brummie

I think it’s seen as a joke by fans of clubs who aren’t in it, partly because if you look at West Ham’s run to the final it seems insanely easy. Ours has been tougher- obviously still easier than EL but: Hibs Mostar Legia Warsaw AZ Alkmaar Ajax Lille Olympiacos and then if we get there, probably Fiorentina. That’s way tougher than West Ham had. It has also thrown some really tough ties- Mostar was tougher than you’d think and Legia Warsaw (lost away) and Lille (beat on penalties) were really tough. Then there’s the fact that we’ve played 12 matches in the competition already - we’ve had awful injury problems already this season and until last week looked dead on our feet. No, they aren’t CL ties but traipsing around places like Mostar or Warsaw on a Thursday night takes a toll. To Emery’s credit though, we’ve only lost once in a Sunday match following a Thursday game. Clearly knows how to handle it, but it’s gruelling. Having said all that - it doesn’t feel like a joke competition to our fans. 18 months ago we were stinking of relegation. We haven’t won anything for 28’ years. Next week we’re in a European semi final and have a very real chance of winning another European trophy. That feels massive, and if you play in it next year and get to the same point (similarly having been recently out of the top flight and also having not won anything in decades), I guarantee, you’ll love it.

I don’t mind Karren Brady (even when she was running Blues, she made sure it remained a hilarious shambles, so that’s fine by me) but PornDwarf strikes me as a particularly unpleasant person.

God bless the blessed Unai, great news indeed.

Castore still demonstrating their commitment to quality. Look closely. So fucking shoddy.

Ollie Watkins in the second half today gave what I really reckon is the best 45 minutes performance by anyone, this season. Unplayable.

It hasn't all been shite, though, toony, has it. *you and me know the truth*

OMFG

Onana wasting time against Coventry.

We just need to carry on grinding out results for a little bit longer.

Also - Morgan Rogers, what a great piece of business that was.

Good performance for us today, after a fucking knackering week, It says a lot that, in the Gerrard era, I was on here saying Ollie Watkins was never going to be good enough. Jesus. How wrong.

We are dead on our feet, I wouldn't be surprised if we lost our game at home to Chelsea. Totally fucked by injuries*, suspensions, European games kicking in, really, really feeling it. On the other hand, we've got two matches, both at home, before Spurs play again, so theoretically, we could open up a 9 point gap if we won them both. I can't see it, though. * yes, yes, yes, I know.

He has apparently been abysmal since going there. Shame. He's a warrior. Anyway, much happier facing Olympiacos than Fenerbache in the semi final.

Fuck me, I mean, you're Newcastle fans and I'm a Villa fan, it's not like there's been a constant flow of good times to keep us interested.

I can't believe anyone who loves football doesn't do so at least in large part because of the joy of seeing others - cunts, basically - fail. Most of my happiest moments in football have been about seeing other teams fail.

Also, I mean, almost getting yourself sent off during a penalty shoot-out, fucking hell.

I knew, I absolutely knew as soon as it went to pens, we were through. They guy is a winner.

Genuinely there is not another keeper anywhere in the world I would swap for him. He's more than a keeper for us. What a guy.

Absolutely did not deserve to get through this tie, worst European performance I've ever seen from us.

He reminds me so much of John Burridge, he's a fucking nutter.

I understand why other fans think he's a cunt, but I absolutely FUCKING LOVE Emi Martinez. Genuinely, I love him, he's so fucking good when he plays for you.

I was thinking the same the other day. He probably hasn't got it on his LinkedIn profile, though, prob just went with 'career break' instead.

That City thing with the bin bags, fucking hell, that's the most cringe thing I've seen in a football stadium for years.

Arsenal fans on the internet.

As an outsider, I love that old badge on the white shirt. In my mind, I associate it with other cool badges of the time, inc the Leeds one and the Forest one, only I've just googled it and was surprised that one is from the mid 80s, i was positive it was a 70s thing. Anyway, bring that one back.