He said something in the post match interview about having players (specifically Gallagher) willing and able to link up with. I think he's just revitalised and re-motivated. The standard of our attacking ability has finally raised to meet his standard, and it's challenging him to be better.

Watching Newcastle, with their deep defence (and still conceding three) reminded me of us last season. A midfield and defence pass it sideways, and slowly backwards, eventually reaching the keeper who can only hoof it, as there's nowhere else to go. And Allan Saint-Maximin does his best to reach a ball he'll never get, chasing heroically, but with utter futility. Instead the opposition casually win it back, with 19 outfield players in the opposition half, and their cycle of dominance starts again. The defensive team have to work so hard, to get so little, and any success is reliant on genius.

For Saint-Maximin, read Zaha, who did this for years. He's not had this much fun since Bolasie was here.

My best mate is a city fan, ex season ticket holder who basically stopped going a couple of years back because it got 'boring'. Expecting to batter every team you play is a bit of a poisoned chalice. When the expectations are so high, its only winning the league or the CL that gives you a buzz

When was Wilf left out? Presumably you mean when he was ill having returned from International duty

He was on the bench after missing one game through illness,which I think PV was proving a point.