Paullow

Yeah, it's grim. I've opted for the playoff match, but I could easily watch any one of four. It's a shame that neither the Frankfurt nor the Roma match were at 6pm, which they often are when German or Italian teams are at home in Europe.

Nowt against West Ham, but I wouldn't want another team outside of the obvious few to get Champions League football whilst we're potentially closing the gap on those type of teams in terms of status and league finishes, so I'd rather they went out. We could also be going for similar type of players in the Summer, and if they can offer London and CL football then it would be a no brainer at this stage. I'd like to see a Rangers vs Frankfurt final, but suspect it will be the opposite (despite W Ham trailing).

They've never played a minute together thus far have they? I think Trippier came off vs Everton just before Bruno came on, possibly for each other, and then Trippier obviously injured just after half time vs Villa with Bruno still on the bench.

Aye, but apart from that one. I'll blame the awful 11vs11 site . We did actually get a fair few draws down there pre takeover, but it's always been a tough place for us, and I remember Goater banging a few in. A little bit like the Dell.

Hate this fixture. Out last results against them (away) in the league: 3-1 4-0 4-0 5-0 6-1 3-1 2-1 5-0 2-0 Horrendous, and pretty pointless. Mind, it's not just since they came into money, because we've not won there in the league since 1984, 20 matches ago I think. We're 20/1 at Bet365 if anyone fancies a punt, if they think tonight may affect it slightly in our favour.

#Backlash

They've sold 40,000 tickets so far, so looking like a sell out. You'd kind of expect them to sell out a one off (huge) game seeing as they have had those kind of attendances at some point in the past, but obviously a lot more than the 26k who turned up at vs Portsmouth 3 years ago. Not sure what's changed this year, whether the unbeaten run has helped, more confidence under Neil, a bigger name opponent this time (although Portsmouth aren't exactly small), or just perhaps more desperation that they can't have a 5th successive season in the third tier. It does feel a pretty big match, and I'm looking forward to watching both legs (assuming it's not like 4-0 and game over after the 1st leg). Edit - missed all the 40k chat on the previous page

We'll win the Champions League before City

They're on the ropes here.

I guess one of the main reason is that the biggest and most popular events (the slams) have been pretty much joint events for years and years, that it becomes far more normal the more you are exposed to it. If you watch Wimbledon on BBC1 or 2 there will be a near enough equal amount of men's and women's matches featured each day, same with Roland Garros on ITV4. If Annabel Croft or Sam Smith commentates on a men's match, nobody would bat an eye lid, likewise if two blokes were commentating on a women's match, and that normality gives the women the platform to potentially be as big a name as the men's. If you asked general sports fans on the street (who didn't know much about tennis) to name 10 active tennis players then I'd imagine most would probably name 4 women, which is pretty crazy when you think about it, and wouldn't really happen in any other sport. Athletics benefits from the same situation whereby their biggest events like the Olympics and World Championships have all competitors in the same venue, and shared TV coverage, and again, the platform for big names and stars to emerge, e.g. Jessica Ennis arguably being the main attraction at the athletics in 2012. There's probably still a bit of stigma with women's boxing, but that is getting pushed more and more now, and most UK cards these days have a women's fight now, often well up the card, or even headlining, and while some will still complain, the more this is pushed and featured, the more normal that will become and be more widely accepted, a bit like the UFC who have also had big name stars over the years.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1995–96_Newcastle_United_F.C._season#Premier_League That run from mid to late Feb to the start of April was awful. Obviously some tough matches there, but to only lose 8 league matches in the whole season and 5 of them coming in that 8 game period, and only 7 points gained, was so disappointing. Absolutely outstanding home record that season - 17 wins, 1 draw (last game of the season) and the only loss being the Man Utd (Cantona / Schmeichel) one.

The main rage is those 2 red cards the other year in the Championship handed out by that actor sounding referee.

Yeah, remember that well, despite just being 8 or 9. Thursday night, TV match (rarer those days), Beardsley put us in the lead in the first half I think, and then a great Woan equaliser to draw 1-1. Grim.

