Paullow

I am always a bit conflicted when it comes to WBA. Naturally, I enjoy them losing, and hope they continue to do so, but at the same time, despite losing their manager, I can see Sunderland finishing in the top 6, and if they make the playoffs, and have a bit of momentum behind them, then who knows, and I'd ideally want them to have a few more years in that league while we continue to develop. If you look at the live table, then you'd probably expect the current early days top 4 to be in and around the top 6 come the end of the season, the 3 relegated sides and a fairly 'big' team in Sheff Utd who made the playoffs last year, but after that, there's not many other obvious candidates at all, you would have perhaps thought Boro and WBA could / would be up there, despite the latter's obvious handicap, but those sides have only won 2 of their 14 league games between them. I can't see WBA sacking Bruce anytime soon - that would be the ideal scenario, them getting rid and then massively pushing on, but it'll likely just be a win, draw, loss here and there until after the World Cup, in which case it'll probably be too late for a potential new manger to make a promotion push. It didn't help last year with Leeds pipping Burnley on the last day, and Forest beating Hudds in the playoff final because the latter were always more likely to struggle this season, similarly with Luton, but it's crazy how average that league looks despite being described as one of the most competitive leagues in the world with so many sides having marrachute payments, and there definitely is a chance for Sunderland to make a bit of a push. They've largely been decent in the many Sky matches they have been on - unlucky vs Norwich, probably should have won, did OK with 10 men vs Sheff U, and got 11 points from the other 5 games.

I'd say 7. Very happy with the 3 or 4 players coming in, but at the same time, naturally, you always want one more, and I'd have been stunned if someone said on June 28th when we signed Botman that we'd only bring in one extra player in the forthcoming 2 and a bit months, even if it was a club record signing. Definitely a few other positions we could have strengthened, and the squad depth is pretty weak as we are starting to notice with a few key injuries here and there. But then again, it is 8 new signings since January and around 200m, so too many more could have been counterproductive, it's just unfortunate that our squad was very poor this time a year ago, and so much work was needed for the XI and beyond. We also can't control what everyone else is spending, but West Ham adding £180m or so to a squad that already 6th and 7th in the past two years is a little bit deflating. You think big Saudi takeover, other clubs forums concerned, we're bound to trouble the top clubs in a few years (if we stayed up), but they've kind of spent as much in this window alone as we have since January, and from a much better starting point as well, so it will take longer to surpass even them, let alone the top 6. One other thing. We have made a solid start to the season, a second away from still being unbeaten despite a tough set of opening fixtures, and to have played both City and Liverpool and have still have a + GD at this stage is quite incredible, but at the same time, if we fail to beat Palace on Saturday, we would be going into a tough away game against West Ham the following week without a win in 5 matches, which could sharp become 6, and then there probably will be a few posts saying WTF didn't we sign XYZ etc. On the other hand, if we were to beat Palace then it would look a lot rosier.

Absolute sickener. I guess the only small comforts is that it is very early in the season and in a match the vast majority would have been expected to lose, especially when you saw the team. Good signs overall, even if this hurts a lot tonight. Hopefully get a couple through the door tomorrow to somewhat soften the blow. Imagine if that was a League Cup or FA Cup semi final.

Would like to see Chelsea get an equaliser here.

I made 3 transfers today and took my first minus hit of the campaign (-4). Son, Trippier, and Mitro out, Martinelli, Walker, and Haaland in.

4 PL matches this evening, all across BT Sport: 7.30pm Crystal Palace vs Brentford Fulham vs Brighton 7.45pm: Southampton vs Chelsea 8pm Leeds vs Everton It feels like there's a London derby every round of fixtures, but then there are 7 London teams these days, so not unexpected. 7 Championship matches as well.

Cracking signing for West Ham. They've spent around the same as us (on an already better squad) this window alone than we have since the takeover, so they are going for it. I guess it could be the same with Bruno, Botman, and Isak depending on how we get on in the next couple of years, possibly year in Bruno's case, but it does seem a kind of stepping stone move, a couple of years at a reasonably high profile PL club, finish in and around 7th, prove myself and then move on to a top 6 club (or us, or perhaps both) in a couple of seasons. It'll be interesting to see how he gets on, and yes, this forum will be watching on with great interest

Another one from the Stoke forum, but so true: "It had to happen - there is now apoplexy on their messageboard that Souness has suggested they aren’t a bigger club than SCFC in anyway that matters. Honestly it’s a psychiatrist’s dream over there - every half an hour or so they have to tell each other how ‘big’ they are. The occasional voice of sanity is shouted down in no uncertain terms or accused of being the dreaded ‘Mag’."

Lots of derbies in the former Unibond league. Premier: South Shields 1 Morpeth 0 Marske 0 Whitby 0 East: Dunston 4 Consett 2 North Shields 1 Hebburn 2 Stockton 2 Shildon 1 Good how there's like 9 former Northern League sides making their way up the pyramid. Not sure if Whitby were ever in that league, would be before my time if they ever were, and certainly not as recent as others. Darlington and Spennymoor as well, although those being there was mainly due to them falling in hard times and the original clubs going bust.

