Segun Oluwaniyi

To me, the European section of qualifying has just been objectively boring during this break. A multitude of pointless mismatches and dull sides. Even the few competitive matches feel fairly inconsequential because of the bloated nature of the format.

English fans do seem unnecessarily jaded, tbh. They have a world class league at their doorstep, great investment, and a team that is generally successful with numerous recognisable names and personalities, yet it seems everyone is dismissive and apathetic. My own team is a shambles with a notoriously corrupt FA that now claims poverty to the point that it cannot afford to fly the team to match locations, never mind pay bonuses, etc. Despite this, I will be vociferously supporting them tomorrow. The difference may just be cultural.

CIV-Mali is a great match thus far. 3-1 at half with fantastic goals from Kodija and Gervinho. Mali have probably been the better side despite the scoreline, tbh, and CIV's second was an awful own goal . Group C with CIV, Mali, Gabon, Morocco and Group D with Nigeria, Algeria, Cameroon, Zambia should make for good, tense football in general. They will be very tough and hard-fought groups with only one WC spot on the line among sides with quality and pedigree.

In fairness though, if he wants to see the pitch more, murdering his nearest competition in the name of a "goal celebration" is a genius ploy. I won't be able to see too much of the football while NUFC is in this division, but he did look lively in the highlights for the last match. I saw enough last season to think he can develop into a useful, though likely not dynamic or dominant, player at the Premiership level, so there are definitely expectations from me to see him perform in the Championship. It seems he deserves the chance, and this season is massively important in his career.

Had a new car door every window, the signs were definitely there. No, he's not a f******g wheeler and dealer, he is just a football manager. The man has said as much himself, and I don't see any reason to doubt him.

I am still flummoxed that Liverpool could not find a role for someone with the very specific ability that Benteke has. I understand the rule as to why the Palace goal was disallowed, but it does feel entirely unnecessary in this situation. He hasn't affected the goal keeper's decision, blocked his view point, or affected the flight of the ball. The sequence proceeds in the same manner if no one is there, and his movement is a natural reaction to the ball flying over his head.

The question for me is what happens if NUFC fail to win promotion this season. Is there a player exodus? What are the financial ramifications? Can the crowds be sustained for a second or third season of second tier football? Unequivocally, the best chance to re-establish the club is to rise right away. It is not a pleasant thought to be following a financially crippled, hollow shell of a big club that has become a fixture in the second tier. Cup or no cup.

I can barely recall a Tiote that didn't spend his time bumbling about incompetently in the centre of the pitch, while being fatter than Troy Deeney, who is now fat. He does not interest me.

Gouffran upfront? edit: Never mind, saw Dave's post.

They are only going to get better as well tbh, of the new signings only really Stones has consistently played (Nolito as well I suppose but I don't think he'll be a starter as everyone gets fit). It's mainly the same group of players as last season really. They should get better once Gundogan and Sane get fit and Bravo acclimatises and Kompany has to come back although I'm not even sure he starts right now. As much as I am a fan of Guardiola's work I didn't expect them to start this well, injuries combined with adapting tactically would have led me to believe a slow start was likely. They look formidable, especially given the paucity of real challengers at the top, but it is important to remember that it is still quite early. Last season, the same team won the first five matches without conceding a goal, including an evisceration of the reigning champions. Obviously, you have to fell more confident this season with a better manager and some improved player personnel, but the defence is still weak and the squad still vulnerable to injury. I would not be surprised if Arsenal emerge as their closest challenger. Conte doesn't yet have an idea of how to use the players he has at Chelsea and Manchester United need to recover from several years of poor management and player purchases. Yeah he's a crisp finisher. He's got that calmness in front of goal that it's almost impossible to teach. Really classy player. Yes, this man is a prodigious talent. It is as though he is the antithesis of all the other young superstar Nigerian players: No real outstanding physical attribute or flashy skills, but dominant with his skill, movement, and understanding of the game. As a legitimate 19 year old, he is already his national team's second most intelligent player, and will only learn more. Very excited to see what he can accomplish.

League>FA Cup>Promotion>League Cup. I am not so concerned about Rafa, tbh. He is obviously the most accomplished manager to be at this club for long while, but it is not as though he has proved invincible throughout his career. If he can't achieve promotion this year with the team he has at his disposal, Rafa should probably go, tbh.

Yep. I imagine we'll spend in January this time, too. True, but it would not surprise me if someone like Shelvey is poached by desperate Premiership side in January. "Poached" Or, you know, Rafa might just tell then to f*** off I am talking more about some silly team bidding a ludicrous amount if he continues to perform well, score goals, and be English. What disqualifies NUFC from being a dead end club relative to Palace? Obviously, NUFC is more prestigious and has a better manager, but this club has not shown any ambition to achieve in at least the last decade.

Was reading on twitter earlier that PSG drew tonight thanks to him and because of him. I can see why. He used to be absolutely lethal, not sure what's happened to him. Been horrendous since the start of last season. Ligue 1 may be competitive for the first time in years solely because of Cavani . Especially if Monaco continue to look formidable. Every match he wastes numerous chances.

Yep. I imagine we'll spend in January this time, too. True, but it would not surprise me if someone like Shelvey is poached by desperate Premiership side in January.

The Championship has the same goal-line technology as the Premiership I would assume.

Jese has been much worse than Ben Arfa, tbh, and Lucas Moura has been equally as poor. With the comments from Emery last week and the actions in regards to the squad, it is fairly clear that this is already personal between the two of them.

I didn't think he was playing particularly well, but City need a genuine forward on the pitch. No. An outfield player would be given a penalty for that, imo.

That is definitely a penalty, btw.

Football transfer rumour/talk in September and February.

Bendtner has declined since his initial breakthrough, tbh. He really has not played well for quite a while. From what I have seen, Assombalonga is markedly superior at this point in their respective careers.

This is not my area of expertise. I posed the question to my woman and she listed: Gouffran, Mitrovic, Lascelles, Lazaar, and Paul Dummett in this order.

/ you'll never be good unless your country significantly changes it's attitude to the sport With the best athletes in the world, massive investment, and massive immigration from football-playing nations, the US will only continue to improve, tbh, regardless of any attitude towards it. Though I do question how much better their results will actually be. In my opinion, the US actually massively overachieves at this point. Despite a fairly lacklustre player set, they rubbish the the terrible teams in CONCACAF, compete with Mexico (who have far superior players), and make the knockout rounds of the World Cup. Unless you are on the level of Germany, I don't understand what else you will be doing out of North America.

Leceister have done well to bring in Musa and Slimani. They have some very dangerous options in the final third and also talent off the bench in every match or great replacement for injury. I am surprised they did not fortify the defence, though. I would not expect three aging players in Huth, Morgan, and Fuchs, and a fairly average one in Simpson to hold the same level of performance throughout the season.

Sissoko was quite good at the same time as well. Rather than focusing on one of the few very talented players for not carrying team like Greg Jennings, I'll choose to focus on the rubbish ones for continuing to be rubbish. I am happy for Sissoko, tbh. I think he will do well surrounded by good players, competent management, and a coherent footballing system. None of those things were provided for him here. He could have been so much more for NUFC, but it was more a case of the club wasting him, than anything else, imo. It made no sense for him to be here this season anyway. He never made any pretensions about this (Even from the time he arrived at NUFC) as Townsend did, and the acclaim he won at the Euros will not have changed his mindset.

They both seem to have some semblance of interest in playing for NUFC and mild athleticism, so they are improvements in that sense.