Paullow

Rhyms with canny pain (well, almost).

Yeah, they have had a fair few top 6 finishes. They've finished 4, 5, 5, 5, 6, 6, 6, as well as 7th 4 times, whereas we've finished 2,2,3,3,4,5,5,6. So I guess there's will add up, and generally consistently solid, but just not that impactful, whereas even under SBR in that 4th season, the title was in our hands with 7 or 8 games to go, but we lost to that Bergkamp goal at SJP and then Liverpool not long after iirc, and any title hopes were over then, but often in good positions.

It's 3 seasons away overall, so like 118 matches extra, and if we'd averaged 45-50 then it would be similar. They've had a couple of iffy seasons where they have just stayed up, but have largely been solid, whereas we have made much more of an impact in the PL era with 5 top 4 finishes and a couple of 5th place, but there's also been a fair few scraping by, in addition to the two relegations. I wouldn't swap our respective PL campaigns though.

https://www.myfootballfacts.com/premier-league/all-time-premier-league/all-time-premier-league-table/ The all time PL table is quite interesting. They have the worst actual GD of any team (which was a fairly recent Pointless question). Palace will overtake them if they finish on 55 points this season, it will be close, but perhaps more likely next season. We'll still likely end this season with a negative GD, but will probably be back in positive next season. Everton will probably end with a negative GD at the end of this season, and while they currently have a +30 advantage over us, that could be really close by the end of the season. Leeds having a positive GD is quite surprising, although I guess they quickly went from being a solid top 6 side to struggling massively, and relegated not long later.

This thread is fantastic: https://wbaunofficial.org.uk/showthread.php?tid=27532 Almost tearing up with laughter over some of them: Corberan - quickly getting the fans approval Bruce - Bombay bad boy pot noodle (probably needs the context of the wider thread)

There'll inevitably be the 'both' replies, but hypothetically if we were to beat either Palace or Chelsea this week, but lose the other match, which match would you prefer to win? A chance to be in the last 16 of a cup with some strong sides guaranteed to go out, but then it's kind of a '6 pointer' against Chelsea. When the draw was made I would have said Palace, but after our strong league form of late, I think I'd prefer the 3 points.

I guess Joelinton was never in realistic contention despite that goal against Villa when the boss was watching. Still think he should be there over Fred, but without any warm up matches, it's probably not the time to bring players in for the first time over players the manager knows better - maybe once it's over. Didn't realise Fred was 30 in a few months.

The context is in the post directly above.

Barcelona vs Man Utd

Tough match for Liverpool, but then there was a 50/50 chance that they would have got either Real / Bayern or one of the Portuguese clubs, which they would have preferred. Hopefully as many of them go through as possible. They've obviously got the squads to deal with additional matches, but the more distractions the better. Less time to prep for PL matches if they they have big European matches a few days before. Man Utd's Europa draw coming up soon - I hope they avoid Barcelona so more chance they stick around the competition. Ajax would be perfect - a toughish match, but one they should win, and a bit more on it with all the returns. ETH would certainly want to win that one.

As many points as Everton and Southampton have combined in 2022, and Everton have played 2 games more. We've basically been class for pretty much a full season. We drew Watford in the first match of 2022, so it's 64 from the last 32, and exactly 2 point per game over a long long period - insane.

One more please Spurs, but just one more.

Draw is obviously the best, but not sure if there had to be a winner. I'd probably still plump for Spurs, as 6th would be outstanding and if Liverpool lost here, that would become more likely. Draw, Spurs, Lpool IMO, so hopefully Spurs respond.

Draw in this next match please. Surreal to be even thinking about others dropping points. If Tottenham don't win then we'll be third after this game week, if they do win, then Liverpool will be ELEVEN points behind. Crazy times. Can take positives out of any result to be honest.

Brentford and Bournemouth was just preference, but we'll be MUCH nearer Brighton than Man City at the end of the season, so them turning it around was the worst result today. I'd far rather Arsenal beat Chelsea tomorrow thsn the other way round as well.

Prem results now pretty much all going to way I wasn't wanting, and Wolves, Forest and Bmouth were all winning at the same time at one stage.

Goals galore in the top of the table Championship much. Sheff Utd 4 Burnley 2, 70 mins.

You'd probably think something like. Likely: Trippier, Pope, Schaar, Bruno, Possibly / probably: Kuol, Wilson Unlikely: Joelinton, Botman It's an interesting one. The likes of Joelinton and Botman would probably hardly feature if they were selected having never previously made a senior squad (I don't think), but it would be good for their morale if selected, but probably better for NUFC if they went to Saudi instead, so I probably hope they aren't selected, since it isn't too likely. Wilson is a bit different - he probably won't feature too much either, unless desperate, but he is nearly 31, probably his last chance of a World Cup, and very much in contention to go and (he) would be gutted if he missed out, so I probably hope he is selected.

I was jokingly going to say a shot for every time Ronnie Radford is mentioned during the Hereford vs Portsmouth coverage, but didn't realise he died 2 days ago - not sure how I missed that, Newcastle United even tweeted about it.

Who's the woman who is there most weeks? It's probably just a Mail / Express journalist equivalent like a Bird, Hope, Waugh etc. but she sounds so familiar, as if she's on TV, but I can never think of who it is, and have the same thoughts every time I listen to an Eddie press conference Anyone know?

That's ridiculous.

Ludogorets!

It'll make the Conference League a bit more interesting if there are some big sides involved. West Ham, Villareal, Lazio, Fiorentina will all be involved in the knockout stage, plus Braga and Roma as it stands. It might benefit us later in the season if West Ham have some proper tough ties rather than being like 5-0 up from the first leg and can just field a bunch of kids in the away leg, like they are largely doing tonight having already topped their group.

Arsenal 1-0, Tierney (good goal), so not as much intrigue now, so I'll switch to Roma as well.

I'm watching Arsenal while it's still live. Not as bothered about them as I think they're far too far ahead of us and would probably be better if they beat the other big 6 sides, but would be interesting if, like Man Utd, they have to play a last 32 match. If Arsenal score, or Bodo Glimt take the lead against PSV then I'll likely change. Roma vs Ludogorets is a straight shootout for 2nd place and the other will drop to the Conference. A draw suits the Bulgarians - I;'ll probably switch to that at some point, unless Roma go into a commanding lead.