Lucas

all kick-offs 19.30 (BST) unless stated Tuesday 2nd April, 2024 Newcastle 2-1 Everton Nottm Forest 1-1 Fulham Bournemouth 1-1 Crystal Palace, 19.45 Burnley 2-1 Wolves, 19.45 West Ham 2-2 Tottenham, 20.15 Wednesday 3rd April, 2024 Arsenal 4-0 Luton Brentford 2-1 Brighton Man City 2-1 Aston Villa, 20.15 Thursday 4th April, 2024 Liverpool 5-0 Sheff Utd Chelsea 1-1 Man Utd, 20.15

Horrible game for us that but we've dragged ourselves over the line. Just felt like it was going to be one of them nights from Bamford's miss. It was so nervy tonight. Think there was a ton of pressure on us playing last with the other two winning, especially kicking off about 20 odd mins after seeing Ipswich nick a 96th min winner yet again. That would have deflated the atmosphere somehwhat as it looked a nailed on draw and a potential gain. But sometimes you just got to tough it out and keep going. Hull really had us on the ropes at times and they were silly really because that was such a needless penalty to give away near the end. All in all though, they had played well, better than us in my eyes. Jesus Christ do we miss Gruev. Gnonto too but Gruev is the key man. We need him back soon. That international break has been a big hinderence for us but we've negotiated two very tricky games playing last both times in four days and just need to steady the ship now with a few days training and normal routine. If Ipswich win at Carrow Road Saturday lunchtime then I feel like they are going to do a 2016 Leicester.

16th 21st

Personally don't see a massive deal as to Arsenal being cautious to get a draw. Their record at City is horrendous, so a point is decent for them. Yeah ok, it's a gamble that hands control to Liverpool for now, might backfire but it could be a good calculated gamble by the end, we'll see. Let's be honest, if Trossard plays in Martinelli there for that chance near the end, they've actually put in the perfect away performance. Fine margins. I thought City looked flat and out of ideas tbh. Foden and KDB were nullified and City really missed Walker's overlapping runs. Build up was too slow. City also miss a specialist LB too for me. So often it's Ake or Gvardial who are CB's by trade, and they just have to check back and play the ball inside. Don't offer nothing on the outside to the man wide left.

We'll have to take that. It was a 5/10 performance from us. So many issues we had to contend with. Its been a great time for Watford to catch us fixture wise. But as the saying goes, if you can't win, don't lose. Could turn out to be a massive point. Had so many players away on Internationals, the Welsh lads had extra time on Tuesday night too, 3 of our boys come back injured which was also key, especially Gruev and Gnonto. Rutter had his hernia op, Firpo played Wednesday then had a 20 hour flight back, not one session with the team together. Farke's messed with the centre back partnership by breaking up Rodon and Ampadu and bringing in Cooper and we looked all over the place back there. Cooper is finished, a liability, just as Ayling sadly became. When he changed it back 2nd half, we took total control. No shock. Watford were very good first half, they pressed us hard, very athletic side, and went at us and we were miles off it. They deserved to take the lead twice. Unfortunately we came back into it too late. If that game goes on another 5mins, we probably nick it. You could moan the changes were too late. You can't win them all though. It's not Football Manager. Leicester and Saints haven't won so thats a little bit of insurance at least. Fair enough, Ipswich did but they were fortunate to. And they have Saints next. Someone there is dropping points, maybe both. Got to win our game Monday though. Home games are key now. Got 4 of them left and if we can win all of those, we have to be there or thereabouts.

