louistoon

Honestly when the mistake happened I thought (along with a few at SSN) that the most logical thing was that for some reason the ref was awarding it for a free-kick seen before the pen was awarded. The idea that two officials could get such a simple rule that every fan knows wrong seemed even more riddiculous . Feel a bit sorry for him now like if we'd drawn it would be a very different story.

I can't understand why people are still uptight about our position, it doesn't make the slightest bit of sense. it is a bit riddiculous but I think there is a slight worry with how we seemingly dominate most games but struggle to create many clear cut chances. I worry that getting held to a couple of draws and suddenly you're in the mix, especially with Wednesday and Leeds next.

I think we're there now. Even if Huddlesfield win every game we only need 3 wins a 2 draws. Realistically I think two wins would do it and there's no way we're not getting that

Not bad since we've only played them twice and their ground isn't even that big.

Can't believe this is even an argument. We've basically been in the top 2 all season and when you look at some of the players we have in our XI that level of consistency is impressive. And we've always won the games that it was most important to win.

We will need 5 or 6 players to come into the first team as starters. I'd get Krul back and keep Darlow and let them fight to be first choice, Yedlin will be good enough at right back, Clark will do a job in the middle of our defence and Lascelles as back-up. Shelvey, Hayden and Ritchie are good enough in their positions. I don't know about Lazaar as he hasn't played anywhere near enough games to know one way or the other. Gayle will be OK but I would like somebody better up front. Aarons will have to find some fitness if he's going to stay, he looks good enough but his reliability due to fitness is a problem. Perez did a good enough job in the Premiership to be at least back-up and I hope that we sign Atsu. Dummett can stay as back-up. The players I'd bin from the squad are Sels either on loan or sold, I would get rid of Elliot, Colback, Diame, Mitrovic, Hanley, Anita, Gouffran, Haidara, Mbemba if Rafa doesn't want to play him, Gamez because of his age, Sammy, Murphy, Riviere if we can find somebody to take him, De Jong and Saivet. I'd keep Anita as well. Realistically we'll need at least half of those players in the squad next season unless we sign 10 players. I'd rather we signed 4-5 top quality players than replaced the entire squad to be honest. We desperately need a quality striker to compete with Gayle, a central midfielder to partner shelvey and a centreback to parter clark. Apart from that, one/two from a new keeper, left back, left winger and possibly another central midfielder/defender would be appreciated.

Gone to all the trouble of making that video and doesn't even rhyme toon with brown.

Please change those numbers around

Valdes from Boro would be worth a shout if they go down. We could do with some reliability there. Also a few players from Palace if they go down and maybe a Tom Ince, or two from the Championship

It would have been the other way round if we'd lost to Brighton. Shows what a massive game that was

Probably been mentioned elsewhere, but the club have it in their shortlist for February Goal of the Month See Mitro shoving colback in the back after Perez's Norwich goal. The mans a f***ing psycho

Well he was absolutely dreadful on his debut, and for all his critics I don't see what Dummett has done to be worthy of being dropped. It's just so pointless bring critical of him, like. He's our best LB by a mile and he doesn't rest on that. People just need someone to hate. If you look in the match thread he was actually criticised for clearing the ball off the line. exactly. Once people's mind has been made up about a player its very difficult to change that around. I find this really infuriating because I completely agree, he isn't great in possession, but when we have Lascelles and Darlow costing us a goal a game at the minute, we've got bigger things to worry about than the offensive capabilities of our left back. If Benitez fancies giving either Haidera or Lazaar a game, I wouldn't mind seeing what Dummett looks like alongside Clark given Lascelles recent performances, if/once promotion is almost assured. He's clearly a good defender, and played a couple games at CB when he was just breaking in. If we take it that Mbemba isn't staying then we'll ideally want two new CB's next season, if Dummett can cover one of those positions it will give us a lot more options in terms of who to sign.

looking at that table, it definitely seems more competitive in the top 6 this time.

Take Shelvey, Gayle, Clark and Ritchie out of this team and I think we'd struggle even in this division. Some major recruitment required in the summer if we stay up

f*** off man you crystal ball nonce

I don't understand Brighton. They were pressing high and killing us in doing so. After their goal they retreated and totally invited us back into the game. Either way, f*** it. Lost twice to Blackburn Rovers but we've beaten the best side in the league twice. Difficult to decipher what that implies for next season. Get rid of Darlow, Lascelles, Colback and sign a second striker who isn't shite and we have a chance. Otherwise...

it was one of those weird games where I left feeling very lucky, but if I was a brighton fan I think I'd still feel we deserved to lose. They must have given us possession in the final third about 5 times over the 90 minutes.

Haven't laughed at a thread in here like this in years. Struggling to figure out whether 54's outing or shelvey screaming at their despairing hipster is more funny. Sometimes it actually feels good to support the toon. Who knew?

isn't it, didn't even really celebrate the fucker I just burst out laughing. Didn't look like scoring for the entire second half and then that happened :lol:

Given Dummett's looking over his shoulders at the ball,the only one who can actually see everything thats going on clearly is Darlow. Crazy decision by him

Nonsense. Agreed every time i've seen him play he's been class. Excellent technique there was a assist towards the end of last season that springs to mind.

The way things are going you're going to need more points for the automatic spots than in most seasons

What. A. Goal.

Never a pen. Free kick definitely but first contact was a couple of feet outside the box

Mitro's hardly played this season baring the last few games you'd hope he could take it. Much rather Ritchie was rested if he's on 9 yellows.