LionOfGosforth

Especially since he was driving an XR3 and my Acclaim probably cost about 200 quid

I used to put petrol in his car at Chapel Park. I also managed to rear-end him in my Triumph Acclaim on Lemington roundabout...he wasn't thrilled

Recall being at a game against them around 86 or 87 and a rather nasty song about Ashley Grimes...

Love those memories, apart from Steve Foster and that headband

That play off final has an old school 80's feel

Wonder if fatty Arbuckle will get on for 2 at the end

City fans could barely be arsed to wave their flags

Courteois has kept the score down tbf, only Madrid player to perform

So CL final almost in the bag and the title sewn up at the weekend. Canny week in the life of a City fan, fuck me

Think it's likely a tactical instruction on ball possession, he's not someone who lacks confidence in his ability at all

I didn't mean to say he is technically bad, more that KdB, Gundogan and Silva are light years better. I often see him check back and just pass backwards, he must do it 15 times a game.

His technical ability is so much lower than most of the rest of their players but he's really athletic and draws tons of fouls, his worth to their side is undeniable

It's very practiced for sure

He does get fouled a fair bit but kinell, he's on the deck constantly

Crazy 8 playing like Jeff Hendrick

Their ability to play those beautiful little angled passes, into tight spaces at speed is fucking frightening

Madrid chasing shadows like

Probably the most inevitable goal i've ever seen

If only we had a crystal ball to know what other teams might end up doing. Can't see Liverpool dropping anything now, they'll get what they need vs Villa by hook or by crook (more crook than hook I bet). We have to do it ourselves, nobody is helping us. I stopped worrying what Liverpool were going to do when Jota scored that goal against Spurs. It became obvious that day.

Yeah, never said it wasn't risky, a defeat would be damaging to morale for sure. Not sure Howe has it in him to just play a cagey patient game. It's going to be a very interesting and nerve-shredding experience.

A draw doesn't do us much good. I think we might as well go for it and risk losing, as opposed to playing it safe. I don't think playing safe is in Howe's blood though anyway.

Superb mate. I had no idea who did it honestly, just love it so much

Big examination of Howe this one and his ability to be flexible for a one-off game. There's a possibility we're all slightly overrating Brighton on here based on Sunday but no question they're a very fine side, dangerous on the flanks through the excellent Mitoma (who concerns me a lot), quality big lad up front in Ferguson (or Welbeck) but also very fluid centrally. I've noticed Caicedo operates as a real enforcer, he impressed me a lot on Sunday, Gross also does an excellent tactical job in there and Macallister is a superb player who can shoot from anywhere. They've even got quality at the back in Dunk (one of the most underrated CBs in the league) and Estupinan, who makes the sale of Cucurella for 63m even funnier, he was brilliant on Sunday. Howe will know better than anyone what to do here. Apparently the way to beat a team like Brighton is to defend narrow, not press their CBs and counter from a low block. I've read that a few times and it makes sense. I don't know if we have that setup in our locker but I trust Howe to tweak our game plan enough to get a result. There's no way he didn't learn from the game in August, the recent Villa game, or Sunday's stunner. Under the lights at home, I really do think we've got it in us but we'll have to be very very good on the night and the fans need to play their part. In a nutshell, i've waffled and should have just said "Trust Eddie and Howay the fucking lads!!!"

Could, rather than should, was a better word to use