Coffee_Johnny

Errr, thanks for that.

Just to savour (for however long it lasts!)

Two nil. Two fecking nil. Oh me oh my.

If they’re both ok, then I don’t see any reason why he’d want to miss the game. By all means miss a training session or two next week.

With the added ‘benefit’, if full blood versions, of two of the worst accents in the country.

I fully expect us to go there with a strategy aimed at winning the match —seems so obvious that it feels daft to say. However, some fans seemingly think we should just accept the inevitable, take the hit. Bizarrely the Spurs fans forum is also full of pessimism and with dissatisfaction with how they are playing; despite their league position. I think if we can get at them, press in the way we did first half at Old Trafford, we have a real chance today. If we are without Bruno and Joelinton, and especially if we (surely we won’t) rest Wilson, then I’ll change my expectations. My overriding feeling is a return to the nagging sense, expressed by many preseason, that we might regret not pushing for that extra attacking midfield role. Some could see that some of the big teams looked there for the taking. We couldn’t have fully foreseen our own succession of injuries, but let’s face it, it isn’t uncommon to lose key players. We couldn’t have fully foreseen Liverpool falling away as much as they currently are, or Chelsea sacking their manager and yet to fully impress, or Man Utd in full wobble, if not tilt. Add the overly defensive can’t beat the big boys patter coming from Spurs and all the talk of how West Ham or Leicester or even Everton might fare, seems a bit narrow. We are well into a season where we are clearly able to compete. Goals, even chances, against, so low. Number of chances created consistently better than I can previously recall. We’re sitting sixth between Liverpool and Man Utd, yet results haven’t been overly favourable to us. A loss and draw (against the two best teams in the country last year) should on balance have been a draw and a win. There are a couple of draws we were unlucky not to win. Whilst I wouldn’t include Man Utd away in that, on the balance of the game, we managed a draw despite key players missing. Only Man City and Arsenal are firing on all cylinders. If we’ve been lucky in the timing of our resurgence coming with others not being in their usual form, we’ve definitely been unlucky with injuries, and we could argue with some results. How many extra points might we realistically have had with a Maddison or a Diaby type within the squad? Hoping that turns today. We get the rub of the green in their lovely new stadium. If we turn up with intent, can you really see Howe doing anything else?, we can win this. An appearance in the top four, however brief, will show all with financial control how close we are. We needed an additional one (or two) in the summer hopefully they can find a way of getting them in January. In the meanwhile, we can hope for the best but prepare for the angst of not quite having enough as yet. A much preferable kind of pain than that which comes with the struggle to stay up.

Good spot, Graham ?

Captained Firmino instead of Haaland. Vice captain for Kane (..feel kinda dirty).

Ouch!

Is he likely to be playing tomorrow? Spurs fans seem certain he isn’t (and pretty happy about it).

So glad I don’t bet on football! But on the other hand imagining being 2pts above Liverpool after 11 games would have sounded deluded this time last year!

and In equal measure! ?

Read through The Fighting Cock match thread. Spurs fans seem very dissatisfied with the way they’re playing (boring overly defensive formation and lack of heart) and very pessimistic about winning (bizarrely). Pretty much all of us and all of them are expecting to lose, or achieve a draw at best. Football fans: we can be a strange bunch.

Welcome to the world, young Matty!

Fair play to him. Have to say I am not shocked he has chosen to live ‘15 minutes’ from SJP, rather than in the dark place.

Good spot!

Table re-design looking very swish! ?

Would love to have heard that. Presumably linked to previous kerfuffle in our penalty box after ‘Moron’ dive?

Me too (former).

Forest 0-2 Liverpool Everton 2-1 Palace Man City 2-0 Brighton Cheslea 1-1 Man United Villa 1-2 Brentford Leeds 2-1 Fulham Southampton 0-2 Arsenal Wolves 1-1 Leicester Spurs 1-2 Newcastle West Ham 3-1 Bournemouth

You’re making me worried now! (Just kidding).

Pre-match nerves are pretty commonplace. Don’t think it is about the quality of the opposition, just the anxiety about the team doing what we know they can. Hoping against a (let’s face it, not too uncommon in the trials and tribulations of a football fan) failure to turn up or have an unlucky break. FWIW, I think it’ll be a tight game. Everton aren’t likely to go all guns blazing. They’ll sit back and be difficult to break down. First goal is important (as ever) but even if they score first (only one mind!) I’d still fancy us to win.

Jesus. You’re not jealous are you? ?

Thanks man. Keeps it interesting for those of us who have/will/may miss a week or two ?

Keep at it man. Magpie has promised a special prize for best average score ?