Press Conference

[SalisburyClaret]

First some team news:

"Jay (Rodriguez) is stepping up now, there's a possibility for him.

"James Tarkowski is on the grass stepping things up, as is Ben (Mee) and Johann Gudmundsson.

"They’re all out running and going through fitness tests so it’s a big boost for the group."

[DCWat]

First some team news:

"Jay (Rodriguez) is stepping up now, there's a possibility for him.

"James Tarkowski is on the grass stepping things up, as is Ben (Mee) and Johann Gudmundsson.

"They’re all out running and going through fitness tests so it’s a big boost for the group."

Well that sounds more promising than other posts I’ve read on here. Fingers crossed.

As a slight aside, if Mee, Tarkowski and Collins were all fit, who would we play!? Unless we went three at the back, it’d be really difficult to drop Collins, surely.

[GodIsADeeJay81]

Collins has earned the right to hold his place, but he's also going to be first choice next season because Tarks is off.

We have to go with whoever gives us the best chance to get the points we need for survival, whether it's a final swansong for partnership that's served us so well in Tarks and Mee if they're fit enough or one of them and Collins.

[Indecisive]

Definitely wouldn’t be giving too much away in the press conference. Imagine availability could greatly influence the way we set up, so best to keep cards close to the chest for now.

I’d love to see Tarks in a claret shirt again.

[tiger76]

Promising words by MJ, and we could do with all the available bodies in these final 2 games.

[gandhisflipflop]

I’d keep the system we played at Spurs but imagine Collins tarks and mee at the back

[PremierLeagueClass]

A defensive trio of Tarky, Mee and Collins would be quite something.

[RickyBobby]

Sounds like it has come too soon for Ben if he hasn’t played for the reserves yet, but we need Tarks. Long up against ings and then the likes of st maximin and Wilson makes me feel ill.

[ElectroClaret]

Long up against ings and then the likes of st maximin and Wilson makes me feel ill.

A lot were saying the same about being up against Kane and Son before the Spurs game, but they didn't get much joy, having to rely on a dodgy penalty to win.

He'll be fine.

[Chester Perry]

Is MJ "Stepping up" >=< SD "Touch and go"?

[Swizzlestick]

Sounds like it has come too soon for Ben if he hasn’t played for the reserves yet, but we need Tarks. Long up against ings and then the likes of st maximin and Wilson makes me feel ill.

He didn't do too badly against arguably the best forward partnership in the league on Sunday.

[Boss Hogg]

Would like to see a back three of Tarkowski Collins and Mee. Ings and Watkins carved us open with ease last time around. St Maximim tore us a new one in the last home fixture v Newcastle.

[superdimitri]

Honest press conferences with no mystery.
What is this madness?

[RickyBobby]

He didn't do too badly against arguably the best forward partnership in the league on Sunday.

Didn’t realise Salah and Mane played for spurs?
In all serious he had a good game, but I just can’t see him keeping it up. If he could then you have to ask why he hasn’t been our first choice centre half over the years?
Feel we need Tarks leadership and experience in these final two games, these are the two most important games for us since the play off semis and final back in 2009. But that is just my opinion of course!

[ClaretAL]

why he hasn’t been our first choice centre half over the years?

Because there are 3 CB better than him in the squad, but that doesn't make him a bad CB

[MACCA]

I'd be amazed if we saw Tarky or Jay even on the bench Thursday, but maybe they've miraculously recovered, here's hoping

[IanMcL]

Well that sounds more promising than other posts I’ve read on here. Fingers crossed.

As a slight aside, if Mee, Tarkowski and Collins were all fit, who would we play!? Unless we went three at the back, it’d be really difficult to drop Collins, surely.

That 3 at the back, would be impenetrable!

[JohnMac]

When are people going to stop banging on about Kevin Long struggling and costing us the game.

Everytime he has stepped in he has played 'heart on sleeve' for His Club!

I would never hold it against him for any mistake he makes against International Class players that abound the Premier League.

[SussexDon1inIreland]

How about vs Villa Lowts and Taylor as full backs
And a central defence of Tarks Mee Collins and Long
Park the bus!

[bobinho]

Well that sounds more promising than other posts I’ve read on here. Fingers crossed.

As a slight aside, if Mee, Tarkowski and Collins were all fit, who would we play!? Unless we went three at the back, it’d be really difficult to drop Collins, surely.

