The Fish

I think you need to switch back from big boy pants, you big bairn.

But it flies in the face of reality. It's like the Trump supporters who still think he's doing a good job.

We entertain Aston Villa on Monday, which might baffle them because, as a fanbase they look like they've never been entertained in their lifetime. I hope the inclusion of a weakness gives @Dr Gloom the warm fuzzy feelings. Hopefully Gayle will be back and raring to go, but more importantly I hope Colback is put back in the cupboard under the stairs and Hayden returns to be an actual real life midfielder. I wouldn't drop Darlow or Lascelles despite their clangers. Maybe give Atsu a start ahead of the ineffectual Gouffran? NUFC To Score 0 - 1 - wykikitoon, Kevin Carr's Gloves 2 - Rayvin, Anorthernsoul, Ant, strawb, acrossthepond, Dr Gloom, StoneColdStephenIreland, @yourservice, LooneyToony 3 - ewerk, Andrew, The Fish, David Kelly, Howay, rogerbarton, tooner, Happy Face, MiddleAgeCool, OTF, Dougle, barnabox, aimaad22 4+ - Tom, scoobos, ohhh_yeah, zico martin, Kitman, TheGingerQuiff NUFC To Concede 0 - ewerk, Andrew, Kevin Carr's Gloves, Tom, The Fish, David Kelly, Howay, rogerbarton, Anorthernsoul, Happy Face, MiddleAgeCool, scoobos, ohhh_yeah, strawb, Dr Gloom, Dougle, Kitman, barnabox, aimaad22, TheGingerQuiff, LooneyToony 1 - Rayvin, wykikitoon, tooner, Ant, OTF, zico martin, acrossthepond, StoneColdStephenIreland, @yourservice 2 - 3 - 4+ -

I honestly don't understand this negativity. Top of the league, most wins in the country, disgusting GD, efficient away from home, top goal scorer, arguably best midfielder in the league, good defence for this division, top class manager.

Brighton dropped points at home to Ipswich, we grabbed a point away to Norwich. We remain top of the pile and while the Play-off chasing sides picked up a little ground, they're still far enough behind that 1 weekend's results can't see either Brighton or ourselves usurped in the automatic spots. Last night was a freak result to be honest as our general play seemed to deserve all 3pts, but we lost 2 goals to aberrant errors. Darlow's slice was bizarre and if there's one thing I'm sure of, he won't try that again. Lascelle's slip could be a foul, might not be, but he was dominant against Wolves and for the most part (according to a Norwich supporting mate at the game) had a decent game. Take out those two unusual instances and we scored twice away from home, hit the woodwork twice, drew a few good saves from their 'keeper and created plenty. 16 attempts from open play, 62% possession, forced 6 saves. I don't have anywhere near the same levels of concern I've seen on here (and on twitter). The next group of games is tough, no doubt, but we're the best away side in the country, we've our top goal scorer coming back, key players are returning from injury or absence (Hayden, Atsu, Diame) and the teams around us have difficult fixtures too; 2nd Brighton 65pts - WWLDWD Barnsley 9th (a) Reading 4th (h) Newcastle 1st (h) Forest 17th (a) 3rd Huddersfield 61pts- LWWWWW Man City FACup (h) Reading 4th (h) Barnsley 9th (a) Wolves 18th (a) Newcastle 1st (h) 4th Reading 60pts- WWWDDW Huddersfield 3rd (a) Brighton 2nd (a) Wolves 18th (h) Newcastle 1st (h) 5th Leeds 57pts- LWWLLW Ipswich 13th (a) Shef Wed 6th (h) Birmingham 14th (a) Fulham 8th (a) We've won 35 points on the road. We have more overall league wins (21) & more away league wins (11) than any other club in the top 4 English divisions this season. Before last night we’d conceded an almost inconsequential 8 league goals and been behind for a grand total of 65 minutes away from home. Last season away from home, we were only ahead for 92 minutes in total. This season, in the league, we’ve been behind for 281 minutes, from c2,790 minutes possible. That’s only 10%. We’ve only had to endure chasing a game for 10% of the season. Quit your whining.

He's savvy enough to swerve those questions regardless of any long term ideas he may or may not have. No manager declares he's not committed for fear of shutting a door that could be open to him, and he's not going to declare he's not fully committed for fear of burning his bridges. Doors and bridges. Bridges and doors.

