Wullie

I wouldn't bother too much about it normally as well but, the fact that we're having a line-up out there that is close to being our stronges suggests we should win this. We should be careful not to believe our own hype tbh. We're away at another Premier League side.

Bollocks. Bollocks? Yeah, cause you would expect us to keep on winning playing this way? Half the games we won we didn't deserve to win, half of the games we drew we deserved to lose. It's good to win when you play shit, but only if you're going to improve the quality of your game later; if you don't, well you can't expect it's always Christmas... That's a load of old shit tbf.

Otter makes a good point, the last 8 is very formidable.

Three other all Premier League ties tonight, all being overseen by Premier League refs. Fucking farcical we get landed with the dud.

Referee is Robert Madley ffs. Shouldn't have non top-flight refs doing these games. The standard when we were in the Championship was absolutely disgusting.

2-0.

Penalty. FFS.

Probably gone with this due to us having until Monday to recover. Great news.

Quite a bit of chat about it on the latest Two Footed Tackle podcast too.

Didn't realise Vermaelen was back this soon for Arsenal, potentially massive for them.

Certainly some players are risking burn out at some point and it makes sense to give them a break when possible, particularly Cabaye for example seeing as he's arguably our most key player, irreplaceable and has to keep fucking off to play for France twice a bastard month.

Sick to the back teeth of the same shit with both cups every year "we've got no chance so don't bother trying" Did you completely miss Birmingham winning it last year? Spurs about four years ago when they weren't particularly good? Did you fall asleep when Stoke, Portsmouth (x2), Everton, Cardiff, West Ham, Millwall and Southampton were playing in FA Cup finals in the last ten years? Alright, only one winner there but they still got through to within a single 90 minute contest of winning a major trophy where anything can happen on the day. That's without even mentioning qualifying for Europe. It's a ridiculous attitude and sometimes I wonder if the club has the same one - in my lifetime we have never played in a League Cup semi final and you only have to win four games to get there! It's a piss poor record and I hope we put out a strong side with the intention of winning the game, not full strength but not second string. We don't play until Monday so there's no excuse really, and I do think we will put a decent side out.

What a bizarre post.

It'll be nice to have a full stadium and many people there who haven't been previously, but it is still a slap in the face for those who paid top whack. It's nice that people can now take friends and family but it's not like they couldn't go before, if those friends and family had really wanted one originally they could have done what plenty others who struggle to afford it do and paid full price. My missus wanted to start coming with me in the summer, doesn't earn very much, ummed and aahed about it for ages but I persuaded her that she'd probably end up paying a bit more over the season for individual tickets so she took the plunge and now I feel shit and wish I hadn't bothered and she could have just got one now. She pays more than me because of my Championship discount and because she chose that she wanted to watch her team rather than have the extra £70 a month, she's suffering in comparison with someone who made the opposite decision. I'm less bothered about me because I'd have renewed anyway, I like my seat and I've got plenty of points, but it's a real kick in the teeth on mates and family members who did take the decision to shell out. Would be nice for the club to offer something to current ST holders as well, rather than their mates, be it free cup tickets, some worthwhile merchandise offer, a subsidised away ticket or even just a poxy NUFCtv subscription. Loyalty's a big thing in football and we're effectively having our loyalty punished. More than half the games should have passed before they start giving season tickets away imo, especially considering the cheap fixtures we've had.

I doubt Essien would.

Have they completely abandoned the rule about nicknames on shirts? I'm sure I remember reading years ago that Hasselbaink wasn't allowed to have 'Jimmy' on the back of his shirt. Chicharito ffs.

Depends whether or not you see it as a "problem" though.

Christ.

Open the game up far more, would make it more exciting imo. I'd like to see it trailed somewhere as it works in other sports but would be interesting to see if it would translate well to football. Also means you can have two referees one for each half as such instead of linesmen so you'd see a lot more. Give over man.

Fuck me.

Get in, Blackburn level.

Fear for us at Eastlands like, we do concede chances. I'd snatch your arm off for a 3-0 defeat. Same for everyone though I suppose.

One point behind Man Utd ffs.

Eas-eh! Eas-eh! They might have all the money in the world but City will always be small time cunts.