Thought Miles Lewis Skelly had a very composed game last night

[Peter]

Never ever change, p

I'm quite happy with the situation. I don't have a lot of faith in us in the Champions League so I am just as happy playing top sides as I am the ****e. If we can get something from the first leg then you never know. Put Real under pressure and they will collapse. There are problems in that side.

But.... our season has had this mark of pre-determined calamity about it from day one. If it can go wrong, it has. Good news is, we are due a bit of luck.....

[WES]

I'm quite happy with the situation. I don't have a lot of faith in us in the Champions League so I am just as happy playing top sides as I am the ****e. If we can get something from the first leg then you never know. Put Real under pressure and they will collapse. There are problems in that side.

But.... our season has had this mark of pre-determined calamity about it from day one. If it can go wrong, it has. Good news is, we are due a bit of luck.....

This is effectively my hope for the rest of the season - we have had such unbelievably bad luck so far and this really is quite a good team, so we're due a massive slice of luck any day now.

Like Salah blowing a knee out against Everton tonight and Liverpool collapsing.

Or Madrid having 2-3 players banned and they also collapse.

Or something else collapsing, other than us.

I'm hopeful

[Peter]

This is effectively my hope for the rest of the season - we have had such unbelievably bad luck so far and this really is quite a good team, so we're due a massive slice of luck any day now.

Like Salah blowing a knee out against Everton tonight and Liverpool collapsing.

Or Madrid having 2-3 players banned and they also collapse.

Or something else collapsing, other than us.

I'm hopeful

I just hope we make a go of it. It's a huge game, exactly where we want to be. I'm going to focus on just trying to enjoy it

[Ganpati's Goonerz--AFC's Aboriginal Fertility Cult]

Poor old Kiwior had some awkward moments again. I fear he is one of those 88 minute defenders. Plays well virtually all game but switches off a few times. Hate to say it but Real will make mincemeat of him over two legs

AW always said that if he plays a 21 year old defender, he'll make mistakes compared to buying a 28 year old, but in a few years he'll have a much better CH.

But they have to play regularly. Cala will be fine if he stays fit because he'll play lots even when not first choice LB since MLS broke through. He gives different options and can give MLS and Gabby a break.

But Kiwior was a signing that winter, like Jorgy, to help our title challenge, as we had no cover for Gabby or Wigwam.

He didn't work as inverted LB, was fine as a traditional one, but now has MLS, Ricky C, JT {if Benny Blanc's fit} and Zinny ahead of him.

And he's now 3rd choice LCH and a big drop off, so he won't be given starts, or brought on needlessly as Cala could for Gabby.

So the years when he needs to be playing week in, week out to learn are being spent on the bench. So he needs to go on loan if he's not sold - maybe he can rediscover his mojo like Fabio has.

[Rich]

Wouldn't argue with that but he might have a Senderos perfomance in him. Real's defence isn't all that - think they have a problem at full back which we can exploit. Certainly if Martinelli plays like last night

Surely Benny White plays if we can get him fit? Doesn't sound like a major issue that he had midweek.

Presume Calafiori is done for the season?

[PSRB]

Surely Benny White plays if we can get him fit? Doesn't sound like a major issue that he had midweek.

Presume Calafiori is done for the season?

Cala is supposedly 2-3 weeks

[Peter]

Cala is supposedly 2-3 weeks

We know Calafiori is out, and I can't see any possibility of Gabriel being fit for at least a month.

I'd like to think that Timber will be ok. Arteta said is was the knee that made him come off. That was a knock he suffered in the first half so you would like to think that he will be ok given that he played on with it.

We don't know about Ben White but there must be some hope he will be available.

If both are out, it is Partey at right back

[Luis Anaconda]

We know Calafiori is out, and I can't see any possibility of Gabriel being fit for at least a month.

I'd like to think that Timber will be ok. Arteta said is was the knee that made him come off. That was a knock he suffered in the first half so you would like to think that he will be ok given that he played on with it.

We don't know about Ben White but there must be some hope he will be available.

If both are out, it is Partey at right back

the Timber run for the chance he got in the second half (a shot so hard it winded Leno) suggests there is not much wrong. Said it before the lad is a hell of a footballer and we need him

[Peter]

the Timber run for the chance he got in the second half (a shot so hard it winded Leno) suggests there is not much wrong. Said it before the lad is a hell of a footballer and we need him

He is. Will be really important against Real as he is quick and aggressive.

[Luis Anaconda]

He is. Will be really important against Real as he is quick and aggressive.

If bith White and Timber fit which way round would you play them. I would be tempted to keep Timber right back with White at centre half (though the MO/BS/BW axis is also tempting)