Paullow

Anyone wanting a football fix outside of the Euro U21's / Gold Cup, BT Sport digital are showing the crunch Champions League Preliminary matches today at 2pm and 8pm

It's one of those situations where some of the previous comments on here would have clearly been very pleased if he was at SJP holding up the scarf, and I'm sure he would have done very well for us, but at the same time, I think his stock is definitely lower than what it was in November before the injury vs West Ham. I also think the fact we were strongly linked with him when we were 11th in the league and realistically 3 or so years off qualifying for the CL (at the time), plus none of the Liverpool's, City's, Man U's, Arsenal's etc. have been heavily linked, is a little telling. He'll be 27 a couple of months after the season starts, so there's very little resale potential, and this is pretty much his final big move, and our interest does seem to have cooled these past few months. It was very exciting this time last year when it looked like we might get him in the position we were in, but I do think we are now in a position to get a better transfer - not necessarily a better player, but one that might fit in more with our style of play, and just as important, be a few years younger and either be with us for 6 or 7 years and be a real hero, or potentially sell in 3 or 4 years if either we, or they, outgrow the other. I've said a few times, I would have been happy to have signed him, but I was MUCH more invested this time last year as it would have been a signing well above our station, and a WTF situation for rival fans, whereas now it would have been a much more 'par' signing in terms of respective stature. I don't blame him at all for signing for Tottenham either, even for pure football reasons (not to mention the alleged £175k which we'd massively struggle to offer). They have a great stadium, great facilities, and haven't turned shite overnight. They probably will struggle to get into the top 5 now most seasons (our resurgence not helping with that), but it's still an attractive club and they have finished above us something like 19 times of the last 20 years, so while our future seems extremely bright, one good season in 12 years, or 2 in 20, doesn't automatically put us above them in terms of stock and appeal. That will take a good few further years of consistent progress.

Do any if the betting sites show streams of the U21 tournament? (I know it's on the UEFA site, but can never get it on the big screen).

Is anyone else having issues with the app? Whenever I sign in it just says it has stopped working. I can watch it via browser in my phone, but if i come to mirror it on my smart tv it instantly disconnects, and UEFA TV app is unavailable on my firestick - it shouldn't be this hard to watch a match on the big screen They should have just had it on their YouTube channel or something.

It's shite how nobody picked up the Euro U21 tournament. You can watch the matches online at UEFA.TV, but I'm reluctant to give up my laptop to watch and tried to mirror my phone to the firestick, but keeps exiting after about 20 seconds, so it's basically going to have to be on the phone, which is grim. Obviously can't record and watch on delay like you could if it was on Sky Sports or Viaplay.

The qualifiers are quite compelling. I thought when it was expanded from 16 to 24 teams it would be very hard for even semi serious teams not to qualify, but a lot of nations have improved and there probably will still be a few notable teams that miss out. Welsh and (Northern) Irish fans would have probably thought they would have been in with a great chance of making a major tournament every 4 years, but the latter two missed out last time, and all 3 look set to miss out this time. Austria vs Sweden (on Viaplay Xtra, so free to air) is massive tomorrow, and a potential loss for Isak's men would make it extremely hard for them to qualify.

If he comes I'll welcome the move and think it's a good signing that will improve us, but I was far more invested last summer because it would have felt a massive coup for where we were, like clearly signing a player well above our station at that particular time, but now it feels more 'normal', so it's a lot less exciting. I'd also prefer a marquee signing be in the 21-23 year old range who could grow with us, be here for years, or possibly move on in 3 or 4 years if either they outgrow us, or vice versa, that generally won't happen with someone who is 27 in a few months - this is pretty much his last big move, so it's a massive decision for him.

Is this Euro U21 tournament really just going to be one UEFA.com? It starts on Wednesday.

Wijnaldum pulls one back for Netherlands, 2-3. Heading into NINE mins stoppage time. Still no Botman making his debut.

Botman on the bench again for Netherlands in their 3rd / 4th match against Italy at 2pm. Italy have made changes and Barella not in their XI.

Of the 11 players who started more than 17 PL games for Newcastle this past season, 5 of them were uncapped, and 3 of them had 10 or less caps. That's pretty amazing she you think about it, but one of those 5 move into the next category today . Thoroughly deserved but would have seemed impossible 20 months ago.

Wales pull one back vs Armenia but still 2-3. Actually it's 2-4. Grim stuff.

Joselu!

Any news on a broadcaster for this? Sky usually show it, but they've cut back on their international football. I just signed up to Viaplay today for a month so while it would be very niche and far less eyes on it, I wouldn't mind them snapping them up late and getting more value for my sub.

Gini coming on. Can't see Sven making his debut tonight, but if they lose, he'll possibly start in the 3rd / 4th playoff match on Sunday.

Botman (and Wijnaldum) on the bench.

Right decision by the club, but you got to feel sorry for the way his career has panned out. 23 now, so still young enough, but not crazy young and he wasn't a guaranteed starter when on loan at Mansfield, and was sent on loan again to League 2 last year for a club not necessarily expecting a promotion push, so you'd probably think that would be the sort of level he'd end up at to restart his career.

Finally signed up to Viaplay Sports for a month. Will get to see the Nations League semis and final, hopefully including Sven Botmans Holland debut vs Croatia tonight, a few Euro 2024 qualifiers this weekend, and also just saw they are covering the CONCACAF Gold Cup in a week or so, so will watch the odd match of that, although typically, the final is due the day after my sub expires, ha.

What is the deal with TNT Sports? Will it be completely separate to BT and no longer any reduced discount for BT internet users? Obviously will want it next year with them having Champions League, but don't really fancy paying two full subscriptions for both Sky Sports and TNT (and IPTV / equivalent isn't really an option).

Just found out that all of these ties will be played at Kópavogsvöllur in Kópavogur, the home of Breiðablik, so they could well be the favourites to make the lucrative First qualifying round.

I was just about to say 'can't believe the draw is at 11am today, barely 3 days after the final' and not specify to see if I caught anyone out.

"sí, obviamente!"

Yeah, both born in Coventry, which is another link, Wilson was last there in the 13/14 season, Maddison was part of the first team squad that year, but didn't make his debut until the following season, but they would have trained together for at least a year.

I wasn't flexing about anything, just stating that £48 to watch 23 league matches, working out at £2.08 a match, is crazy low - what can you get for £2 these days?. I wouldn't really describe that as 'affordable', it's beyond that, and not too far off given them away.

https://safc.com/seasontickets/select-your-seat It's crazy how little the U16 season ticket prices are - £48 for about 90% of the stadium (in terms of U16 tickets sold), just over £2 per match, and not too much more for for U18s or even U22s - U22 seems a pretty random bracket to have. Good to put more bums on seats, and possibly more importantly thinking longer term, especially with developments up the road, to make sure young fans, particularly those in 50/50 areas get the bug early, but they must surely be missing out on so much revenue with those insanely cheap prices.