Andy84

With our fate almost all but sealed I want these to join us next year, even more than the Mackems. I reckon they will be a tougher proposition in the Championship than Palace. Seeing him take these down would be simply glorious, regardless of our situation.

Newcastle United summed up in 90 minutes that, just one massive let down

Worried we are gonna lose this now 1-0. We'll create 2-3 openings but squander them. They will probably score just before or after half time. Mackems have the easiest fixture other than Villa in the league today and will win. Another day of NUFC misery

It will be interesting to see us Colback free, without his slow, cumbersome sideways s***.

Scored for England U19s today

4-4-2 Anita at RB and Mbemba at LB. Mbemba is at least a natural defender and I think he's got the pace and nous to fill in there. Elliot Anita Lascelles Taylor Mbemba Townsend Tiote Shelvey Sissoko Cisse Mitrovic

Sounds so much more promising - this bit is especially encouraging: A fit and focused Tiote would be a help in a relegation battle, we know what he's prone to and his limitations but he will at least add balance to the midfield.

Unfortunately for these they don't play us every week, where they can target a player who has no business to be on the pitch never mind at left back. Fabio Borini isn't going to be bullying anymore Premier League defenders for a while, if ever. They are harder to beat but fail to do Sam's basic mantra - keep clean sheets, like us they can't win games and will be in it right until the end.

I think this shows that despite our strongest wishes, Palace aren't going to be dragged into it

Trying to absolve himself of blame and he's done the NUFC classic of releasing news 2 weeks until our next game in the hope it blows over.

Draw. Mackems will beat WBA and we'll be further in the mire

Exactly. Some positivity albeit slim is back and this poisonous oaf decides to open his mouth. F*** off.

He looked broken in his post match interviews, you could see the beads of sweat. His ego can't take the pressure, I remember him saying earlier on in the season "well there's a reason we are 5th in the division" what's the reason your team are now 16th and without a win in 2016 Al?? He knows his utterly s*** patter and excuses are starting to wear very thin. They've got tough games as well coming up but it doesn't really matter who they play at the moment, he doesn't have an answer or a clue what to do in order to turn it around. His mask has slipped and the result is absolutely beautiful. Wrighty reckoned they would get Europe man

Cheers for that insight Ross

According to his stats it was his 75th career goal today

Wants away and it shows

Played for the Mackems and smashed an effort into the top corner before doing a sshhhhh celebration, God I hate him

Don't feel too downbeat, still a poor result but for once it was us getting a late equaliser. We managed to drag ourselves back into the game and finished stronger which is a positive sign. No-one wanted a draw but I would have taken it half time. If the roles were reversed and we conceded late it would have been gut wrenching.

Agree with this, we might need a "surprise" win in one of our tougher games imo. Have a feeling it will go down to the last day. Let's hope the title race is sorted

Absolutely s**** and I'm pleased we won't see him for at least 2 games, hopefully longer

Drew with Villa man

We need to keep the pressure on them throughout the game, I'm hopeful that Benitez's plan of being very organised will be the perfect tonic to Sunderlands tactics. If we went gung ho it would play into their hands perfectly imo. Every time the ball breaks down in their half we need to win it back quickly, strangle them in midfield and don't allow them to break on us. The pressure just needs to build and build and chances will arrive.

I think our best chance is to exploit them in the full back positions, they aren't great defensively there. Townsend and Sissoko will be important. Their CB's will handle Mitrovic if we lump aimless balls into the box so the link up play between our wide players, Wijnaldum and Perez is going to be crucial. For an Allardyce team they don't have many shut outs so there is positivity there, the first goal as always is just so important. Get it and we win

Yep, no protection at all in front of the back four which is fragile enough to start with. Not necessarily. I think whatever the team we'll be organised. It's reassuring to know that our manager knows how to set a team up

Bodega is canny