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Cruz Allen has signed his first professional contract.

Wildsmith looked like he proper despised Warne as Warne leapt into his arms to give him a big cuddle on Saturday. Jesus wept. This Nixon, yes, that bastion of truth, taking the comment from the forum last night about nothing til after the season and running with it as he's one, if not, the best player we have who's not under contract next season.

We have: Forsyth, Loach, Hourihane, Waghorn, Collins, Smith, Barkhuizen, Gayle, Wildsmith, Sibley, Robinson (I think) and Thompson all out of contract. Of that list, I'd be open to keeping Forsyth, Loach, Barkhuizen, Gayle, Wildsmith, Sibley, Robinson and Thompson around. Some more than others.

Because he's only played 30 games in a season twice in his career, and not since 18/19 despite only being 31. He won the golden ball, but has basically done very little with his career since he was 25. Very successful in his younger years, an often unavailable show pony after that.

Looking at it wrong. We have around double figures out of contract anyway, a lot of whom are old, we'd have massive changes regardless. Any player would knows this.

I'd imagine decisions have been made in regards to who would be offered what based on what division, just not actioned yet.

Psychologically, Saturday is mammoth. With Bolton not playing, if we can get a win to put ourselves 7 points ahead of them, that will seem a huge number.

And if you're having to do that, you'd want it to be someone better than Hourihane you're doing it for!

I understand that view, mine is more than he knows he can’t make it rather than him being too tired to do it.

The rule for handball is simply if it hits the arm in the act of scoring a goal, whether that's to bring the ball down or directly put the ball in the net. Doesn't even matter if it was deliberate or egregious these days, rightly or wrongly. VAR is very hot on it.

Fitness is not Hourihane's issue. He's a fit guy, could probably run a marathon tomorrow if he had to. He just can't sprint, twist, turn, jump... there's no burst or explosion in there at all. If he gets caught up the pitch, we are screwed. Him gassing out for an hour to get brought off wouldn't help any of that. If you want an experienced player, then it's Smith until Bird is back. I'd really like Fornah to be fit and see what he can do in there next to Ebou. A midfield with true athleticism.

I get we are struggling with players available, I just don't understand how we can keep watching Hourihane and then put him in the team the game after

If the ball hit his arm and went in, it would be disallowed on VAR regardless of affecting the outcome. That's just how that rule works. It was clearly so subtle that no one really appealed for anything. Is what it is, just unusual for us to be on the right side of things 2 games running.

Move over Mystic Meg

We play during the international break, our game didn't get postponed.

I know he and Ward went off as a precaution, but do we know they won't make Northampton?

If you want attacking, you’d want Sibley, not Elder in the left position. Mad seeing people leave out Barkhuizen. He’s one of the few we have who make runs off the ball! Frankly, I’d be trying to figure out some combination of NML, Barkhuizen and CBT as that’s the trio with the pace and athleticism to cause teams problems. Then just hope we have a striker other than Waghorn fit asap.

Are you trying to tell me Scottie’s tissues were an accident?

This is how I saw it to. Akin to how teams used to mark Keogh and let Curtis Davies have the ball, or whoever it was next to him. We saw it stifle us playing it forward often. Clever plan really.

1Wildsmith - 9 35Nelson - 7.5 3Forsyth - 8 6Cashin - 7.5 23Ward - 6 2Wilson - 7 32Adams - 7 4Hourihane - 2 16Thompson - 7 17Sibley - 6 20Elder - 6 7Barkhuizen - 6.5 10Waghorn - 6 25Gayle - 6 12Smith - 6 11Méndez-Laing - 6.5

Credit Barkhuizen first half, too. Noticed at the time he never left his side when we were out of possession. Warne then confirmed in his interview that it was the tactic. So he was clearly doing it if it was noticeable!

My favourite decision was where Waghorn punched it into the net and he didn’t give it.

Knew you were having a laugh when you said Bradley has been playing well.

No, other than it being hamstring. Warne said could be anything from 2 weeks to 2 months.

Just some random thoughts on the game: Fight and determination is there in spades. It’s brilliant to see. Fozzy fills me with far more confidence than Bradley, I can’t lie. Isn’t as interested in letting the ball bounce and wrestling. Hourihane was horrific. Thankfully dragged off. We can’t keep carrying him every game while his legs have so obviously gone. Is Bird back yet? Interesting to hear Barkhuizen and Ward came off due to precaution. Did wonder why those two, as Barkhuizen’s runs were one of the brighter points first half. What we do next re striker is going to be massive. Waghorn hasn’t got it anymore, but he needs to find something for a week or two until someone else is back fit to help. Gutted for Gayle. Wildsmith phenomenal. Think he needed that performance.