Lucas

12th 27th

Poor from us tonight. No tempo or urgency, but that's a big part down to the opposition defending as deep as they did. Really did a job on us. Surprisingly, Sunderland defended as a low block, not like I've seen from them before. I really thought they'd go toe to toe with us given their attacking talent but as it turned out, they made it extremely hard for us to use any width to get round them. They executed their gameplan well and we struggled to find any real answer to it. You could literally see at times how clueless some of our players looked when trying to find an answer on the ball which only resulted in a forced pass. They had the better attempts overall too from the set pieces they had which were always a threat, although in general play, we always looked comfortable. I think our failing sometimes is we don't mix up our play enough and go direct when sometimes it's just as effective. Tonight, just seemed to be Sunderland camped and us tippy tappying in the final third without cutting them open. It wasn't working. We just seemed reluctant to get a cross in. And yet, look how Sunderland won tonight. Got an early cross in, bit of luck where the ball fell and a goal coming from it. But sometimes you just got to take a chance and I don't think it's in our DNA to really do that. Very hard to criticise too much because you have performances like this over a 46 game season and we've won a lot of games recently with some great attacking play. It just feels a little harsh at the moment that one defeat feels like a bigger blow given it's a weird season where the two teams above us have overperformed above their expected points totals. But we got to crack on and continue the fight. Very much a side still in development and we haven't quite got that knack of finding a way to nick games when we play poor like others have yet.

Yeah, not bad to be fair. I do think it's time we looked at revamping things so we can get the best out of the competition for everyone.

Granted, we've had some absolute fruitcakes on here that are remembered for being absolute twats, and they will always stick in people's minds for the wrong reasons. But it's a bit sad how easy people that were actually genuinely nice and class posters that contributed to making the community what it's really about, get lost and forgot about amongst the controversy. I couldn't give a flying fuck about half those names mentioned, they were daft and on the wind up. But I'd genuinely have loved a beer with half that never get mentioned, so here's to them.

Actually I did see a Twitter rumour on that, but I'd be very surprised if it happened. Pretty sure he was linked to us, Leicester and Southampton before we all made different appointments in the Summer, so can't see how a 20th placed Stoke get him in. As much a disaster as the Chelsea situation was, and it probably tainted his profile, he's got enough credit in the bank for me to have another PL job. He was touted as a potential England manager at one point. He's definitely got a mid-table club vibe to him.

Maybe its time to seed the Third Round. You have 44 teams enter the competition for the first time at a point where 20 other clubs have played at least two games to get to that point, and if you're a Non-League team, qualifying rounds on top of that. You kinda feel they have earnt the right to a big home draw, and being honest, it's what we want to see from the competition. Wouldn't be hard to do would it. 20 clubs that have participated so far are in one pot, drawn out accordingly and given home draws whilst the 44 other clubs are drawn from another. Once those ties are sorted, the remainder becomes a free draw. You have 24 clubs left made up of Premier League and Championship, so 12 ties that could still potentially throw up all Premier League clashes or a Sunderland v Newcastle/Millwall v West Ham scenario. Then from the 4th round, just do a free draw. Simple.

If Cooper does inevitably go, I can't help but feel they go Potter. He's sitting there waiting for the right opportunity and you feel that will come from any club that fits in around that 10th to 17th mark. Just seems the perfect move on paper to me. The panic would be if someone like a Palace parted ways with Hodgson and it forced Forest to act quick or face competition. I see it a bit like the Dyche situation last year. You knew Saints, Everton, Leeds and Leicester were all going to change manager at some point and Dyche was the one out of work you'd most likely turn to. Everton were the one's that took that chance.

Don't worry mate, we are in no rush to see it

Michail Antonio and Callum Wilson have Ladbible written all over them. Complete pair of insuffarable cunts. And that Podcast is a load of shite but 'lads lads lads' right...

Ah man, really? Marseille coasted in. Thought when Barca got it back to 1-1 they'd go on and win that way the game was going. Even Second half they had so much of the play but that third Girona goal killed it. Gotta love this game haven't you.

19th 16th

I've missed most the games but I'll still have a punt on this double tonight please. Never know, might come in, worth a go for the sake of minus £10 again. Barca to win, BTTS 6/4 Marseille to win, BTTS 5/2 £10 wins £87.50.

