timeEd32

Similar praise for Emery. What the two of them have done in consecutive seasons is outstanding.

Villa losing (and losing emphatically) is good for the reputation of that tournament.

I don't think it's ever been harder to finish in the top 4 or 6 either. I believe the only two clubs outside the big 6 to have consecutive top 6 finishes since Man City emerged are Leicester (2019-21; 5th / 5th) and Everton (2012-14; 6th / 6th). Maybe even more incredible (and something I didn't realize last season) is we're the only club outside of the big 6 other than Leicester in their title winning season to qualify for the Champions League since City's takeover. Everton in 2004/05 the only other one since Roman's takeover.

Good for him. He has a chance to be a bit of a cult hero here if he comes back and plays at a high level. A 'I'm homesick' transfer request in the next 15 months and he'd probably be one of the most hated players in the club's history. Quite the crossroads, but all the right noises so far.

Agree with this - it shouldn't be a common occurrence that the YPOTY nominees include some of the best in the sport. U21 makes way more sense.

There’s a reason Eales said the goal is to establish the club in the top 6, and he means off the pitch as much as on it. There are levels within that group, but for the most part if you’re there then you’re a series of coinflips from winning anything. We’re not there and, frankly, we’re not all that close financially speaking. But for 2.5 seasons now we are there on the pitch and that’s mostly down to one man. So if your expectations are a trophy or a top 4 finish then you need to realize those expectations are based on over two years of overachieving. Over two years of Eddie Howe distorting the perception of where NUFC sits in the current pecking order.

It's probably my biggest fear in life right now, which is probably why I'm dreaming about it.

We've already discussed this multiple times. In short, that's not true.

I don't think so because the specifics of their case can't really be replicated. The rules have evolved to prevent a good amount of what they did in the future, so Man City II would have been stopped or punished along the way. And, thus, they would not have become so big / successful, which is what has made this so messy.

Had a dream last night that Bruno left and I had to break the news to my son. If my dream is right then Bruno is off to Forest this summer.

He framed that more as Gallagher as a Longstaff replacement and Tonali would be the Bruno replacement. Not really a scenario I'm ready to think about though.

I don't know if he actually thought that or just assumed they'd be in it every year. Either way it seems clear that their 'plan' was predicated on Champions League revenue flowing in.

PSG xG 3.22 to 0.77xG for Dortmund 30 shots to 7 5 big chances to 1 70% possession Not too dissimilar from the night we were robbed.

What is our argument? That Australia is so far away it's basically behind closed doors?

I don't even want to put this game on. Watching two teams from our group at the scene of the crime... ugh.