SNSUN

The Che, the Che, the Che is on fire! Feel for Ings but as long as someone is getting the goals. Adams will be decent next season.

I know little of Salisu, but one benefit of strengthening centre back is whether he’s hit or miss long term, we now have two decent, improved centre backs to fall back on in Stephens and Bednarek. If Salisu is first choice, I actually feel for the one that misses out as post-Leicester, Stephens improved and formed a good bond with Bednarek. Unless Leicester come back in for Vestergaard, surely he’s good enough as fourth choice? I’d say those four centre backs puts us in a strong position in that department.

Normally I’m an advocate of tough fixtures early in the season, so that when we find our groove, we have some easier fixtures to follow. But I’d hope with the tight turnaround that we already have our groove and good form, with a first team almost identical to now, so I’d like some easier teams to start with to get some morale boosting points on the board. Palace away then WBA at home or something like that would be a decent start.

My initial thoughts for loanees that did well were Reed and Forster. (Jones at Gillingham did well at DM but that’s probably closer to his level.) Lemina did OK from what I gather at Galatasaray but I can’t see him in our colours again. Sims could be a cheapo 4th choice if Boufal leaves but I’d worry about strength in depth if that were the case. I’m glad it’s this summer that we aren’t fannying around looking for a manager as the turnaround is so tight, and early signings will make it even better. For once we are in a good position going into a summer break. (What there is of it!) Hopefully it also will help us take our good form into the new season and, as we were nice and fit coming back from the COVID shutdown, the same should apply in September.

And yet if Wigan do win their appeal against the points deduction, Barnsley are in fact relegated. Imagine how that would make Barnsley fans feel, after celebrating like nutcases over survival. Surely another court case. We haven’t heard the end of Championship relegation, that’s for sure.

I’d be surprised if Boufal was still here next season too so ideally another AM too unless someone like Tella is ready. We have Armstrong, Redmond and Djenepo but I still feel that would leave us light by one in the squad in a 4222 system. I look forward to seeing more from Djenepo and Redmond and Armstrong are first choice currently but I think we lack match winners that can turn a game. However I understand it isn’t a priority position to strengthen. Bar a sale, I think our current crop of strikers will remain our choices next season. But Lallana? Good grief no. I’d rather we signed Ryan Fraser on a free, even with his inflated wage demands.

Big games in the Championship tonight. I really want Brentford to go up automatically but it seems they blew that in the last game. West Brom have QPR to play who have nothing to play for, and you’d think with their west London rivals Fulham and Brentford having something to play for, they’re hardly going to bust a gut to win that. I’d like Brentford and Fulham up but WBA will come up automatically. Hopefully one of the other two will come up via the playoffs. (Brentford really deserve it so cruel fate being what it is, it probably won’t be them. Shame as their new stadium is nearly ready and close to my workplace.) At the bottom there are many permutations. I have no allegiance to them but I do hope Wigan stay up despite their 12 point deduction. They’ve been on a great run. I think Charlton will drop with Barnsley and Hull. Oh, and as for Utd vs West Ham, I hope Utd smash them by a few goals. West Ham are probably safe because of their goal difference but a good smashing will at least make them feel uncomfortable going in to the last day. I will not be watching the gushing going on at the Liverpool match...

Klose is only playing because of injuries to Hanley and Zimmerman. He’s not good enough for them and he’s nowhere near good enough for us. Personally I wouldn’t touch any Norwich youngster, they’ve shown they’re not up to it... yet. We were linked with Lewis but I’d rather see how Vokins gets on as back up to Bertrand. Buendia would be the only one I’d be interested in signing from Norwich, and he hardly set the world alight consistently, and there would be issues as he is their set piece taker and we already have a very good one. From Villa? McGinn was on fire before his injury, so him. Grealish is unrealistic. Otherwise they’re another team whose players I wouldn’t go near which is amazing considering how much they spent. Maybe Mings could be OK in a better team but we already have our left footed centre back now in Salisu. From Bompey? They’re a different kettle of fish as their players have proven their worth in the last few years. Ake is unrealistic, but Brooks, Cook, Maybe Callum Wilson (Although he’s seemingly regressed he knows where the goal is), and possibly Harry Wilson From Pool on a cheapy as a punt. From Watford? Pereyra, Hughes, Sarr (unrealistic through price), maybe Foster short term.

Simple, add some other categories if you fancy. Some are more obvious than others, some I suspect everybody will have the same answer! 1) Player of the season (include honourable mentions) 2) Young player of the season 3) Breakthrough of the season 4) Improvement of the season 5) Signing of the season 6) Worst performance by a player of the season 7) Best performance by a player of the season 8 ) Best result of the season 9) Worst result of the season 10) Surprise result of the season For me: 1) Ings (JWP runs him close) 2) Bednarek 3) Obafemi 4) Stephens 5) KWP, made right back his own in a short space of time. 6) Gunn in the Leicester defeat. 7) McCarthy vs City. 8 ) Skates win. 9) Probably the most obvious after POTS, Leicester. 10) Chelsea on Boxing Day.

No denying Sheffield United have had a good season following promotion, especially as I’d guess a majority of people (me included) had them relegated again, but it’s crazy to think we are one win away from finishing just two points behind them. 11th or 12th it has been a great second half to the season. What with the quick turnaround time between this season and next, I hope we can continue our good form and start strongly next season. 2-0 Saints. Danny will miss out on top goalscorer but Adams will get another against his former team.

Come on Saints, hold on! Bournemouth only had one shot on target but all it takes is one more...

All over Twitter. Madness as they're virtually safe. From being bottom. Great goal by Ings. We should go on and boss this with our fitness. Need to keep the discipline.

