Pilko

Joelinton FGS boosted to 9/1 with Sky.

67 with Patricio, Perez, Maitland-Niles, Shelvey and Joelinton to play. Really pleased with that. 40 points from captain Raheem masking an otherwise slow start.

I loved the idea of VAR after seeing us get conned out of obvious penalties each week and no opposition red card for 140-odd PL games or whatever it was. In my head I had some kind of cricket or tennis style system where the manager or coaching staff would have access to a dugout screen and could challenge 1 or 2 calls a game each, to eliminate blatant offsides or obvious pen shouts going unnoticed. Even then, the game is stopped for a little bit but at least you don't get stupid goals given like the Azpilicueta one at Cardiff last year. The current thing is a mess and that Sterling offside yesterday made me very sad (and not cos he's my FF captain and missed an assist) as it was basically impossible to tell. VAR was only pushed for because the standard of refereeing in this country is fucking shit and wildly inconsistent and there are ludicrous calls made all the time. The referee and linesmen now can effectively do the same shit job, just now another shit referee with a video system miles away can do it for them and competely knack the momentum and atmosphere of a game by spending a few minutes looking at a blade of grass in relation to someone's shoulder blades. Hawk Eye is class and one of the best additions we've ever had IMO, they should only have implemented VAR if the speed of decision was the same i.e. a few seconds.

Guaranteed 19 goals a season then as he'll score every fucking time he plays at SJP.

Sterling captain, get in.

2-2 draw. Typical wide open opening day fayre.

Wonder if he's got his favourite chippy and pizza shop earmarked yet? He's had a few weeks to try some out.

Murphy's been absolutely chod, but horrendously mismanaged too. Best to get rid IMO.

When do we have to name the 25 by?

Krafthy bastard.

If we get badly beaten off Arsenal on Sunday, get yourselves prepared to hear a Brucey staple: Sunderland 1-2 Notts County, January 2011 "We got our backsides kicked, and rightly so." Chelsea 7-2 Sunderland, January 2010 "There's no getting away from it, we have had our backsides well and truly kicked." Newcastle 5-1 Sunderland, October 2010 “To win it, you need seven or eight or nine [playing well]. That’s what Newcastle had and we didn’t have enough and we got our backsides kicked." Yeovil Town 0-1 Aston Villa, August 2018 "We didn’t do enough first half, played as if it was a pre-season friendly and nearly got our backsides kicked.” Arsenal 3-0 Wigan, November 2008 "They have some wonderfully talented players but I'm bitterly disappointed. They have kicked our backsides." Everton 4-0 Wigan, April 2009 "We got our backsides kicked by a very good Everton side." Burton Albion 1-0 Aston Villa, August 2018 "We were too slow, didn't move the ball quick enough and got our backsides kicked. Unfortunately, rightly so, too." Wigan 0-4 Aston Villa, October 2008 "If you make glaring defensive errors at this level you get punished, and if you do it against a good team like Villa, then you get your backsides kicked." Blackpool 1-0 Birmingham, September 2003 “I left half my first team out and we got our backsides kicked,” said Bruce. “I thought ‘what’s the point of that?’" Middlesbrough 2-0 Birmingham, September 2007 "It was an awful display, we got our backsides kicked and there's no doubt the best side won."

Had no idea who that even was for a few minutes, he's had quite the barnet change. That busts my theory then I guess, who knows.

Said it elsewhere but u23 lads usually have a photo at the training ground and 1st teamers get the classic shirt at SJP treatment. If it is an u23 we'll have spent money and therefore doing these photos to try count it as a proper signing I bet

Don't they usually get a low key indoor academy photo, in training gear? Can't be arsed to link the photos but ones like Findlay/El-Mhanni, O'Connor/Yarney, and the two lads from the other week didn't do shirt photos like this un.

Pilko with the old school real talk. that comment has aged surprisingly well like.

Bruce when he signed Joelinton for Newcastle: “He’s got everything that a modern-day player wants. He’s big, strong and athletic," Footballing talent, skill and flair can go whistle for Brucey. Give him a team of big strong grafting lads.

"I don't mean any disrespect but at times we made Hibernian look ordinary"

Weak as water, no heart, fancy Dan.

Interesting how Matty Longstaff was the only one out of the youngsters (Watts, Cass, Allen, Sorensen et al) to feature at Preston. I wonder if Bruce has told him they'll play together within 6-12 months as a way to keep him engaged.

Stifler with the equivalent of Mike Bassett's Rudyard Kipling moment there. Wp

Storm Drain probably more apt for the current situation we're in.

"He's splashed the cash twice in 6 months what more do they want?"

"Good lad, big, strong, athletic, ownly 22." That's all Brucey can muster. Can he play football?

On the SSN yellow ticker that we've been reported Probably have to use the transfer money as compo, ah well.

We'll end up with Nathan Ellington then. Cheaper.