HaydnNUFC

Bottom line is we have to start winning games. Be a long shot at Manchester City but got to be getting back on track with Wolves (h) and Forest (a). Then a massive run-in, big home games against Man Utd, Spurs and Brighton. Also realised if Spurs get to the FA Cup semi final our game with them gets rescheduled which would result in us having 4 consecutive away games, no home games for almost a month.

Man City's first trophy was the 2011 FA Cup I think. Beat Man Utd in the semi final before getting a final v Stoke. It's like an albatross around our neck atm, winning things. Once we finally do it, which will come, we'll be reet.

He's definitely on some kind of gear there like but I can't help but like that. 8 year old at a cup final, man. When I was 8 we were losing 1-5 to Liverpool at SJP under JFK and getting relegated. Lucky bastard.

Apparently we've scored 2 goals from our last 100 corners.

I think the top and bottom of it is we're a good side between the boxes; we press well, keep the ball well and until recently have been defensively superb but we lack any real guile, ingenuity or quality in the final 3rd. The final ball has hardly ever been there post Boxing Day. Our wingers aren't good enough and we sorely lack the quality in midfield that allow us to control the midfield battle against the real top sides. That can only be rectified in the transfer market. Maddison would have been ideal in the offensive side of things (also would help our set piece issue) and for the midfield an upgrade on Longstaff. Both are musts in the summer. As well as all the other positons we need.

Isak with 1 or a couple attacking partners close to him I feel would give us a bit more against sides that sit deep; we saw glimpses of it against Fulham (h) when he came on and played with Wilson against a team who retreated a further 5-10 yards after their pen miss, we had a bit more impetus carrying the ball towards good positions around the box yesterday and I thought Isak and Maxi have linked up well against Liverpool and at Southampton in the cup. He just needs to be in the team from the start. So does ASM imo, Almiron's poor form has coincided with our poor form in front of goal. Something needs to be tweaked. ASM also I think will be useful at Man City on Saturday, he is at his best running at players on the break at the end of the day.

The system we play puts enormous pressure on Trippier to produce; Trippier goes forward and Burn shuffles into a sort of back 3 which means that our LW gets next to no support. If you look at our passing structure and emphasis on the flanks since Trippier signed it all goes through our right and through him. It worked brilliantly in the first half of the season but it's probably just been sussed by now as sides only have to shut down our right which since Boxing Day has been largely ineffective anyway given Almiron's predictability. Our system doesn't need to change completely but it needs a couple tweaks to get a bit of unpredictability back; Targett back in asap to gives us another outlet down the opposite flank, Isak to start games consistently and perhaps Gordon ahead of Almiron or ASM, but Almiron for me. Also need a different set piece taker to change it up a bit, teams only have to prepare for Trippier set pieces as no one else takes them on either side, Targett should help with that to a degree. Also, assuming that Joelinton doesn't get booked on Saturday, no other suspensions and no further injuries are picked up, Wolves (h) should be the first time in the entire season where we'll have a full squad to pick from. Which is canny mad.

5 past 8 at night on a Sunday, I'll sign up to my rivals forum to wind them up. Absolutely tragic.

He, along with ASM, has carried us through the shit under Stephen Roger and has been brilliant this season pre WC. But he looks finished. If he has to play, please play Isak with him, saw glimpses of promise with that today and v Fulham.

Think I might hold off making the pre Man City thread for a bit.

Aye, I have been thinking similar. I understood his bedding in of Bruno given we were deep in a relegation fight at the time, but Isak just has to be on the pitch. He's had 3 starts since his return from injury on 6 January, its now almost March.

? Thought he looked like the most likely out of our starting front 3 to do something positive. Unlucky not to score at 0-0. Wilson and Almirón in comparison were feeble imo.

If Wilson has to start, play him and Isak together. This man has to be on the pitch for us. We spent ~£60m on him to score goals for us, and he's not on the pitch from the start when we're struggling to score goals. Maybe not at Man City but ASM, Wilson and Isak all to start v Wolves pls

Casemiro was outstanding for the cunts btw. Absolutely everywhere. Just the sort of midfielder we need to be after in the summer.

Not too disappointed as I expected us to lose tbph. Our goal threat has evaporated and our defensive reliability has wobbled. Wilson looks shot to bits. I was also surprised that he took ASM off before Almirón? Found that bizarre. If Wilson has to play, play Isak with him. Regardless, just the start for us. Just hope this doesn't affect our push for top 4/Europe.

Can't see us scoring whilst also keeping them out, let alone twice. Just hope we don't get battered 3 or 4 now.

Can they stop showing that same fatso pls

Feel absolutely disgusting. Make history lads, please. HOWAY MAN

Gayle supporting the lads

Carragher's up for it

Seeing Sir Les always makes me think of this quote.

Chelsea are fucking tragic.

Right decision for me, handbags all round, just dish out yellows and move on. Spoils the game otherwise. All as bad as each other.

Jeremy Kyle? hope the "yi devastated aren't yi, eh, ha ha sickna" bloke is there as well.