Hanky

On the flip side we were getting beat comfortably by sides like Norwich in the Championship just last year. I know we’ve spent money but shows that we’ve come a fair way in a short space of time. Feel we will need significant reinforcements in Jan though.

Looked up for it when he came on. He will have his bad games but he’s a useful player to have in the squad at least.

Least he made the Hourihane change early. Also tweaked the system slightly to play two in the midfield with Jack in front. Reinforcements needed in Jan.

He was much better today than Guilbert has been in his past few games.

He won’t. He’s better than the rest though.

When is this guy back? We’ve been an utter shambles defensively without him. Although he was prone to the odd error here and there his general play is head and shoulders above anyone else.

We were completely torn apart down the wings in the first half. Out 4-3-3 has been figured out now. It was by Leicester and now Southampton. Their two full backs had a field day down our sides. El Ghazi and Grealish pressing their centre halves doesn't work as our midfield is two pedestrian to get out to the full backs. The amount of times yesterday that there was a two on one situation against the full backs down the wings and it has happened a lot this season. The problem is, we don't appear to have a plan B formation. When we went two up top the midfield was still a complete mess, and I'm not really sure where anybody was playing. I doubt they work on it in training hence the players still don't know their roles. I like Smith and want him to do well, but the last two home games have been worse than some or a lot of the games in the season that went down. Devoid of confidence and ideas. I agree with what someone said earlier in the thread. At the moment it looks like Grealish and Heaton are the only two players that look Premier League quality. I have serious concerns about the midfield. Looks piss weak to me. The amount of times that teams can make one or two passes and slice us open. Happened against Chelsea, Sheff Utd, Leicester and yesterday. I really don't know what the answer is there as some of those players just do not look good enough at the moment. It looked like Grealish had gone in there a bit more in the second half but that lead to nobody being out wide left. I'd rather bring Trezeguet on at half time and gone 4-4-1-1 with Grealish behind Wesley or Kodjia. Massive work to do. Both tactically and possibly in the January transfer window if we want to stay up.

They are edgy here.

Heaton really is top class. Saving us here.

Giving them far too much room here. They haven’t had to be too good either. They’ve played plenty of stray passes.

Letting them counter on us here. Will be playing into their hands.

One thing I will say. How the mighty have fallen. Just going round kicking Jack to shreds.

Typical us. Handing it to them on a plate.

Least that ones out the way. Was impressed by Keinan at the end. Still don’t think their second should have stood. Ah well, we were losing 3-0 away to Wigan in January.

He’s right in Heaton’s eyeline in the middle of the goal isn’t he?

Great win!

That seems a real pivotal moment. Next goal is really crucial. Hope I’m wrong.

But quite I’d guess if the ref didn’t blow the whistle he can in theory overrule the linesman.

Young and true other defender clearly saw the flag up so definitely have a fair argument to say they’d stopped. A strange one that was.

According to Lansbury himself he has a slight ankle problem. Reckons he’ll be back for the weekend.

We’ll still mess this up (it worked after Arsenal equalised so sticking to the fake negativity theory).

This is about what I expected so far. In fact, Mings and Engels look the real deal at centre half, and a decent debut from Nakamba bar a few loose balls. Missing that cutting edge in the front three positions. Feels like McGinn and Grealish are trying too hard to create something when it should be the wide men getting involved. Both were too far apart in the last ten minutes.

Referees seem to be actively looking for diving now rather than actually doing the job they are paid for. Happened to James at manure a week or so ago. People are so obsessed with it their actually calling clear fouls as dives now.

4-3-2. Worked at Rotherham last year. This might well be a different kettle of fish mind.

I’d go with the back up side. The one mentioned above should be enough in any case.