Altamullan

Didn't see that but did wonder who booted the ball away. That's poor if he did that. Lascelles did the same against Hull didn't he? As long as he apologised I wouldn't be too upset about it Adam Johnson touched a kid i don't think it's right if the rest of the Sunderland squad so?? I've tried dude, but you're going to have to help me out here...what do you mean?

It isn't, Guardiola started with a back 3 of Sagna, Stones and Koralov. That's just asking to get a thrashing from a counter attacking team as good as Leicester (when they actually turn up). We know you don't like Guardiola. Who does? Overhyped fraud I fucking love the guy. But it is mainly because he put himself out to give my City supporting son a signed shirt. Not the most relevant reason, but you did ask.

That was literally laugh out loud funny; really tickled me. Loved the patronising of Jordan H, kind of rings true.

that might spread, like the .... Wild fire. That's the one.

Loving your work Leonard

Well, after the Forest game I now know we (make that the world and all the little wizards) can conspire to lose any football match.

Another top-drawer performance, with or without the ball. Loving this fella.

Nah! them works much better in that sentence.

As it stands 8 puts ahead of third.

Commentators waxing lyrical about young Isaac. Sounds like he's playing a blinder.

BG you could have so much fun winding us up re next goals... well it might be fun doing it ONCE

Counting down... 25 secs then celebrate!!!!!

Hell of a delay on radio.. who cares!!! Get in!!!

Sounding promising. Thinking Hayden for 1st goal.

Err, I've never said this like When you stated 'that would be like asking McDonald's to change the recipe of their fries.' What did you mean?

Forest = robbing hoods.

I can't recall playing a team this season who looked worse than Forest. Wouldn't be surprised if we put 5 or 6 past them at home. Less than 4 weeks. Can't come soon enough, for me. Any chance of someone knocking up a new flag? (Lansbury: murder the scroat)

Kid Icarus and HandsDownHisPants, and others seem very adamant that Rafa will never play two-strikers/4-4-2. Whilst, I tend to believe what people do rather than what they say, this interview by Ian Holloway in August is worth a re-watch. Basically, he says he expects the players to know one system really well, but will play others, if indicated/to fit in key players (that's my reading anyway). Relevant bit about formations is about half-way through.

Why does a team that's the top scorers in the division, averaging 2 goals a game, need to play 2 strikers? My take on this is for four reasons. 1. Personnel. Finding a formation for your best players is my preference. Mitro and Gayle look like they could do damage to this league. Perez and Diame don't seem to be cutting it. Doubt the former is ever going to now; re the latter? Not sure 10 is his best position. 2. We are predictable. We always seem, to my untrained eye, to set up the same. Ok, just like Peter Beardsley's shimmy, we're predicable but usually effective, but we would be more effective with another trick or two up our sleeve. 3. Opposition tactics. Teams are s*** scared of us. Forest, at home, sat back two ranks of 4, one 'big man' striker, conceded all possession to us (75% until chaos started).I watched Boro away at Man City. Forest looked to have the same 'ambition' as Boro. There is no space for Gayle in behind or in the channels facing this kind of jam packed defence. An additional body, especially a strong one capable of holding the ball up, getting in amongst defenders, and scoring himself would make a difference. 4. Life isn't an experiment. However many we're scoring or winning, we won't ever know if we would score more or less with other personnel playing or tactics. Why does it matter if we're top? Obviously it doesn't if we are top at the end of the season, the people clammering for Mitro and Gayle obviously think use (flexible use) of this option will increase the likelihood of this happening. Also, FWIW I recall an interview with Rafa when he arrived were he emphatically stated (claimed?) he would happily play two strikers, should it be needed. I think it is needed now, or at least would like to see it. Who knows, may have tried and not have worked-out in training.

Apologies chaps. I meant Sunderland won, Palace won, and even less clear to those not able to read minds (ahem), Chelsea beat Man City.

'Kin hell! Just seen the results from today; following on from the soap opera of Friday night, what a terrible weekend. This is how superstitions start.

completely agree with this Ditto. Also, he must have expected Forest to set-up as they did. Early on, we had 75% possession, Shelvey had acres of space, Hayden was bullying them when they did have the ball. Yet we've very few options to hit in/near the box. Popping promising balls in for Gayle when he's surrounded by big (shirt-grabbing) defenders isn't the best plan. Everyone knows how we're going to play. Because we always play the same way. Mix it up. Forest were shit, when we were down to 10 they were still sitting back and we were still bossing possession. We could and should have been well ahead before the majority of the soap opera began. Really do think two strikers, Mitro and Gayle, would have occupied three or four of the planks occupying their box and either got something themselves or made space for more meaningful chances from midfield.

He was awesome ?. Didn't deserve to be on losing side; but then none of them did!

Watched this with three Forest fans in pub. Sense of injustice was made worse by their very different views on the referreeing decisions (I wanted to kill somebody by the end). Banging head this morning after much medicinal alcohol. That said, I have never seen a game like that and I am pleased to have watched it (not sure I would have believed it otherwise). I so wanted us to win though. Just to balance the (delusional) sense of it being a just world. From Clark's clear penalty (Judo throw) and his disallowed goal, through the litany of other times (already done to death above) we were on the wrong end of dubious decisions, what a soap opera of a game. ✊?