and a quality centre forward. Easily had the best game of any of the 5 or 6 that played up top today for either side 6 points from the next two should be the target.

Deflated too after that. Definitely not wanting to over commit and get hit on the break and lose the point. They still had aubameyang on the pitch remember. maybe some tiredness too, but expected more from the two fresh 10s on the pitch. Could have stuck Vest up for the last 5 minutes or N’Lundulu for something different. might be learning for how to breakdown 10 men as plan A no longer works. Walcott my MoM. He got the goal with a nice finish and got the man sent off. Definitely our best 10 on the night. Still frustrates me and get that “no footballing brain” ringing in my head. Maybe that comes more with games, working with Ralph and the smarter players around him. not a pen for me. I’ll take not getting that one against the marginal one that was given at Brighton. Cant have all the luck all the time (otherwise we would be Liverpool....)