sushimonster85

Aye, going to Stamford Bridge needing something is the nightmare scenario for me. Win here, win on Monday, we can all put our feet up and go live in the transfer rumours thread.

This ends in all big/important match threads becoming Jennifer Aniston threads.. and I'm fully on board with that.

Lads, can't we all agree that there's no bad era Aniston?

Definitely. Schar has been one of the best CB's in the league this season and it's gone largely unnoticed as both Newcastle fans, and neutral fans, pay way more attention to Botman with him coming in with the big price tag/rep. The unlikely ScharJoe double act should be one of the feel good stories of the season!

An important tactical observation I'd like to make at this point. This was truly peak-era Aniston.

You're right in that it's far too late for this radical of a formation change. Just have to look at Spurs V us to see the damage in making a drastic change with very little prep to see how wrong it would go.

I don't think there's any real point discussing it. It's all agent/Marca BS. We're not signing Felix. He'd destroy the wage structure, we're far too sensible to do something like that.

This does worry me. Our 'plan A' for playing at home does seem to be exactly the way Brighton would want us to play. Makes me wonder if we start a little more slower/deliberate, try and make them come out and attack us, then try and out 'Brighton' Brighton.

I'm worryingly confident, but even I think this is mental. No way we keep a clean sheet given how we've been defending

God I'm sick for this. Granted, I'd take this every time over the previous years where this feeling would come because it's a relegation 6 pointer. For some reason I feel like we're going to show up tonight. Going for an uber confident 3-1.

Aye, and would put is in prime position to capitalize on any potential Liverpool slip (unlikely I know) at the weekend and get mathematically over the line v Leicester still.

Aye, but we absolutely don't want to go to Stamford Bridge needing a win. You just know the bastards will actually show up and be 'proper' Chelsea for that one game.

Wouldn't be shocked to see ASM tomorrow night. He looked good coming on against Arsenal and Leeds, and we can play Joe at LCM to help Burn out. I just feel Eddie may think with him left and Isak middle we will be able to cause all sorts of chaos among their back line. Can also get away with only giving him 60mins if he isn't ready for 90 with Wilson off the bench and sliding Isak left.

Aye. This was their shot. At least for the next couple seasons anyway. With none of the three that came up going back down, it's going to be a strong 3 relegated whoever it ends up being. Southampton have a few high potential youngsters who will either storm the league, or (with their outgoing) provide them with a budget way beyond anyone else. Leicester will have the Maddison and Barnes money to spend, and even before replacing those 2 they'd have one of the strongest squads in the Championship. Leeds and Everton would also both be fine, though with Everton I guess there is the actual existential threat to their actual existence should they go down, if you believe some of the reporting.

Agree with this, especially with how well Howe likes his teams drilled. The last big tactical overhaul took place in the Summer over an entire pre-season. Think any big changes again will come this Summer.

I could be wrong, but didn't this tie into theories about peoples brains being drawn to louder patterns, therefore they'd subconsciously aim for the keeper when taking a shot? Then it all changed and people decided it would be better for keepers to blend into the background as much as possible and they all got very boring.

Between that and the latest Juve top, we all sure we want Adidas back??

Joelinton doesn't work in the deeper '6' role where he started out V Leeds. Still fine in that LCM role I'd say.

Schar at RCM is a non-starter, he would be so far off the pressing/intensity levels needed in that position. I have feeling it will be ASM at LW and Joe at LCM, Bruno at 6 and Willock LCM.

Aye, imagine it will be one of those where they do a brief 5 minute one for Monday after tomorrows post-match one.

Nothing at all. One is a fantastic (potentially elite) full back who has had some issues with injury. The other is a bottom half of the table target man who doesn't really get injured. £25m was probably an over-payment for Wood. £30m would be about right/potentially be an underpayment for Tierney.

Agent/paper talk, we won't get close to his wages.

Agree with this. I know he has had injury issues these past couple seasons. But if we sign him for anything less than £30m and he manages to move past those issues then it will be one of the best pieces of business we will have done since the takeover. He is a complete modern full back.

I also really liked this one from the following season. Always think of it in my head as the 'Rondon kit'. Was a good year, had the throwback hoops for the away shirt as well.

Is there actually speculation I've missed on Noon taking over the front of shirt sponsor? Or is this just for mock-up purposes? Because you're all getting my hopes up for a sexy kit next season.