Chicken Dancer

Agree with @Ace, except for the take on Curry's lot @ NUSC. They're fake hardmen who think they run our away support. Weapons. Trust are just an extension of True Faith now who think they run our support as a whole. Will ALWAYS protect their own interests over anything else. And no, I won't be standing to be on the board. I spoke to an ex-board member relatively recently who basically just confirms what most people think.

It's no good calling out people for being anxious, howay. We're in a position that none of us dreamed of so soon and I suspect there's a case of imposter syndrome for many. I think there'll be a good few putting a brave face on, some more who are just delighted to enjoy the ride and see what happens, some who are completely relaxed and know (quite rightly) that it's a near formality given our form for 18 months and then those who are genuinely worried because of the lingering scars of the past. Everyone is just so desperate to get it - we're so close and I don't think anybody thinks we aren't in a fantastic position, they just want it done with no drama. It doesn't help when you see Liverpool get away with 2 blatant handballs (Leeds/West Ham), red card (Spurs) and a dodgy as fuck pen last night. Some people just get more worried and that's absolutely fine. Some people are relaxed about it and it's admirable - I wish it was me. I'm sure it will change for us in time, but a look at Blue Moon shows even now, after years of success & domination, there's still some Man City fans who think the worst. It's human nature for a lot of people. I was convinced it was done if we got 7 points from Spurs, Everton & Southampton. We got 9 and I'm still checking the odds/table almost hourly I wish I wasn't but here we are. All season long I've basically dismissed the Champions League because I did just think we'd tail off - especially after that run in Jan/Feb. I started to really believe after Man Utd game, to the point where I agree now what others have said; finishing 5th would be absolutely devastating. In August if you offered anyone of us 5th and a Cup Final 99.999999% of us would have given anything for it. But now it would be devastating given the position we find ourselves in. But like I said yesterday, if you put it logically (before Liverpool's game), if we were 9 points behind with 15 to play for would you fancy us? Especially chasing a team who's won 8 out of 9 and looking like scoring every time they have the ball? Absolutely not. But football is a weird game at times, especially in May. We could easily do Arsenal by 2 or 3 and then go lose to Leeds. I'm absolutely bricking it but at the same time, I 100% believe Howe and the players are targeting 3rd internally. It's the nature of the beast that he's created here and there's absolutely no reason why we can't win all of our games, and definitely no reason we why shouldn't finish 3rd. Realistically we need to lose 3 games in our next 5 to not get in. Even the pessimist in me thinks that is hugely unlikely given we've only lost 4 all season. Hell, even 5 draws might even do it. Point on Sunday, beat Jabba next week and then we're partying at St James' against Brighton - at the very worst at home to a shambolic Leicester the following Monday. Then play Miley, Dummett, Ritchie managed by Jack Ross at Chelsea for all I care. Stick Shola in nets. FWIW I think we'll do Arsenal on Sunday. They need to win, we don't. We'll beat them. Then even the most pessimist worrying bitches (me) will relax as there's no way we're losing 3 out of 4. Newcastle United are going to be playing Champions League football in 2023, when on the 15th January last year it looked like they'd be playing Championship football in 2022.

you can get 12/1 Sky Bet for Top 4 to be Man C, Arsenal, Man U & Liverpool (any order). Sneaky way of boosting the price for anyone shitting their kegs.

I’ve been a bed wetter all along but if I’m being honest their recent performances make me feel loads better. 1 goal wins makes it 6 points needed, not 7. Obviously they have it in them to smash a team, but as do we. They’ve scored 5 more than us in an extra game, and they’ve won 9-0. We will be fine, obviously loose Sunday is a tad nervy but I’ve seen enough to think Villa, Brentford or even Leicester could take points off them.

Everton away (I know!!!) was the height of my nerves. Always believed we'd beat Spurs and Southampton. Even Man Utd at the start of April I had that good feeling that we'd do them. Arsenal is a worry, but it definitely plays into our hands they need to win. Any points dropped they know they're done, whereas we can afford to lose a game.

What's the talk locally regarding Messi @Village Idiot? Is he coming home? Would be nice to see him back - you never know, I might even get to see him at St James' next year regardless!

Appreciate the confidence of many. Proud to admit I'm a bed-wetting fanny. PTSD indeed. My mate said to me the other day; ' if we were 9 points behind with 15 to play for, would you fancy us getting in?'. The answer is of course not. It's just hard for me to shift my mentality - hopefully will come in a year or two when we continue to win games

Does anyone have the game when we last actually beat Allardyce? I'm struggling to recall. Surely not when he was at fucking Bolton

Gutted this pig is going to be there next week. Hopefully we can continue to break our curses (BT & Saudi top at Everton) and beat this lump into oblivion next week. Shame as I don't mind Leeds at all, really torn now between them and Everton. Hopefully both drop.

