80

I hope so too, but hope and expectation are not close neighbours. If we've got a suitable replacement in mind then I guess it sounds good.

Very mysterious comments.

To be fair, I think there's a big distinction between doing wobbly legs or sledging, and manipulating the rules to cause stoppages via throwing extra balls on etc.

As someone said other day, either he's very lucky or he's got the art of this down to a tee. I'd certainly rather he stopped, but he probably needs it.

It's incredible.

Really would've thought it was game over for him if he didn't come on for Bruno today. Glad it went well.

That was a weird time at the club. I see this as a tricky fixture for us. Generally it seems like there are certain teams we struggle against, and not the usual suspects, and Palace are among them. Really hope we come through well and I can see the Isak and Wilson combo being the key to it.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2023/jan/14/eddie-howes-gritty-newcastle-wont-win-hearts-but-silverware-is-in-reach This is a nice enough article until you come to the 2nd to last paragraph which is based on a bald faced lie. There's never been any hint of Eddie being hypocritical or whining about Leeds being tricky.

True across multiple areas of life now.

I think we'll win well enough. I'm not too concerned even if Joelinton doesn't play, I think collectively we'll do it.

So, a new type of challenge for Eddie with Joelinton. Wonder if anything similar happened at Bournemouth.

Feel like we're due another come on you Maggies.

I think we could do Man Utd over 2 legs, though funnily enough I think we might fare better against City in the final...

I'm surprised at people saying he should've scored the header, I was impressed at what he got on it personally, it was an awkward ball for a standing jump. It was a great save. I don't think anyone including Wilson would've done much better. It was 3rd division opposition obviously, but main thing I was impressed by was the intelligence of his movement. Could tell he was class even if not at the top of his game. Reminded me of Kluivert, now I think about it.

Could still teach our current players a thing or two.

No idea what the fellow Aussies are like, but hopefully they're good guys.

I think that was as much to do with his hip being shagged to be fair to him. But yeah, I know what you mean, but I don't think it is the best comparison. Isak and Shola have totally different physiques, Isak would never be able to bulk up like him.

"Someone posted a photo of Earl Grey, and it was WET!"

It was Garang who posted the Greyfriars photo

Did he says dinosaurs ruled the world for 3,000 years? Think I might have to hate watch that.

In the long term, the other night might've been quite educational for him about what's needed, at least.

Well, cheers for those happy thoughts

Not that I think Murphy has a claim to not being match fit with good reason seeing as he's had plenty of sub outings at least.

It's a phrase meaning not having the sharpness and muscle memory that regular competition brings - as opposed to physical fitness, which is separate.

Could be. It's why I've held off getting too much into the will we-won't we of top 4 etc. Always believed we could get top 4, but always knew a huge amount of circumstance and luck would come into it also. There's just such a big gap between our first and second elevens, and our first eleven is having to work at maximum capacity. Like you, either way, this season has been magnificent so far, for me. Partly now I think one of our challenges will be expectation management, because it's very easy to get carried away with how well things have been going overall.