Elma

NUFC PSR derby today. Anderson v Minteh.

I'd imagine Howe would be looking to play Isak for most of the Arsenal game anyway. Would be good if Wilson could play the first hour of the Brum game, and then sub on Osula or Isak depending upon the game situation.

Etch A Sketch?

Someone I know at the club said two things in particular to me when Rafa was there: 1. He just completely immerses himself in the game 24/7 and has a contacts book second to none. 2. He's all over the detail (the small example he gave was coaching the keepers to punch and make good contact with one fist, as going for the ball with one arm gives you more reach that if you try to punch it with your hands together). That first point coupled with how (like Howe) he understands the importance of the community and gets involved at all levels, make him and Howe may favourite NUFC managers in the recent era (post-Roeder who I loved as a player and who also understood the club). Appreciate that due to Ashley there's not much competition there mind! Obviously Eddie has a great team and I wouldn't change a winning formula, but if I were a manager and Rafa was amenable to it, I'd certainly offer him a consultancy role.

70 points will absolutely get Champions League football and should be the target, whether that be top four or five. That's probably something like seven wins from eight at home, coupled with two wins and two draws away. The way we're playing, our away form may take more of the strain out of the home games. We pretty much need to maintain a 2 points/game average from here on in.

Despite Forest being three points ahead, and four ahead of Bournemouth, I'm more worried about Bournemouth than Forest. Goal difference is a huge indicator and although teams can hang on, winning games narrowly, and manage to finish in a high position (we only had a GD of +5 when we finished fifth in 2011/12), it's unusual. Villa have been a bit scrappy all season and although they have great home form (only loss is Arsenal), that's because they still have to play Liverpool, Forest, us and Chelsea there. Their GD suggests they will struggle. Of course, before the weekend Forest's GD was better than Bournemouth's and Bournemouth are scoring goals they shouldn't be at the moment (nine from just over four xG in the last two games alone). However, Bournemouth did win both comfortably and deserved to. Will be interesting to see how Forest respond to such a battering when they play Brighton at home in the early kick off on Saturday.

Definitely was yes. I was just wondering that if Guehi knew he had encroached and hadn't stuck his foot in, would they have pulled it back? I think him sticking his foot in (when he didn't need to) brought attention to the fact he'd encroached.

Interesting one that. Technically encroachment by Guehi but if he hadn't got in there what would have happened? If Mbuemo had played that (which looked likely as it came straight back to him) then it would have been a free kick to Palace as I don't think the keeper touched it.

Forest have a tough run of fixtures coming up. On another note, Bournemouth have scored nine goals in the last two games from a combined 4.19xG. Not sure if that level of finishing is sustainable but I'm more worried about them to be honest. It seems that losing their two main strikers has benefitted them. Iraola is such a good coach.

Should be fine, provided he doesn't try and sign the contract with his right hand.

Majecki looks decent. Got down well and handling has been excellent.

That was my second game this season after Brighton. Next up for the Forest game. 😬

Yep, I think it was that one. Was trying to remember/find it. Cheers!

Was slightly surprised to see they are banned in the NFL. A great play the other week was brought back as the receiver celebrated with a "gun celebration". Obviously has greater significance over there.

That's what I like about the current set up. Maybe it's because they know we have little leeway for a misstep, maybe it's because players who wouldn't quite fit if they arrived at Man U, Spurs, Chelsea etc are being coached into their roles by Eddie and the team - or probably just a combination of the above plus generally good scouting. Whatever, our record since the takeover vis-a-vis our rivals has been excellent. It feels like we're not panicking into signing for signing's sake either. If a decent looking player goes elsewhere now I'm not thinking 'why weren't we in for him?', but I'm assuming for whatever reason we didn't see him as a fit for the club.

Additonally two of our three games where we started without a recognised striker last year were Bournemouth home and away - the away game was the height of our injury crisis so they lucked out a bit.

Reading the Fener supporters' comments on Twitter - generally they're not impressed and don't want him.

Lambs silenced.

Yep, according to this research. https://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/only-one-single-football-league-club-now-exists-in-a-conservative-constituency-following-the-2024-general-election-results Weren't that many before the last election - working man's game and all that.

Yep, mainly Labour. Seven or eight Lib Dem I think.

They are five miles down the road from me. Only club of the 92 who are in a Tory constituency (and that was only by 302 votes).

Tamworth will be the one to watch, for those reasons.

Seven weeks tomorrow.

As you say they play Chelsea just before us, and then Forest (and Liverpool) just after. Good for us but all of the other teams around us will face the same Bournemouth. I think we started three games last year without either Isak or Wilson. Two or those were Bournemouth home and away so (provided Isak stays fit for us 🤞) they'll have that challenge this time around.