LionOfGosforth

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

Think people remember the two goals in the first 15 minutes and forget we should have been one down inside 40 seconds. I've watched the Forest game again this morning by the way, and you were on the money. We gave away a stupid goal but other than that, it was a dominant 90. I don't know how it took till injury time to get the winner, ridiculous.

How do we beat them kinell

While Chelsea spunked millions on Potter

Kinell, gonna take a best of the season from us to beat this lot

Estupinan is quality like

Most of the season, i've wanted us to play the way that has got us where we are, to not overreact to losing (like after Villa). This game is a one-off, we can't play exactly the same way. Brighton already murdered us once this season and we have Pope to thank for the 0-0.

Yep

Watching them today this is a nasty matchup for us, a team that likes to press high against a side who thrives on playing through that. I hope we have some tactical tweaks and tricks up our sleeves

You can just see the belief draining in them, getting outplayed, Odegaard so quiet

White rinsed there, good stuff

Mitoma, MacAllister and Caicedo et al get a lot of deserved praise but Pascal Gross does a good tactical job in there

After getting done by the team we did the week before

Glad Brighton lost last week now

Those calling for Burn to be benched, I seriously doubt it will happen, Targett, despite the start at Everton, has barely any football in his legs.

Class young player, had never seen him until they played Everton earlier in the season, they couldn't handle him at all and I thought "where the fuck did he come from"

Can't quite believe this same Brighton side shipped 5 at home to Everton of all sides. Bonkers, they're so good.

Can see them using Ferguson to their advantage as well, moving him around and putting him on Tripps at times. He's a big physical lad.

Need an Arsenal at home from last season type performance, atmosphere bouncing, tactically switched on, no sloppy goals given away. Start Isak, Wilson off the bench for his shithousing late to hopefully help protect a lead.