LionOfGosforth

Can't say enough about EH and how well he's managed Isak/Wilson and their respective fitness and morale. Think Wilson will hopefully be flying and trying to prove a point tonight with Isak to come on if needed.

Benny was quality throughout 89/90, especially late in the season. Started the next well too but 90/91 was a rotten season overall

Fuck, the nerves are kicking in big time

If someone told me to predict which game he would return for, from the remaining games, this would probably be last on the list but welcome back!

Very unlike EH to bench "form" players (Isak and Murphy) and also surprised at the Targett inclusion, would have thought a home game instead of a white hot away game would be better but EH knows more than anyone. Let's smash these horrible fuckers into the Championship!

No wonder the 70s was such a winning era

Think in the main, we need to be on it with defending set pieces, long balls. They have very little quality but a big side who Dyche sets up to be threatening from free kicks and corners. It'll need to be a brave defensive show to keep a clean sheet, even though they lack quality all over.

From what I recall, they were bad, we were a bit better and made chances but were really sloppy defending and with our chances. I'd just like to see a dominant away win, haven't had one in ages. Sounds silly after beating West Ham 5-1 but they gifted us goals in a way i've not seen before.

Anyway i'm being hyper-critical to make a general point but Palace and Bournemouth were pretty crap all-round, Villa, Brentford and West Ham were undoubtedly poor first halves. Man City wasn't bad but from memory most of the chances were second half. Dunno, just feels like we haven't really started an away game really well since Boxing Day, would be nice to see that change tonight.

We weren't like, we created chances yeah but the performance wasn't great and we gifted them a goal.

Also started slow at Forest (daft goal given away) and even West Ham (saved by two quick early goals after rotten defending by them). Have to go back to Leicester for the last time I think we really went at a team from the first whistle in an away game. Home games are a different story.

Got a nasty feeling about this one, hope i'm wrong. Need to be up for it from the start, we've started a lot of recent away games really slowly and they will be up for it without a doubt. Hope we smash them

Lamps with the Christmas tree formation tonight, it's not 1997 you spanner

Fatty Phillips didn't even get 5 minutes again, what a useless move

A couple less wins and Chelsea would be in a relegation battle 100%

Lamps on for 5 defeats out of 5, keep it up mate

filthy from Haaland that

I mean the situations between the two games aren't even slightly comparable. Saturday, mid-season, under Lampard versus late April, under Dyche and the floodlights on with everything on the line.

In the context of what it means for both teams, a huge and difficult game. Purely on form and overall ability and the way we're coached and our tactical preparedness, we should win comfortably. But it's midweek and away against these when they're desperate for points as usual, and that does funny things to what "should happen". Think we sneak it but it'll be mighty tough and bound to be controversial with Marriner in charge

Is the correct answer. Unmissable man

Well if Football Insider says it's happening, it must be true. Joking aside, if it happens, EH will turn him into a valuable squad player.

He seems like a great lad, i'd almost want to have a pint with him and there's not many scousers i've met I could say that about. Got a kick out of the way he says "Richarlison" for some reason

700k

Great post. All that said, I can't remember the last time Villa lost (losing 4-2 to Arsenal feels like the last time I saw them lose), they hardly ever seem to drop points

Vardy 1-1