English football 2024-25

[Durhamfootman]

another home game and another defeat for Newcastle.

I said to someone on Thursday that if Newcastle didn't beat Fulham today, then they wouldn't finish top 4 and they might not even make it through to the League cup final. It's the feeling I have. 2 consecutive home defeats.... outplayed by Bournemouth and if the match stats (possession, chances, shots etc) are any indication then they've been outplayed today as well, with the small matter of Arsenal on Wednesday

SJP has suddenly become less of a fortress and more of a liability just as Arsenal come calling...... and the great run they had, which had less sensible people talking about a title push (the ultimate jinx) was built on Isak scoring every game and he's now not scored in 2 consecutive home games... just as Arsenal come calling

just won't do. The confidence they had a couple of weeks will be in tatters right now... just as Arsenal come calling bearing a massive grudge from the first leg

I can see my boys losing by 2 goals on Wednesday and missing out on a penalty shoot out

[sussexpob]

Never liked football, me

[andy]

Wolves 1-0 up against villa....villa just had a goal ruled out

[Durhamfootman]

Never liked football, me

nor me

[Durhamfootman]

and just as Newcastle forget how to score goals, Arsenal suddenly remember where the back of the net is in a 5-1 thumping of Man City

I'm a bit scared about Wednesday

not only has the club not strengthened for the 3rd successive window, they are now actually weakening the squad. Almiron has gone, at a time when Barnes is out injured. That position could have been covered by Joelinton in an emergency, but he's now been sidelined for a while. Kelly is off for a medical at Juventus, at a time when Newcastle only have 3 other fit centre backs, but because he came in as a free agent he represents pure profit for the PSR calculation. Watford want Targett and Galatasaray want Trippier. Both could be allowed to leave in order to knock £200kpw off the books, but if they were to, Newcastle would be left with 5 fit defenders in the squad and yet despite this, the next cab off the rank defender from the academy was allowed to go out on loan earlier this month

It's just plain old madness atm. I can't work it out.

[andy]

I don't know if I'm the only west ham fan on here or not but surely I can't be the only one completely underwhelmed by the close to signing of Evan Ferguson?! Hasn't scored for nearly 18 months and is always injured....sounds like Danny ings!

[sussexpob]

I don't know if I'm the only west ham fan on here or not but surely I can't be the only one completely underwhelmed by the close to signing of Evan Ferguson?! Hasn't scored for nearly 18 months and is always injured....sounds like Danny ings!

It's just a loan, so no real risk if he does nothing.

He has bags of potential, but since Fabinho broke him, he can never get fit.

[andy]

But why not just bring someone in who is fit and does score? It is a risk if we could have signed someone else as we aren't out of the relegation fight and it's not really a time for gambling

[Durhamfootman]

I don't know if I'm the only west ham fan on here or not but surely I can't be the only one completely underwhelmed by the close to signing of Evan Ferguson?! Hasn't scored for nearly 18 months and is always injured....sounds like Danny ings!

or Calvert Lewin who Newcastle are waiting for in the summer to replace Callum Wilson, for no other reason than that he'll be a free agent. A striker who has scored 17 goals in the last 4 seasons (88 games). Pfft.... I guess the hope is that Eddie Howe can do something with him

[andy]

If he's free then not too bad surely? And to be fair to Calvert Lewis he has scored goals in the prem and when he's fit he scores a lot....Ferguson isn't proven at all and crucially right now is only just back to fitness...he will add to the long list of strikers we have bought in last 20 years who have all flopped

[sussexpob]

But why not just bring someone in who is fit and does score?

West Ham spend a lot of money in summer, and strikers with proven goal-scoring ability at this level cost an arm and a leg and are rarer than hen's teeth nowadays...

Beggers cant be choosers.

[andy]

Would rather have just stuck with ings then go for Ferguson but hope to be proven wrong....

Tel to spurs is a good move for spurs

[Durhamfootman]

Kelly did go to Juventus. Targett didn't go to Watford. Trips might yet go to Galatasaray because the Turkish window doesn't close until next week, I think

It's generally believed that Trips will start the SF, to give the side an old head if things get a bit sticky, so a move for him might depend on the result tomorrow night. If Arsenal turn us over, the board might think there is no point keeping him

[Durhamfootman]

[Durhamfootman]