Chicken Dancer

It's such a shame Longstaff is out as he'd have been a huge help nullifying Estupinan & Mitoma on our right side. Miggy will have to work very hard assuming he is the starter here. Really can't wait for this now. The mood - even though it's not low or owt like that - will be lifted so much if we win. Could even knock the stuffing out of Liverpool a bit too.

Always thought it was born from Brugge - Fulham away a few days later. Could be completely wrong - probably am given I was out of it on very strong Belgian beer and some extra-strong party paracetamol for 3 nights

How I wish this was a Friday night game. Hopefully the atmosphere is just as bouncing. Very difficult game and as others have said, not a great match up for us in terms of styles. Longstaff will be a huge miss but there's absolutely no reason why we can't win. If we start like we did in our 'big' home games then we will win, but their tactics will all be around managing the first 20 and keeping the crowd out of the game. I genuinely wouldn't be surprised if we won 3-0, lost 0-3 or anything in between. The week is fucking dragging, I know that much!

Aye. I'm sure Birmingham had a 7/8000 allocation a year or two prior. That walk was a pisser, though. Seemed to go on forever, although I think that trip was the birth of the 'don't sell Cabaye/don't take me home' songs. One of them anyway.

It would be fucking mint if Liverpool won 9 games off the bounce and didn't qualify

Late to the party here but thought this was a cracking away end on Saturday. Was in the lower tier right next to their fans and was sort of bewildered by their celebrations at the end of the game. That being said, they made some great noise too. Was a cracking atmosphere for a 12:30 game.

It's easy to fall into the trap looking at their result at Arsenal and panicking like fuck. But we're 3rd top. Most of us have said all season we'd take anyone at home. We now have 2 actual finals at home under the lights to 2 teams who are both below us in the table after 35 games. They're a really team and can beat us, but we can definitely beat them. No fear, make it as hostile as possible. Remember since 19th December 2021 we've only lost 3 home games in the league (not counting Cambridge ). A Liverpool side going for a quadruple, Liverpool a week before a cup final without our best player and with 10 men for most of the game. Finally to an Arsenal side who've been pretty brilliant all year, who needed to win to keep their title hopes alive - we did go toe to toe. We're mint at home is the point. Think it might actually suit us that we need to win both. If we needed 4 points we'd have maybe (subconsciously) approached this differently. If we start like we have in the 'big' home games we will score within the first 20 which will settle any nerves.

Was a horrendous week that. Done 3 Europa League trips in 2012/13. Can't wait to be back in Europe. Understand that it's cost permitting but those who can who haven't before, I can't recommend doing a European away enough. It's very special.

Would hope we never go down that route. I can understand why, but if we extend by say 10k, I'd like to think at least 8k would be made available for Season Tickets. I appreciate it allows more people to get to games per season, but I'll be fucking devastated if you see people in the Gallowgate all with their phones out as Isak scores an 85th minute winner like you see at Old Trafford and the likes. Less ST also opens the door to touts.

I was worried about Everton away but quality mainly shines through in the end. No reason we shouldn't be beating these by 2 or 3. They're shite. They'll be more organised but don't be fooled by their result at City last week. Could/should have been 5-1 easily. Get the first goal, just like at Goodison, and we could have a field day. When we've went away to sides really struggling this season; - Southampton 1-4 - Leicester 0-3 - Forest 1-2 (flattered them 100%) - West Ham 1-5 - Everton 1-4 No reason it shouldn't be like that tomorrow. A lot will have to go wrong for us not to win. I'm a huge worrier and can't pretend I'm not nervous, but logically we should be beating these. They're crap.

Recently there's been a few big money 'flops' from Bundesliga - the ones you mentioned + Sancho, Keita and probably more. I do actually agree with you though. I'd argue Keita is the most shocking as Liverpool tended to do extremely well in the transfer market under Edwards, but with the correct thorough scouting & coaching there's no reason why the top Bundesliga players can't replicate/enhance their stats & production from over there.

Definitely wouldn't be starting Anderson in such a high stakes game. Probably be the same as Arsenal, with the exception of Almiron in for Wilson I reckon. Murphy out left.