I've been losing my shit about Liverpool the entire way, however if we win, I think the chances of us losing 3 out of our last 4 are incredibly slim. My cigar will be out of the packet, but the lighter will stay in the draw until we beat Leeds or Brighton.

We will beat these. They're a fantastic team but I think it'll suit us down to the ground that they have no choice but to win. They'll definitely score but we will too. They'll be fired up from the battering last season but they still look vulnerable. If West Ham & Southampton can get a result against them, we definitely can. However I'd take a draw - looking at the next 4 games in 2 pairs - 4 points from each and we're there.

That depends on Liverpool overhauling our GD, which if they win their next 5 you’d assume it’ll be very tight.

It’s a shame Maxi got injured to be honest. Was starting to look really effective and I think he’d be hugely important in the run-in if we can get him fit. Fingers crossed he’s back soon.

This is exactly me. Never felt this stressed fighting relegation. It's because it's completely alien to us. My lass is beyond sick of me, I'm chewed to bits. There's no denying that that lump going to Leeds makes next week a tad more difficult - yes I know they're awful but look at Everton in Dyche's first game (I know this will be Jabba's 2nd). They beat Arsenal. We definitely should have enough to beat them but it definitely makes it harder. Hopefully Man City stick 5 past them. That being said we were a Lucas Moura clearance away from being home and hosed. I reckon internally, Howe and the players will be targeting 3rd.

Klopp has shown himself to be a right cunt on a good few occasions to be honest. When he first came to England he was this shiny new fella who constantly smiled and joked on, and as time's went on and they've enjoyed success he's became a proper twat - perfect example of the mask slipping. Imagine an opposition manager done that to a Fourth Official at Anfield ffs He goes on like Liverpool are proper hard done by - biggest load of shit ever - West Ham should have had a pen in added time last week and their first at Leeds shouldn't have stood. They get the rub of the green more often than not in that's probably because officials are scared of this big bully. Bullies reporters after the game if Liverpool haven't won, bullies officials before, during and after games to get his own way. Can't wait until we're playing Champions League and this cunt is crying about it and Liverpool's 'ceiling' every week. Fuck him. Cunt.

Aye but remember Liverpool could also catch Man Utd. Is a bit of a pisser we will be playing Leeds who'll have Allardyce there. I know they're shit and we should be beating them comfortably, but that big lump seems to have some Voodoo shit going on since we sacked him. Can't stand the bloke. We 100% should quite easily get 7 points from 5 games, but I will still be shitting myself when Liverpool are inevitably 3 points behind us before we play Arsenal on Sunday (granted with 2 games in hand).

Didn’t we go in for him in Jan for like £20m? Could be someone else.

Gallowgate (top row) stunk of skunk today mind.

Said I’d be confident to the point where it’s done if we got 7 from Spurs, Everton and Southampton. Here we have 9 and I’m still shitting myself man. Sick.

They’ll win the day, Watford are a shitshow. It’s fell nicely for them so far, results have certainly been going their way. Watford and probably Preston will have nowt to play for either.

Needs to be rocking from the first whistle on Sunday, which is the least we can give the players. Southampton are fucking crap too. Thankfully they need to win.

Trent handball at Leeds too. I know they won 6-1 in the end, but the first goal is nearly always pivotal.

I think Man City at home back in August was when I thought 'fuck we might actually have a cracking season here', but for enjoyment levels I think the Man Utd (H) game was the best. We battered them as much as we did Spurs, we just didn't take the chances as much. Most important win of the season (so far) was Wolves (H) for me. It'll get swept under the radar a tad but we weren't great, in the middle of our poor run and we scored a relatively late winner which started this new run. I suppose Forest (A) scoring a last minute winner will get the plaudits but if we didn't win this it would have put us in a sticky situation with tricky games to follow.

It's funny but you can absolutely relate I'd definitely advise him to not chuck it...who knows what the situation will be in 24 months - use NUFC as the prime example!

Aye - I do completely sympathise with that to be fair like. There's nothing worse when you feel like you have no connection to the first thing that you ever felt in love with. They do have a number of helmets online, however don't we all? I think a season or two outside of the Premier League will be a good thing for them as fans to build back that connection. For all the faux rivalry that's been created, they are a proper traditional club and it's a shame to see them ran into the ground. Crazy to think not too long ago this lot had the Don as manager with James Rodriguez in the line up