STM

Pope Trippier Schar Botman Burn Bruno Longstaff Willock Murphy Joelinton Isak 3-0 Isak hatty.

Not scared of anyone, bring the fuckers on.

@Heronbound to be an Isak flag in the pipeline?

Yep ASM for Joelinton the only change. Hopefully Gordon back on the bench to give us some depth back.

Yeah just spotted him in the celebrations. Such things make me smile.

Break out the sick smelling fermented herring.

Put some respect on this lads name. Was absolutely class today IMO. I honestly don't know how Howe does it.

Isak is god

I presume we are talking about ASM? If so, he was our worst player by a country mile. He was awful until Howe changed it.

Only difference between this and us pumping sides earlier in the season is a tiny bit of luck and a tiny lack of composure in front of goal. Performances a virtually the same.

Henry mk2

Seldom will you find someone outside hooters who isn't in good spirits.

Reet, wheres Ryan Fraser? Alls forgiven lad, get ya boots on.

We will spank them.

4 left backs on the bench

He went for a scan yesterday. He's out.

Miggy wasn't going to be starting anyway. Learned enough about Howe that he likes to reward players who perform like Murphy. Bench is going to be shite like.

Schar has probably omitted himself from the Swiss squad because he's 31 and has had a heavy work load and possibly a few knocks. If our medical team thinks he will benefit from a rest, it makes sense. There's a fair chance that he no longer starts for Switzerland anymore, so it's not the drama it might seem.

He's much better on the right mind. Never fancy him on the left. He just doesn't seem to have the footwork to fox defenders on the left.

Hes very direct and does everything at the first time of asking. Rarely do you see him stop, check, turn around, double back on himself. He's head down, take on his full back or give it to midfielder and make a run behind. Both Maxi and Miggy are guilty of these things. He's got a lack of technique and accuracy but it's somewhat made up for by his workrate and pace.

Why not just hire Rafa?

We are overdue giving someone a hiding or a bit of luck heading our way. Sending off for forest or pen to us incoming.

Lads, if we win our game in hand, we are literally 3 points off Man Utd. That's the equivalent of us converting two of our draws, let's say Leeds and Palace at home (where we were denied a legitimate goal), into being 3rd in the league. 3rd man. We've been fucking astonishing this season. Just over a year ago we had Ciaran Clark and Matt Richie in our back four, now we have the best defence in the league. Just to be clear, we have the best defence in the league, without playing a negative style whatsoever. It's absolute unreal. We've got a long term spine of Pope, Botman, Bruno and Isak. We've got a manager getting every player performing at their max potential. We've got owners who are killing it on and off the pitch. Its at this stage where I don't even knowing who I'm ranting to. I'm just buzzing. We are getting better and better. Will we finish top 4? We might. We just might.... and that in itself it a bloody miracle.

OK course Isak was going to get called up. He's pretty much their best player. I also think it's a good thing for us. He's hardly had any minutes and it will all build his fitness and confidence. I'd like to think Newcastle and Sweden will discuss his training schedule etc.

Personally, I'm more interested in looking at his signings for Newcastle, than having a time travelling exercise with the purpose of finding a stick to bash Howe with. He also "couldn't sort out a defence", remember. My ratings so far: Trippier- 9/10 Bruno- 10/10 Burn- 7/10 Targett- 6/10 Wood- 5/10 Pope- 8/10 Botman- 9/10 Isak- 8/10 potentially 10/10 Gordon- 6/10 (too soon) No club gets them all right. We just need to keep going. If we can get 3 Botman/Isaks in the summer and 2 even younger players for the squad, we will have done ok.