Having the same back 4 is massive and I think a big reason why we look more solid after months of having to constantly change the backline. I definitely agree about Mitchell. I thought before he looked like he could do with a loan spell to get more experience, but he's come back in and he seems to have gone up a level and he is showing more confidence about getting forward. He'll make mistakes, but I'm really excited now to see how develops alongside Eze. With regard to youth, have we ever had a PL manager who has trusted in our youth players unless they had to? Most PL teams only have one or two youth players in and around their first XI as teams these days have 25-man squads to keep happy. One area I would like to see give youth chance is on the wings though, as with Schlupp now out we only have Andros and Eze available, with possibly PvA and Ayew as square pegs.

I would amend that to "PvA SHOULD BE our back-up left back". Not sure Hodgson has quite made that decision just yet, but hope he has.

I see Roy has commented on whether we should continue with football given the increasing cases and the high profile f ups by certain players.

There is also concern about goal celebrations however it’s good to see we are doing our best to help out in this respect by not scoring in 4 of our last 6 matches.

Of which PvA's fingerprints were all over two or three at least.

For me it's not about whether Mitchell is now first choice, but about whether we even try to keep PvA after this season. Starting next season with only mitchell at the club might be a risk, but then again PvA would be pretty expensive for a back up player.

Edited by TheBigToePunt (15 Jan 2021 7.19pm)

So let's just forget about the Liverpool trouncing and the farcical performance against a 10 man Villa shall we..!!

Where was last nights performance then..??

Look I thought we played very well last night - even the non performers of recent weeks principally Milo and McArthur - the latter I have lambasted in recent weeks, but thought he was excellent last night.

But still Roy on substitutions - why take Benteke off for Ayew - Tekkers was having a really good game. Ayew when he came on was atrocious again - I just don't see what he adds, he is just woeful.

Last night IMO showed you why Zaha will never play for a Top 6 Prem/Top European side - he was more interested in ranting at the Ref and arguing with Arsenal players than the game.

There was one incident where he wasn't fouled but spent the next minute remonstrating with the Ref and waving his arms around rather than concentrating on the game.

My opinion of Zaha is that he loves being the "Big Show" - but Eze is now frequently upstaging him and he doesn't like it..!!

Last night at times his behaviour was that of a petulant child and that is no good for us..!!

As for Roy carrying on - No, no and no - one swallow doesn't make a spring and irrespective of last night's much improved performance this squad is still under achieving and it's time for a change and say thanks for all you've done Roy..!!

COYP