markavfc40

The VAR decision in the Newcastle West Ham game to ask the referee to review his on field decision, which was no penalty, was up there with some of the worst officiating seen this season. It was never a penalty. Gordon at no time had control of/possession of the ball and if anything needed to be given (it didn't) him stepping in front of Phillips was a foul on Phillips.

Pleased about this. Gives them a little extra incentive to push for a win but with that also comes a little extra pressure. Despite all our injuries/suspensions (I know they have some) on paper we are the better team and on a very good run with only one defeat in our last 6 in all comps (inc 4 wins). I think you add in home advantage, and hopefully a rocking VP and a second half under the lights, then, for me, it all adds up to a win for us by at least 2 goals.

What a blessing it was for those of us born at a time that allowed us to see both Cowans and McGrath play for our club. Not just the most naturally gifted players to play for us but also for me two of the best players I have seen for any club. Sid for me just edges being the greatest player I have seen play for us though. He could stick the ball on a 10p piece from 80 yards, read runs of those he played with to the point you'd think he must be telepathic, had an eye for goal but as well as having the silky skills he had no problem sticking his foot in and he'd always give his all. He had it all. I hope him and his family don't suffer too much. It is certainly not the end this great man deserves.

@delboy54 hope you have a long, healthy and happy retirement mate. Hopefully helped along by watching Villa win a thing or 2

I'd imagine this time yesterday we all thought we'd have to win today to maintain the same gap to Tottenham. As it is though we've only drew but have gained a point on them. There are going to many more twists and turns but that is another game played and we are another point better off on our main rival for 4th. Onto the next.

My post wasn't meant to come over as you can't be in your 70's and really fit, healthy and enjoying life. That is certainly my intention My point was just that I don't consider someone who passes away in their 70's as no age to go or that they were 'only' 72/73/74 etc. I'm 50, I keep myself in reasonable nick but even now I'd say if I can get to my mid 70's then I'd have had a decent innings whilst of course hoping I'll hang around at the crease for a while longer than that

First time under Emery I didn't have a clue what we were trying to do first half as we looked clueless. Fair play to him though he got it spot on in the second half and his subs changed the game. Would have been a real injustice had we lost it at the end as only one team tried to play football in that second half. I couldn't watch that tripe West Ham serve up every week. That maintains our record of not having lost two league games on the bounce all season (actually since start of May) which shows how much character we have in this team. That could be a really valuable point come the end of the season.

Just picking up on something I just read in the deadpool thread and someone dying at 73 and being described as only 73. I see this a lot that people in their 70's being described in terms such as no age or even young. I can't see someone in their 60's as young or no age never mind their 70's. I'm 50 so no spring chicken and whilst I don't consider myself old I certainly couldn't see myself, or definitely not describe myself, as young. Life expectancy for males in the UK is I think 78 and dropping so you get into mid 70s and you've had a half decent knock I'd say. I'm probably influenced by having lost my dad when he was 60, my mother in law when she was 55 and numerous aunts/uncles on both mine and my wife's side in their 60's. The only nan and granddad I was close to were 69 and 73 and back when they passed away in the 1980s/early 90s that was considered a good innings. My mom is 80 this year and I'd say that is a really good age to get to.

It seems I'll be going against the grain here but I've just finished Masters of the Air and really enjoyed it. Nothing will ever come close to Band Of Brothers but I thought this was on a par with The Pacific.

That is fantastic. Can't praise Coventry enough.

Fair play to Coventry. This has been a great game.

Cov should be out of sight. Hope they don't pay for all these missed chances.

They deserve that.

Coventry play some lovely football. Robins has done an unreal job with them.

Another rat deserts the sinking ship.

I started reading a few and quickly got to one that said 'Hopefully it went off with a BANG' I left it at that as knew they'd be plenty more neanderthal, racist bile.

Ramsey is part of our best 11 for me. Ajax had 9 players 22 or under in their starting 11 last week so certainly against them Roger's and Tim wouldn't be out of their depth, just as they weren't last week. FWIW though I don't think either will start.