Nothing natural about it

"I wus at a ry-ut posh hoetel afore me custody heeerin' an this smelly mag wus theyuh. Ah sees him nerrtus us cos I'm a massif lads fan an that. So a wears me Johnson 6-in-a-rowuh top al weekend, but ee bottled it an sez nowt. Iffin ee'd say owt ah wud of battered him. HAHAHA LOL FTM"

Canny preview here, going to ask him for his review. So, y'know, mentally prepare yourself for that.

That's class.

Happy Birthday Keegler

Not a significant weakness in our ability to win games. The Ginger Pirlo doesn't start regularly enough to be considered a real weakness and Dummet's lack of attacking ability hasn't significantly weakened our chances of scoring. We'd be better if both of those players were improved upon, of course, but we're not weakened enough by them to damage our chance of winning games. Put it this way, Colback played 90 minutes against Wolves and was shite throughout, but we still looked fairly comfortable and good for the win. Dummett's flank offered bugger all in attack until Atsu came on and yet we still created enough chances to win the game.

It's going to be a long 2017. There'll be rumours of Rafa returning to Liverpool should the papers decide Klopp is for the chop, there'll be rumours of Rafa taking over at Leicester, there'll no doubt be rumours of him moving abroad. 99.99% of it is going to be utter horseshit.

Our 2nd longest serving player just scored for the U23s.

No significant weaknesses. There isn't one part of our game that significantly impedes our chances of winning a game. That doesn't mean we've no shortcomings, just no achilles heel. There was a lot of chatter before the game about our perceived weakness at defending set pieces, but in that game Clark and Lascelles were imperious throughout the game and dealt with everything that came at them, and when called upon Darlow claimed balls into his box like picking apples from a tree. We see areas to improve on, of course, but there isn't an area of our game that troubles me going into most games in this division. We're not playing brilliantly, and teams are digging in deeper and deeper against us. So I've predicted a win for Norwich because they're a decent Championship team and they've players with the ability to pull something from nothing.

Oh there'll be another re-writing of history, no doubt. They'll argue that while we should have pissed the championship because it's a pub league, if they're relegated it becomes a competitive league that we only won because we spent more than anyone else (we haven't) and the teams in the 17/18 season are better than those we faced. Whoever replaces Rotherham will be much better, whichever of the playoff hunting sides don't get up will be stronger than they were this year and the relegated Premier League sides are better equipped for the Championship than Norwich and Villa were. If they're successful and are promoted it's proof that their quality shines through, if not it's proof the 17/18 Championship is harder than thre 16/17 season. I don't have a problem with putting a positive slant on your situation, but it becomes risible when it's hypocritical. Their win against Palace was a brilliant away performance, their loss to Southampton flattered their guests because Sunderland played well in the first 20 minutes. They've got Everton and Man City next, I honestly would be surprised to see them get more than a point from those two fixtures. They're bereft of confidence and a trip to New York may clear their heads and bring them closer together, but if Lukaku scores early doors I don't think that togetherness will survive and will be a distant memory when Aguero, Jesus and de Bruyne come to town. After that it's a Middlesbrough side that may not score many, they concede fewer. 3 tough games, especially compared to Hull's (Bur h, Lei a, Swa h).

They were 4-0 down at half time against Villa under Poyet and thousands decided not to come back out. I honestly can't remember that many people leaving before full time at St James'. I know there's been a few games where we've seen a couple hundred leave at half time (Arsenal 4-4 game), maybe a thousand leaving around 85 minutes, but RTG are saying there was maybe 5,000 left by the time the final whistle blew. According to the BBC, that means thirty five thousand sunderland supporters bolted for the exits before the game finished! I get people piling out when the 4th or even when the 3rd went in in the 88th minute, but some of these fans were leaving at 2-0 with 30 minutes to go. It's odd on there though, the consensus is that staying up is everything, relegation is doom. I understand the financial implications for a club with such issues on the money side of thing, but I don't understand why they can't see that they're not a Premier League club in anything but name. They haven't finished higher than 10th in 15yrs, the last time they were consistently top half of the top flight was the 1950s. Something's rotten at that club and has been for ages, there needs to be a root and branch overhaul and that takes time, money and sacrifice. If I were them, I'd take relegation, even with the financial risk that brings with it, if it meant I ended up with a club I could be proud of. Right now, they remain a laughing stock; "The turd that won't flush". A perennial Premier League whipping boy, that might get the odd surprising victory over the big boys, but who regularly get humped. In 15 seasons in the Premier League, they've only scored more than they've conceded in 2 seasons (ironically Bruce's reign) , 7 of their Premier League seasons have seen them score less than a goal a game. Yet 35-40k turn up every other week. It's at once impressive and pitiful.