TV games per club if anyone is interested, up until the last day of the season. We could feature there depending on what's on the line across the board: Liverpool 28 (Sky 18, BT 8, Amazon 2) Arsenal 27 (Sky 17, BT 8, Amazon 2) Man City 27 (Sky 18, BT 7, Amazon 2) Man Utd 27 (Sky 18, BT 7, Amazon 2) Tottenham 27 (Sky 17, BT 8, Amazon 2) Chelsea 24 (Sky 15, BT 7, Amazon 2) Everton 22 (Sky 15, BT 5, Amazon 2) West Ham 22 (Sky 17, BT 3, Amazon 2) Newcastle 20 (Sky 13, BT 5, Amazon 2) Leeds 19 (Sky 13, BT 4, Amazon 2) Aston Villa 18 (Sky 12, BT 4, Amazon 2) Crystal Palace 16 (Sky 10, BT 4, Amazon 2) Brentford 15 (Sky 10, BT 3, Amazon 2) Brighton 15 (Sky 8, BT 5, Amazon 2) Leicester 15 (Sky 9, BT 4, Amazon 2) Wolves 15 (Sky 9, BT 4, Amazon 2) Norwich 12 (Sky 7, BT 3, Amazon 2) Watford 12 (Sky 6, BT 4, Amazon 2) Burnley 11 (Sky 5, BT 4, Amazon 2) Southampton 11 (Sky 7, BT 2, Amazon 2)

We've been strongly linked with one of them to be fair

The playoff picture just got a lot more interesting, and it's now definitely 4 going for 2 spots. 5) Sheff Utd 72, +14 6) Luton, 72, +7 -------------------------- 7) Boro, 70, +12 8) Millwall, 69, +9 Sheff Utd vs Fulham Luton vs Reading Preston vs Boro Bournemouth vs Millwall Not sure how that impacts Sheff Utd. Fulham had been under par for a while, but are obviously the best team in the league, but they have passed 100 goals, Mitro has broken the record, and they have had a great day at home, so who knows how they will respond on the final day. Luton have the easiest fixture, but their confidence will be hit hard. Boro and Millwall obviously have to win and hope, but Boro will probably be fancying their chances of making it if they win after that result from both a Sheff U and Luton perspective. Millwall will be hoping that Bournemouth beat Nottm Forest tomorrow so that their promotion is sealed before the final day. Interesting day ahead.

4-0, Mitro. Luton's GD getting a battering.

Bulgarian football seems a bit of a mess. You've basically got 2 CSKA Sofia sides in the top flight, one buying a license from another well known team (Litex), and then Ludogorets coming from absolutely nowhere and going from 0 league titles to 11 league titles in the past 11 years

They've got guaranteed 21st Reading at home on the last day, so still in a good position, and certainly in their hands, but any further goal they concede gives Boro, and even Millwall, a bit more hope.

Just saw that Boston United conceded a 90+4 equaliser so Spennymoor have the most outside chance of still finishing top 7, but while nothing crazy like needing a huge swing, it'll take a LOT going for them. Had they beaten Guiseley who had only won 1 of their last 11 matches and got thumped 0-6 at home to Gateshead 2 weeks ago, they would have had a good chance, but they've pretty much blown it. Obviously still a hell of a lot to to in the playoffs should you get there, especially if you finish 4th-7th, and unlikely they would have gone up, but would have been nice to have extended their season.

Aye, including us, until 7 months ago

Well, the results went for Elliot and our gas friends today. Salford 2 Mansfield 2, then Port Vale 1 Newport 2, meaning that Rovers are ahead of both Mansfield and Port Vale heading into the final day, and if they win at home to relegated Scunthorpe, they don't need worry about those two. 3) Northampton, 77 points, + 20 ------------------------------------------------------ 4) Bristol Rovers, 77 points, + 15 (plus goals scored advantage) Northampton are away to lowly, but safe, Barrow. It's a shame the GD wasn't slightly closer because if Northampton won by 1 goal, you could maybe see Rovers winning by 3 or 4, but to win 6-0 or 7-0 is less realistic. Still, they just need to win their match, and see where it takes them. A couple of early goals won't harm them. Port Vale were odds on for automatic a few weeks ago, but after 3 straight defeats, they may well miss out on the playoffs altogether now with title chasing Exeter away their last match,

In some ways, it might have been better had Brackley not conceded, so they would have been 3 behind, not mathematically confirmed, albeit an insurmountable GD which couldn't be overturned unless anything dodgy went on, no pressure at all, but the opportunity to 100% officially confirm it on the final day at home. Still, massive well done to them, a great achievement, Scarborough won 2-1, so they will be joining Darlington, Spennymoor, Blyth, possibly York in the National League North next season, but NOT Gateshead.

Scarborough 2-1 Christ, Guiseley 1-0 Spennymoor, that's Moors knackered. Actually Guiseley aren't already down, so it was a harder match than it first looked, still disappointing though.

Possibly York or Spennymoor, although the latter aren't doing their playoff hopes any good being held at relegated Guiseley. Scarborough (I still kind of half see them as local, especially as I used to always go there as a lad, and the town is featured on Looked North) are 1-1, but Warrington have been down to 10 men for about 20 mins. Gateshead now 2-2. Hereford have pulled one back against Brackley, 1-2.