STM

Our good run had a midfield of Bruno, Willock and Longstaff, so it will be fine. Maxi on the left is a concern if he doesn't track back but we need him going forward. Him and Isak are going to tear someone up soon.

Give me dem tears.

Only just seen Spurs got beat. Man United win and its a canny weekend.

Pope Tripper Schar Botman Targett Bruno Longstaff Willock Murphy ASM Isak The pace in this side should frighten them. 3-0

The fact that top 4 is even in the equation is mind boggling. The fact that some of our "fans" would prefer to look at a few recent results rather than the bigger picture, is totally unsurprising. We've lost 3 games all season and are 20 points ahead of where we were last season. I, for one, am over the fucking moon at our progress. We will get a second wind this season and the sooner it happens the better our final league position.

@Herondid wor flags get to keep them flags by the way? Who did they belong to? and more importantly.... we going to see them at SJP?

He will sign a new contract between now and the start of next season.

I'd be shocked if we didn't go on a strong run of form before the end of the season. Whether it's good enough for top 4 is another question. We are at the stage where 1 win changes everything.

It's not about dropping Longstaff, Wilson and Miggy per se. It's about putting fresh ideas into the starting 11. It's stale and predictable. In a few weeks, you could easily see a rejuvenated Wilson or Miggy back in the side. It's just what we need to do now. Attacking is about being unpredictable and dynamic. Defending about being solid and consistent. We've taken the latter traits and applied them to the former. They are almost over coached in that sense. Sometimes you have to rely on the individual to do his own thing. A small reboot and results will will flow.

The only thing I will say on the "too nice" debate, is that I don't think Dubravka should have walked back in as second choice. Sometimes managers should lay down the law, even if Dubravka is genuinely our second best keeper. Its a out setting a precedent. Apart from that Howe looks tough enough to me. Binned off Fraser quick enough.

Personally think Man Utd are in a really good spot. They are a Harry Kane away from being challengers. Their big issue comes from losing Casemiro or Varane to injury but they have the finance to buy 3 or so quality players to compete in the squad. De Gea Varane Martinez Shaw Casemiro Eriksen Fernandes Rashford Are league winning quality. That's 8 players. Man City usual have around 14 plus a few decent ones. So they are 6 players short. But Sancho and Anthony could find consistent form and be considered a 9th or 10th. IMO they are around 2 seasons away from winning the league, provided they get their recruitment right. You'd have to ask @Froggyhow close this asessment is though.

Just got back and only got settled to reflect on the weekend. Our fans: An absolute credit to the club. Apart from the odd knacker we behaved ourselves and absolutely took over London. Everywhere I went on the tube, Paddington Hotel, just everywhere, were geordies. All with a smile and story, like long lost family and THAT was what it was about. I won't lie and say I didn't want to win but it was genuinely secondary to the sense of community and camaraderie of fellow fans enjoy this great experience. Man Utd fans: Long story short, I found myself stuck amongst what seemed like their whole fan base walking up Olympic way to the tube station. One black and white amongst a sea of red with my 10 year old lad. One of their fans tried to start something but thankfully another of their fans actually stepped in and I had great craic with am actual reasonable red who said it was a matter of time for us. Fair play. Also had a couple of them come and shake my hand in a nice way, as if to say unlucky with was canny. Still despise them but only on an official basis. The match: Was actually proud that we made a real go of it but just played them at the wrong time. They are probably the most in form side in Europe and our form has slipped. Pleased that YAR was there. He needs to open the chequebook and we need to be ruthless with some of the players we love but aren't up the standard. One little note I will finish with: I have a connection to the driver of the team bus and apparently the driver, the security guy and the player liason guy were all in floods of tears on their way into the stadium on the bus, because it was the proudest moment of their lives. THAT is what it's about.

You know what, they are right, let's stop signing players like Bruno, they are more hassle than they are worth. What if we don't get top 4 IMMEDIATELY? They will just want to jump ship, mercenary cunts. In completely separate news, it took some of our fan base roughly 18 months post takeover to start hoying their toys out of the pram regarding our potential success, this despite being 5th in the league and being in our first cup final in 20 years. Honestly I can handle losing a cup final, I can't handle the over the top reactions to our recent dip in form. It's absolutely astounding.

For reference, I was on the back row.

Did you watch on TV. How did we look? I've seen and read nowt.

No mate, everyone should stand and sing for 100% of the game, regardless of scoreline and situation. Where I was, our fans were excellent.

Genuinely shocked that anyone thought our end was dire. The constant attempts from our fans to down play our stadium, our atmosphere, our team etc is quite embarrassing. It's like some live in a pretend world where fans are going to sing for 100% of the game. It doesn't happen, especially in a stadium so large. You are always going to get pockets of atmosphere, as opposed to a full end singing. Our fans were class but if anyone wants to keep bashing them crack on. Bizarre.

Was there. Was unreal.

It's weird because I don't normally get swept up in omens or just having a feeling but there is something in the air. I'm a big enough boy to accept defeat and understand getting to a final is an amazing achievement but I dunno, even Man U's form hasn't brushed aside this feeling that something might just happen for us. It's possibly because we have a competent side and a world class midfielder like. If feels like since the takeover it's been wave after wave of success stories. Even the stadium news two weeks ago felt like another inevitable win. I feel like if we don't win this, we will get CL. Its like our roller coaster isn't stopping for anyone.

Fair points.

Expect us to be linked with Mount fairly heavily. He's a very Eddie Howe player. Don't @ me

If anyone is in trafalgar square tommorow evening. Give me a PM. Got a frosty one waiting for anyone.

transit.

Was also on St James boulevard for a while. In its rightful home now.