ExiledGeordie

Really looking forward to this game now, so I imagine the players will be aye. Yeah the result last nigh I'll have been just the tonic. Just need a solid professional performance and we should be alright. Gayle will have benefited from another weeks training, should be sharper.

Whatever happens tomorrow it's another game that's gone with Huddersfield not making a dent into the lead.

Huge chance now.

7 if you consider goal difference

I don't think Gayle is fit. Not 100%, he seems to be holding back, don't know if that's mental or physical, but something doesn't seem right. Yep 100% He'll be lacking match fitness and sharpness and hamstrings can be notoriously difficult to fully recover from. Confidence will probably be a bit of an issue because he's probably worried about it going again. Get another match in at Birmingham and then two weeks full training before the home matches and I'd say he'll be back to his best.

We've had Pardew, Carver, McShite in succession........we are top of the league with Benitez at the helm and automatic promotion looking likely. Fuck off

W all know Colback is weak as piss but the continued complete ineffectiveness of Diame and Perez game to game has really hurt us this season. I thought Perez would rip this league up but he's been nothing short of a disaster this season. Diame clearly isn't a number ten but his fluctuating and often woeful form only heaps more pressure on Shelvey to do something.

Just to entertain this absolute horseshit for a second more than it deserves, to be promoted already we'd have to be sitting on 102 points right now. From a maximum available of 111. Okay. Given our budget I say that is extremely relative. We should be miles ahead. Poor recruitment and negative tactics is costing us. No wonder Ashley doesn't trust him. "No wonder Ashley doesn't trust him" dear oh dear But he doesn't. If he did he would have backed him in Jan. But previous recruitment which is the direct impact of how s*** we are (for me extremely lucky to be where we are) along with his negative tactics. Any top manager wouldn't have Jack Colback anywhere near the first team. He'd have replaced him with better recruitment in the summer. So you'd rather we'd be under the tutorship of someone like Nigel Pearson or some other knacker then? We aren't perfect but save for some questionable home form we are top of the league. Look at Villa if you want to analyse poor recruitment too. You need to look at the impact Benitez has had on the club and area since his arrival too and it might be worth having a look at what he's won before you question his credentials. Giving genuine credence to Ashley not backing him too, that's the real winner too, lol

Just to entertain this absolute horseshit for a second more than it deserves, to be promoted already we'd have to be sitting on 102 points right now. From a maximum available of 111. Okay. Given our budget I say that is extremely relative. We should be miles ahead. Poor recruitment and negative tactics is costing us. No wonder Ashley doesn't trust him. "No wonder Ashley doesn't trust him" dear oh dear

Gayle is the deciding factor for me. He'll get chances today and unlike recent home matches where we've missed chances, he''ll convert.

Agree, it seems pretty clear that he really likes it hear and has an affiliation with the fans/area. I think he'll give Ashley every chance to confirm what he originally asked for and demonstrate ambition but if he's dicked around he'll be off for sure. It's almost like he's backing Ashley into a corner to the point where Ashley will be seen as the complete idiotic cunt if he goes back on his word. "I want it, the fans want it.....over to you"

Nothing like a bit of pre-match confidence

As has been mentioned already, we need to start well. The two home matches I've seen at St James we started so slowly and static. We need to get at them and get thr crowd up. Gayle is vital really and given they like to knock it about I can see him getting some good chances. If Gayle had been playing we would've put away QPR for example.

Can't complain when we utilise our squad when we have 3 games in 7 days. If nothing else at least we learn a little bit more about which players can step up and which ones can't. So why do gouffran, Perez and colback keep getting games then when they fail to step up nearly every time. Colback must be sucking Rafa off cos it's the only reason he can fail to see what a totally abysmal player he is Hayden is injured therefore Colback gets more game time, Perez gets the odd game and Gouffran while ineffective offensively puts in a shift but Atsu has played more recently anyway. Benitez doesnt have any other options a lot of the time given the players we have and the rigours of this league. I'd rather see players rotated and avoid injury. The proof is in the pudding anyway......look at the table, we're top. Hear what you saying and can say fair enough to some you said but cant agree on Colback or gouffran points and never will. Hopefully if we go up then both will be at other clubs in the summer because I would be majorly concerned if either were part of next seasons squad. Gouffran is "functional" and has done well this season. I dont rate Colback either but clearly Benitez thinks he can do a job as he chooses to start him over Diame in the same position. Neither player should be playing for us next season if we go up.

Gayle back is huge for us at home. It affects the way teams set up against us and in the games he's missed at home recently we've missed far too many chances Mitrovic being the bigges culprit.

Can't complain when we utilise our squad when we have 3 games in 7 days. If nothing else at least we learn a little bit more about which players can step up and which ones can't. So why do gouffran, Perez and colback keep getting games then when they fail to step up nearly every time. Colback must be sucking Rafa off cos it's the only reason he can fail to see what a totally abysmal player he is Hayden is injured therefore Colback gets more game time, Perez gets the odd game and Gouffran while ineffective offensively puts in a shift but Atsu has played more recently anyway. Benitez doesnt have any other options a lot of the time given the players we have and the rigours of this league. I'd rather see players rotated and avoid injury. The proof is in the pudding anyway......look at the table, we're top.

He's rotating the squad after two ridiculously tough away games and a tough match with Fulham on the horizon. No issues with who he played tonight.

Fulham are on form and won't be easy. Need to get back to winning ways. Hahahah

Solid point after two tough away games before this and some players rested which is key. Gayle starting and everyone raring to go for Saturday v Fulham Huddersfield and Brighton really had to win tonight given who they were playing ffs. We'll have plenty chances to pull away again when they have tough matches

Some of them have certainly got carried away by the looks of things. I quite like Wagner but hope they get done in the playoffs.

His pace got him that goal. He's always a threat with balls over the top.

Just need to avoid something ridiculous like Colback getting sent off. Do the same again and hit them on the break. Hopefully Gayle will get a run out second half at some point

Getting Gayle back fit will clinch it for me as we'll jut be that much more clinical in front of goal. We've really missed Gayle at home where missed chances have cost us badly.

That's a good summing up there. The Huddersfield match is bigger I think.