Paullow

Can't see this PSG keeper saving one.

Figo looks the same as he did about 20 years ago.

Aye, Mike should have done far better when he was there, but there was a sense that there was no momentum, whereas, despite not getting promoted, it does feel like the club has stopped the rot (after back to back relegations) and should certainly be up there challenging for automatic next year, and they will almost certainly be winning a lot more matches than losing. That said, I have been looking at the replies and quote tweets to the announcement and there is a lot of replies along the lines of anything short of the title will be failure, with likes to comment ratios that would suggest that would be the general consensus among the fan base, wider opinion, but it does feel a good opportunity to continue doing what he has been doing on a bigger stage. Hopefully it goes well. I live exactly between Carlisle and Newcastle, so if they are doing well and playing some good stuff I will probably go to a few more matches than I normally would.

Good appointment. Hopefully it works better than Williamson did, but also a great opportunity for Rob. He's at a much bigger club, one with good backing / facilities and he won't really need relocate should he not wish to. Hopefully Carlisle can get promoted this season as it's easier to get stuck down there if you don't bounce back early.

You'll never see stuff like that again, crazy.

Tough watching another English club doing well on the continental stage, but probably is for the best if Palace win here. Would be some period for them if they can win the FA Cup, Conference League and then make a real fist of things in the Europa next year.

I missed Disco's post at the time, but I see Heaton have made a few signings of their own since them. 2 lads from Blyth Town, who looked decent when I saw them against Bishops last year, plus the top scorer from last years Northern league (Whitley Bay striker Mackenzie Sharpe, who was seemingly previously at Heaton). Looks like it's going to be hard for any team in the Northern League as Bishops are making some statement signings, got a few in from Whitby a couple of leagues higher. Obviously titles aren't won on paper, but they will be the favourites for sure. A shame they couldn't have stayed up last season and made a first of the NPLE this year.

Scraping the barrel with some of those mind, particularly the bottom 2. Palace will be there too if they beat Vallecano tomorrow, and the Spaniards are 10/3 to win the match, Palace odds on, which kind of shows you the difference in strength between Premier League bottom half and other top leagues mid table. I usually don't like other English clubs having success, but if only to strengthen the field a bit further, I will be hoping they win tomorrow night.

Ironically, looking like AC Milan will be in the Europa as it stands, along with Juventus. Bournemouth in is a bonus, as it is a bit of a joke 6th place getting Champs League (although obviously wouldn't have complained if that was us), plus they will be a contender and I can imagine it would have been fodder being added in their place had Bmouth sneaked into the CL instead today.

Aye, not often the most subtle is wor Doog.

Villa 2-1 up, so as it stands, Bmouth will be in Europa, they'd need 2 City goals and 1 Liverpool goal to get Champions League. Edit - Didn't realise Liverpool went ahead, but Brentford have just leveled, so above point still stands

Chelsea down to 10 men now, aw well.

Aye, I put 50 across 2 companies, plus a Paddy Power free £5 bet, return is pretty much £200, so effectively got 3/1 odds, but I wish I had a bit more on, ha. I was kind of half hoping that Brighton drew and Brentford nicked a win so that I could profit and them not getting Europe at all anyway, but the Brighton score has f'd that up completely. Hopefully Chelsea can get 1 more, as those 2 point will be huge. They'd go from 7th to 11th with just 1 more Chelsea goal.

Chelsea back in it, 2-1.

With them 2-0 up and Brighton 3-0 down, it's pretty much only an unlikely Brentford winner that can stop them finishing 7th.