English football 2022-23

[Durhamfootman]

I only watch Newcastle and England play football. I have no interest at all in watching football played by other people's teams, so for years and years now, I've had to watch football through the tiny gaps between my fingers

Not any more.... eyes wide open

For years and years I've refused to look at the scores of matches I can't watch until after full time in case I jinx the result

Not any more

For years and years I've feared matches against 'big name' teams, in case the result was humiliating rather than awful

Not any more......... I don't care who it is....... *modded* bring it on

[Durhamfootman]

That all changes in a couple of weeks, of course

back to watching desperate football through the tiny gaps in my fingers

hey ho

Potter for England

[Durhamfootman]

There was a moment during the West Ham game, where the live feed reported that Declan Rice had gone down under a really heavy challenge and I had my fingers crossed.................. that he would be ruled out of the WC

isn't that a terrible way to feel? I feel a bit ashamed of myself in truth

Sadly Sir Gareth's selection intransigence has driven me to it

[sussexpob]

Just a bit gutted my old great uncle passed away early this year; was a die hard Newcastle and Sunderland fan (had a season ticket for both virtually all his life until he had to give up the Toon one because it was too expensive). Would have loved to see Sunderland promoted and Newcastle flying up the table.

Was from up your end DFM.... Craghead. Maybe you dont get many fans of both, but he lived and breathed football. He'd have been proper buzzing tonight!

[sussexpob]

Always had a soft spot for the Toon, family connection and all. Fans are the best in the country, its about time they were rewarded for their commitment and passion.

[Durhamfootman]

Was from up your end DFM.... Craghead. Maybe you dont get many fans of both, but he lived and breathed football. He'd have been proper buzzing tonight!

It is indeed up my way, SP. I have patients in Craghead, Grange Villa and South Stanley

Way back when, before people had more disposable income (pre 1970), it was seemingly very common for people up here to support both Newcastle and Sunderland, because that was the only way people could afford to watch football every week. SJP one week and Roker Pk the next. It's really only been since fans had more money in their pockets, enough to travel to away games, that they settled on one team or the other and tribalism reared its ugly head.

I'd love to see Newcastle win the PL with Sunderland finishing second and Middlesbrough third, alongside promotions for Hartlepool, Gateshead and Darlo and decent cup runs for Blyth Spartans, South Shields and Spennymoor Town........but then I am very old, certainly off trend and probably a bit senile too

[Durhamfootman]

If you want to scratch the Newcastle itch, you can always head over to NUFC TV. They show 10 min highlights of the Newcastle games. It's very myopic and glosses over the parts where the other team do good stuff, barely acknowledging when Newcastle concede goals, but it often shows stuff that MOTD ignores. I find I get a better sense of the game if I watch both

[Durhamfootman]

Goal of the month

Player of the month

Manager of the month

and quite right too. October was one helluva month for Newcastle. I imagine it would be hard to argue against any of those awards

[Durhamfootman]

Brentford turn Man City over in their own back yard.... and not a fluke either, seemingly. Well deserved win by all accounts. That shakes things up a bit

It also prepares all City's England players for the gut wrenching disappointment in a month's time

[Durhamfootman]

Maddison has had to hobble off after 25 mins in Leicester's game against West Ham. How gutting it will be for him if it turns out to be serious two days after booking his WC spot

[Durhamfootman]

Spurs have to come from behind 3 times to beat Leeds at home 4-3. Spurs are not really at the races atm, but they jump ahead of Newcastle into 3rd

[Durhamfootman]

Leicester continue their run of form with another win. They now move 4 points clear of the drop zone

shows what can be achieved when you can't afford to sack your manager

and given that he had his squad weakened rather than strengthened over the summer, Rodgers has shown how well he can do with what he got left with

[Durhamfootman]

another day, another win, another clean sheet

back to 3rd we go, for Newcastle

[sussexpob]

This has to be the worst Chelsea side since Roman transformed the club. Borja is young, so he might come good.

But how have they spent so much money, yet have such a bad average team? Sterling and Havertz are on horrendous form ...

[mikesiva]

Brentford turn Man City over in their own back yard.... and not a fluke either, seemingly. Well deserved win by all accounts. That shakes things up a bit

It also prepares all City's England players for the gut wrenching disappointment in a month's time

Ivan Toney showed Southgate what he might be missing.