TRon

I'm not saying he's a bad manager, just don't think there's enough to go on just yet. It's basically Klopp's team, and it's performed worse the longer the season has gone on. He can only really be judged on his own merit from next season.

Had to check which league he was managing in tbh. Polish top flight? To be fair, they might still stop at chip shops and top up on a case of lager from the off licences on the coaches back home over there.

Slot basically took over a winning team and arguably made them worse the longer the season went on. I think there is no outstanding candidate other than Howe, and I like to think I'm fairly even handed.

Domestic cup competitions will rightly be lower priority than CL or PL fixtures. Winning a cup was vital this season, now it's done we are not so desperate any more, and we can use these competitions to rotate and get some vital game time for squad players. This alone makes them very important in their own right, especially if we have upgraded our squad.

More chance of the FA getting sued for disrepute of a cartel club if they even contemplated it.

Not arsed really since I don't take most links that seriously.

Yeah but they obviously couldn't get past thinking ours was better.

Like that one, but then I'm a big fan of our current crest which Sunderland tried to copy in basic design. They stuck a couple of lions either side of the badge instead of unicorns I think.

If everyone can get past their despair at his diving or whatever, he did actually cause Chelsea some real headaches in the first half. Looked very lively, and got them panicking a fair bit during that time.

I think the club will put a goalkeeper and striker ahead of CM, unless the RW can also double as a striker.

Isak is normally the one who takes them apart, and that's my only doubt about this game. Is he fit enough to turn their defenders inside out like he usually does? Otherwise the three at the back formation should be good to get a point from this at least.

He was everywhere. Fantastic performance along with Bruno when we needed it most.

Just said in the Barnes thread that I was surprised Gordon was the one substituted. He was giving them some real headaches with his direct running and pace.

His lack of pace meant we didn't really have much option on the counter on his side. I thought Gordon should have stayed on instead for the second half tbh, he looked lively.

The Leazes is too quiet. A few fans do their best, but there isn't enough take up of the songs to really get the place bouncing.

Probably not, but I think most people would still rather he started the last two matches ahead of Wilson or Osula unless he's completely knackered.

Even if Willock was fit I was pleased when I found out we were going to a back 3 again. It just felt like the right fit for the players we had available. What did surprise me was how dominant we were even in that formation, I would have expected us to be a bit more circumspect, but we got after them like sharks sniffing blood.

Probably already the best season in my lifetime, but CL will confirm it.

Yep. this game was a bit too much for him, he didn't play much of a role in keeping Chelsea at bay when they were pushing up in the second half. Lovely player when he gets time, but today wasn't that sort of game.

They'll want to, but not sure they can make it happen. The three at the back which we used to beat them in the cup semi final might be a good shout.

Forest fucked.

Great result considering the players we had missing. Felt like we had the 10 men in the second half but maybe that looked different on TV. I'll have to watch the game back, we did defend well for the most part so the game plan worked and that's all that matters.

This is why all you can do is win your own games. It's still in our hands, just means we have no margin for error now.

Chelsea's midfield are apparently functioning a lot better since Lavia has come back in. Add to that we will have a vital cog missing in Joelinton. This is the problem with writing off clubs with Chelsea's resources, they have a far deeper squad than us. Yes we are at home, yes we can win. But let's not pretend this is like playing Fulham or Wolves at home. This is a big game between two very big teams, nothing can be taken for granted.

If Big Joe's playing I hope we'll be blasting out We will Rock you before the game. Ge them shitting their kegs right before kick off.