The Fish

How do you mean? That their ambition will be their downfall? That won't be their downfall, those tinpot clappers will be. Well, that or Brexit.

There's a weird mentality for a significant number on there, where they have to twist, or obfuscate reality just to have a dig at Newcastle. It must be exhausting. I don't think we have the same odd need to reimagine the truth to fit a biased agenda because of an erstwhile football rivalry. And it's not just Benitez they've done this for. Pardew wasn't shit, Robson was. Gullit and Dalgish weren't but Keegan was. Allardyce is brilliant and definitely not a long ball manager. We demand attacking football and would rather lose 4-3 than win 1-0. We demand a big name despite being happy enough with Hughton. We demand attacking stylish football, despite being happy enough with Hughton. We demand big money signings, despite being happy enough with Perez, Dubravka, Fernandez, Schar... I've got Chelsea and Arsenal mates, Man Utd and Man City mates, Liverpool and Norwich and Wimbledon mates, even West Ham and Stockport mates. None of them think Benitez is anything but a top coach, not even the Man Utd and Chelsea lads. None of them think Ashley is a good owner. None of them think Newcastle fans demand Keegan's football. Now, if they were saying this to Newcastle fans, I'd kind of understand they're trying to have a bit of a laugh, but they repeat it to each other in some sort of weird self perpetuating fantasy.

Think they're guilty of downing tools because they're safe. Which is admittedly on him. I dunno, I was surprised by Southampton fans treatment of him and now Leicester. I guess because I don't watch them every week I'm not in a position to defend him, but after a casual glance they look safely ensconced in midtable which is about where I'd expect them to be.

I'm glad he hasn't yet. Much better if his accent is more heavily influenced by ours. An American twang is nowhere near as good as a Julio Geordio-esque lilt. Perez was much improved because he's playing with an intelligent mobile dynamic attacking midfielder. With Atsu, Kenedy or whomever because there wasn't the intricate give and go that we saw with Almiron. He gets a lot of shit because he's where the attack usually stalls/ends and that obviously and justifiably frustrates the fans. Hopefully with someone with a little more about them, he'll score more and contribute more to the team. Kenedy can fuck off.

Puel sacked. Leicester are an odd club now. The football isn't great to watch, but it's pretty effective. Some shocking purchases (Iheanacho cost them what, £35m?) but they've still got a decent pool of talent. They can't expect to repeat the fairytale and they'd need years of steady improvement to break into the top 7, would Puel have delivered that? I dunno, but sacking him won't.

I wouldn't even bring Dimae in yet. Hayden's been playing alright with Longstaff in the middle and Huddersfield shouldn't be too tough an ask for those two.

£

Because the ref was poor. The idea is fine, it's application needs improving and that will come with experience. Ref has final say. Frankly we should be getting to the stage where the ref can view the incident by jogging over to the linesman who's got an iPad stuffed down his shorts. Ref stops the game, reviews the major incident, Bob's your uncle. If the ref is reviewing the VAR the game is stopped, why does the crowd need to be told what they can clearly see is a VAR review? Or do you mean the crowd should be watching the incident at the same time as the ref but on a big screen? Personally, I think the ref should be mic-ed up. Similar to Cricket. Call his decision and ask/go for a review, then if there's a clear and obvious incident overturn or confirm his decision. That way the crowd knows what the review is about without necessitating a big screen display. Also, only the manager or Captain should be allowed to request VAR. I wouldn't have what happened on the Schalke bench happening again.

Why is the ref being overruled? VAR is an advisory tool, not taking away control from the ref. It's no different to a linesman flagging for something the ref didn't see. We don't get any on-screen notification that the goal-line tech is buzzing the ref now?

How will the laws change? I for one don’t see the point in metal poles. What’s wrong with jumpers?

Already happening I see.

1 win in 13 scored 6 and conceded 26 in that time. we'll be fine.

It won't happen half as much as the detractors suggest. Most goals are not controversial in any way. Even before VAR there were inquests and the ref plodding over to the linesman for a chat. This is no different, except they'll have an actual decent chance of getting the decision right. There are two things finer than going apeshit when your team scores; Going apeshit again as the protests from the opposition are proven to be baseless because not only have you scored, but the other team are whiny cheating cry babies The long, drawn out "ARHHHHHHHHH you get to shout as the cheating bastard's non-goal is rightfully chalked off and you can celebrate the opposition fans' hubris. The game managed fine without goal-line tech for years, but goal line tech is better and more accurate. The game managed years without the offside rule, but the offside rule is better and a more accura.... actually ignore that one, because they've fucked it. But you get my point.

Aye the arguments against VAR aren't being explained well, for me. It all comes across a bit Luddite-y. The time to get the decision right will shorten with experience. Why wouldn't you want the right decision to be found more often?

He made at least two good saves in the Wolves game to keep us in it.

That was the hope.

@Dr Gloom why don’t we have a new owner yet? You promised.

Nah, they’re terrible and they’ve beaten a poor side. Almiron’s hattrick each game will see us safe.

Wolverhampton is undeniably a shit hole. Anyone who says otherwise has never left Wolverhampton.

Nope, just stream it all now. Couldn't you watch every Premier League game on Sky for c£100 a season. Now you need subscriptions to BT, Sky and so on.

"they"

Aye it'll be 3 from 6. Likely Huddersfield and Cardiff will drop. Hardworking, but shit. Huddersfield haven't won in 12 games and haven't scored in 4. Plus they've got games against Spurs, Liverpool, Watford and Man Utd in the final 5 games. Cardiff are just wank. Fulham look like conceding every time they're attacked but if they can get their forward line scoring they've got a chance. Burnley are unbeaten in 6 Premier League games, and yet they're still in the mix. Not sure if 38yr old Peter Crouch will be enough to pull them away from danger. If they get an injury to Heaton they may get dragged back into the relegation zone, because Hart is a joke of a 'keeper now. Southampton have improved performances since Hasenhuttl joined, only losing 3/10 in the league under him. They've got quality in midfield and what looks like a decent manager. Then there's us. Need to wait a few games to see how Almiron changes the way we play (if he does), but we're an injury to Rondon away from having to play Joselu or Perez up front. Look decent defensively, and keeping our goal difference much better than everyone from 17th down. We've already played Chelsea, Man City, Man Utd and Spurs home and away so the run in looks all right for us. Should mostly be against teams whose seasons are all but over already. Reckon we'll stay up, end up about 15th.

Too early to be worrying about other team's results imo. If we do what we need to do, we'll be fine.

The longer they're away from the top flight, the harder it is to get back. Even if they get promoted to the Championship. The squad they've got left is nowhere near good enough for a promotion push. How long do you think they'll be away from the Premier League?

I think it's churlish to say it hasn't been broken when we don't know what the performance targets are. If it's "win a cup" then yeah it's not going to be broken. If it's help the club stay up, you'd have to say it's likely.