English football 2024-25

[Durhamfootman]

Ratcliffe had to pay a fortune to buy out Amorim's contract, so I have no doubt he'll have to pay Amorim another fortune when he sacks him in a week or two

He does like throwing good money after bad and blaming somebody else does old Ratcliffe. Big daft pudding..... Wembley of the North

[Durhamfootman]

Villa have appealed, so there is a chance for them to make the case. I guess we wait and see.

FA rejected the appeal and additionally charged him over his reaction before going down the tunnel. The lad was ticking even before the red card when Digne took the free kick off him and then squandered the chance. He lost control of himself for a little while and now he'll have to sit it out. Maybe he'll learn from the experience. If it's any consolation to Duran, and I don't suppose it is, Schar has to sit it out at the weekend too

[mikesiva]

Arsenal won 3-1 at Brentford, which has been a fortress up until now.

At the halfway point:

Liverpool 45 points
Arsenal 39
Nottingham 37
Chelsea 35

[Gingerfinch]

Liverpool also have a game in hand. I'd like to see them win it as they're imo the best of the top teams to watch.

[Durhamfootman]

they are without doubt the best team in the land atm. Big Mo is also the best player in the league by a wide margin, so that helps

[sussexpob]

Surely Ange is done now. Cant believe he survived 6 away goals from Liverpool, and then another loss after, but now its surely done? Their form ever since the first 10 games of last season is relegation candidate stuff. And Ange is a rubbish tactical manager, they can do all out attack or nothing. Cant defend to save their lives.

Guess some people will be angry about the Joelinton handball.... those are the rules. I don't like the rule, I think its stupid you can handball and get an advantage... but it is the rule, so VAR had to apply it.

Newcastle on fire atm

[Durhamfootman]

I haven't caught up with this match yet, but with a Christmas fixture list of Villa, Man U and Spurs I'd have been ecstatic at 6 points and would probably have settled for 4, so to pick up all 9 points is much more than I could have hoped for. Been quite the turnaround. December '24 has been the polar opposite of December '23

Just the small matter of Arsenal away next

[sussexpob]

Waiting in anticipation to find out which version of Ange we get at the press conference after.

The Ange that thinks saying "mate" after savaging someone makes being pointless hostile ok.....

The Ange that is deeply mysterious/cod philsophical?

The Ange that is so depressed he struggles to speak?

The Ange that avoids tough questions by giving that "what did you just say you Fing idiot" look with deadpan expression?

Nihilistic Ange who wonders about the meaning of life?

Maybe he will go full circle and be soft and cuddle Ange again....

[Durhamfootman]

I saw a stat recently that said Newcastle have scored more goals in December than in August, September, October and November combined.

[sussexpob]

I saw a stat recently that said Newcastle have scored more goals in December than in August, September, October and November combined.

Helps that Isak is currently putting away his chances, when at the first part of the season he missed a few absolute sitters.

Always amazed how Joelinton turned from a terrible striker who couldn't hit a barn door, into a dominate presence in the central midfield.

[Durhamfootman]

I love Big Joe to bits, but before Howe took over I couldn't have imagined a situation where I rated him so highly. He really is a monster in midfield

what has surprised me a bit is that the chattering classes are talking up Howe's brilliance at finding a way for Tonali and Guimaraes to play together. I remember when they signed Tonali, it was precisely so that Guimaraes could stop playing in a DM position and push forward a lot more. Then Tonali got his ban and in the interim everyone seems to have forgotten what the point of signing Tonali was. The midfield combo of Tonali, Bruno and Big Joe is terrific. The way they dovetail to break up play in the middle of the park, get forward to support the front 3 whilst simultaneously protecting the centre backs is hugely impressive and, I guess, is the reason why Newcastle are scoring so many and conceding so few. It's lovely to see

[sussexpob]

I love Big Joe to bits, but before Howe took over I couldn't have imagined a situation where I rated him so highly. He really is a monster in midfield

what has surprised me a bit is that the chattering classes are talking up Howe's brilliance at finding a way for Tonali and Guimaraes to play together. I remember when they signed Tonali, it was precisely so that Guimaraes could stop playing in a DM position and push forward a lot more. Then Tonali got his ban and in the interim everyone seems to have forgotten what the point of signing Tonali was. The midfield combo of Tonali, Bruno and Big Joe is terrific. The way they dovetail to break up play in the middle of the park, get forward to support the front 3 whilst simultaneously protecting the centre backs is hugely impressive and, I guess, is the reason why Newcastle are scoring so many and conceding so few. It's lovely to see

Howe has done a good job in working with these players and improving them. Bunn was nowhere near a top half PL starter level, but has been solid. Schar wasn't much, but has become a key part of the team. Willock/Longstaff are really limited players that he's moulded into roles for the side. And Jacob Murphy's transformation in the last 1-2 years is really impressive, he was a total flop after he moved from Norwich for a long time, but he gets better and better.

The obvious issue facing Newcastle is keeping the talent. Isak and Bruno deserve to be playing for titles in top leagues.... and I can't see Livramento lasting at newcastle much longer, the lad oozes class (and Man City need a right back now Kyle Walker seems to be showing his age in recent times).

[Durhamfootman]

I wasn't struck with Lewis Hall last season when he was on loan, but not really on loan, from Chelsea. I couldn't see any way that a 28mill price tag was warranted, but by golly he looks like a top quality LB now. Maybe it was just him getting his feet under the table last season, but I can now understand why Chelsea fans were cross about him being sold for PSR reasons at the time. He looks a really good player and is surely well placed to become Tuchel's solution to England's long standing LB problem...... and presumably Tuchel knows him well from his Chelsea days, which won't hurt his chances

[Durhamfootman]

Chelsea slip up again and there is now only 1 point between Newcastle and 4th place

[Durhamfootman]

Newcastle's January league fixtures look pretty good if they can keep this run going, but as is always the case when you have one fit striker, even a minor injury to Isak could undo all this good work and the season could unravel very quickly

Got to keep fingers crossed, I guess, but that doesn't feel to me like a sustainable situation to be in.... not if Newcastle want to hang on to their top talent for any length of time