What's happened to Newcastle? Prior to the season I thought they were in a good position for 3rd. They are still a tough team to beat, but they have been beaten often this season. It's not an easy win by any means. Next to Liverpool I thought our convincing win over them was a very good statement. Now its not looking as big. West Ham are a decent side but they shouldn't have been down 3-1...at home! Very tough place to get a point last season.

Anyway, I suspect they'll get it right. They 2 big things going for them, a good manager and loads of money.

Poor refereeing for Burnley to be down to 10 men. Shocking.

That's the sort of challenge teams seem to be allowed to do against us, without it even being called a foul.

Leverkusen losing one nil in the 85th minute at home. C'mon Leverkusen!

Get in!

So, no points dropped for nearly 2 weeks now.

If we can keep this up for the rest of the season we're laughing.

" photo of the Police officers as they walk over the fans shoulders to take their position at the back during the 1927 FA Cup final between Cardiff and Arsenal at Wembley. Attendance: 91,206."

I thought I read somewhere that Cardiff was the first non English side to win the cup in this game. Not sure if true but I think I recall reading that.

Actually having an internal debate with myself between watching the 2nd half of Liverpool vs Brighton or the women's FA cup final between the Arsenal women vs Chelsea women. It will depend on the Liverpool scoreline probably. If Liverpool are ahead I'll assume they'll win.

It’s your own fault for blocking everyone else

Man U have conceded 106 shots in the last 4 games. That’s crazy. They are so, so lucky to be 6th.

For some reason, Man Utd plays us tough, in good times and bad for them. We have outplayed them and dominated them but I can't recall where we've utterly destroyed them. I'm not counting the league cup win at home early 00s. Ferguson himself said he thought we'd field a weak squad. They've dealt us blows that a casual observer not knowledgeable about the EPL would think we are a relegation side (8-2). They have gotten murdered by Liverpool.

Anyway, what I'm trying to say is we will have an extremely tough time to get a win there. Others outplaying them there doesn't equate to us doing the same.

If we have no injuries, I presume Martinelli for Trossard will be the only change.

If Martinelli is still injured, I would start with Jesus instead of Trossard on the Left. We need the press and transitions to be absolutely spot on today.

All the main players are on the bus apparently.

Jesus starts. Possibly wide left

Stones fit on their bench which probably has about 300 million quid in players sat on it.

22Raya
4White
2Saliba
6Gabriel
15Kiwior
8Ødegaard
20Jorginho
41Rice
7Saka
29Havertz
9Gabriel Jesus

Substitutes
1Ramsdale
5Partey
10Smith Rowe
11Martinelli
14Nketiah
18Tomiyasu
19Trossard
21Fábio Vieira
35Zinchenko

Ref: Anthony Taylor

Last time we lost when he was reffing ? anyone?

No need last year at Emirates

https://www.worldfootball.net/referee_s ... enal-fc/4/

Strong bench.

Their 4 forward players are awesome. We need to keep our shape.

Wow Kiwior

Jesus lucky not to get a yellow there

Under a bit of pressure here

Ake to Reyna wtf

Look a bit disjointed.

City seems to see this as a must win. Draw not good enough. Good mindset.

Kiwior is our achilles heel

We're going to get a booking next glaring foul.

The players should instinctively realise that.

Few of those players look lost out there atm

Slowly getting into it? Need a goal to transform our confidence.

Kiwior keeps giving the ball away. He needs to calm down a bit.

Kovacix the weakest link for them. How do we get a proper foothold though??

Jesus is doing my head in.

A couple of promising moments. If City take too many liberties we'll punish them.

We’re sort of trying to break on them, or maybe we’re just being forced to launch from a defensive position, but no pace to do it effectively.

The messing with the goalkicks is stupid. Could end up with a centreback being booked.

What the *%^@ is the playing out with Raya, every time he goes onto he left he just fluffs it. The indecision is killing us, just move it quickly, this baiting *%^@ is not working at all.

Raya looking shakey..............

Half time, 0-0. We've shown good defensive discipline but we need to cut out the stupid mistakes before one costs us a goal.
Still everything to play for.

I've got to say Pep has got his tactics working pretty well. We're hemmed in our own half. They overload up front, one on one up front. Can't get a good look up the pitch as they are closing anyone who can deliver well down when they get the ball. I'd like us to be more decisive in their 18 yard box and take a shot. Especially those who have a decent shot from distance lie Rice, Ødegaard and Saka.

City have suffocated us and put us under tremendous pressure every time we have the ball. We've done well considering.

How to get a foothold in the game, though?