Some on RTG saying they (or people round them) left after a 60 minutes or so. It was only 0-2 at the time. I know the players got them into the shit, but I can't imagine what it's like to be playing in front of over 35k at half time, then seeing the stands rapidly empty. Can't be particularly motivating. Again, I know the players shoulder much of the blame, but if the ground is emptying at 2-0...

They're in really good form, 4 wins and a draw from the last 5 league games, just put 5 past Forest. Only Brighton and Huddersfield have more points at home than Norwich, they're also the top goal scorers at home in the league. I'm predicting a loss, maybe 3-1 to the Drunken Delia's. NUFC To Score 0 - wykikitoon, TheGingerQuiff 1 - The Fish, Holden McGroin, Lackie92, strawb, OTF, Kevin Carr's Gloves, Dougle, @yourservice 2 - MiddleAgeCool, Rayvin, ewerk, Happy Face, acrossthepond, Ant, zico martin, Tom, Kitman, barnabox, LooneyToony, Dr Gloom 3 - Andrew, StoneColdStephenIreland, Howay, Anorthernsoul, scoobos, rogerbarton, ohhh_yeah 4+ - NUFC To Concede 0 - wykikitoon, Andrew, Happy Face, strawb, Howay, Tom, Kitman, Kevin Carr's Gloves, Dr Gloom 1 - ewerk, StoneColdStephenIreland, Ant, zico martin, Anorthernsoul, scoobos, OTF, rogerbarton, Dougle, ohhh_yeah 2 - Holden McGroin, MiddleAgeCool, Rayvin, Lackie92, acrossthepond, barnabox, LooneyToony, @yourservice 3 - The Fish 4+ - TheGingerQuiff

Harsh on Gabbiandini imo BBC claim there was just shy of 40k at the stadium of light on Saturday.

just being realistic. To go for top ten we'd have to spend incredible amounts of money, we'd have to rapidly integrate a lot of new players and we'd have to improve upon the players who're currently integral to our game. I think it's unrealistic to expect much more than safety in our first season back in the top flight. I see parallels with the 09/10 season, we're a team that builds it's success on a strong defence and an efficient striker force, but I think we've a weaker 1st team now than that one. Back then we had 2 Argentinian internationals, a top half of the Premier League left back, hugely experienced central midfielders, 4 players who got double figures. That team ground out 1-0 victories 7 times in that season, we've 4 so far. We managed to score 3+ on 12 occasions in 09/10, we've already managed to do that 8 times with another 3rd of the season (16 games) to go. 09/10 we scored 90 (1.95 GpG) conceded 35 (0.76 GpG). 16/17 we've scored 58 (1.93 GpG) and conceded 23 (0.76 GpG). I'd expect when Gayle returns the goals to increase. I think the strain of the campaign will also start telling on teams pushing for play-offs.

3pts off the title, I'm catching up. People need to realise it's a marathon, not a sprint.

Apparently the 2nd one was a treat. https://twitter.com/Extra10Football/status/830445786479677444

I think Yedlin, Clark, Mbemba and maybe Clark and LAscelles would be enough for safety. Rafa built a side to win the championship, I reckon he'll build a side that can get us safe next year, then build on that over the next few years.

Never quite understood how 50 Shades of Grey is Twilight fan fiction? There's no vampires in 5sog is there? Mind, saying that, there's no fucking vampires in Twilight either. I can barely put up with people trying to re-write classic myths "Oooh, these vampires are actually infected with some kind of pathogen", but making them sparkly and vegetarian is just bullshit. Apparently Universal have the rights for the classic monsters and are re-booting them the first being The Mummy.