Elston Gunnn

Disappointing that Deulofeu still seems unable to play even 80 minutes. As for Oviedo, did we have a sub for LB? Having to sub early for Deulofeu, and then Coleman's hamstring, those 2 things limited RM's options. Then he had to sub out either Gibson or Osman, and I think Gibson stayed down in our box just a couple of minutes before he was subbed out. As for Barkley......

Barkley once again doesn't follow his man. He's got a good seat for the match, though.

Gibson and Osman out of gas. Barkley is wandering around.

Another giveaway by Barkley.

That awful defense started with lazy Barkley.

Maybe a red there on Gibson.

Keep blasting, Kevin.

Jeez, Pawson missed that one. Good spot for a free kick.

Gibson ball watching in the box there, almost a goal for Southampton.

Who will join Kone in the box for Deulofeu's crosses? Maybe this is a time for him to use his dribbling to get to a spot to take a couple of shots. No doubts that Mirallas will take some shots.

No idea how this will go, but I can't complain, as I want Mirallas, Deulofeu, Besic, and Gibson to start this one. And Barry needs a rest for next week.

We could discuss McCarthy's options and/or Martinez's game management after the second yellow. But in this case, my point referred to the burgeoning sense that Martinez has been self-destructing for quite some time now with his rubbish comments in post-match interviews, not to mention pre-match press conferences, random interviews, pretty much any time he opens his mouth. As you and I (and 99% of fans who saw the match?) agree, the second yellow was completely justified, far from harsh. So Roberto looks the self-deluded fool yet again. It's become a bizarre, uncomfortable story: a man widely admired for his sweet smile, winning personality, and admirable demeanor has become -- has made himself -- a laughingstock. He seems to have gone over some edge, determined to lift himself out of a hole by ... digging. Over the past two years, when watching and listening to him, I've gone from curiosity, to bemusement, to anger, to discomfort.

Here's the post-Palace nonsensical rubbish: The second yellow on McCarthy was "very, very harsh. Bolasie is very clever and goes through McCarthy, James's body can't disappear, and I thought Bolasie was looking for the contact. He [McCarthy] didn't intend to get in the way of the Crystal Palace player." The 2 times I saw the replay, I thought exactly the same as I thought when it happened live: McCarthy was an idiot. He's on a yellow and makes absolutely no attempt to turn away from blocking Bolasie straight on. His pea-brain did not warn him that he couldn't afford to block the path of his opponent, and so firmly to boot. Another example of Roberto blaming the ref, unwilling to see that his own player did something obviously stupid. As the "Martinez out" story grows, I fully expect to see this play on video, followed by Roberto's nonsensical rubbish, followed by some straightforward, but also smirky, pundit-criticism of that rubbish. He seems a genuinely warm fellow who has strangely made of himself a running joke. Odds are this will end badly for him. May take a while to outlive his reputation for outlandish self-delusion. It's painful to watch him make a fool of himself.

Need squad rotation, given Liverpool and ManU next week. Tougher still, with McCarthy's red card, Jagielka's injury, Lennon's minor (?) injury at Palace. Robles Coleman Stones Funes Mori Oviedo Besic Gibson Deulofeu Cleverley Mirallas Niasse/Kone Rest Baines, Barry, Barkley, Lukaku, for wildly different reasons.

Up to 12th. Give RM a 3-year extension.

Second time on your fishing expedition.

Second time on your fishing expedition.

Barkley coming off, 85 minutes too late.

Mirallas coming on. Yippee.

A beanpole compared to Ross.

Get Mirallas on, Barkley off. Please.

Oviedo coming on. For ? Barkley, I can hope.

Jeez, Barkley looks lazy. Ten men, and he gets obviously outhustled.

Maybe knowing they have to hustle, they will. Maybe.

Barkley dribbling it into the net. Idiot.