Bournemouth been almost all over us but they'll tire and we are a fit team. I can see us dominating the second half.

I’m not going to lie, I didn’t find out about the equaliser until this morning. I’m sharing an hotel room with my wife and two year old so was watching the game on a dimly lit iPad under the duvet covers so as to not wake her. (Daughter not the missus.) When the clash of heads occurred late on I switched off after a long, tiring day in Great Yarmouth, and so imagine my surprise when I saw the result this morning! That’s the best way to draw a game... and I missed it! (Karma has already punished me, dropped the work iPad in the bath this evening.) It’s United’s fault they didn’t finish us off, instead listening to Talkshit earlier they were hammering the VAR decision. They’ll make CL but it’ll be close.

If KWP isn’t fit then JWP would slot in, meaning a recall for Hojbjerg in midfield. I reckon Smallbone may also play a part. Brighton are a tricky side, I think Potter is doing decent work there and with the right signings they’ll probably steer clear of a relegation battle next season. But they are beatable. Personally I think 7 to 9 points from our last 3 fixtures would be amazing, but 5 or six would suffice. All eyes on our Danny...

That feeling when you forgot to change your Fantasy Football team around and have Antonio and Gayle on the bench... 😫

We won’t get Europe and I don’t think we were ever truly in contention, but it was a nice thought seeing as our post break form has been decent. Too many points dropped earlier in the season. Still I think we’ll finish 11th or 12th (depending on Everton’s results) with 50/51 points. A decent finish to a very weird season and something to build on next season. United: Lose 3-1 Brighton: Draw 1-1 Bournemouth : Win 3-1 Sheffield United: Win 1-0 If we were fighting relegation those are a very favourable last 3 fixtures but with little to play for Besides league position, we just have to hope Ralph keeps the players fighting until the end, or we could easily fizzle out and get maybe 4 more points.

Echo the thoughts of others, this has Everton snatching the win all over it. We’ve been the dominant team too, if only JWP had buried the penalty we’d be out of sight right now. Hey ho, maybe the lads can surprise us all.

We haven’t won 3 games in a row in the League since the tail end of the Koeman season 6th place finish. (Although we were close this season in December...) What a place to go to to try and break that streak. I’d love a win but a draw to keep Everton in passing distance wouldn’t be a bad result. I hope Adams goes on a scoring run now, but he needs to keep his place to do that, so would be interesting to see if Ralph keeps with in him.

I’d have ripped off an arm, a leg and a torso and eaten it if someone had offered me 12th/13th after the 9-0. What a job Hasenhuttl has done with the same team that has struggled the last few years. If we can bring in a couple of decent signings for a change in whatever summer window we get, we could really push on.

Love a sash shirt, i haven't bought the last few shirts but I'm tempted to get both the red and white!

In recent years the names Vincent Aboubaker and Wylan Cyprien stand out. The latter would be a cracking signing, doing very well at Nice but probably out of our price range now, though Newcastle got St Maximin for £16 million last summer from them...

Presently they are in better form, in fact they are top of the form table, and still have something to play for, and will most likely put out their best team, so yes currently. Their front 3 and Fernandes have clicked and look awesome and will be real challengers next season. We played City at the right time, a lot of their posters on Bluemoon say it was a dead rubber and they were looking forward to other competitions. No taking the shine of a wonderful defensive performance from us though against City, and we will be tough opposition for United and could get something, but they will be a different proposition than City. Everton will be a tough proposition too but our good away form and current team spirit coupled with our superb fitness levels since the end of lockdown means we go there as equals and I’m more confident than usual of a result at Goodison.

F*ckaduck! What a win. Prime time Sunday night on BBC 1, and at home where we've been dodgy, and we've shown the world what we're capable of. Best defensive performance in years. Very much felt like the Leeds win in the Championship. City might say they played a changed team but they still had the quality there to dick is 9 times out of 10. Thankfully not tonight. Hard to pick a MOTM but without the McCarthy saves we would have been sunk. McCarthy - 10 - great saves. Nuff said. KWP - 9 - a couple of knocks but got up and kept going. Best RB since Clyne? Should definitely look into signing him. Stephens - 10 - was first to everything and decent distribution. Bednarek - 9 - some great blocks and headers. Bertrand- 8 - had a tricky game against Mahrez but did well. Nobody deserves less than 8 tonight. JWP - 10 - was absolutely everywhere. Romeu - 8 - when he got booked I thought uh oh but a great defensive performance. Redmond - 8 - worked hard and was an outlet but a touch too selfish on occasion... Armstrong - 9 - good assist from constant closing down. Couple of iffy moments right at the end but another solid game. Adams - 8 - wonderful first goal and was an outlet but faded. Ings - 10 - close to my MOTM. Was as good if not better defensively as in attack constantly making interceptions I just wish he could have stretched his leg out for that goal. His fitness levels are something else. I'm not rating the subs but Long did OK when he came on. Only 2 shows how fit the first XI are, but also maybe how weak the squad is. That was a young bench. Hasenhuttl - 10 - that was a Hasenhuttl team playing in a Hasenhuttl way. Long may he reign. Great faith in Adam's dutifully rewarded. Two tough games now. I'd have taken 3 points from the three (including City) and we already have that in the bag. I struggle to see anything against a brilliant United side but we should go to Everton with confidence.

A game like this is absolutely a free hit and a heavy loss wouldn’t make a blind bit of difference to our season... however it’s Prime Time on Sunday on the Beeb. We’ve already been spanked once on live TV this season at home, let’s hope for a closer game against City. 3 tough games now, all 3 are in form. Just have to hope City rotate their team a bit and lack cohesion. 3-1 loss though IMO.