Absolutely terrible. Solid for a side like Brighton but at the top level his skills are limited and it's shown. Basically been at fault in two games. Bit of a mockery putting Branthwaite in and not playing him. We had the chance to view him against good opposition and Southgate chose not to so answers on a postcard with that one. Kobee Mainoo excelled for me last night. Took his chance and some. Can't remember the last time a youngster like him came out of nowhere and was fast tracked so quickly, possibly Walcott maybe when he appeared on the plane to Germany '06 out of nowhere, but it's great to see Henderson and Gallagher fall down the pecking order as a result. Someone like Bowen is going to be very unlucky. We're just stacked in those wide areas and I don't think there's space for him. Same for Gordon I think. Toney is just ahead of Watkins in the order for me as he can fit into the system easier if Kane's not available. Both will probably go. Got to sort out the full back situation though, especially the left. Can't be having centre backs playing as a full back at that level, it holds you back, but I'd genuinely go Tripper as LB if Shaw can't make it. Chilwell is miles away from it at the moment and is only in because options are minimal. Think I'd rather have Alfie bloody Doughty there than Chilwell from what I saw...

It's just too obvious to say France although they clearly have every base covered. Let's be honest, if they play to their standard, they probably do win. I know it's all about Mbappe but Griezmann in that little pocket behind the main forward is still unreal, he makes them tick if he's fit as it all goes through him. But I do really feel like Portugal might do it. They have a lovely group. Turkey, Czech's and then either Georgia or Greece. They should come through that fine. And their path to the semi's look pretty good too. Crucially, they should avoid France/England till the final as long as nothibg silly happens. They have a very well-rounded team with a great blend of youth and experience. They can be attacking when needed, but also able to shithouse when required. If you fall behind against them, last thing you want is to be chasing the game with Bernado, Bruno, Paulinha, Pepe, Cancelo etc And of course, they have Ronaldo who if he gets a chance, you expect him to still be clinical. Rafael Leao will be one to watch for me too. This summer feels like it could be his real breakout tournament. At 8/1, that's where my money would go anyway. France are too short. Germany will have a decent run purely as they are on home soil. Their team was quite weak in the 2006 World Cup and they weren't really predicted to go as far as they did, but they got to the semi's under Klinsmann and it was a new age for their up and coming players. Can see something similar happening but they won't win it for me. We will naturally find a way to lose it. As good a team as it looks on paper, I just don't think Southgate has the nous to get us over the line. Psychologically, I don't know if we have ever developed that ruthless winning mentality you need and we still get rattled by gamesmanship from other sides who will 100% target us in that department. I'm still a little worried about us defensively too. I don't fully trust Pickford, Maguire etc, I'm worried about the left back situation as it looks vulnerable but any alternatives just haven't established themselves yet have they. They do a job for us for sure but at a winning tournament level, I still think they fall short.

Has the missus given you permission to resume Sheep @Mel81x or is she still waiting on you to get through your list of household chores?

52nd 17th

Surely that is worth a pound of your own money now, just incase it comes in. I'd be livid nailing a bet like that without real profit

This is what get's me. They are the one's in a position to project where the club is at before making any decision that financially impacts the club, so unless they are advising the powers that be not to do this or that at risk of breaking rules and being overruled, what the fuck are they doing? Either that or there is genuine confusion across the board as to what time period you can afford to do something or not. You'd like to think in light of what's happened now with yourselves, Forest and Leicester, that every club in the country is making sure they go through their finaces with a toothcomb to ensure they know where they stand with things, especially given how stringent the PL are now being with this.

As far as I'm aware, no. As you alluded to, and when Radrizzani was there, he clarified, we had to sell Phillips and Raphinha with all this bollocks in mind. And the one good thing Victor Orta did do when negotiating deals for the replacements, was to make these clauses that meant wages would be halved upon relegation or they would be available for loan deals. We've saved buckets as a result although it obviously caused a lot of upheaval in the summer not knowing who says and who goes. I assume with the 49ers coming in now too, our position should be pretty solid but you can never be certain without knowing all the in's and out's. I do agree with you on your last paragraph for sure. The talking points these days are about the things no one really wants to talk about. I love Leeds to bits, as I do Football generally, and without it, I'd be lost. But there is no doubt the raw passion for it has subsided for many in recent times and that is sad to see.

