plaidharper

Indeed

Not sure I agree. This one is going to be a tough one for Rafa. If he loses to Hull things will become even more toxic. Which in terms of his tenure makes this game much more important than Leicester. He never plays 4-3-3. Hoping we do not play 5 at the back but it might happen. Best case scenario we play 4-2-3-1 or 4-1-4-1. So I would go for something like this: Pickford Coleman Keane Godfrey Myk. Onyango Gomes Gordon Doucs Dobbin Simms Assume Mina and Brainthwaite will still be unavailable or they would be in. Maybe Keane and Doucs gain some confidence in this one? Then sub on Patterson and Grey. But Rafa would never... and Rondon most certainly will start this one.

Noa Lang on that squad looks to be more of a baller to me in the very few games I have seen.

In all fairness it would have been hard to find a quality striker on a free willing to just on the bench behind DCL. That list had to be very short and possibly only 1 name on it.

The summer window and this window have been seemingly ok. Hopefully we have learned from our mistakes. So far the only depressing signing in the past year has been Rafa.

He's our mad man.

As someone who is from the USA and watches CONCACAF, I just hope he does not get injured. Lots of physical play and poor pitches in these matches. That being said, Gray has been great this year so well deserved.

David vs Goliaths are just too appealing to pass up. Might not happen but if it did, and you missed it... Just hope Rafa takes it serious. If we play 5 at the back again, I will be worried and it will make for good TV for the neutral. My friend who is a Man U fan actually texted me during the Brighton game "Your misery is entertaining for the neutral." So we are already there.

And now am I just talking to myself? Am I crazy? Maybe? This club makes you so.

And then given my first thoughts, you would ask who would I play instead of him? The pickings are slim. And we haven't signed anyone in that position. And then you realize you would pick him. And once again we go round and round on this particular topic. How do we break the cycle? Sell some CBs and bring some new ones. But we are bound by FFP and no one wants to pay big money for Holgate. And thus we go round and round again.

And as long as we do not play 5 at the back. Keane is absolutely clueless on who to mark in a back 5. One stable partner next to him makes it easy. Think we can all agree that is the case. And if we agree on that, it speaks to his football brain, which is average at best. And then that is where mistakes come in. Good but needs someone to carry the water. And this is why people doubt his talent. And then round and round we go on this particular topic.

indeed

According to Benítez’s programme notes: “We have used the time without matches to prepare as intensively as possible for the challenges Brighton present. This means understanding how to make it difficult for them to impose their style and, equally importantly, knowing how to create the chances to win the game.”

A new left back isn't going to solve our problems. Won't even solve our defense. Wonder if Rafa plans to throw him right in or wait a bit? Either way hope we get more reinforcements this Jan. window but unsure where we came up with the cash for Vitaliy in the first place.

Indeed. We keep playing 5 at the back like that we won't win another game all season.

What is the point of signing a midfielder? Rafa hates three in the middle. Maybe he will going through with it just to wind us up?

Remember when he said the second half of the season would be better and we would be competing? What a joke.

The game is on the 'USA' channel in the US. They switched games to cut out the boos? Weak.

WHAT a shot clearance from Rondon... haha

What is a player going to do with 4 mins? Rafa is a dinosaur.

Keane should retire.

Brighton havent scored three goals in a game all season. Teams lick their lips to play us. It is embarrassing.

What is Keane doing there?

Rafa needs to go. What is it? No wins in 12? If this keeps up we are going to make some unwanted history.

nope