midds

They've also got a boatload of injuries, a fixture pileup and Harry Maguire now starting games. They're absolutely still in the mix for CL football. I expect them to make it but I'm not conceding 3rd just yet

There's 7 fixtures left that HAVE to result in our rivals dropping points in. In no particular order: MU - Villa Spu - MU Villa - Spu Villa - Brig Liv - Villa Brig - MU Liv - Spu We're several points ahead of ALL of them and have games in hand on 2 of them and we've played a game more than 2 of them. If it comes down to it our GD is also better than all of them too. We play Spurs and Brighton both at home too obviously. I'm just struggling to see how none of them drop enough points for us not to make it. I thought the %s from Opta and 538 seemed a bit big but atm we've got a bit of wiggle room tbh. I'll go 7.2

Think this gutless Spurs squad has shown exactly what it's made of recently - lost leads at Soton, Everton and Bournemouth and Brighton should have turned them over too. Kane has strapped the whole club on his back and carried them all season from what I've seen. First goal is huge as always and I think we'll see a positive reaction from our lot. I think we'll win but I'd by lying if I said I'm not massively concerned with Son over the top/on the break. Next biggest threat to us after that is the ref/VAR bullshit.

He's got a big decision to make this week - stick or twist. Stick with what's got us 3rd in the league, best defensive record, clean sheets etc or risk it and try to catch Spurs on the hop in the biggest League game of the season. Fully expect Spurs to prepare for the full court press, 433, Trippier bombing on, Burn edging central when he sees it happen and using the 'extra man' to create havoc. I just worry that some have sussed us out and know exactly how to counter what we do virtually every game. Does he go with the regular formation and risk being predictable, thus playing into Spurs' hands? Or does he change a successful system and have the element of surprise on Spurs and start with Wilson and Isak? Big week. Big decisions and if he gets them right we're virtually home and hosed. Get them wrong...

That's a huge loss for Spurs, that was one of their home bankers and they've lost it shipping 3 in the process and getting booed off (again) by their own fans. They now have Newcastle (A), Man U (H) and Liverpool (A) as well as Villa (A) and Leeds (A) too. We could just about finish them off if we beat them next weekend

Got to be pointed out that Spurs still need to go to Villa Park too btw. Disappointing today but they've got the same fixture

Today's a write-off, just need to focus on Spurs as that was always the key game in the run-in. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt and say that the insipid display today may be related to the bigger game next week. One eye on Spurs etc. Doesn't excuse this shite today mind, we've be collectively awful

Soft as puppy shit all over the park today. Pack it up and move on

Ref needs to be far stronger here, they're collapsing with any contact but the ref is rewarding them every single time, not allowing the game to flow at all and it's benefitting Villa massively here.

Proverbial 'bad day at the office' here like. Hate these kick off times but Villa have been very good which should have been fully expected. Let's see if the subs can F5 this shit

Losing both first choice CBs and main CF in the space of a week or so is huge for Man U. Awful developments, you hate to see it.

15 years ago I'd have read this horseshit and had a bite, now I just read this horseshit and smile Go me.

Given we need more bodies into the squad (regardless of which European competition we're in) and we need to tiptoe around FFP it wouldn't surprise me if we brought him in on loan. We obviously like(d) him and made him a top target in the past and it makes sense if a deal can be done. Loan him in the summer and the cash can be spent in other areas to bulk the squad out and it makes sense imo. All of that depends entirely on the lad NOT being an absolute cunt, obviously.

*Woodman, Stone, Carver and a plate of beans on toast*

Sky using the ISS to film the Boro match

He was off his line like...

Feel genuine sympathy for anyone willing to engage Froggy in any kind of meaningful conversation about football. Best of luck lads

I'd happily take a point right now. I think this could well be the most difficult fixture left to play. Get a point here then it's 5 from 8 at home where I fancy us in every match.

He's always had this side to him when I've seen him, chippy little fucker and wears his heart on his sleeve a bit too much. No problem with him being fucked off (that's a good thing imo, no-one should be smiling as they're subbed) but there's a line you don't cross. Shrugging the boss off as he's trying to explain his rationale isn't a great look. Needs to be addressed but it's not a big deal and I don't think it'll happen again.

Jut heaps more and more pressure on Arsenal as the games tick down. Every mistake, every decision will crank it up higher and higher as they get closer to the title. Then they play us, already livid from doing the same things to see the game out that they do. Away from home against a team that absolutely dicked them just a year ago. Gonna be wild

Chelsea fans will be loving the fact they're in such safe hands and making big decisions based on the opinions of experts They're a fucking joke of a club

Couple of things about VAR I'm pretty uncomfortable with - firstly the idea that it's a 'mistake'. It's absolutely not a mistake or an accident. That Brighton pen yesterday wasn't a 'mistake', it was a conscious and measured decision that took a few minutes to be decided by several individuals as a collective. They looked at it again and again from different angles and decided it wasn't a pen in a huge game at a vital time in the game. A mistake is stepping in a puddle or something like that, it's also usually involuntary and spontaneous. That decision was the exact opposite of a mistake. Secondly, the narrative straight away is that 'Brighton was robbed' and they were. They got the big (meaningless) public apology this morning and that will be that case closed. More people should be looking at who is directly benefitting directly from decisions like that. The focus is 100% on how Brighton lost out and 0% on how Spurs benefitted. If it's the same clubs benefitting again and again and again then maybe something will be done about it. That one decision potentially saw a 6 point swing from a Brighton win into a Spurs win. The fact it was massively dodgy and important and went directly in favour of Spurs should be the big talking point here. It's a bigger deal than just 'Brighton got robbed'

Just looked like a senior pro counselling a younger pro about what needs to be done in the final stages of a match to ensure the right result. That's pretty much his role now, quiet word here and there to just keep things ticking along without the manager needing to step in and deal with shit. Dare say Lascelles has been doing similar for the last 18 months too. Not uncommon and very healthy imo.

Totally agree. I've also sensed a willingness from Howe to take the shackles off a bit and just go for it in games in the last month or 2. Just get the best players on the pitch as much as possible and hope the system holds up enough for the talent in the final third to create and score. None more so than today - Gordon and Wilson on at HT and saying 'fuck it', get about them and see what happens. Shit or bust

When they have Casemiro back and they're a direct rival then yes. He's the difference for them this season.