Segun Oluwaniyi

One of the most distractingly rubbish sponsors I can remember on a shirt. The CL race is going to be incredibly tight if this result holds, I addition to Wolves, Man U, Leciester, and Chelsea, Spurs have a decent shot if they can win tomorrow. Hope West Ham stay up, tbh, more London teams mean a higher chance I might be able to see NUFC or a decent match in general when stopping through London for a short stay (assuming crowds return at some point).

Won't be the first to say this, but I have no idea what has happened to Bournemouth at all. The level of talent is not that much worse compared to previous seasons and Howe is a fairly good manager, but this side has nothing at all. Cannot defend, cannot pass, no idea how to attack, not even particularly physical despite having some good athletes. The team has completely collapsed. Longstaff and Saint-Maximin were wonderful in the first half. Credit to Bruce, tbh, the team has looked better since he abandoned the pale imitation of Rafa's tactics and started using his own.

Messi keeps putting in great crosses from the right, while Suarez stands still and Vidal functions as the striker. Bizarre.

Bayern always seem to sign players for relatively reasonable amounts, at least compared to the other massive, rich European clubs. The sums they pay for Bundesiga players especially, always seem lower than they should be. Davies, Sane, Coman, and Gnabry on one team is just unfair in terms of pace. He is in Naples today, the rumour seems to be Victor+Gabriel to Napoli for 100 million euros. Lille are meant to be signing some Brazilian to replace Osimhen, who will be sold for a similar amount in a year, I am sure. Not sure I agree with the transfer, the striker seems perfectly suited to England and Napoli have generally been a mess.

Puig and Semedo improve Barcelona so much just by having some pace and work rate. The team is laughably slow and unathletic.

This penalty was softer than the last one

Soft penalty (foolish defending by Felipe, anyway), and Messi scores #700 with a paneka. It is amazing that Messi is playing every second of every match with the schedule Barca have.

Shelvey.

Yeah, he should just kick it back to their goalie like everyone else, absolutely. ASM trying to do too much is the only reason we are ever remotely threatening any game, or worth watching in any capacity. He has been rubbish, tbf. Lost the ball a few times, when you would expect a player of his quality to carry the ball bit or mybe win a freekick/throw in.

Not like N-O to dislike some random inoffensive pundit in a Newcastle game I've found him annoying, tbh. He has been talking as if Newcastle are Sunderland or some hopeless lower league side. This is a Premier League side with 100 M+ yearly income, no one should "feel sorry" for them.

The only player NUFC have in something resembling an attacking position is likely the slowest player in the entire league I do not understand the plan here.

I am a big fan of Almiron and have been since first seeing him in MLS, but he is never going to be a particularly productive player in terms of goals and assists. I cannot think of a player that could manage to be at this level of the game with his general lack of technical precision or physical strength. The boy works incredibly hard, carries the ball well up the pitch, has good (not great; another aspect that holds him back) pace, and continually threatens and opens up defense with his progressive and consistent movement. The team needs to take advantage of what he does have and accept the deficiencies. In my opinion, he is a quality complementary player, but his inadequacies are accentuated in a side with a striker that is allergic to scoring goals and very little interest in attacking or controlling the play in the opponent's half.

Vardy had an injury around the middle of December and has not been very good since this.

In terms of players I haven't seen mentioned, I have always been a fan of Michail Antonio. He would be a good squad player for anyone, imo. Lerma from Bournemouth is a player I believe to have potential. Declan Rice would be inflated, but is a good player. In a general sense, most of the fullbacks and centre-forwards would be good signings. Newcastle are very weak in those positions.

I have been watching these matches without sound, and the lack of intensity in this particular match is very odd. Leicester-Watford yesterday seemed 10 times more fierce and competitive among the players, even with no supporters. This is a derby with the title on the line and it is reminiscent of a July friendly in Kuala Lumpur or some place.

Just feels like Mourinho doesn't trust his players to push on more, but I'm not sure they are good enough defensively to park the bus either. Spurs are extremely poor in the centre of defense and midfield. They were conceding all manner of cheap goals before the lockdown and generally have been a sieve all season.

That shouldn't be a red card even under the old rules, imo. Do not understand that decision.

The keeper actually fell into the side of the goal with his ball. It is incredible that the goal is not given. Is the referee required to have confirmation from the technology? Surely the ref or linesman will have noticed it. The Black Lives Matter shirts are decent gestures, I suppose, but it would be preferable if it did not replace the player's names. It greatly overestimates my ability to recongnise random Sheffield and Villa players on appearance alone.

Is Birmingham warm enough to warrant cooling breaks? Seems unnecessary.

Jamaal Lascelles is easily the most underrated and disregarded player on this place.

Davies is a special player.

Bayern might need to work on defending set pieces. Two simple goals.

There are some horrendous defensive teams in this league Entertaining match anyway.

I've watched football in practically empty grounds, big and small. From the Northern League to the Korean third tier. The difference is that there is still some people there who are engaged, and being at the side of the pitch or in a ground is a totally different experience to watching on TV. Personally I find watching a Bundesliga derby, where there should be 80,000 people there, instead being completely empty and silent, just depressing. And it absolutely will change the intensity and context of a game. Perhaps to favour the technical teams - little surprise this was Dortmund's biggest win in about 50 years. The idea that I don't like football because I can't enjoy such an inhibited version of the real thing is nonsense. I could equally apply the same to you for being able to do so. But I didn't do that, it's each to their own. Agreed. I was never good enough at football to find out, but playing basketball in front of a big crowd is always completely different than an empty gym, even when everyone is a high level player. The size and complexion of the crowd is important aslo, loud and intimidating crowds deeply affect the adrenaline rates, nerves, and decision-making of even the best players. The return of Bundesliga was welcome, but the matches I saw (Schalke-Dortmund, Koln-Mainz and Bayern-Union Berlin) were mostly rubbish, tbh. It reminded me of watching a training match or a pickup/kickabout game between high quality players. Part of the problem was that 4 or the 6 sides I mentioned looked well off the pace (even Bayern were a bit labored), so maybe things will improve with time with more training and preparation. Also, it is a small thing, but the muted celebrations were odd as well. Very odd to see someone score and important goal and be met with scattered clapping and strange forearm taps from the other players.

Schalke look half asleep in this match, very far off the pace.