I'm scratching my head to see how, regardless of the promise of what may come, it has been a crap 2024 so far anyway. We have played 8 league games and won 4 and drew one. Do that over a 38 game season and that is 62 points. Even if we want to include the cup games then we beat Boro away in the FA Cup, got a draw away to Chelsea and then lost the replay to them. A Chelsea whilst inconsistent still on their day capable of giving any team a game. Oh and to top off our cup games this year we got a good result at Ajax leaving us in a great position to finish the job against them at a hopefully rocking VP under the lights on Thursday to take us into the quarter final of a European Cup competition. It is measure of how far we have come I guess, or how expectations have gotten way out of hand, that the above is now considered by some as being a big contributor to considering the year to so far be crap.

Yes it was interesting. I felt so sorry for the victims family and when the dad showed the first bit of emotion we had seen from him when the verdict was given I found that hit hard as up until that point he had just sat quietly and come across as a quiet and considered man but clearly he was just bottling things up. .

The Push: Murder on the Cliff on Channel 4 is a two part documentary following the trial of a man accused of murdering his wife by pushing her off a cliff. It is a tough watch at times but well worth watching.

Based on what we saw in pre season, where he looked to have bulked up ever so slightly and was more robust/not easily knocked off the ball, then I think we were about to see the best of him this season. We'll never know the difference he could have made but it could surely have only have been positive. I hope he can get back to the level he was at for his sake and ours.

It'll be on each individual how bright you think it is and it certainly won't be a collective response as we'll all have different expectations and some of us will naturally be glass half empty merchants whilst others will be glass half full. For me having never contemplated us challenging for champs league qualification this season then the future is probably brighter than I thought it would be. I expected at this stage to be sniffing around 6th/7th spot and to hopefully still be in at least one cup competition. We've far exceeded that. Going forward I think 12 points from a possible 30 will get us top 5 and I think despite the injuries/suspensions/us losing our way a little that is very much doable and that would be a remarkable achievement. Add a cup win to that, or even a cup win and a top 6 finish, and that is dreamland territory. Beyond that I think right from the top of the club down the will and the wherewithal is there to build on whatever is achieved this season. So for me the immediate future is brighter than I thought it would be at this stage and beyond that it looks very bright going forwards.

The atmosphere was flat yesterday right from the off. I don't think early kick offs help and that applies to all teams not just us. I'd say 90% of the early kick offs I've been to on a Saturday or Sunday the atmosphere hasn't been as good as a 3pm or later kick off and nowhere near a night game. You then add in the dire wet/grey weather which I also don't think helped. The game never really got going in the first half either aside from 3 or 4 decent breaks/moves by us so the atmosphere was never lifted/ignited by what happened on the pitch. Spurs support was really poor as well.

Possibly Lenglet may start for Torres although I wouldn't be in the least bit surprised if Torres starts and plays 45 mins or a hour. As for Luiz I know some feel he needs a rest but much like Watkins I think he is probably up there with the fittest players we have and is a bit of a machine so I expect he'll start. I get that we may have one eye on West Ham next Sunday but I expect we'll start strong, get the game won, then make 3 or 4 changes at the 60-70 min mark. Another factor is that West Ham have a tough game on Thursday (tougher than us) so they will have to go strong so they'll be in the same boat as us when we play.

After the disappointment of today you'd couldn't pick a better game to help quickly get over it. Under the lights at a rocking VP in our biggest European game in 15 years hopefully has the players chomping at the bit. I'd imagine we'll definitely revert back to a back 4 and unlike today, where the plan seemed to be keep it tight then make positive changes, we'll start with a much more attacking line up. Back line of Cash, Carlos, Torres and Moreno. Dougie and McGinn in the middle with Bailey and Ramsey (if fit if not Rogers) wide midfield and Watkins and Diaby up top. Look to get the game won by the hour mark and then utilise Tim, Duran, Digne, Lenglet etc and keep plenty in the bank for Sunday. I can't wait. Should be a special night.