ponsaelius

Across both games I think Forest are the worst team we've played this season like. Even though the two games were basically against different teams Of the starting line up tonight only Niakhite and Johnson started on the opening day.

That's a real shitter tbh. We had Matt Ritchie on tonight again ffs.

Absolutely enthralling that. Never seen a more deserved win. Loved that we never stopped going at it all game.

I genuinely don't get that.

I'm done with footy me like.

Yeah don't get me wrong the ref hasn't helped at all. But we've definitely let it get to us.

Most frustrating thing in this game is we've actuallt been physically bullied/intimidated for a lot of it. Particularly Isak and ASM.

Really decent draw for Roma too. Italian teams have had some unlucky draws over the years and this year appears to be making up for it by giving all of them a red carpet.

That's an incredible opportunity for Napoli. Its basically the draw I was hoping they would get - aside from I would have quite liked an all-Milan quarter final. In a way it has piled the pressure on them because they should be making the final now. The big thing for Napoli is the league is done. They can manage their squad completely for these knock out games.

Yeah basically. Also bureaucracy makes it extremely difficult to get the land and consents (and definitely not the funding) to build new ones ('you already have a perfectly good stadium'). It is happening in some cases but pace is glacial. On a strictly personal and selfish level I'm not bothered. Not until I've ticked off all the great stadiums anyway. But there's no doubt stadium redevelop is pretty key to improving the quality of the 'product' - even just to allow the clubs to have more control over revenue

Verona specifically is actually a good example of the above. I went a few years ago for a sell-out win against Juve and it was probably the best matchday atmosphere I've been to in terms of colour and consistent noise throughout. However Verona ultras are also notorious for being the nastiest and most intimidating bigots around. Getting in meant queuing for over an hour before to check tickets and ID, while the actual stadium facilities and comforts at the Bentegodi are more or less non existent. It is little surprise that for a league game against middling opposition that is on TV sees a huge drop in casual supporters (and very few tourists compared to the PL).

Attendances did gradually fall when every game went on TV. It undoubtedly had an impact. This accelerated after calciopoli for obvious reasons. As did the introduction of photo ID to enter stadia. Although attendances have recovered quite a bit in recent years in terms of total numbers. A lot of it however is often simply down to the ground being too big for the club and/or fanbase. Most teams use large municipal stadiums not built for purpose and clubs are unable to build new ones or redevelop the existing ones to a more appropriate size/style. The built form of the existing stadia is also rarely conducive to the TV experience when there is a running track, or when all the fans are placed on one side of the ground/in the curva miles away from the pitch. I would also say that Italy is very different to the UK in the fact that it has lots and lots of small parochial cities which are little more than towns when you look at population. Cremonese have a 21,000 seater but it is unsurprising that it is not filled - the city itself is smaller than Hartlepool. Empoli and Sassuolo are barely much bigger than Blyth. Watching a Serie A game in person is a notably better experience than it is on TV because the ultras provide the noise and atmosphere and you get the full sense of that in person. However I would say the ultras are a weakness as much as a strength as their very presence probably does scare and intimidate family going supporters (as well as the state of the facilities themselves) which is such a boon for attendances in other countries - particularly England.

Danjuma wasn't really a flop for Bournemouth. He got injured, then played very well in the Champ, and was sold for twice as much as they paid for him. Bournemouth are a tough club to buy PL standard players for. Remember he was very keen on Schar but couldn't convince him to go there.

They've got a pretty decent home record, or at least don't lose many at all. We really could do with getting another win but it won't be easy.

Buzzing with that but Lopetegui wants shot with shit. They went to bits when the extra CB came on.

Been coming, but shocking goal to give away.

Another week watching Dan Burn ffs

Sunderlona getting smashed, surely not

Ah the old Murphy white flag sub once the game is lost, how I've missed you in the last week.

So annoying

Yeah he's all safe and nicey nice. Literally the opposite of what I expected him to be.

I'd like to think we've put that new contract for Wilson on ice for a bit mind.

Not convinced at all by Gordon yet like.

Biggest problem for me this season has been the commitment to continuity at all costs. We stuck with a system and selection for so long despite the fact it was gradually deteriorating in terms of the attacking creativity and goalscoring. Now the defensive solidity seems to be slipping too and we need to change it up on a downward spiral. You could argue the work in the transfer market has mirrored and exacerbated this.

The Dan Burn left back thing needs to end now.