English football 2022-23

[Durhamfootman]

3 points and a 5th clean sheet of the season for Newcastle. Not bad for a team that has leaked goals consistantly for years. 16 shots but only one goal is a bit of a concern. They'll need to be very clinical if they are to have any chance against Spurs at the weekend

temporarily move into 5th place, but that won't last long with Man Utd currently beating Spurs 2-0

[Gingerfinch]

the Manchester version Utd were awesome last night. Spurs did sit back but Utd moved the ball quickly and should have had more if it wasn't for Lloris.

[sussexpob]

the Manchester version Utd were awesome last night. Spurs did sit back but Utd moved the ball quickly and should have had more if it wasn't for Lloris.

Spurs spent 70 million on a winger in the summer despite arguably having the best top 3 in the league, and the central of midfield is so average he's now having to drop Richie and Kulu to add an extra CM..... I have no idea why they didnt spend the money in the middle of the park. I cant work out why he seems to prefer Dier, Romero and Ben Davies, a left back, over Davidson Sanchez at CB. Lenglet too... some bizarre choices from Conte.

Unless they can counter attack teams well, they look pretty average at times. I guess you cant be too harsh as they are scoring points, but I dont expect it to continue.

[Gingerfinch]

the Manchester version Utd were awesome last night. Spurs did sit back but Utd moved the ball quickly and should have had more if it wasn't for Lloris.

Spurs spent 70 million on a winger in the summer despite arguably having the best top 3 in the league, and the central of midfield is so average he's now having to drop Richie and Kulu to add an extra CM..... I have no idea why they didnt spend the money in the middle of the park. I cant work out why he seems to prefer Dier, Romero and Ben Davies, a left back, over Davidson Sanchez at CB. Lenglet too... some bizarre choices from Conte.

Unless they can counter attack teams well, they look pretty average at times. I guess you cant be too harsh as they are scoring points, but I dont expect it to continue.

Yes their front three were exceptional last season. Now they're so defensive, Kane is nearly always dropping deep, like he does too much for England, although it can and has worked on the counter.

[Durhamfootman]

I watched Almiron's goal this morning. Another corker. Newcastle battered Everton in the first half and missed the goal by inches on numerous occasions. They have to be much more ruthless in front of goal. A lot of the time they are shooting from range. Meanest defence in the league, I think.

[sussexpob]

I watched Almiron's goal this morning. Another corker. Newcastle battered Everton in the first half and missed the goal by inches on numerous occasions. They have to be much more ruthless in front of goal. A lot of the time they are shooting from range. Meanest defence in the league, I think.

It makes me laugh that people say Newcastle's success is a result of recent spending. Newcastle have spent bloody nowt for a decade, the fact they spent 150 million or whatever in the last year just brings them on par with some of the clubs lower down the table.

I think personally you have to credit Eddie Howe with doing a fine job. I doubt if he keeps this up, he will be managing Newcastle for much longer...

[Durhamfootman]

yes, he's done brilliantly. He wasn't my first choice as it happens, I remember cursing the timing that had seen Rafa go to Everton before the takeover, but I was delighted they went with Howe rather than the other 'bigger' names in the hat. I particularly like the calm measured way he approaches everything. You won't find him ranting at referees, losing his cool in interviews, or casting unfounded aspersions about.

He's now got a new, longer contract, which will soften the blow for Newcastle if he does end up as England manager after the coming Southgate fuelled fiasco this winter, but he says any other job is 'not on his radar' in the near future, so maybe he wouldn't be interested. He says that more than anything he likes working with players on a daily basis, which is not something an England manager can enjoy, so I'm hopeful.... maybe I shouldn't be, but I am

[Durhamfootman]

and if Newcastle can more or less maintain their current position in the table, then they will be in a much stronger position for making January signings. They missed out on quite a few players this summer, which might have prompted the showpiece signing of a player they haven't so far needed, but that might change if there is a realistic prospect of european football next season

[sussexpob]

yes, he's done brilliantly. He wasn't my first choice as it happens, I remember cursing the timing that had seen Rafa go to Everton before the takeover, but I was delighted they went with Howe rather than the other 'bigger' names in the hat. I particularly like the calm measured way he approaches everything. You won't find him ranting at referees, losing his cool in interviews, or casting unfounded aspersions about

Obviously with what he did at Bournemouth, he proved he has a certain talent and quality about him. Maybe Budget (if hes listening somewhere) will have a different view on the matter as a Bournemouth fan, and the comment comes with a very large footnote that he essentially took over a small lower division club and turned them into a side that is in the PL a lot recently, or at the very least a top Championship club.... But there were stages where Bournemouth spent a lot of money on certain players, and there were a lot of fails. Never really kicked on and just seemed to get progressively worse. I mean, Jordan Ibe cost them a lot (25 million or so?)..... buying crap like Benik Afobe for 15-20 million. Solanke too did nothing and cost a bomb for a lower league team. At one stage they even signed Lewis Grabban for 12 odd million (IIRC) and he couldnt get a game for Norwich, and had at the time tried to beat up Alex Neill his boss, with rumours he was just one of those toxic w*nkers to avoid.

So, I think there was a certain negative legacy Howe left behind. Certainly some question marks about his potential as a manager.....I think at one stage, he could have been a Potter and walked into a top job straight away, but his loyalty to Bournemouth ended up costing that as his reputation faded.

He's what? Early 40s? Good to see a still young British manager doing well.... I wish him all the best.

[mikesiva]

Nottingham Forest beat Liverpool 1-0!

[Durhamfootman]

have the referees abandoned Liverpool?

[Durhamfootman]

I hate having to wait until 4.30 on a Sunday for the match to begin. I like a Saturday 3pm kick off and then I can relax and put football out of mind for the rest of the weekend

[Durhamfootman]

Blimey, it's going well atm. Spurs 0 - 2 Newcastle at HT

this made me smile from the live reporting on the BBC

It's really hammering it down at Spurs. Big-time rain.

The cameras show some fans trying to cover their heads with umbrellas, flags and bits of plastic... and then scan to a topless Newcastle fan who looks happy.

can they keep this up? They got pegged back by Man C

[Durhamfootman]

Another goal for Almiron, btw. Only Haarland has scored more goals this month

[Durhamfootman]

Get in!

they do indeed pick up 3 points despite a Kane goal early in the second half

Another one of 'those' games, by all accounts, where VAR looks for 3 different ways to rule out Newcastle's opener and finds it can't but it was worth trying (so much for clear and obvious mistake), the ref refuses to give Newcastle a penalty for handball with the defenders arm raised (perhaps he had long sleeves), then allows a Kane goal despite looking offside (seemingly) played on by a flick on from a Newcastle defender that might have been a Spurs player (allegedly)

With the cracking result and all the controversy, I'm looking forward to seeing for myself later tonight