Paullow

It'll most likely be 1-3 or something, but I've got a sneaky feeling we might get a point tomorrow, and am looking forward to the game. It's a strange feeling

Some fantastic PL scores so far. Hopefully Stoke can nick a late equaliser.

Forest sign Gibbs-White for £42.5m taking their summer spending over £150m, and they still want more in. They obviously had to bring in a lot of bodies in due to losing so many players, but that's a crazy amount for a newly promoted side, especially one who hadn't been in the top flight for over 20 years.

Yeah, I mean you do just need to look at Forest last year - they'd have been thinking a top half finish would be a miracle towards the end of Hughton's reign. Norwich are interesting, you do automatically think they will be up there just because they always seem to be, but I was reading their Pink'un forum a few months ago and there were a lot of 'it feels different this time' type posts, so maybe it will be more of a struggle this season, although they did get their first win today. I was saying that it didn't look the strongest, especially with the turmoil at Burnley, so there could be an opportunity for someone to surprise - I just hope it's not Sunderland as I would like us to enjoy at least 3 or 4 seasons of constant progress before they ever returned. I probably wanted Sunderland to win more than WBA last season, especially in Bruce's early WBA days, but I'd far rather WBA went up, if hypothetically (I know it's unlikely), it did come down to those two this season, say in a playoff final.

Nobody seems to want to win the Championship. Out of all the more fancied sides, I think only Watford will be happy with their start. Might not be that unfeasible for Sunderland to make the playoffs again. That's one reason why I'm a bit conflicted with WBA and Bruce. I love seeing him fail, but at the same time, they probably should be up there at the end of the season, and the more they fail, the more it opens up a top 6 spot, perhaps for someone not as expectant. A lot of them have played each other, but while still very early days, thus far: Burnley 5 points from 4 WBA and Boro 2 from 3 Norwich 4 from 4 Sheff U 4 from 3 None doing particularly great.

Shades of us vs Everton a couple of years ago under Bruce. We literally had no shot on target heading into injury time that day

The keeper actually made a really smart save at 2-2 even further into stoppage time. That equaliser would have kind of been academic had that have gone in.

The same will almost certainly apply to 7th though, albeit probably slightly lower level European opposition, but it'll be the same principles of less time to prepare for PL games. I guess you could probably tank the play off tie (or at least play a completely changed XI) if you were concerned about the group stage, and beyond, but I'd personally love to be back mixing it with the top 6, even at this stage. The odds do seem FAR too small though, and for all their troubles, 13/8 still looks pretty good value for Man Utd to finish in the top 6.

That will likely be based on the assumption we bring in a couple of players, as well as anticipated money, and covering losses, and odds are just a number etc. but we are currently more favoured for a top 6 finish than Man Utd at SkyBet. It's actually such a good opportunity to push on, and hopefully not look back. Fingers crossed we can get a little bit extra quality in the side before the end of September.

Even at this very early stage, with other results, it really does feel like a great opportunity for 7th or even 6th. Man Utd will be at least 4 points down from what they would have wanted, West Ham around 3, whereas we've had a solid start with a home win, solid away draw, and a couple of clean sheets. A couple of quality additions could make a massive difference.

That was brilliant. "Look at me when I'm talking to you"

Possibly me looking into it too much, but Sky haven't half milked the Brentford celebrations with their fans, whereas when beat Arsenal 2-0 it was straight into the studio and bemoaning Arsenal. Possibly to do with Staveley and co being there etc.?

https://streamable.com/tgjxxf

readytogo.net/smb/threads/sunderland-v-qpr-match-thread.1586137/page-57 Wouldn't let me post the proper link, so need to c&p, but an enjoyable read, ha.

Not the right thread, but QPRs keeper has got a 93rd minute equaliser against Sunderlan.d

We had a spell in the late 90s / early 00s of playing them a few times in the cups, but not for more than 20 years. Nice tie, 4th tier, so should really be a win, but a relatively big ground, so a chance for more fans to go, and the possibility of it being on TV. I'd have preferred a home match, but can't complain about that draw.

Just as well. That's the last match I attended and still want those 90 minutes back

There's obviously some teams you would prefer not to draw, and something like Brighton, Villa, Leicester, Everton away (I know Brighton tend to be better away) are matches you'd probably prefer to avoid at this stage, but it's a great feeling knowing that finally, for the first time in ages, the cup is actually an opportunity rather than a distraction, and most PL clubs would prefer to avoid us, and some of the lower league sides might like to draw us away for the 'experience'. I'm looking forward to seeing who we get. I didn't realise that so many Championship sides lost last night, 11 I believe, including 9 to lower league sides.

I don't think I've ever seen even a remotely half positive post

Bollocks

Class

That's the Championship for you.

WBA should really be a goal up. They've started the brighter - Watford keeper made a couple of smart saves.

Straightaway, cutting interviewers off, and bemoaning injuries. Classic.