Get well soon Tighty!

As a Brighton season ticket holder, I can tell you there is so much more optimism about the team this year than last. That’s not to say they won’t go down or be in the relegation mix, any of the bottom half probably could be, but they should be much more competitive in games rather than sitting back and hoping not to concede whilst nicking one from a set piece.

By all account Potter did an incredible job at Swansea given the situation - basically forced to play youth teamers - and he did a fantastic job at Oostersunds. Of course, none of that says 9/1 isn’t too big but just some additional context.

I certainly don’t expect Murray to start many games this season coming.

Spot on. If it ain’t broke, break it.

I don’t think there is an expectation from Tony Bloom, or the fan base, that transitioning from Hughton to another manager will suddenly transfer them into a top half club. This change is an acknowledgment that with Hughton In charge, they were more likely to be a championship club come 2020/21 than a bottom half premier league club. I think anyone looking in from the outside probably doesnt realise just how bad Brighton have been, with the same (if not improved on paper) squad as last season. Unfortunately for Hughton, who is a lovely man by all accounts, he hasn’t worked out how to built a platform to allow his teams to score goals in the prem. Playing with 10 men behind the ball, on the edge of your own box is a fine strategy against good teams, but doing it against the rest of the bottom six - with no outlet other than Glenn Murray who hasn’t got legs any more, is just inviting relegation.

In terms of next manager, i’d be very surprised if it was one of the old brigade.

Tbf, as a Brighton season ticket holder, this does not surprise me in the slightest. The second half of the season has been incredibly poor and even some of the wins earlier this season -Wolves home, Newcastle away - were as a result of a singular shot on target. Honestly, in any other season Brighton would have been long relegated but they were fortunate that there were three teams even worse (two of whom they failed to beat, ironically). I can understand it might look an odd decision to an outsider but this is a team that would have finished 20th next season under Hughton.

Fair comment.

More generally though.....

If a team which struggles for the financial resources other teams have & gets relegated, is it a given that the Manager has to be sacked? We can't always blame the Manager, especially if starved of adequate funds.

Naturally he hasn’t got the resources of the top 6, (and probably Leicester, Everton or Wolves) but Brighton have actually spent a lot of money and got very little return, which I think you have to lay at the feet of the manager for a failure to integrate them.

Tbf, as a Brighton season ticket holder, this does not surprise me in the slightest. The second half of the season has been incredibly poor and even some of the wins earlier this season -Wolves home, Newcastle away - were as a result of a singular shot on target. Honestly, in any other season Brighton would have been long relegated but they were fortunate that there were three teams even worse (two of whom they failed to beat, ironically). I can understand it might look an odd decision to an outsider but this is a team that would have finished 20th next season under Hughton.

Even putting aside his goal, I thought Gundogan was outstanding today. Very much unheralded amongst the rest of the all stars but what a fantastic player.

Who knows how footballers think? Look at Hennessey!

What a sorry incident that was. Comical. I think the argument that he does the outstretched arm, and covers his mouth to project a shout to get a waiters attention could just about be feasible as an argument contextually, however unlikely that is considering he is looking directly at the camera for the pic but to then go overboard saying he doesn't know what a nazi is reeks of overcompensation imo. I don't know what to think. If he is genuinely that ignorant, it's amazing.

My mate Mike was in his class at school. Mike confirms they did study WW2 as part of the cirriculim. Outrageous that the FA bought his excuse.

[we have been in this situation of poor lead in form before]

Some nice play from Speith and Hoffman last night has nudged me into taking some 25s on Jordy for the Masters. He has a quite incredible record and we have been in this situation of poor lead in form before. Augusta lights him up.

Hoffman is the new Couples and the 100-1 for first round leader has to be snapped up for this one round wonder.

Not sure this is true. Every year he’s ever played the masters, he’s finished top 20 in at least three of his previous four stroke play starts. This season he hasn’t had a top 30 all year.

also, decent starts arent unusual for him, even this season. Spieth’s round by round scoring average this season:

1st - 27th
2nd - 18th
3rd - 202th
4th - 212th

Yep, thanks Peter!

The 6/4 for Leclerc to out qualify Vettel must appeal in that case!

Looks like they’ve consolidated that speed in this session. What price would you be looking for to perm the ferraris in qualifying?

I've been avoiding any Bahrain GP bets after the hugely unexpected results during the Australian GP. However, Charles Leclerc to win the race EW (1-2 1/3) at 5/1 with Betfair and Paddy Power feels too good to turn down.

Through yesterday's practice, the Ferrari seems back to where we expected it to be - and Mercedes certainly seem downbeat. While they probably are sandbagging, I don't think they will be doing so to the tune of 0.6 seconds per lap. Mercedes do potentially have slightly quicker race pace, but I'm happy to take 5/1. This should be more like 7/2.

https://www.oddschecker.com/motorsport/formula-1/bahrain-grand-prix/winner

Leclerc was 11/1 yesterday morning. Which over-reaction was bigger? The Aus to pre-Bahrain or the pre-Bahrain to post first days’s practice? Seems like a dramatic swing.

To be fair, it was announced last week but he’d been using callaway as a free agent since the end of 2018 - albeit that’s not a huge amount competitively. Loads of practise though for sure.