Gribz

So 3 Englishmen in 40 years to win the top flight! Fagan, Kendall and Wilkinson all in the old First Division. Thats bonkers. It would be good to know where that stands in comparison around the European leagues I.e. Number of French Managers to win the French Title in the last 40 Years....Dutch to win the Dutch league etc.

The only flip side is Nottingham Forest tried this recently and it back fired and he quit rapidly. Prior to the match last week I watched highlights of the 3-0 title win in 1999 when Albertz and McCann destroyed them, and the bravery of Hugh Dallas to get things right that day was unreal - you'd not see that in this day in age.

The groups are now reaching the letter L, thats nuts. Where exactly is the border between Europe and Asia - I thought it was in Istanbul. If Scotland get Denmark then they should have a good chance in topping the group but internationals excluding the tournaments are depressing.

No.8 Liam Brady. I was actually in attendance for his last ever game for West ham against Wolves. He scored in a 4-0 win at Upton Park.

Wild guesses today. The early kick off has two teams with awful form but Im still waiting for a City revival. Aston Villa 1-2 Man City Brentford 1-1 Nottingham Forest Ipswich 0-2 Newcastle West Ham 2-1 Brighton Crystal Palace 0-2 Arsenal Everton 1-1 Chelsea Fulham 3-0 Southampton Leicester 2-2 Wolves Man Utd 2-0 Bournemouth Tottenham 1-3 Liverpool

Unreal fact that. I dont see when an Englishman will actually win the top flight. Unless your name is Howard (Wilkinson and Kendall) then I dont remember the last one, I barely remember Everton winning the league - But I believe it would be Fagan.

Here goes Everton 1-1 Liverpool Aston Villa 1-2 Southampton Brentford 2-1 Newcastle Crystal Palace 0-3 Man City Man Utd 2-0 Nottingham Forest Fulham 2-1 Arsenal Ipswich 2-1 Bournemouth Leicester 1-1 Brighton Tottenham 1-3 Chelsea West Ham 4-4 Wolves

Did I miss type or something?

Stuart...yes absolutely. Crickey. Now where is he!!! EDIT: 1999 even I wasnt playing on the internet then! Thats unreal.

I dont think it will last TBH. Teams will definitely start countering it. Whats wrong is the ref and VAR with set pieces, if you watched West Ham's goal ruled out against Leicester the other night there was nothing on the keeper - it was easily a goal. Whats needed is stronger refereeing first. Plus keepers used to be some of the most solid players on the park, now they seem to be wets.

Who was the original Administrator again?? Circa 2002-04

Fulham, Norwich and WBA were yo-yo's for years, its almost like they could have had their own division in between the PL and Championship. Im glad they are established at the moment. Now its Burnley and Sheff Utd. Yeah Big Ange is getting it today. Clubs whose managers under pressure at the moment: Southampton Wolves West Ham (Monday night West Ham v Wolves) Tottenham Crystal Palace to an extent. Everton - but they will let Dyche keep them up until this contract runs out at the end of the season and let someone else lead them into the new stadium.

Ross County 0-2 Rangers Hagi FGS @Rousseau I'll have a prediction but you dont need to add me to the league as its too deep into the season.

I reckon Salzburg might, they could see it as good marketing but Id be surprised if Man City play anything near full strength teams.

Gav aka Gazza8 is another who has been AWOL for a long time. Another I met up with.

Cammy. And he is still here 😁

If ever there was a pointless tournament then this is it although it is probably more appealing than the Nations League. But its more exhibition stuff in my opinion. The real season is when the leagues kick off and the European competitions, the club world cup has never gained an interest and seen as a chore for most clubs. Having Inter Miami in it has proved this so the organisers and sponsors get Messi to the tournament. They didnt even win the MLS but have been awarded a spot. This is where I do actually feel for the players and managers, they had the Euro's last summer, a short break and into the season then they will have this competition followed by a World Cup in 2026. Thoughts?? Groups for anyone interested. Group A: Palmeiras, FC Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami Group B: Paris St-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle Sounders Group C Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica Group D Flamengo, Esperance Sportive de Tunisie, Chelsea, Club Leon Group E: River Plate, Urawa Red Diamonds, Monterrey, Inter Milan Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns Group G: Man City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg

Yeah I get the purchasing of youth players as we cant no team can look at every youngster in the country, my point was more towards established first teamers and more so foreigners. You will get the odd gem that appears from abroad that goes under all top clubs radars and thats fine but Im all for giving our own youth a chance. I think of the 92-93 team and how many Brits made up the core of the side.

Seriously dont want Shankland. That shipped sailed. Perhaps when he was younger at Dundee Utd there would have been room for him to come and improve but not now. Scotland in general have a problem with no good strikers available, Shankland cant even get ahead of Che Adams in the national team and Adams is awful. If we are looking at cherry picking players in the Scottish Premiership Its more concerning as to why these smaller clubs are using their resources better with scouting and managing to get players ahead of us. We shouldnt be using the other 10 clubs as feeders without the odd exception, especially with foreigners (of course we have had successful signings over the years like Novo).

De Bruyne back in the midfield said it all. Im not convinced they will catch Liverpool though. Arsenal and Chelsea certainly can though. Saying that its the last Merseyside league derby at Goodison on Saturday - I dont think Everton can let themselves lose that, if thats the case then the gap would be closed again. Tottenham lose again at Bournemouth, they drop to 10th and Bournemouth go 9th. Fulham up to 6th which is good to see, another club Ive a soft spot for.

I liked the look of that Aberdeen forward Gueye before he got injured. Very quick, powerful, skilful and has goals in him. Would slot in the left hand side nicely.

Im slightly redeemed with 5 out of 6 predictions for Wednesdays results. Newcastle and Liverpool throwing up another classic, and with Arsenal and Chelsea winning the gap is closed slightly. Chelsea are just absolutely flying, I cant credit Maresca enough for what he is doing. Its refreshing that him, Slot, Nuno Santos and the Brighton manager are "at the moment" in line for manager of the season rather than the same old. Arsenal with 2 set piece goals again, how long can they rely on that, teams will start to work it out. Everton give Wolves a walloping at the bottom. Wolves manager must be another who's job is on the line. I had Wolves to go down at the start of the season. Bournemouth must be laughing, they got rid of him and got mass criticism.

Cracking result to wake up to. After Sunday's bore fest I decided not to get up to watch in. We must be a midweek team, 10 goals between last Thursday and this game. At least second place is now looking likely, 4 pts behind with a game in hand.

I think that has to be final straw for Lopetegui. Total wrong appointment so hold hands up and make the change. Go and get Thomas Frank out of Brentford and give him a bigger club with a bigger challenge. Either that get De Zerbi.

Midweek round of games. Not sure the need for Thursday games, that was always the one day football wasnt played when I was growing up - TV dictating and it just knocks the weekend fixtures into Sunday aswell - although its Tottenham on Thurs and Sun which is good for us next week. The first 3 games listed are relegation battles. Ruud' new manager bounce is possible but West Ham cant lose. Everton must win and I think they will to distance themselves and Portman Road has draw written all over it. Newcastle are due a performance and Man Utd could counter against Arsenal. TUE: Ipswich 1-1 Crystal Palace Leicester 1-1 West Ham WED: Everton 1-0 Wolves Man City 2-0 Nottingham Forest Newcastle 1-1 Liverpool Southampton 0-3 Chelsea Arsenal 2-2 Man Utd Aston Villa 2-1 Brentford THURS: Fulham 1-2 Brighton Bournemouth 2-1 Tottenham