Coffee_Johnny

Our record (NUFC.Com) is better than I thought against these. We usually seem to win after a draw. On that infallible bit of reasoning, I am going for a newsworthy 1-0. (Yes, I did watch them Wednesday. Yes, I was a bit terrified).

Never gets old?

Depends what you equate with high level/top quality coaching and leadership? Getting lost in techniques and tactics does not necessarily equate to being a quality coach/leader. Keegan was a high performing manager at the top two English divisions and England manager. He pitched what he did out of the Shankly book more than the Paisley or modern technobabble coaching manuals, and he was fucking great at it in my opinion. He knew people, let them play, and they (by and large…) would run through walls for him. I think he felt he fell short, at the highest level, but I don’t agree with him. If all the England players had the work effort, fitness, desire to win, and plain old ability he had. His team would have flourished. He didn’t have them enough/the strength of relationship to lead in the way he was great at leading. In my opinion, obvs.

The point in there is that being a great player doesn’t equip you to be a great manager. You’d need to be mad/oblivious to disagree with that. However, Guardiola was a great player and Keegan was a great manager. They both serve as rare examples of excelling at both. I would actually chuck Bobby Robson into that rare group also. Two examples, from a multitude of possibilities who illustrate the norm, are Bobby Charlton and Jurgen Klopp (odd pairing but ?‍♂️) who each tried both roles, but were only ‘great’ at one.

? really made me chuckle. “Fanny blart…” ?

Hybrid Rob Lee and Nobby Solano—who also had a sublime range of passes.

Nope. Since 2016-17 he’s made: 40, 43, 46, 40, & 30 appearances for Leeds. Just missing a lot (17 appearances) this season.

Yep, every time I see Lampard (who seems a decent enough type) I think his bottle has gone. He looks a beaten man. Stepping into bigger shoes than he and, the anti anything red, Scouse Makems thought .

Doubt he’ll make any changes unless anyone is really struggling. He’ll be totally focussed on highest possible points tally. Genuinely hope we thump them, it is due and the positive atmosphere at the mo must be addictive for the players.

Really is quite an astonishing run of form. Especially given we could easily/justifiably had another 4 points from the unlucky away losses to Blue teams (one of whom, I can’t help thinking are heading for the deepest ‘blue’ period they’ve had in over 70 years!).

Ditto; but not as much as whilst reading it being reminded than Donny van de Beek apparently wanted to go to Everton, rather than here, as he didn’t want to be involved in a relegation battle. ?

P.S. I desperately want us to sign Phillips. What a combo with Bruno!

Personally I would love it. (Keep him on the bench, obvs)

Bruno is unquestionably a top drawer player, or at least appears to have everything he needs to prove to be one (over time). Ignoring position, there are hundreds of better players out there (quite a compliment in itself). Hopefully we might get one or two of them.

Stench of gravy… why would that be an insult? Sounds fucking heavenly to me. Oh! Best go and check it’s not me in the pics.

Still not on MotD… we best get a decent amount of time.

Sooooo looking forward to MotD!

? harsh, but fair…

Hard to pick out best I have been at. But for pure ‘feels’: the two FA Cup semis (we won); Barcelona at home; ‘the’ Man Utd game (felt like such sweet revenge). Keegan’s first game as a player, and Rob Lee’s hatrick of headers in Antwerp (plus loved his header at losing FA Cup semi vs Chelsea) are all precious/wonderful life experiences.

‘Kin hell. Loving the lad, but that is a very high bar.

They’ve apparently now had 9 shots to out 13, and 63% possession. ‘Game of two halves…”

14 points behind Man U as it stands. What a turnaround!

Gone up to 6 shots (from 1 in first half) to our 13. They have got 59% possession now (from 49%). Make a change…

Same points as Brighton at the mo. Fingers crossed ?

Can’t see or hear this match. So following through here and BBC stats… still making me anxious!