It was actually today mate, 1-1. Attendance 6,833 according to the BBC.

In hindsight, probably would have been better off keeping Woodman. Possibly still not fully adequate for a number 2, but I think I'd be more confident with him on the bench than I would if it is going to be Darlow going forward.

Kane 73 goals short of Shearer's record, and it's starting to generate a bit more discussion if he'll end up the Premier League's all time leading goal scorer. Would you like to see him break the record (especially those who maybe didn't see all of Shearer), would you prefer he didn't, so that wor Al stayed in the history books, or are you not really bothered either way?

Aye, but they were eventually right

It's just a shit situation really. I can understand Dubs wanting the move even if on paper he is technically going from one number two to the other, but it obviously weakens our squad, strengthens theirs, and minimal financial gain for us as well. As others say, they're splashing out 150m on two players so surely they can afford 5m for a player who could play up to 20 matches for them this season. He'll no doubt be back to us in 12 months, a year older, less resale value, pushing 35, and we're left with Darlow for cup matches and if Pope gets injured / suspended. I wouldn't really want him rotting with the U23s for a year, and causing a stink, but it'll be equally annoying if he leaves for a year for next to nothing.

Loved how he and Schaar were both in the box, or at least on the verge on it, when Maxi struck that volley

Not sure if it has been posted in the past day or two, but I did find this funny. Some of the replies and quotes are class

I quite fancied us against City, and would be confident of giving anyone a good go at home, but here, with the injuries, and those springing into life yesterday, I probably would take a spirited 1-0 defeat if offered. That mindset should really be well and truly in the past, and we'd obviously get the same amount of points as Bournemouth did, but I just can't see much better than 3-0, or 2-0 at best, and a potential narrow defeat where we competed reasonably well, perhaps a little bit like the most recent match at SJP, would continue the momentum somewhat, it certainly wouldn't flatten it anyway.

3 times - 7th twice under Reid, and 10th under Bruce when they went from about 14th on the last day and past us after that Pardew 3-3 draw with WBA. You could also take that, lower it to 12th, and extend it right back to 1956 and it would still just be three times. No top 6 finish, and only 3 top 12 finishes since 1956 is crazy for seemingly such a big club, yet most of their fanbase would still likely consider themselves among the top 9 or 10 biggest clubs in the country. Only played in Europe once in their history as well - 2 ties, 4 matches, as a second tier club 49 years ago.

I often read other clubs' 'other games today' type threads, especially after a good result like last Sunday, and it really is surprising that while many seem to respect his accomplishments here, a lot of away fans seem to have a negative view on Eddie's character. Like today, someone on wolvesforum was saying something like "I don't like Howe, but...", and you see that sort of stuff a lot. Others on here mentioned it during the Brighton match which was dismissed as South Coast rivalry, but it definitely is something that I have generally noticed. You see 'Smug Eddie' a lot. Strange. I could listen to him talk about football all day.

Happy with that and think it's a fair result. If anyone deserved to win it would be us, but that's a decent point on the road. Wolves will be a bit disappointed thinking they had won the game (rightfully called off), but they didn't do enough to win. Tough game next, and the unbeaten run will be thoroughly tested, but still unbeaten for now, feel good factor well in tact, a record signing to come in, hopefully one or two more. Just an unbelievable contrast to this time last season.

Always going to be a tough match. We lose two key players at this stage, especially with who comes in, and we will massively feel it, especially away from home. At home we could be looking at 40 points, but think we'll do pretty well to get 20 away. Their front 6 today do look significantly superior IMO.

Yeah, I can't seem to post proper links from that site these day, so has to be a copy and paste job, but I can't understand any logic whatsoever how they'd consider themselves a bigger club than Villa, and it's not just one of them claiming it. The only thing of about 10 in their favour is a bigger stadium, which is a pretty moot point anyway if they can't fill it, but pretty much every other metric would point to Villa. I was browsing the Stoke forum yesterday to see what they were saying on the whole Neil saga, and this seemed quite apparent: "Also, I read on another thread that they've only finished in the top 10 in the country three times since 1957 (31 seasons). That's worse than us I think. As long as I've followed football, they've been as much a regular fixture in the second tier as the first (let's not mention both teams having some time in the third tier) and as such just don't have the aura of the huge club they think they are. And by that, I'm comparing them with Leeds, Villa, Spurs, Newcastle and Man City- clubs that just looked out of place outside the top flight. Sunderland just don't have that feel and strike me as a better supported Sheff Utd." https://oatcakefanzine.proboards.com/thread/305448/sunderland-view

www.readytogo.net/smb/threads/fuck-alex-neil.1587747 #BigClubWars I wonder if that JohnSAFC is on here

This time 12 months ago, those who cared would have been concerned as a newly promoted side were on their way to 3 unexpected points, whereas now, we're generally happy that Arsenal could be dropping points and possibly remain in our sights. Crazy turnaround.

The WWE music at halt time during every Arsenal home match always cracks me up. 'Drew McIntyre' will likely be trending soon.