Chicken Dancer

IF we get into Europe, don't you need to have 4 homegrown players in squad? As in trained at the club before 21? We'd really struggle with that. I know there's a rule where if they're under 21 or they don't have to be counted or something (maybe?). Bring back Timmy Krul.

Thank god for that. To be fair it was pure liquid from memory, had been up town since 12. Long old (and expensive) day on the sauce. Mrs actually said last night it was better when yous were shit due to fact I was always able to have a family day on Sunday. I pretended to still be asleep on Sunday morning when she was getting up with the kids. Really rough day yesterday

Please tell me you're on a wind up @Dancing Brave? To be fair I bet loads are sick there it might not have been mine really. Shit man.

Definitely in the discussion, he’s a coach on the pitch. Literally changed our entire mindset. Been the best RB in the league (quite comfortably) and is arguably the best in the world this season, and that’s not even being hyperbolic.

Him and Schar must surely be the best looking partnership in the history of professional sports? I reckon he’s lush me, and mint at football.

Update: Not a popular man today pissed the bed (still think it was the mrs but I get the blame for everything in this house) , somehow lost my Apple Watch and wife rang her mam to tell on me today the huge grass. starting to get sick of us being so good ffs. Thank god there’s a nice gap now. Rough as fuck

I’ve just been sick outside filthys in the big market haha. Up the mags

Would be dead against moving Joelinton up top. Think we need him in the middle tomorrow. If it isn't Wilson, just go with Wood and pray.

Ridiculously keep forgetting about this lad. Should be on 3 in 3 too. Can't wait to see him in the second half of the season. His pace will be lush.

Buzzing for him. Hope he can grab a goal. Can't see a better striker behind Kane, if it wasn't for injuries he'd be getting 20 goals a season consistently, even under Bruce.

Aye, completely forgot about the League Cup pre-Christmas Hopefully a home tie again!

Wasn't great at all, most of the players didn't play well at all. So sloppy. So many long balls too, which is a tad uncharacteristic, albeit with 70% B Team. Didn't help Palace seemed happy enough to play for pens like. Soon as I seen 3 CB for them against Wood I feared for a long night. Targett was sloppy and ASM was particularly poor I thought, but it is canny fashionable to grief him. Only Joelinton (second half) looked OK. Rest were all pretty meh.

Wonder when the last time we went into a game against 'the big 6' as betting favourites? 17:30 kick off, pissed up St James', we're flying, they've been poor lately. Last game before Boxing Day. Everything points to a win, which means every fibre in my body doesn't expect a win

I can't pretend I wasn't underwhelmed at first, mainly due to the fact he was (probably) not first choice and we could have appointed him immediately after Bruce was sacked, although I understand there was an interview process and they were narrowing down a shortlist. My main concern was the fact we were absolutely shambolic defensively, and Howe was renowned for being pretty open at the back. Just didn't seem to be what we needed. I got fully behind him throughout though, although was starting to question again after Watford (H) in January. We looked dead and buried and without any luck. How wrong I was. Delighted to admit I was massively wrong and it seems that his time out of the game was used to perfect his methods - learning from different managers and different coaching techniques, as well as going over his old training sessions and see what he could do differently. That to me is exactly what separates him from most other coaches. He literally wants to improve and improve the players he coaches. Look at Joelinton and Almiron. Chalk and cheese to that fucking chancer we had previously. As he said in that podcast, he's very hard on himself and a complete perfectionist. Ultimately, a very likeable bloke too, which I've always thought back to his Bournemouth days. It really does seem to be the most perfect fit. He has bought into the region and the club, and if he continues as he is, he will be as fondly remembered as KK eventually, I have no doubt. There is literally nobody in world football I would rather have as our manager, including Pep etc. Not saying he's a better coach or whatever, just sometimes certain people are perfect for a club at the right time. I hope he's here for ages and has some special nights at St James', which I'm sure he will. Absolutely love the bloke and what he's done in his short time so far. Long may it continue.

Proud (but almost ashamed) to admit I only seen 3 games of Bruceball. No memories of his time, save for the Spurs post-takeover game.

Aye I thought so too, particularly in the second half. Mind I was absolutely certain we’d lose on pens. Only one I can remember us winning was Watford in the mid 00’s. Would turn my Apple Watch off if we got to a pen shootout in a final. Heart rate would be horrifically high.

Mike Ashley has reprogrammed our brains hasn't he I honestly don't think they'd care these days, we'd likely let him leave for nowt anyway if a club close to home that he was happy to move to came in for him, regardless of length of contract. Was actually saying in the pub on Sunday that we'd deliberately not play Shelvey for same reasons under Ashley (granted he's involved in the first team much more that Ritchie).

Hope we don't go too weak. I'd definitely be resting Trippier, Bruno and Wilson. Maybe Botman or Schar too. I'd like to see; Pope, Manquillo, Schar/Botman, Burn, Targett, Shelvey, Joelinton, Willock, Murphy, Wood, ASM. You'd have to think Palace will make some changes too, so would balance it out a bit if we're missing Bruno. Have him on the bench just in case we need him.

Yet every time he took one, I still fucking convinced myself he was going to miss I agree though, took a great penalty.

and hopefully the Bills smash the Packers too! Enjoy everyone. Fucking bouncing in there today second half.

it was indeed. Goalkeeper error too. Really was one of my favourite days at SJP, which isn’t saying much. Plenty more to come though!

I know, they won us the title on final day (technically) as they scored a late goal to deny Brighton, just before Gayle put in our 3rd. Magic day!

To my knowledge we've relegated Cardiff (2014) and Burnley (2022) and no banners either time. I suppose the argument for Villa fans was that we're a much bigger club that the 2 mentioned, and had the likes of Owen, Viduka, Duff & Butt whilst having Shearer as manager. The entire country wanted us to go down that day - you can see Man Utd fans at Hull celebrating like mad too (no banners mind). It was a huge story at the time, but Villa definitely did go OTT for sure. I must say, I feel like we've more than evened the scores since. We thumped them 6-0, tend to beat them at St James. Beat them at Villa Park a couple of times, and they technically did win us the Championship in 2017. As the above has touched on, Twitter fans are no representation really, given ours is tragic, and I find Everton a lot worse than Villa. I do hope we smash them though - like any team!

If I see one magpie I may as well just not go to the match. Been like that since I started going when I was like 8 Saying that, I did see one before the Brentford game, but still sticks to this day!

I thought all of January was being announced?