Paullow

Mereno misses our match now.

Ajax lost 0-3 at home to NEC today, who are 13th, on the back of a 1-1 draw at home to Sparta and a 4-0 defeat to Utrecht. They were 10 points clear of PSV just 3 games ago, but just 1 clear now with 2 games to go. Losing by that many would suggest something isn't right there, so will be interesting to see how the final 2 matches pan out. In Austria, after 10 successive RB Salzburg titles, Sturm Graz are now on the verge of back to back titles with Rapid leading their city rivals Austria Vienna deep into stoppage time. We obviously have this thread, plus a Serie A one, but does anyone think a 'European Domestic Football Thread' would be a good idea, or not really worth it?

But we've got 2 defeats to factor into the GD in this scenario. Chelsea play Man Utd at home on Friday, 5 days before the EL final, so they could easily win 3-0 there, we could easily lose 2/3-0 to Arsenal away, so 4/5 GD at this stage is far too close to be comfortable. 11/12 over Forest is much more comfortable, but definitely still a half realistic chance we can finish 7th at this stage.

It was coming, to be fair.

Didn't want them scoring so soon, mind...

Obviously beat Everton and we are 99% there, but I do think a draw might be the best result for us here, with future matches in mind.

Thank fuck Still have to wait a minute or so to make sure there's nothing wrong with the goal in this era.

This second half has been abysmal. Honestly feels like we're down to 9. Barnes worst match for a while.

It's a shame. Those over 45 will have seen badge changes, some of them multiple, and those under 20 won't have been as accustomed to it, depending on how long they have been I to football, but those in and around 40 will have known it for 30 or so years and will have been all they have known, so that age range will probably be affected the most. Obviously we'll see what they come up with, but if you have a design that's lasted the entirety of the Premier League era, then it just feels needless. I also like the fact it is one of very few that his changed in my lifetime.

Eze or Mateta? Hopefully an improvement if the former.

I swear I never heard that 'Make me Sway' chant at a football match before until this weekend, but it's everywhere now, including at non league Dunston the other day.

Aye, was just looking to see if I could find historical tables from February, but that 11 vs 11 site only has the top 4 tables, but 2W and 3D from their last 11 games, only 9 points, is abysmal.

I'm going to do either Dunston or Jarrow, both 3pm kick offs, probably leaning towards Dunston with it being a couple of leagues higher.

Just back from the Blue Star match. Blyth probably the better side in the first half, but no massive chances for either. Ex Newcastle United legend Michael Ndiweni put Blue Star ahead after 51 mins with a good strike and it looked like they would see it out. He then missed a great chance with a header at the end to seal it, and about a minute later Blyth broke, won and scored a pen and after 6 mins of injury time, it went to pens. Both scored their first 2, but Blue Star missed their next two (Ndiweni saved, and then the next blazed over) so Blyth advance. Disappointing as Blue Star are probably better placed to make a fist of things at the higher level, but there will be the Blyth derbies next year, as Jack says, which is crazy when you consider one is one of the most famous non league sides in the country and the other were in the 3rd tier of the Northern Alliance league in 2018, so in 7 years they have gone from the 13th tier to the 8th tier, while Spartans have had back to back relegations. I know Blue Star is a bit of an iconic name, and were the strips Newcastle United used in the early days of the Premier League, but there does seem heavy marketing toward the West End - it was mentioned so many times in that earlier interview with the chairman, and there was a massive banner before the game on the pitch saying something like 'Welcome to' or 'This is the West End', so it might be a good marketing opportunity for them to change their name to Newcastle West End, if possible, obviously linking to the name before Newcastle United, but further making it clear they are the team of that area. Just saw there was 2,151 there tonight which is a great crowd.

Usually in a two option outcome, in this case yes or no, if something was 1/8 (odds on) the other option would be around 5/1 (odds against). Mind, not many traditional bookies, bar Paddy Power, seem to offer top 5 odds, most seem to still just be doing top 4 odds, so it will be very tough outside of betting exchanges, to be able to get direct odds for Newcastle 'not to finish in the top 5'. In terms of traditional bookies, as others point out, you can't really hedge bets, because you could put £100 on Forest to make the top 5 at 4/5 and it could still be Newcastle and Forest finishing 6th and 7th, and you've wasted £100 and haven't even got the 'emotional' outcome in place of Newcastle securing their place. If someone was offering 9/2 or 5/1 for Newcastle to finish outside the top 5, which seems to be what they would be if someone was offering, then I'd definitely be putting money on because it feels really close, and Sunday is a huge match.

It is in their hands, but they were 3rd in the table this time last week, but after wins for Man City, Newcastle and Chelsea they slipped to 6th place and outside the CL spots. They were at home to a bottom half side, with a chance to get back into 3rd - it's a massive missed opportunity for them.

It'll be a huge blow for them, especially with Chelsea on the final day. They've have been hoping to have 5th place wrapped up by then, whereas if they lose here, that may well be a straight shoot out.

Great timing

Kind of feels that a Forest goal is coming, and if they do, they will probably go on to win.

The only silver lining is that it will obviously be a big match to watch and the loser will be absolutely gutted.

Been a fairly positive start for Brentford. On the front foot in the opening 6 mins, a couple of openings, but still 0-0. Very important not to be 3 points behind both Forest and Chelsea on the final day.

I've bought a ticket for tomorrow. Seems the Excelsior Academy car park is open, so hopefully should be ample spaces.

Thanks for the advice. Just had a look and doesn't seem to be too many spaces. Do you know of any other secure car parks in and around the area for a back up, even if a 20 odd minute walk from the ground?

I was/am tempted to go to the Blue Star match as well. Where is best to park?