Crikey.... This should be interesting.

I found myself for the first time ever wanting Man Utd to win a game... Its just so depressing how City have the best of everything by a mile - best striker, playmaker, defender, whole starting XI, manager and bench. Looking back to Chelsea 10-15 years ago I got frustrated that that they would sign the best players from mid table clubs and bench them. Its got to the point where this City side bench would all be guaranteed starters for other top four sides. Its daft. Its been getting worse and worse over the years, but where we are is the most ridiculous point of a single clubs dominance. That said - to be fair - City haven't actually spent that much more than Liverpool, Chelsea and Man Utd I think? Just that those clubs have wasted an unbelievable amount of cash. Anyway I'm bored of City and Pep and want this era to move on. And I suppose one thing utd fans will be able to say is that Fergie managed (somehow) to win things with absolute plodders like John O'Shea, Djemba-Djemba, Cleverly which always impressed me. Peps record is "manage the biggest club, sign all the absolute best players, be the tactical best" and hes brilliant at it. But very very dull.

Yeah Tugay vs Liverpool 2006 for me. Unreal world class quality.

Im in Sheffield for a lads weekend. I guess Ill get to see if the city is really two thirds blue as they say....!

Great player very unlucky with injuries. No way we could justify the wages to keep him though. Can see him having a good final few years in the right team with the right setup. A smart mid table Championship side will build their side around him. Do feel in Szmodics we have the right successor who, while not having the pure quality on the ball, can do the yards that Dack can no longer make. Hope we can replace him with a similarly inspirational player but one who is more of an out and out striker as that is what we need.

Im not sure he will get a better offer than us in English football at the moment. I guess a big continental club could come along. Hard to guess. He wasnt at Malmö very long and has done well but not set the world alight at Rovers to attract major offers. From a career planning perspective leaving again so soon would look a bit strange on his CV. As much as Venkys are total clowns we do have a lot of young talent. If hes backed with some investment staying makes a lot of sense. Id be quite surprised if he goes.

Have you heard anything specific or just a gut feel?

To be fair to JDT he has got the team to be more forward passing as the season has gone on. And we've got more and more offensive with lots of players in the box and final third. So I wouldnt expect that to change. In terms of our players positions on the pitch Id say last 10 games of the season have been the most advanced Ive seen us play ever. Ironic and depressing really that weve managed that while still having nearly zero goal threat.

Think Morton, like a lot of our players, suits a counter attacking game. As the seasons worn on and we've gone on to have more and more possiession hes struggled. Cant find the right passes when things are tight and gives the ball away way too easily when pressed. Wharton has really shown him up imo. I dont think Morton will be staying with Liverpool for too long. Nowhere near the standard. The hype he had is quite baffling. Way off the standard of someone like Tom Cairney even. Still expect him to have a decent Championship level career though.

There was a lot to enjoy about the day except the knowledge that no matter how well we play we can't score goals. And compared to recent performances we didn't play as well, and Luton even being abysmal all over the pitch looked way more dangerous with the direct ball. But you can look at the team and see how we will be a really good side with a couple of additions.

All the subs warming up on the pitch so dont think any changes....

Dolan off for Dack at half seems as nailed on a sub as it gets.

This games got Dack written all over it. Low intensity, loads of space in midfield. Get him on...

Yeah we play very pushed up and get away with it as opposition usually only has one up. Two up could cause us problems.

Dolans problem imo is that he doesnt have a proper forward to play off to make space for him. If we sign a good Championship striker who can occupy the centrebacks, draw them away, make them think about dropping off rather than pushing up, I expect Dolan and Hedges to really profit from it. Their movement is pretty good, theyve got a lot of energy, just need a bit more up top to work with.

Well this will be the biggest match Ive ever attended in person. Seen some crackers beating Spurs and Arsenal away. But in terms of the stakes its the most important. Hope we get a performance that the occasion warrants.

Surely Buckley goes in. Eastham Carter Phillips Wharton JRC Batty Travis Garrett Wharton Buckley Leonard Apart from GK, LB and CF they are all pretty established which is incredible really. Wish we could turn up a top academy striker from somewhere.

Buckley's a quality player... looking forward to him, Travis and Wharton all playing in the same midfield three next year. Could be best midfield in the Championship imo. All academy too. Just hope we sign some proper goalscorers to work with.

GK, defence, midfield all keep their places after an excellent performance against Burnley. Hedges, Dolan, Szmodics as well. BBDs last game at Ewood, sad to drop him. But hes the one to make way for Leonard. We aren't scoring so need to change something.

Yeah probably say Jesus is their best. Odegaard and Saka also very good. But probably Man City wouldnt swap a single player of their starting XI for an Arsenal player. Maybe Saka but hes on a similar level to what they already have in spades (Grealish, Foden, Mahrez, Bernardo). Rather have Haaland than Jesus, De Brunye than Odegaard, Rodri than Partey etc. Im used to the gap between the CL clubs and everyone else. But City now opening a big gap between them and everyone. Obviously can argue that Arsenal have been top of the table all season. But theyve not been in Europe etc, and now being pulled back. I hope the Premier Leagues attempt to be more competitive is not just to let more suspect authoritarian regiemes buy clubs and pour in wealth fund money. We need some spending caps and mandatory partial fan ownership imo.

Was really hoping Arsenal would make a game of it but it was an absolute schooling . Its a one team league. Sad when the second teams best player is a reject from the best team.

Agree with most of this except Broughton being sacked. Even if it was ultimately him in reality at fault for the documentation failures, I'm willing to chalk it up to experience. Has to find the strikers over the summer though.

Think any of Szmodics, Dolan, Hedges, Thomas, BBD are good enough as the wider forwards or in the 10 role, as long as you have a proper goal scorer through the middle at number 9 who can lead the line and worry the defence when a cross or a through ball come in. But playing three or four of them without a focal point is hopeless really. If we had a Graham or Gestede we would be a real force to be reckoned with. We don't need to find a worldy in the summer, just someone who gives you a chance against Championship centre backs when the ball goes in. I feel like we will find one or two like that. No much data to base that opinion on. But with BBD, Ayala and probably Dack going freeing up big wages, and a strikers being the clear priority for the team, and the manager and recruitment structure being in place, we should find the right signing. If we don't I'll get the pitchfork out, but think it will happen.

Ah looked bigger on the TV. Great atmosphere it sounded like anyway.

What was the attendance in the end?