notnowcato

Lallana has had a great career. It was disappointing how he left but for me, a lot of water has passed under the bridge now. It was interesting that when Brighton were in between managers he stepped in to run the first team as the senior pro and the feedback on that time was very positive. Coaching / managing does seem to be his future.

Agreed. He also deserves our patience during the early stages of next season. He’s getting better and better, shown a real talent in building the foundations of our new identity and as someone has said he is a class act, on and off the pitch.

We can but dream

Lavia back on loan would be perfect

Great engine, shocking passer of the ball

James Milner, Liz Cunt Truss, Scary fucking Spice, Jimmy filthy cunt Saville… your boys took a helluva beating today. Ole ole ole… ole ole ole

Yep. All the team were fucking magnificent off the ball, put a right bloody shift in. Clean sheets win finals

Never said it was inevitable but equally it was hardly a surprise. SR were loyal to Ralph when many clubs would’ve sacked him in that summer. Anyway, old ground, easy to see both sides of the points being made. Hope your car is back on the road. Up the fucking Saints!!

Finals are generally cagey affairs and can often be influenced by mistakes. We have a very good idea how Leeds will line up and their formation. We were so fluid in formation change against the Baggies in the 2nd leg it looked perfect for a final. I’d start same 11, 5 at the back, get into the game before pushing Wee Man further forward. We win this. I’m going 3-1.

Where have I said anywhere that SR are marvellous or words to that effect, you’re completely making it up. Just because I think they inherited a club in disrepair doesn’t mean I think they’re the best thing since sliced bread. Hopefully you can see the separation of the issues.

SR inherited a club that had been seriously under invested in throughout Gao’s time. Gao himself lost c.25%.

Ermmmm, no.

Believe what you like, fact is without Ralph the cracks would’ve shown a lot fucking earlier than they did. Gao was very fucking lucky to have Ralph.

Ah the classic: happy to be proven wrong.

SR reaped what Gao had sown for the previous 3 years. We were fucked before SR rocked up.

We comfortably beat them on our turf when we were in terrible form. We comfortably beat them on their turf when we had nothing to play for. We will beat them at Wembley.

To add to this, the 2 games a week we’ve had since before Christmas would’ve made making any significant changes to formation etc very difficult to achieve in one day on the grass. When given the time to prepare the team Russell and the rest of the coaching staff have done a superb job…. just need to do it one more time.

Not sure what point you’re trying to make. Anyway, for clarity, the club hired Russell because of his style of play.

Yeah Baggies were disappointing, not playing Assante (sp?) at least up top was very strange, they had no pace and clearly came for the set pieces. Many ways to skin a cat and all that. If Che plays, it feels like we're more wedded to a front 3 than the fluid 2 of Arma and Brooks - even though Brooks played more a 10 than an out and out striker. There's no way Arma's not playing, playing a front 2 of Che and Arma will be what the Leeds cloggers at the back would rather see. We changed formation many times on Friday, more than I can ever remember us doing so. Leeds strength is their front 3 and Piroe playing off them, we'll need a spare man at the back either Jan or THB, and I can see Stephens being told to sit on Piroe or at least in that space he tends to occupy.

The starting 11 on Friday offered so much quality and flexibility in formation, I wouldn't be surprised at all if that's what we go with; even if Che is fit.

Furlong did

I don’t get the media love in for Corboran, he’s alright but the media are balls deep on him. He talked a lot of bollox at the end to, “team unable to find any fluidity” No fucking surprise given the 5-4-1 formation he put up, essentially nullifying their best player. He was also schooled by Russell and the staff over both legs.

Russell smashed Carlos off the park tonight. Totally dominated, switched between 3 formations, snuffed out their midfield. Stephens was immense, sat in front of Jan and Bellisimo giving Flynn a bit more licence to drive forward. Switched to left back allowing Wee Man to push on. Brilliant game from Shoehorn.

I think we start 4-3-3 tonight, make the most of a huge atmosphere in the ground. I’d be surprised if the Baggies went for it early too, most likely they will look to contain and hit us on the break. Macca King Walker Peters - Jan - Bellísimo - Stephens Smallbonio - Flynniesta - Joe Arma - Che 🤞 - Wee Man

100%. The first leg was the previous biggest game of his career. He did alright in that.