Optimistic Nut

Southampton 3 up. 5 off the top with a game in hand, Leicester & Leeds both away in the last 4. Best promotion race in the Football League ever?

Not a monumental difference, then.

If ever we sack Howe mid-season, I could definitely see him back as an Interim like he did at Chelsea one year.

I don't think the takeover happens without Rafa, like. Him uniting the fans with the club even under Ashley gave a glimpse of the potential of the club. If we'd went for Steve Bruce for instance after McClaren, I don't think we'd have looked an attractive proposition at all.

We've got a great high press, a central-defence that can win most in the air when they do have to go long, plus dangerous on the counter attack. Once we have the sweeper keeper situation sorted (I still think this area should be one of our priorities this summer), we won't have many weaknesses.

Chances are he'll miss the Champions League campaign anyway if it's an ACL which is a shame.

I love it, think it looks good on that 3rd kit.

I know they've lost 8 points but I think it's debatable they'd have put together that little run of wins after the points deduction when they had that "backs to the wall" mentality. Awful side.

Lewis Ferguson ruled out for Scotland with an ACL. Big blow that.

Keeper off his line...

Dubravka & Gordon on the bench. About 40 points lost these 2 weeks.

Gateshead 45 minutes away from guaranteeing a place in the Play-Offs with 2 games to spare. Absolutely unreal achievement given they lost Adam Campbell early in the season, Williamson leaving, then losing a handful of loanees in January.

We could have done without Chelsea starting to put a run together. Some tough fixtures to come thankfully.

Luton to beat Everton in a couple of weeks, Barkley the scorer.

Bruno Gordon Schar Gordon has been great but there was a 2-3 month period where Bruno was pretty much running the midfield on his own for us.