Chicken Dancer

The football was not better under Bruce, like. Benitez was heavily criticised for that 0-1 defeat to Man City in 17/18 and it stuck (the 100pt season btw). Don't get me wrong, it was never free-flowing attacking football, but we used to create plenty chances in certain games. Going toe-to-toe with that Man City team would have meant a 0-4 defeat or something, Rafa was wise to the importance of goal difference. We played pretty much the exact same game plan the following February and won 2-1, nobody said a word because we won. The same sort of thing is happening now - the media/socials is telling everyone that we are this disgusting, time-wasting mess whereas we who watch it every week know it not to be the case. It took a few transfer windows but the second half of 18/19 when we signed Almiron and were playing a settled side every week we looked every bit a decent team. Benitez will always be a pragmatic manager, but to say the football was better under Bruce is utterly absurd and just outright wrong. I'd have loved to see Benitez able to sign a £40m striker. I understand that Benitez wasn't everyone's cup of tea, but Bruce was like a sunday league manager and that's being kind. The Geordie Pardew, but maybe that's being harsh on the silver fox.

I think you's will do it you know. I'm potentially getting carried away given your form (despite not losing too many) hasn't been great for a 5/6 weeks, but I think everything just fell into place yesterday. Even Friday too - if you's had held on. Norwich not winning is huge given they have Boro away at the weekend, although Boro seem to be a tad deflated lately. There's a few around you who play each other too, so if you can win the next 2 it really will go down to the wire. Based on what I've seen you're better than Milwall & Coventry and you've recently beat Norwich, so nowt to fear. If you can get into the playoffs winning 5 out of 6 (which you may well need) then that's cracking momentum for the games ahead. It obviously doesn't help that there's a few teams above you, but if you can go into the final 3 games with it in your hands you'd have to fancy you really. Good luck - but not too much!

Aye I’ve just checked the fixtures for all teams for final 5 weeks, pretty certain they’ll get playoffs based on that. 4 point gap will be gone by next Tuesday. Blackburn’s game in hand is against Burnley btw.

Was a cracking day for them like.

Look forward to the day you call us a painful watch.

Similar game to be fair. We didn’t need to play ‘that’ well to smash them. Fantastic sign going forward as that was in the early days of that magic October/November.

we always have loved hating our own. Been the same for years. By own I mean academy graduates. He’s absolutely fine and will be a fine squad player going forwards, and we need to keep him for homegrown quote in Europe. Fitting he sent us to Wembley tbh.

Excuse me

Their next 3 looked kind on paper (4 including tonight), whilst the teams around them play each other. Cardiff will be buoyed from today and Huddersfield are flying. I’d imagine they’re fucked for the year - nail on the coffin could come Monday. It must be fucking shit being a mackem at the minute like

Still got a relatively decent chance of making the play-offs I reckon. The teams directly above play each other over the next few match days, whereas these have 3 very winnable games coming up. Both good results for them so far today as well.

Our midfield really remind me of Liverpool’s at certain stages of the last 5 years or so. Not much in the way of goals but absolutely vital to the way we play. He’s a bit like Henderson was back then - never ending engine and good protection for the right side of the defence when Trippier attacks. He must be one of the fittest players at the club (not in the way Schar is fit…)

Not sure on the figures, but it certainly helps hugely in the way of balancing out the books for future spending (sponsors/partnerships etc). With the new rules it'll take us beyond Villa/Everton/West Ham corporate deals to other Champions League sides. Absolutely massive if we get it this early, fast-forwards about 3 years I'd think. FWIW I still don't think we will go that mad. We might see 2/3 £50m + players with a few more in the £15-25m range to beef out the squad. Getting in consistently will be the next challenge, which will be sound as we will win the thing next year.

There's no in between with them - either magma or like ice.

I'd have taken 5 points from the 3 away games, so a win here would essentially make Villa a free-hit in my eyes. Thankfully Howe & the players won't think like that. Really need to try and change my mentality. I've spent all season thinking 'ahh top 4 probably won't happen this soon' but now we're at Easter with a huge chance. Somebody please help.

I know it’s been said countless times and irrelevant to his fantastic performance (yet again) but what a handsome bastard this fella is. Christ.

I love how he never lets our players absolutely swarm the ref like Liverpool/Man U/Man C do all the time. Proper captain.

Still utterly convinced we won’t get top 4. Yet I just watched us win 5-1 in about 3rd gear Fuck you Mike Ashley for fucking breaking my brain. Above all, what a fantastic group of lads we have giving absolutely everything every week for us. Proud of them no matter what. But let’s do this.

I actually think Willock is quite similar to that for us at the minute. Made the comparison the other day. But aye, I'd definitely take Tielemans on a free. Joelinton, Willock, Bruno G, Longstsaff and Tielemans would be a decent 5 to choose from. I do reckon we need a proper holding midfielder for certain games/situations though.

I'd still snap him up for nowt. His stock dropping could actually work out favourable in terms of wage demands etc, but no doubt a talented player. Not sure he is the high-energy type that Howe likes in midfield though. I think McTominay or Gallagher would be more likely if we're shopping at home.

Most pissed off (and pissed FWIW) at a home game this season. It was during their OK phase and our 'poor' phase of season, week before final too, but we were annoyingly good with 10 men. Timing couldn't have been worse. Was buzzing when it was announced as 17:30 too. However if we beat the cunts to Top 4 I'll remember the pain of that day and the 90+8 game in August as I @ loads of scousers on twitter.

Definitely agree there. I do think they'll beat Arsenal based upon absolutely no logic, then they have Leeds away on a Monday night which is very difficult. They are the team I fear most though honestly no idea why, I know they're shit.

Definitely agree with that. They'll be pushing for Europe next year and could even qualify this year. They've got a talented squad and a fantastic manager. I must also grudgingly admit that @brummiehas softened my view on their fans by some distance. I'd be delighted with a point next Saturday, dependent on tonight and Brentford of course.

He does seem to raise his game in the big home games mind. He was great against Man City, Liverpool & Man Utd this season. Everton last season too.

Oh I'm taking nowt away from them - they're great, and like you say the youngest squad in the league. But they've definitely been aided by other sides who are traditionally challenging having poorer seasons, and being able to rotate in Europe due to being in a 'lesser' competition. I do think they will lose at Anfield on Sunday though - not sure on my logic mind