JH

At the very least, in games where there are multiple cameras I would be sitting the fourth official at a monitor and letting him act as another pair of eyes - yesterday, he'd have been able to say "Offside - flag up" to the lino within seconds of the free kick coming in. It makes mistakes a tad more likely to be rectified and it doesn't impact on time, and gives the fourth official something to do other than twiddle his thumbs and hold up a board.

He is doing everything that he can to keep us up, I have no doubt of that. He is walking the team through every game, exerting so much energy on the touchline, tinkering with the players at his disposal, trying new things, trying to create a team from a bunch of misfits and all with only four games and a mountain to climb. I respect the man a hell of a lot more for taking on the challenge, and if he fails it is simply because he was brought in too late. If he'd came in earlier, we'd be safe by now IMO.

From a 9 to an 8.9. It'll drop dramatically if we get something from Saturday. We still need an 'unlikely win' as well as beating Palace and Villa.

Thought his work rate was immense. Chased down every ball, refused to give up on lost causes, looked every bit a real captain tonight (more so than Shelvey ever has). Long may it continue.

This. They've left it late but at least it's there now. We'll get something at the weekend if we play like that.

They don't really have the better run in - probably the same IMO. Man City (H) = Arsenal (H) Liverpool (A) < Stoke (A) Tottenham (H) < Chelsea (H) Crystal Palace (H) > Everton (H) Aston Villa (A) > Watford (A)

Our last PL victory over them was over ten years ago. The aggregate PL score since we came back up: Newcastle 5-38 Man City

I keep saying it but all this talk of Norwich's form and Sunderland always miraculously putting a run of results together, there is still only three points in it (and we have a game in hand). At this stage, we are just as likely to go on a run and stay up than as are. At the end of the day, we are all s*** and there is still a lot to play for.

Still an 8 for me, but at the moment we are just as likely as the other two to pull off a 'shock result'. Could go either way.

Love all the logic and thought flying around this thread. Unfortunately we probably wouldn't even be in this position if we had a ownership/management that took the logical option

Got Liverpool at 12/1 when it was 2-3

Tribunals just aren't our thing, are they?

2004/2005 wasn't it? April 2005. Same day as this: http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/10/24/1414142818138_wps_1_Lee_Bowyer_and_Kieron_Dye.jpg

Bit bold to say he'll never play again when we only have like two fit defenders

Short term options just paper over the cracks for me. Yes we need to get back into the PL, but at the expense of rebuilding? What's the point. I'd happily take a couple of years if it meant that we could rebuild and start again. Hiring someone 'who knows that level' is very shortsighted and will just see us in exactly the same situation again in a few years.

At the end of the day it comes down to one thing - whether he thought it was ok, whether it is morally right or wrong, whether she lured him or was a total slut or whatever - Adam Johnson knew that when he did whatever he did with that 15 year old girl, it was illegal in the eyes of the law. That's why an appeal will never, and should never, be successful. The rest of it is utterly irrelevant.

Worse.

Judging by his comments, wouldn't be surprised to see 4-4-2 on Saturday.

For me it was that stupid disallowed Viduka goal for his 'push' on the defender.

I regularly think about that game against the Boro at home. Would be a miracle if we even put up half of that in the home games against Swansea and Palace.

We've looked bad all season but yesterday we definitely had an er of the 'Aston Villa' about us. Worrying.

Sunderland have managed back to back wins once this season, Norwich twice. They are less likely to go unbeaten runs than we are at this stage.

Can't imagine Norwich getting much, maybe a point against Watford Possibly only 3 points for Sunderland (Norwich A) We need to win 3 at least. Can't see 3 wins from that fixture list. It may be my Sunday morning negativity but I can see Norwich getting a win v Watford and draws v Sunderland, Man U & Everton. I can see Sunderland scraping a win today and against Watford with draws v Norwich, Chelsea & Everton. That would therefore mean we would need to win 4 and draw 1 of our remaining games. Never happening. There's no way that both are picking up that sort of form, mind. As crap as we are, lets not forget why they are both still fighting relegation too.

It's a 9.99 from me. We need to better Norwich's run in by 7 points and Sunderland's by 3 points to stay up. That involves winning 3 of the 4 home games and Villa (a), and hoping their 'big' games go to form, for that to be even be possible. It would be the greatest of great escapes.

Shit at defending Don't care at all Shit ourselves when we get to their penalty area.