Spurs were great although Newcastle were miles off it. But how the hell did Romero escape a straight Red for that challenge? I felt sure when it went to VAR that was a sending off and they never thought it was. You look at what happened to Palace with Ayew yesterday and then you look at Romero crunching Wilson's ankle like that and it just doesn't make any sense. Honestly, they are useless bags of shit, the lot of them. Hodgson's rant about the officials yesterday was spot on.

Very good win for us yesterday given it was a bit of an average performance. Two moments of quality were enough. Just felt a bit sloppy at times but credit to Blackburn who actually played ok to be fair. They do miss some serious cutting edge though, no real presence up front. Summerville is on absolute fire.

all kick-offs 15.00 (GMT) unless stated Saturday 9th December, 2023 Crystal Palace 0-2 Liverpool, 12.30 Brighton 3-1 Burnley Man Utd 2-1 Bournemouth Sheff Utd 1-1 Brentford Wolves 2-0 Nottm Forest Aston Villa 1-2 Arsenal, 17.30 Sunday 10th December, 2023 Everton 2-1 Chelsea, 14.00 Fulham 1-1 West Ham, 14.00 Luton 0-3 Man City, 14.00 Tottenham 2-1 Newcastle, 16.30

Me either. Annihalated in every department apart from the scoreboard. Almost as if they missed an influential midfielder that gives them so much control in games.

13th 18th

Annoying for you but I bet they were sat watching that scoreline of yours Sunday thinking the same thing. Amazing you've both managed to get such massive late wins in the space of a couple days. David Raya has been saved tonight because his two blunders nearly cost Arsenal big time. Massive win for them and I have to say, I thought they were really sub par for a good 75-80mins of that game. Will say one thing though. As per usual with Arsenal when they are desperate for that crucial late goal, who is the man that demands the ball, gets on it and produces a moment of quality? Odegaard, time and time again. That cross was delicious. Class.

Getting really pissed off owning double Arsenal defence in FPL. Statistically, best defence in the league and they concede home to Burnley and Wolves and away at Luton. Joke.

Tuesday 5th December, 2023 Wolves 2-1 Burnley Luton 0-2 Arsenal, 20.15 Wednesday 6th December, 2023 Brighton 1-1 Brentford Crystal Palace 1-1 Bournemouth Fulham 2-1 Nottm Forest Sheff Utd 0-3 Liverpool Aston Villa 1-2 Man City, 20.15 Man Utd 1-1 Chelsea, 20.15 Thursday 7th December, 2023 Everton 0-2 Newcastle Tottenham 2-1 West Ham, 20.15

Typical, just as we play them next week. Nee bloke will be in for his first home game v us on a midweek game. Just know that's gonna be doubly difficult now, had the same thing at Rotherham the other week. Considering he took over last year and led them to playoffs, it feels harsh to me. He deserved backing in the January window for sure because it's not as if they were even playing bad football. Sunderland are a top striker away from having a real Top 6 side for me. They have a young squad anyway but they basically have kids to choose from upfront and are heavily reliant on Jack Clarke. They create a lot of chances, they just miss that talismanic striker, be it a permanent or loan. But the owners have panicked. I think they feel a bit of pressure to go up this season or it will just get harder and harder and they can't afford patience. Ultimately, it might work for them if they back the new guy but I think it will hurt a lot of members of Sunderland's squad seeing Mowbray go.

We played them last Tuesday. I'll stand by what I said then. For me, he's holding them back. They have some good talent amongst their ranks like Patino and yet he's on the bench. Against us, I felt like they had the technical ability to really trouble us but they chose not to. They could actually get Mowbray in and he'd do a good job with them. That would make sense to me because he plays Football the right way.

Pretty sure the following will be on TV Sunderland v Newcastle Arsenal v Liverpool Wigan v Man Utd Middlesbrough v Aston Villa Gillingham v Sheff Utd Peterborough v Leeds (Kinda think we're seen as a good draw still and shock potential)

Yeah not shocked at all, called that back in September earlier in the thread. Looks like it could be Chris Wilder coming in. Kinda a no lose situation for him really. He'll probably get a bit more out the players but it won't be enough, they are miles off it.

Winter is all about cosy Pub season. Something about being in a warm country pub, open fire, late afternoon enjoying a nice ale with mates whilst looking outside and seeing it get dusky.