I think we are still learning what MJ is like, so although the previous manager would drop Collins for Mee, I don’t know what this lad will do.

I have always believed in the mantra of you play well the shirts yours regardless of who is waiting to come in. I thought SD did too but it became apparent as the years went by he didn’t really.

I’d be incredibly surprised if any of the group mentioned made it back before the end of the season.

[claretblue]

I’d love to see Tarks in a claret shirt again.

he’ll be in yellow if he plays Thursday!

[Hibsclaret]

Very positive conference again. Whatever the outcome on Sunday MJ has done a great job for the last 6 games. It also highlights the fantastic characters we have in the dressing room such as the injured players helping in any way they can etc.

To be honest the values implemented in the previous ten years is still showing with the type of characters we have in the dressing room. Players such as Lowton playing in a left centre back position of 3, Long hardly playing all season and then playing to the standard he did against Son and Kane etc. The list goes on.

All the pundits and no doubt many on here will be banging on about how we deserve to go down if that’s the outcome on Sunday but I reckon that a team with a goal difference 20 better than it’s main rival would be unfortunate to drop. This set of players don’t deserve it that’s for sure and I reckon given a fair wind and decent refereeing we may just survive.

[chipbutty]

Ben Mee to come back in against The Toon and score the winner from our first corner in the 91st minute...

[Goobs]

he’ll be in yellow if he plays Thursday!

You're going to have to explain that one to me.

[Elizabeth]

When are people going to stop banging on about Kevin Long struggling and costing us the game.

Everytime he has stepped in he has played 'heart on sleeve' for His Club!

I would never hold it against him for any mistake he makes against International Class players that abound the Premier League.

Well let's hope for your sake he doesn't make a mistake that costs us the game on Thursday or you might want to withdraw your statement of intent.

Long is an average PL player at best and the best we can hope for is that he has 2 good games on the trot .

It goes without saying he gives 100%

[fidelcastro]

How about vs Villa Lowts and Taylor as full backs
And a central defence of Tarks Mee Collins and Long
Park the bus!

If two of those players weren't injured then it might be a reasonable suggestion.

[dsr]

Well let's hope for your sake he doesn't make a mistake that costs us the game on Thursday or you might want to withdraw your statement of intent.

Long is an average PL player at best and the best we can hope for is that he has 2 good games on the trot .

It goes without saying he gives 100%

That's what makes him such a good club man. If your second reserve is an average PL player, then that is better than we could reasonably hope for.

[wilks_bfc]

he’ll be in yellow if he plays Thursday!

Bit late in the season for a forth strip to be released

[JohnMac]

Well let's hope for your sake he doesn't make a mistake that costs us the game on Thursday or you might want to withdraw your statement of intent.

Long is an average PL player at best and the best we can hope for is that he has 2 good games on the trot .

It goes without saying he gives 100%

For my sake?

[NRC]

For my sake?

lol - are you two married?

[Elizabeth]

For my sake?

I could be wrong but Long is one player I would never talk positively about as he’s a player always one game from making a mistake .

[AlargeClaret]

Looks like only Jay has a chance of the injured lot . Hopefully Tarky fit to go with Collins on Sunday . Would be bizzare to play Ben Mee after such a long lay off and in such a vital game as Newcastle .

[SalisburyClaret]

Here’s a list of Kevin Long’s errors when he’s stepped up to the 1sr team -

[CrosspoolClarets]

Look, let’s just let Long get on with it. He knows his level, as we do. I turn quicker. But if he defends deep, facing forwards, he can be quite resilient. He is fully capable of either being exposed or getting a goal and a clean sheet. Let’s just hope it’s the latter. I’m sure Jackson will set us up to protect him. He isn't daft.

When Long finally goes, he gets commended for his longevity by me, he never hides or complains publicly. 4th choice (not 3rd, which he was for a time) is fine.

[Buxtonclaret]

A lot were saying the same about being up against Kane and Son before the Spurs game, but they didn't get much joy, having to rely on a dodgy penalty to win.

He'll be fine.

Kev Long has had loads of similar comments against his name down the years.
He usually comes good and, even better than goood when called upon.
Good lad.

[warksclaret]

I’d keep the system we played at Spurs but imagine Collins tarks and mee at the back

That would inspire me with confidence to have all three

[JohnMac]

I could be wrong but Long is one player I would never talk positively about as he’s a player always one game from making a mistake .

He only makes 1 mistake a year then