Altamullan

How much would they have been paid?

Genuine (much needed) laugh out loud, followed by instant low level worry that the glorious grumpy one might have a sense of humour failure

It's sat next to Crumpy though, mind. Been difficulty shifting it. (no offence Crumps, but it is funny like).

Whilst a low score or nil-nil draw seems probable given the way we both tend to set up and the risk aversion of both managers, I can only see a win for us. First goal is, more than ever, critical. As is actually having a home advantage/noisey crowd. Nervousness in the stands in games like this is toxic and self-defeating. If you’re going, please try and make a difference. 2 or 3 nil will go a considerable way to setting us up for a run-in which leaves us all with finger nails left. HTL

What makes you think that? I mean that it was the move that made the difference?

Off to Sporting Lisbon next. Part-ex for Das Bost, Bas Dost, Dat Boss... that fella they have who keeps scoring.

Taxi!

Gameweek 30 Man Utd 1-2 Liverpool Everton 2-1 Brighton Huddersfield 1-1 Swansea Newcastle 2-0 Southampton West Brom 1-2 Leicester West Ham 1-0 Burnley Chelsea 2-0 Crystal Palace Arsenal 2-0 Watford Bournemouth 0-2 Spurs Stoke 0-4 Man City

Andreas Hairband; ledge in Sweden (... perhaps not).

True dat. Our 15 goals in 15 away games is 11th best in the league. 12 goals in 15 home games is rock bottom. Trying to delve into it, shots in home games is 6th fewest, but we are third worst when it comes to shots from the penalty area or 6 yard box. Some of it is finishing, but we are also not creating enough at home.

Well said, Thomas. I suspect some people have reached a conclusion which has been influenced by what others have said, both here and in interviews/elsewhere. Main thing for me is it is nice to see Mitro thriving. Good for him, good for us.

Merino’s hop as he enters the field of play.

Somebody (who knows how) do it, please!

Everybody, at least those who speak out, says it how they see it. Which obviously isn’t necessarily how it is (even if you happen to agree with the opinion).

Jenas was always a good pro, to me, even when young.

Just to add, fwiw, in the search for goals I do prefer players to be let off the leash a little more. Particularly players who have shown they can find the net.

Our manager doesn’t structure his tactics/methods around what he has got, at least not to the extent of doing so with players who deviate from his preferred system. This has never seemed to be his way of working. It is method and team functioning over playing to individual strengths approach. He’s methodical, always has been, had success doing so, always will be the same. Football is a game of chess to him. A manager more focussed on the individual, on making who you have feel like a giant amongst men, sending them out pumped up to do their thing, create havoc, express themselves (alreet Kev), would have surely used Mitro this season, given the other options. He doesn’t fit for Rafa. Maybe he will re-consider if Mitro shows a consistency and reliability at Fulham he hasn’t shown here. I doubt it though.

Our home record looks poor, possession seems irrelevant but here’s the shots, shots on, and goals. Might be interesting to compare to the other promoted sides. Or the League in general. Are we creating enough, and getting enough on target? Certainly not scoring enough. NUFC home 10 and 3 Man Utd, 1 goal 14 and 4, Burnley 1 goal 12 and 4, Swansea 1 goal 11 and 2, Brighton 0 goals 6 and 2, Man City 0 goals 16 and 4, Everton 0 goals 10 and 4, Leicester 2 goals 12 and 2, Watford 0 goals 16 and 4, Bournemouth 0 goals 7 and 3, Palace 1 goal 8 and 5, Liverpool 1 goal 14 and 3, Stoke 2 goals 17 and 8, West Ham 3 goals 6 and 2, Spurs 0 goals Total shots 150, 10.7 per game Shots on target 50, 3.6 per game Goals 12 goals 0.86 per game

Have you seen the fixtures left? If some don’t like ‘must win,’ how about ‘six pointer’? Because that is what this is (as is Huddersfield). If we don’t win both games then this is going to the wire, and we are likely to be one of the three. Six points and I am certain we will stay up (will only need one win or a couple of draws from elsewhere).

On form and style of play, I still think WBA, Stoke and Southampton are favourites. I’ll change my mind about the latter if they beat us.

Just re-reading predictions post above, November and December killed our season. Predicted 15 points Aug-Oct, got 14. Predicted 9 points Jan-now, got 10. Predicted 15 points Nov-Dec, got 5!

The predicted total points looks like being more than enough; if we stay behind the predictions, by the same margin (achieve 84%), then we’re looking at a 43 point haul, rather than 51 points. (8 April, update).

I'm quite happy with all three, all can make a mistake but who doesn't. Any two with a regular run of games together look quite solid, all three look PL class. Our problems lie elsewhere, for me.

Did you fix it in your own, Dave? Well done and thank you regardless. Missed having a debrief after the Liverpool game.

I admire your values, IC. Good point. Here's a random and peripherally relevant 'knowledge-bomb': even in the most extreme conflict you can (most people, not accurately) imagine, you don't have to turn all psychopathic and disrespectful. Studies of killing in war reckon most of the small arms kills come from a very small percentage of the front line soldiers (WWII, 70% kills from 2%). Mostly infantrymen were posturing and firing wildly and ineffectively, many trotting-out hate-fuelled rhetoric. 1% of the effective killers were psychopaths, i.e. callous and generally malevolent, didn't care about anybody but themselves. The other 1%, were decent moral men. Who cared about their 'people' (brothers in arms, family, town/city, country etc) enough to overcome the p*ss your pants terror and fundamental wrongness of taking life. The point? You wouldn't want to damage/threaten something precious to, or generally f*** with with, the latter group (or the psychos) but they would be more likely to maintain respect for you, even if they were willing to end you. The chest beaters and shouters, well it is just (often self-defeating) noise. If Ashley is the enemy, personally I would rather not let his actions lead me to behave in a way which doesn't fit my values. Which drags me down to his level. Doesn't mean that I wouldn't kick the living s*** out of him, but I would have to be given due cause to exert 'reasonable force' (honest officer).