Interpolic

Can't come myself but it's a great shout, love the idea of forumites getting together to watch NUFC finally play a big occasion after years and years of needless bullshit. The word "forumite" is a bit noncey innit, won't be using that again.

Sends an awful message out, that.

^ Bruno so I can continue thinking the world revolves around me and my inconsequential 39th birthday.

Hope we throw the game, if it's not the World Cup I'm not interested. Embarrassing we've taken it this seriously so far tbh.

Mental game that like The first half an hour was the best we've played all season. We were so fucking on it. So intense. Didn't give the poor cunts a moment's peace. Went a bit ropey after their goal. Second half we were fucking awful But limited them to just one chance and had to squeak it out. Bruno's red a big blow for the league. A game of extremes tonight. Delighted for Longstaff, delighted for Howe, the staff, the players. But most of all delighted for fans who finally have something to shout about after a desperately depressing decade and a half. A huge day looms large and Howe won't be interested in anything but a win. These occasions were stolen from us and now they're back at last. Howay the lads, we can do this.

Was that Idris Elba?!

Yeah exactly. "We made him stay then didn't let him kick a ball for six months and now he still wants to leave". Kids these days

Well done Arsenal, giving Chelsea twice what a player's worth. Knobheads. Arsenal and Chelsea have a weird little relationship like - they love a leftfield, frictionless, sideways transfer between their two clubs.

Harrison has lost some form this season but think our main reason for switching targets is age, as he's 26. We've signed two 21 year olds instead of looking at older players. Potentially solves problems in future windows, rather than us forever having this balancing act between strengthening the squad and FFP. Signing older players is kicking the can down the road a bit, in our situation.

Banner time.

12 months ago Caicedo had just been recalled from a loan in Belgium because Brighton were low on midfielders. He's still only made <30 PL appearances. I'm sure he's as close to a sure-fire thing as it gets if Arsenal are bidding £60m but it's mental how much some relatively unproven players are going for these days.

Those skills can be taught

A few times a year I tediously post that we've needed someone who can play across the front 3 since Remy and that it will solve so many issues in our squad. I didn't have Anthony fucking Gordon in mind tbh but I'll take it He appears to have solid fundamentals for his position so if his attitude is right then hopefully he will develop well. Howe and his team have transformed the careers of players in their mid to late 20s, so just think what they can do with a 21 year old if all goes well. There it is, that's my "well he's practically signed now so let's be optimistic" post

It was justified at the time by Keegan saying he wanted to change the way we played. If you just look at it in money terms we effectively swapped Cole for Gillespie and a more well rounded (but older) striker in Ferdinand. And additional funds spent on Ginola, Hislop, Barton and later Shearer.* I'm still not sure tbh, I was gutted as an 11 year old but loved the side that followed. Cole for us was a finishing machine which meant he had limitations but for all Ferguson improved his all round game I think he lost some of that dynamism at Man Utd. * Edit: and Batty and Asprilla as well! We spent quite a lot during that period beyond the Cole fee.

There'll be a lot of boos that day either way

Assume there were 11 ducks unless 1 or 2 of them had been red carded. A quick Google suggests 11 is a lucky number, in dreams and other contexts. Think joey's dream might be WOAT or a sub-forum at this stage tbh.

Quacktar Donetsk

Sting wasn't even a real Policeman either, it's a fucking outrage.

6 days left then. Pretty quiet innit Would like to see us use the loan market if we're not getting any joy with getting permanent signings at valuations we're happy paying. We need some additional quality in the squad for the rest of the season. Trippier, Bruno, Schar etc must be knackered.

Forest having a great spell.

Yessss Edit - ah balls

This:

Great performance overall in a high pressure game. Was ropey for about 15 mins second half but we controlled it other than that. Finishing wasn't very good though. It's getting proper annoying now that Bruno is the best finisher out of him, Willock, Joelinton and Longstaff but the chances are falling to the others because Bruno is playing so deep. Think tonight was the night I properly joined the "We must free Bruno to join in the attack" club.

Will stick it in here as well