Paullow

Not really. I would usually watch Rangers vs Celtic, but very little outside of that. I guess if there was another match I would tune in to, then Hearts at home to either of the Old Firm would be towards the top of the list, so I probably will have it on in the background later, at least until Celtic go a goal or two ahead..

The bottom 3 are looking like they are starting to get cut away, the 3 worst goal differences by far, and the only sides currently averaging less than a point per game, and interestingly, they are 3 of Sunderland's 6 wins this season. Obviously you still have to turn up, compete, and get the job done, but as most teams are beating Rotherham, Sheff Wed, and QPR, their start to the season probably isn't as good as it first appeared, especially with back to back defeats. That Southampton match, while impressive, is now looking more of an exception.

Shame there's just the one televised PL game today. Obviously an extra match yesterday, so the same amount on Sky / BT, but 3 on one day is a bit overkill, especially on a Saturday when there's also the 3pms, and Sunday is usually my favourite day for just binge watching matches. Milan vs Juventus could be OK on TNT Sports at 7.45pm, 2nd vs 3rd and obviously a little bit more interest with it involving the former, and ITV4 have Barcelona vs Bilbao at 8pm, but not quite the same as a PL match. Bilbao are doing reasonably well in the league, but was quite surprised to see that they were only 4/1 to win (away), and slightly shorter at some places, thought they would have been nearer 8s or 9s.

Felt like that was coming. Would have been more annoying it it was 86 mins not 76. I guess Sheff U have more time to try and get back on terms again, but doubtful.

I've got the rugby on record, and will probably start watching that if / when Man Utd go a goal up. Both matches are reasonably likely to be over as a contest by the hour mark, but hopefully Sheff U can spring a surprise.

Howay the draw!

I reckon our points tally will be far nearer Chelsea's than Arsenal's at the end of the season, so I'm not taking much pleasure from this score line. A draw would be decent, but can't see Arsenal pulling it back.

https://streamin.me/v/0911bbac "HANDBALL!!!"

I'd prefer Arsenal to win than Chelsea personally. Hopefully it at least ends in a draw. Could have been 2-0 there, just wide.

At home? They are almost 4/1 to win, and it's by far the easiest game on paper of the six. I'd take a draw in Germany, just mainly due to the crowd factor, but I'd be pretty disappointed if we didn't get the 3 points on Wednesday. It would definitely be an opportunity missed. https://www.oddschecker.com/football/champions-league/newcastle-v-borussia-dortmund/winner

I've no idea, but would probably make sense. I guess 'BVB' is a somewhat similar idea, but just more known because of Dortmund's bigger reputation.

I doubt anyone in the UK would see 'SVW' and automatically think of Werder Bremen. Should have been 'WB', 'Wer' or 'Bre'.

Rotherham vs Ipswich postponed due to the weather, so probably just watch the rugby instead. There are a few foreign matches on, like Dortmund on Sky at 7.30pm.

The worst part about international breaks is the modest football league match on the initial Monday, then no matches on the Tuesday, Wednesday, and also the following Wednesday and Thursday. I definitely miss having a match on, even if it's just on in the background.

Yeah, I'd say there was a clear top 9 in terms of club size, the obvious 6, then Newcastle, Villa, and Everton in whatever order. These are the top 9 in terms of trophies, all time points, all time Premier League points, years in the PL etc. All 9 clubs are from 'core' UK cities as well. West Ham have entered the conversation more in recent years with their league finishes, only missing about 4 of the PL seasons (unlike the Mackems 16), I guess that trophy last year, but also mainly their recent impressive attendances, so they'd be clear 10th IMO. They are also 10th in the all time PL table. I'd personally put Leeds next mainly due to them doing well when i was growing up in the 90s, regular top 6 finishes, CL semi final, big media presence, from a huge city, and their must successful period was at least in living memory to some, but their 16, or now 17, years outside of the top flight definitely lowers their stock somewhat, especially with those years in the 3rd tier. As others say, after that there's not too much to separate the next batch of clubs. Sunderland are 10th in the all time top flight points league, obviously massively assisted by what they did 100 years ago, but no top 6 finishes since the early 1950s, only 3 top 12 finishes in those 70 years, and only 4 matches in Europe in their entire history absolutely lowers their stock. They are 18th in the all time PL table, so they could be anywhere from 12th to 18th really. I'd probably put Leicester ahead of them due to their recent title, other cups, European adventures etc. and probably Forest as well due to the Clough years and also being from a major UK city to add a bit more profile and stature to them, and I'd probably have Sunderland just after that around 14th or 15th. It obviously means very little in reality, and others will have their own variables to boost their sides stock, but that's how I see it FWIW.

Rowett has left Millwall https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/67152176

It's obviously not great because it's a 55m investment and another option in the middle of park, one who you would like to think would come good, but the news hasn't bothered me as much as I thought. He hasn't been here long enough to get an emotional connection like say if it was Joelinton, and bar Villa, he hasn't really had that much of an impact and not as disastrous as if it was a Bruno, Botman, or maybe even Gordon. Not ideal of course, but I'm not as concerned as I thought I would be. Hopefully he can get the help needed, become the best English speaker of all time in his spare time, and repays the club for sticking by him when he finally does return.

Yeah, it's good news for them that Denmark play Slovenia first, so that Denmark hadn't potentially secured their spot before that match. You'd probably expect Denmark to beat this version of Northern Ireland on the final day, so as long as Slovenia don't win in Denmark, then qualification should at least be in Kazakhstan's hands going into the final round of fixtures, but it will still be asking a lot. It looks like Albania will possibly be the lowliest sounding side to make it, although they did qualify for Euro 2016 (I was at one of their matches), although I've just seen they were actually in Pot 3. Slovakia were in Pot 5, which sounds crazy, and they look set to make it, although I'd personally consider them to be a stronger nation than Albania - these Nations League standings have made for some all over the place groups. Even Turkey were in a lower pot than both Albania and Armenia. Finland in Pot 2 is crazy as well. You could have had a group of: Poland, Finland, Armenia, Faroes, Malta or Spain, France, Ukraine/Sweden, Turkey, Slovakia

Haha, completely dismissed the possibility of that ever happening.

I was going to watch the end of the Serbia vs Montenegro match (on the free Viaplay channel) with England looking comfortable, but Serbia have scored 2 in 3 mins to also lead 3-1, so not much point.

Great result for them, and like Luxembourg, good to see a lesser side in contention, but it will be tough for them to qualify. They'll have to win in Slovenia next month and still hope for favours. They could do with NI getting an unlikely equaliser tonight.

Jade and Perrie should go halfers and have the Ox as player manager.

Cracking goal by Gyokeres for Sweden against Belgium in the free Viaplay match. Top 2 already decided in this group (Belgium and Austria).

Huge match for Luxembourg tonight against Slovakia. They lost 9-0 and 6-0 to Portugal, but unbeaten in their other 5 matches and they will be favourites to qualify if they can beat their nearest rivals in the group. So used to Luxembourg being the whipping boys over the years, but they have gradually improved in recent times.