Paullow

Forest were last in the PL in 1998/99, so have been out 23 years. I can just about remember them there, although they were a bit of a yo-yo club at the time, so wasn't really shocking stuff when they last went down, but obviously anyone under 30 won't can remember them there, so it will be good to have them back. Another big city club with good history.

Aye, they got 1 point from their first seven matches under Hughton, sacked him, and haven't looked back since. I really like Chris, but that's an astonishing turnaround.

How big is that Bournemouth vs Forest match tomorrow at 7pm? If Bournemouth win they are up, if Forest win then it's massively advantage Forest on the final day, and if they draw, then it's as you were, still advantage Bournemouth, but a tougher looking final day match. In some ways it would have been better if it was the actual final match of the season itself, but at the same time, at least we get a massively high stakes match, rather than it potentially not happening if results in match day 45 went a different way. It sounds strange, but I've warmed to Forest a bit since our takeover, and their great league and especially cup run. They are obviously a significant / traditional club and would offer the Premier League far more than some of the clubs currently there, but when the apathy was in full flow, and we were just stinking out the league looking to finish 17th, I couldn't really be bothered with another club like that buzzing and being delighted to be back, whereas now my mindset is different and I wish them well, if that makes sense.

Brackley 2-0 up, and Gateshead 0-1 down, so looking like it's going to the final day at this stage, but still time for the Heed to get the point they need. Scarborough 1 up in their final. Just realised there's a legit stream with commentary if anyone is interested. Probably not many apart from possibly @Yorkie

I share the same sentiment as others. For weeks I've been buzzing when Burnley won - cheered them on vs Southampton on Sky, punched the air when watching the Chelsea-West Ham match Vydra's goal confirmation vs Wolves came through, and was buzzing when they turned it around vs Watford, mainly to put the pressure on Everton, but realistically, it's now looking like all it's done is harm Leeds, a city I really like, and a club that I don't mind at all, and would much prefer to stay in the Premier League than either of the others . I get the fact they are poor away from home, seem to raise their game in the higher profile matches, but I just can't see Everton going down now. They might not get them, but I really could see them getting 8 or 9 points from their next 4 matches, so I am looking at it more from Burnley and Leeds perspective now. Burnley can certainly look to get 4-6 points from Newcastle and Villa at home, and while they will still be a clear underdog, if Spurs were to lose to Liverpool and Arsenal in their next 2, that Spurs away match (without the CL carrot) won't look quite as daunting, albeit still fairly tough. If Burnley get 4 points, then Leeds need 5 (depending on Everton), and that's tricky. But at the same time, player for player, Burnley are the worst side in terms of quality (if not spirit), worse team than Villa, worse team than us, and this feel good factor might run out and they might just pick up 1 or 2 points from their remaining matches, it really is so hard to call, but I do think Everton are definitely in the best position now, and they do have decent fixtures, and just more quality all over the park. England's GK, Mina, Gordon, Richarlison etc. are good players. Still, it'll be exciting watching it all unfold, and a relief that we're not involved.

What's going on with these National North and South divisions? I assume covid has affected clubs in the past few years, but looking back at 2018/19 and prior seasons, there were 22 teams in the league, and 3 went down, but why are only 1 of the 22 teams going down this year - will the leagues be 24 teams going forward? The National League and South both have odd numbers of teams, so I assume they must have lost a team along the way, but it does look a bit of a mess. A full round of fixtures at 3pm in the 5th tier and then the regional divisions. Stockport look like they are making a pigs ear of their title charge, losing 3 of their last 4 games, and if they drop points today at playoff chasing Chesterfield, the title could be in Wrexham's hands as they still have to play each other, and Stockport have other tough games after that as well. Relegation is all sorted. Gateshead can officially seal the title and promotion with a win, or if Brackley fail to win, or they can all but confirm it with a point if Brackley were to win. Spennymoor can put pressure on those above them if they beat relegated Guiseley. It's also Scarborough Athletic vs Warrington for a place in the National North next season.

He's had a cracking career, relatively, when you think about it. Mansfield born so joins the biggest team in the area / county in Forest, and plays over 200 matches for them. Gets an unlikely move to Premier League Newcastle, even if not vintage Newcastle, and is involved in 81 games there. Moves to Wigan where he is a regular for two years in the Championship, gets to live in West London for a few years at QPR, and then ends his career at his home town club, where he is presumably vice captain. Not bad at all.

It's actually a very enjoyable match. 2-2 now, and end to end. Lund, who was lucky to stay on the pitch, equalised, and then hit the bar with another header, and then Mansfield could have scored again just before as well. Mansfield have brought a lot of fans, so it's a good atmosphere, and both sides really need the win.

2-1 Mansfield thanks to a pen just before half time. Eventful half. It's so tight for automatic promotion up there, with 4 sides having some sort of chance. Advantage Mansfield as it stands, but then Port Vale play Newport at 3pm (also on Sky) and will have the chance to jump into 3rd themselves. Port Vale have Exeter away on the final day, who have the title in their own hands, Mansfield have Forest Green at home who have led the league for so long but have been struggling for a while, although still in title contention. Northampton who were in 3rd at the start of the day have lowly, but safe, Barrow away on the final day, whereas Rovers have already relegated Scunlhorpe at home, so you could still make a case for all of 4 them to go up automatically, and it'll be interesting to see how it all pans out.