It's a shame the clean sheets have dried up since January. Would have been nice for Pope to get Golden Glove.

As someone said on another thread, win on Saturday and it's better than drawing with Arsenal and then Leeds. Feels like I've thought this a million times but it really does have the feel of our biggest game of the season - certainly in defining what happens. Win and two back-to-back home games to get 4 points. Party time. Win and we're 6 clear of 5th with 9 points to play for. Draw/lose it will probably go to the final day, although we should definitely be looking to beat Brighton & Leicester if we draw and that would also be enough. You never know, Leicester could do us a favour on Monday night....

Praying we don't need to be on as it's a dead rubber I think it will be, so depending on if the league is wrapped up or not, they'll probably have the deciding relegation games on. They'll probably be announced as late as the Thursday prior, when Man U host Chelsea.

Agree about people leaving. It was a good performance, I'm sure that pint can wait an extra 5 minutes, clap them off and enjoy your bank holiday. The atmosphere just prior to the teams coming out when EIEIEIO was bouncing round the ground with the sun shining was magic, like. Shame we didn't get the result but I actually enjoyed it nonetheless. If we start like that against Brighton & Leicester we will have no bother, especially the latter. Hopefully this safe standing trial goes well and we can have another in Leazes L4. Will help the atmosphere bounce round a lot more. Always wondered how there's a coordinated effort at Old Trafford, Liverpool, Leeds & others to get full stands standing for the duration of (maybe big?) games. I think even Arsenal & Man City have large sections that stand. Standing improves atmosphere a lot, although not sure of the logic to it.

Not sure why I'm doing this but... I will apologise for being worried constantly. Not entirely sure why I'm like that but I think it's mainly just due to sheer desperation of wanting it so badly. I do think people should be allowed to vent that they're worried as much as those who are really upbeat remain positive. It's a forum. FWIW I've never once said - or believed - we won't do it post-Man U in April, just that I was worried. 12 points (after Liverpool drew with Arsenal at Easter) has became 3 so I understand why people are nervous. Thank God Salah missed that pen But yes, apologies for worrying and rubbing people up the wrong way. I can be canny anxious as a person tbf so I'll refrain from posting in this thread for my own sanity as well as all yours! P.S Yes @LV I've got my nappies ready to take on the train to Leeds this weekend. Got a feeling I'll need them for kick-off

Sorry mate. Forgot how cool it is to just think we’re going to coast it. My bad

Nah mate I just forget it’s like proper cool to not express any worry when a 12 point lead has been cut to 3. Good news is we generally respond quite well to a defeat. I’m down Leeds next week so fingers crossed.

Is it still proper cool to not be worried or is everyone allowed to be a bit nervous now?

If you assume the absolute worst and we lose both our games in hand to Arsenal and Brighton, we need to get 6 points against Leeds, Leicester and Chelsea. However we won’t lose both them games so it’s sound - draw one and that’s 2 games (4 points) they’d need to swing out of 3 games left.

Correct. Been shitting my pants for weeks with their games, but the GD not being dented is a huge bonus. Sadly they have Leicester next week Saying that, we could have have an extra 4 points by then meaning we will only need to win 1 of Brighton, Leicester and Chelsea to confirm it. Win tomorrow and we’ll coast it. Lose and we’ll still do it, it just might need go to the final day. For my sanity I hope not.

It would actually make it all the sweeter if they go on a 9 game winning run and they finish 5th. I actually despise Man United but I’d sooner they got Top 4 than this lot. Cunts.

I hope that those who divulge get their throats nice and lubricated with some shit pints pre-match on Sunday, ready for 90 minutes of noise. We should be talking about this as the best it's been inside St James' for years to come. Buzzing for it.

He's the second coming of KK man, except this time we will end up with a trophy. I was definitely sceptical at the appointment, mainly due to the fact we openly courted Emery and were rejected by him. My heart was set. Looking back - and indeed forward - I can't think of a bloke more suited to being Newcastle manager than Howe. He's just perfect for us in every way.