Optimistic Nut

Do we have any nuggets from the Bodo/Glimt Assistant Manager to get our teeth into before the match?

It must be like when Arbroath would play Queen's Park at Hampden Park in a league game or something daft soon.

I don't agree that teams are just going to sit deeper either. Us, Villa, etc don't play a highline as an offside trap, it's to try and condense the play and win the ball back higher up the pitch. We're not going to suddenly drop deeper just because of an offside law change. Teams who already play defensively will still play defensively.

I think that's more in-keeping with the spirit of what the offside law was originally intended for though? I just don't see the point in a law where this can be interpreted or given as offside. With or without VAR.

Actually just looked at Sissoko's stats. 35 year old, 40 games, 6 goals. Clearly looks after himself.

The Pardew manager/Sissoko club captain partnership we never thought we'd see.

Even though they've spent bazillions you could understand them finishing 2nd to City, still. 15 points off the top when City are nowhere near is a disgrace and Arteta should be under pressure.

I think it makes it better down the pyramid too. You've got a law at the moment which is nigh on impossible to call with the naked eye which seems pointless. At least "daylight" gives you a chance of seeing it properly.

Not saying anything.

Arsenal win purely for our benefit.

That's sort of what I'm getting at though? All 3 of those are punts. If they smashed it, they'd double their money in a year or two. They've been caught up by the likes of Bournemouth & Brentford who have similar ways of going about things. Palace do it slightly differently mixing up young English potential and signing the odd generational talent like Eze, but they're probably on a similar level. West Ham will likely come back to at least a mid-table side again next year, Everton's new stadium and revenue might give them a boost to climb out of that 14-17th rung. It's not unique what they do anymore. Seen it so often with the likes of Swansea & Southampton where they look mid-table or slightly better, get it wrong one year and it's all undone. They're at a stage now where £50m or so on Watkins will improve them. Just feel they're in danger of those clubs I've mentioned overtaking them or at least matching them and they drop 5-6 places in the table pretty rapidly over the course of a season or two.

Think his injury background has meant he just loves playing football these days even at a low level or just for fun. Fair play.

All of their signings were between 19-24. Even when they pushed the boat out on fees it was still with an eye on profitability. They need a summer where they gamble unless they're satisfied with 8-10th being their best, maybe a place or two higher if a couple of the bigger clubs have a poor season like Spurs & Man Utd this year. Watkins would be perfect for them.

If Brighton want to be a serious club and not just a feeder club, they should be all over Watkins. They have plenty PSR leeway that they can afford to go and get 1-2 "in their prime" players this summer if they wanted to make a fist of it. He's what they've lacked pretty much ever since they got promoted with us.

Ah I thought it was just Premier League era.

Yakubu & Ravanelli a decent alternative strikeforce as well.

If we win something in it or create great CL memories in it I'll think it's mint. If we're crap I'll think it's crap.

Sorensen, Schwarzer, Valdes Mills, Reiziger Arca, Gray Southgate, Ehiogu, Woodgate, O'Shea, Pearson Emerson, Boateng Juninho, Mendieta, Henderson Downing, Zenden Malbranque, Summerbee Ravanelli, Phillips, Bent, Hasselbaink Something like that.

I think there'd be more Boro than Sunderland players in a combined Smogkems squad. Smog Cattermole better than Mackem Cattermole but Mackem Arca ahead of Smoggie Arca.

Sorensen might push 3rd choice keeper behind Given & Pope.

5 years ago I'd watch these games thinking these are playing a different sport to us. I think our first XI would give both a good game now.

Horrible bastard of a club.

Don't think a single Sunderland player would touch a Newcastle squad of 25 in my lifetime.

If he wants to have a pop at breaking up the Old Firm then good luck to him.