Mansfield do have a big budget, so they probably have done well to get him in at this stage, so maybe a league higher, and possibly a realistic option for them if they do go up, but aye, you'd possibly think lower than the Championship going forward.

Wouldn't have been too surprised if it was a Sunderland fan pretending for all the 'different breed up there' shite, but aye, seems to be a genuine Newcastle fan, and it's grim stuff. Christ knows what he's thinking.

I was watching about 2 mins behind, just caught up now, so thought he might have got sent off or something

I've never really followed Longstaff / Mansfield's progress in the same way as I have with Anderson / Bristol R, so apart from the 5 goals, I'm not sure what the general opinion of their fans have been on him. I guess that's largely because he's almost 3 years older, still playing in L2 at 22, failed at Aberdeen etc. and almost like he's peaked at Newcastle with that Man Utd winner, and unlikely to have a future. I wonder what sort of career he goes on to have?

Early goal for Salford who have to win to keep their tiny playoff hopes alive. Matty just missed a glorious chance a minute after the above post, and I didn't realise Perch was playing. Bristol Rovers will be hoping Mansfield don't win. 1-1 - nice free kick.

Yeah, Gateshead definitely contributes to the 'one club city' factor, as well as North Tyneside, because without those, the popn is just around 300k and around the same size as Coventry or Leicester where the one club city is never mentioned, whereas with them, it's nearer 700k who's primary club will be Newcastle. Probably the obvious links between the two settlements as you say, the whole Geordie identity etc. differentiates the situation, but there are far smaller places with successful FL clubs - Forest Green, based in Nailsworth, popn 8k, will have League One football next season, Fleetwood average around 3,500 and that town's popn is only 25k and about most of those fans would be new fans, Accrington 35k popn with a lot of significant clubs around it, likewise Morecambe with the same popn. I remember when they got to the Conference play off final a few years back, I was wanting them to get promoted as it would have been really good to have another north east side in the football league, but I definitely did have those thoughts at the time of what if.

I've often thought, if, hypothetically, Gateshead came into a little bit of money, and ended up a solid enough League One club, like say a Fleetwood, but on a slightly larger scale where they could maybe have the potential to go even further, would that impact Newcastle in any way? Like in terms of support, or viewing the club differently instead of being a small, local club who you like to see do well, to hmmm, wait a second...

Just so pleased we managed to win 10 of those 14 matches, because even 8 wins and a draw, which would have still be a great return, and we'd have been right amongst it, especially with the remaining fixtures.

They've just not looked a thing like scoring thus far.

It's got 1-0 Everton all over this.

Yeah, not particularly looking forward to this one. We'd do well to keep it down to 1 or 2. At least it's not massively important in the grand scheme of things.

GWN posted these odds on Dec 28th just before the transfer window, so yeah, nothing like 78%: Norwich 1/6 Newcastle 9/11 Watford 28/29 Burnley 6/5 Leeds 3/1 Brentford 9/1 Palace 16/1 (No sign of Rafa's Everton at that stage...) By Jan 22nd, and after Leeds it was: Norwich 1/4 Watford 1/3 Burnley 8/15 Newcastle 13/8

I guess Benitez winning 4 of the first 6 didn't help him because it's easy to forget that, and you're just mainly reminded by his most recent results which was W1 D2 L9, so 5 points from his last 12 matches, or 6 from 13, whichever sounds worse. He left with an overall W5 D4 L10, which is a PPG and certainly better than what they have achieved since, but it would have probably been better from Rafa's POV had those early 4 wins been spread out a lot more during his 19 matches there.

Tomorrow is huge for Everton. Chelsea have largely been unconvincing since the whole Ambramovic saga with some poor results / performances, if Everton win, like they did vs Man Utd, then they have Watford who have lost 11 in a row at home, plus a couple of winnable looking home games, I can see 8 or 9 points for them, even with a draw tomorrow, maybe it's because I want them down that I am pessimistically thinking they will do better than they ought to, but I wouldn't be too shocked. 4 points for Leeds, given their GD might not be enough - I think they will need more than 3.

https://www.oddschecker.com/football/english/premier-league/relegation Such a huge match for Everton tomorrow. Chelsea are obviously a better team with the superior players, but at the same time, it kind of feels winnable. Just delighted we have enough points on the board, and can look on as relative neutrals, because it does look like 37/38 might not be enough, and pretty much every man and their dog were saying 36 points would be fine 14 days ago.

Great news about Consett. That league (positively) lost Marske today, but there will be an extra former Northern League team there next year with N Shields and Consett, making it to 6 (N Shields, Consett, Hebburn, Shildon, Dunston, and Stockton), and that's got to be great news regarding travel and costs. Hopefully a few more join in the coming years.