Paullow

Always interesting reading the fans perspective and the vast majority do seem to this it was a mistake, although some are thinking it wasn't unexpected: https://www.skybluestalk.co.uk/threads/robins-gone.163984/ That said, although some of the early matches were in and around the Man Utd FA Cup semi final, where they were a whisker from making the final, they did end the season with only 1 point from their final 6 matches: And this year they are on the same amount of points as Plymouth who are currently in the relegation zone, and 4W 4D 12L from his final 20 league matches isn't great reading. Plus their next 3 matches are 3 of the top 4 (Sunderland away, Sheff U home, Burnley away) and then Millwall and WBA shortly after that, so 5 of the current top 7 (top 6 if WBA get something tonight) in their next 6 games, meaning they will have played a lot of the weaker sides in their opening 14 matches, and would likely have got worse before it got better.

Good result that. We probably should want the English sides to do relatively well, as even if we are nowhere near 5th, the ripple effect could mean 7th or 8th get into Europe, but I'd prefer Villa to be in the 9-24 range than 1-8, and add to their schedule. That might actually be better for their fans having 2 extra matches as they will see this as a novelty after being out of the big one for so long and not many European matches in general these past 15 or so years, as it would for us, but more chance of the games catching up with them.

Thursday > Wednesday. Kicks off in the Icelandic capital and then 16 matches to choose from at 5.45pm, headlined by an intriguing Celtic clash in Dublin.

Thursday nights are definitely the best nights for football.

Amorim ruining the co-efficient to make his new job harder When's the last time Man City lost 3 in a row?

Out of the top half again. Howe out!

How did that not go in?

Still in the top half

Brentford score against the run of play. Great strike.

Really good match that. 10 games without a win is piss poor for Wolves, but could have been worse, and at least they are not 7 adrift.

Palace manager

There's no way Aït-Nouri is just 23

I was literally just about to post how it's a huge match . Even at this stage, there's a massive difference between potentially 1 or 7 points adrift of 17th.

Shelbourne!

Yeah, despite Duff, I was hoping for Shelbourne. I've always liked the name and they were my go to team on CM 00/01. 18 years is a long time with no title for a fairly prominent team when it's only a 10/12 team league, and especially when they did win 5 titles in 8 years in the late 90s / early 00s. I've actually got it streaming on my phone in the background on Bet365.

They weren't actually pre match favourites, despite having it in their own hands. Shamrock were 8/11, Shelbourne evens due to the respective fixtures. Rovers currently a goal up, Shels still 0-0, so Shamrock winning on goal difference at it stands.

I was being a bit sarcastic with the toon legend part, that Fulham winner will always stick out, but Damien Duff and Shelbourne in Ireland. They used to be the best team when I was growing but have had a tough time since and have had a few relegations. Shamrock Rovers are the team that can stop them and they ate going for 5 titles in a row.

A former Toon legend can lead his side to their first title in 18 years tonight!

A day of very late goals, mainly equalisers.

Still early days, and they could still go on to lose / draw today, but it is really starting to look like they might finally get back in the PL. QPR were of course top after 16 games a couple of years ago and then barely stayed up in the end, so who knows, but it's looking good for them at the moment. Can't think of too many changes either, Rigg's obviously starting more matches now he's a bit older and that Mundle has looked decent, but most of it probably is having a proper manager in place.

There's of course other ways to watch, but 2 of those are on very niche platforms, and the other 2 on the more mainstream channels pretty much directly clash, so not quite as good if you don't stream and just stick to Sky / BT, although our match is obviously on Sky as well on the Sunday.

What's happened to the TNT Sports match at 12.30pm today? Usually if there's not a match on due to European matches they will have one at like 8pm on Saturday, or 12pm on Sunday or something, but they don't seem to have one this weekend. Everton vs Fulham as the sole televised PL match today isn't amazing.

Same, I've danced on the high street there many a time.

TNS

This clash of Irish champions looks all over before half time. 0-3 Shamrock.