Just to play devil's advocate here for a second (not looking for any bites I must clarify) and not sure if this hasn't already been alluded to. Wasn't PSR only brought in after clubs in the Premier League voted to do so? I mean, you can't moan at the Premier League for breaching rules if you've already agreed to setting them with them surely? This is what the clubs wanted to prevent them doing something much like what we'd done before in the past, and look how long that took us to recover from. I know that's a very black and white way to look at things but I'm struggling to see what's hard about rules being brought in and knowing when you've broke them, especially when it's something as transparent as this PSR stuff. The accountants at these clubs must be well aware of all this. The only thing I'd say about the situation is, no one knows definitevely what the punishment's are for each amount you are over. Like, it should be common knowledge that for every £5m/£10 you were over, equates to a 1pt deduction etc just as an example.

Gone horrifically wrong there from being a stable club that bought a bargain and sold the occasional player for big bucks relying on that to rebuild, a la Brighton. Going to be interesting what happens now because that'll no doubt open a can of worms simply for being in a different division. Just a clusterfuck isn't it.

Let's have some fun this week and go for a biggie, never know what friendlies produce. France to beat Germany, BTTS England to beat Brazil, BTTS 13/1. £10 win's £140. Worth a shot I reckon Edit - Not sure I fancy England as much without Kane and Saka. Feels like a 1-1 to me.

Valencia Vinicius Jr 33rd

17th 22nd

I think right now, you'd have to back Spurs for 4th despite that Fulham result, with no Europe to worry about. Villa are starting to look a bit leggy, and the squad looks stretched. If Newcastle get their act together, I think they have the fixtures to nick 7th. You'd definitely be wanting Sheff Utd and Burnley still to play. That West Ham game is big for them after Internationals.

It will still be Luton, Burnley, Sheffield United as we all thought and predicted from the start won't it. Just not good enough. Luton letting a 3 goal lead slip at Bournemouth and losing was massive. Those 3pts might have given a bit of cause for concern to the others. It speaks volumes about the standard of the other bottom half clubs that two clubs can be handed points deductions and very likely still stay up without it being too much of a panic attack. In an ideal world, it needs Luton to get a win out of nowhere to really put the cat amongst the pigeons, but with Spurs, Arsenal and City coming in three of the next four, I think it offers the others in front the chance to pick up a win/draw and get a buffer before the last lot of games. What they do at home was always going to be crucial to their fight and it's going to come down to those four home games they have left to make any decent fist of it.

From what I know, we're fine. But then we sold Phillips and Raphinha when we had to, to stay compliant. And we've also had a takeover since so we're in a good spot. If we both go up and you get a points deduction, I think that would suit us more.

At this point, I really couldn't tell you what's right or wrong in terms of the actual deductions. All I do know is, signing 30 odd players under those terms has got to be gaining an unfair sporting advantage on the field and should feel significantly harsher than 4pts. Fingers crossed, the Football gods are making everything right in the universe anyway, especially if we get promotion.

I'd like to think the most hardened of Leicester fans despite their will for Millwall to win, could see sense that was never a red. What a horrendous referee Steve Martin is. Jake Cooper must have avoided three Yellow cards today, let alone the one he did get. And how the referee hasn't sent him off for a 2nd Yellow for kicking Rodon's head in the box is one of the worst we've had. Just glad we didn't have to reflect back on that decision at the end of the game. We were in total control so I felt a sting in the tail could be on the cards when the referee missed that. But we got the win we fully deserved and that's what counts. Rutter feels a bit of a cheat code at this level, he's just so good at creating things in tight spots. 17pts behind Leicester as we came into 2024, and now we are top. Not sire what that does to them, or the other two psychologically but it's a great testiment to this team to be top of the table from where we were. Amazing run to haul Leicester back into this race, which I think is down to the pressure of the run we've put together, and now we just have to hold it all together and secure that Top 2 spot. Can't be dealing with playoffs with this club.

@Pyfish was unlucky, he had City needing three goals. You'd have fancied that at 2-0 after the first half.

Cheers mate, had a tenner of my own on it too. Looked far too good to resist.

Gonna go for the Skybet Boost Salah, Nunez, Rashford, 1 SOT each. 3/1. £10 wins £40.