Paullow

Think I'd like to see West Ham win tonight. It will be another English club winning something in my lifetime before Newcastle do, but I've never really disliked them, they're probably not a massive threat to us going forward, and it's obviously been a very long time since they won anything, so would be good to see them have a bit of joy. There's no doubt this time two years ago under Ashley and Bruce I'd have been wanting them lose

Looks largely correct, but guess it mainly depends where you are, as there are a few notable omissions. Darlington are in a higher league so will possibly be more attractive to attend a match, but Newton Aycliffe are now in the same league as the likes of Consett, and closer to Newcastle than Darlington.

1-5 on agg at the moment with just over 5 to go. A 6th season in the 2nd tier for Hamburg, which is mad, but each season that goes by, the more normal it will seem, a bit like with Leeds. 53k ave crowds, main club in Germany's 2nd city with a near 2m popn, former European champions. Constant top half finished from 1997 to 2013, yet another season in the wilderness beckons for them. The GFA are probably content that it's effectively just 2 changes to the league each season, but they should probably look into changing the system to freshen things up, and maybe to the system we have over here with 3 guaranteed to go down each season. Probably won't be easy to get top 2 next season either with Schalke and Hertha dropping down this season.

Don't really mind who goes up / stays up, but hope Hamburg can get an early goal tonight to make the tie more interesting for the neutral.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023–24_UEFA_Champions_League#Qualifying_rounds All the group and qualifying spots have now been filled, apart from the Bulgarian league which will be decided on Wednesday - Ludogorets now big faves over CSKA Sofia to take it yet again.

Those matches were one of my earliest memories of Newcastle United as I would have not even been 8. Pretty sure one of the ties was on TV (probably the away 5-0). The home 3-2 leg against Bilbao in the next round definitely was, although I can remember frequently checking teletext / ceefax in the away leg where we lost 1-0. Surprised it's been nearly 70 years since they won the league as it's obviously a relatively huge city there.. Anderlecht and now Club Brugge have kind of taken over these past 15 years or so, but the likes of Gent, Genk (2) and Standard (2) have won it in reasonable recent memory. Lierse too, but that was a bit further back because they were the reigning champs on the old classic Championship Manager 97 game.

One of most crazy ends to a season I have ever seen in Belgium. The League switched from Union SG after 89 mins to Genk, who were winning the title for 5 mins, and then Antwerp score in the 95th minute to equaliser and take the title themselves. First title since 1957. Antwerp and Genk take the two CL spots in Belgium, both have to go through quals, Antwerp the Champions route, Genk the League route. Madness.

Antwerp drew 2-2, Union lost 1-3, so Antwerp have WON their first title since 1957. 1. Antwerp 2. Genk 3. Union SG Union were winning the title after 90 mins, but ended up finishing 3rd and missing out on the Champions League as well.

Antwerp with a 95th minute equaliser, 2-2, and they look like winning the league now. The title has changed with 3 different teams in the space of 5 mins, crazy stuff. Antwerp down to 10 as someone was sent off for celebrating . Absolute mad end to the season.

Brugge now 2-1 up, so USG won't win in and probably not even in the CL now. All down to whether Antwerp can get an equaliser.

Wow, 90th min equaliser for Club Brugge vs USG. Genk back on top as it stands. Antwerp just need one goal to win it now. The lead has switched many times.

That's pretty cool. There's loads of fans at Antwerps stadium presumably watching a beam back, and there will be a trophy presentation there later on if Antwerp win the title.

Union SG ahead in Belgium and on course to win the league as it stands. The commentator in the Genk-Antwerp match was saying that USG had never been top all season. Antwerp now level with Genk, but still need another goal to go back top. They are at least in the CL qual positions as it stands, and Genk will slip into the Europa. It is quite exciting

Bilbao Black Cats, marra.

Racing Genk have taken the lead in the Belgian title decider against Antwerp so they are to top of the league at half time, and Antwerp slip from 1st to 3rd for now and not even in the Champs League places. Union SG currently 0-0 with Club Brugge at H/T, and 2nd for now, but one goal for them would win the league, unless Antwerp scored twice. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022–23_Belgian_Pro_League#Play-off_I It's a weird set up they have with halving the points and then the top 4 play each other another 2 times after the regular season, but it makes it very interesting. Both matches are on Mola TV, which I signed up to yesterday

Partick Thistle 2-0 up from the first leg, and winning 1-0 in the away leg after 70 mins, are now 1-3 down on the day and 3-3 on after 91 mins. Still another 8 mins injury time, but looking like going to extra time.

There's only two things to decide, Europa Conference and relegation so I'd go for Osasuna vs Girona at 5.30pm with 7th being in the formers hands, and the latter with an outside chance if they win. Valladolid vs Getafe in the later match. Valladolid in the 3rd and final relegation spot, but a win would see them safe as they would definitely at least leapfrog Getafe who would then be looking at other results.

Farewell goal from Szoboszlai. Leipzig 2-0.

https://mola.tv/watch?v=vd85344678gb&content_type=liveprograms I've just signed up to Mola TV to catch a few more random matches before the end of the season. They have the Belgian final day tomorrow where 1-3 can still win the title. I bloody hope it's free

https://twitter.com/FabrizioRomano/status/1665057829231755264 No doubt there will be 'Give me sport' types putting 2 and 2 together soon, even though he would be the exact opposite of the direction we are currently going in.

It's been a really good start to the match.

Dom should have had a good assist there for Werner, but shades of his old Chelsea self there.

https://twitter.com/RBLeipzig/status/1665036692338647040 Wor Dom starts for Leipzig in their German Cup final against Frankfurt. Apparently they weren't happy with him for giving an interview to the Hungarian press about his future, so thought his place might have been in doubt, but defo more interested in the match now. Viaplay Xtra (free to air) at 6.55 (7pm KO).

I'm fascinated by this stuff. I've always loved managing random Romanian / Polish / Bulgarian etc. teams who have just come into the game after the first season and getting them up the leagues, so it's actually really interesting following these leagues, but I do apologise if people are coming into this thread, seeing a bump, expecting a Newcastle CL update, and thinking WTF is this random shite