when_you're_smiling

(Love the fact they felt the need to release a lyric video for this.)

I’ve gone from not bothered to fully behind them after seeing Liverpool fans moaning about Forest’s spending. It’s astonishing the lack of self awareness. It’s insane fans of ‘big six’ clubs come out with conspiracy theories about the world being against their club when the whole of football is weighted in their favour by their design. I’m sure we’ll see more examples of that tomorrow.

Feast or famine all season. Quite often the play calling has been quite reserved all year, presumably to protect Bo Nix. But I’ve been really surprised how good he’s been when they have let him throw it around. Even today he’s barely made a mistake and it’s been the receivers with costly drops on third downs after they’ve predictably done sod all rushing the first two downs. Still, play offs was way more than was expecting for the season.

Is that JJ third highest top scorer now in all competitions?

Scored three, Vardy really should have had another and it was only a sympathy decision from the ref that stopped him having another chance you’d usually have backed him to score. It would be great but for Winks just giving QPR two goals. The defence is shite but they can’t do anything when the ball’s just been given to the opposition like that. Makes me angry about all those in the KDH thread saying he wouldn’t get in our side now. He’d be first name on the sheet.

Winks again? WTF?

Lovely goal that!

Flag didn’t go up and I don’t think there’s VAR.

Great goal that. Shite from Winks though.

I’m in the anyone but Kansas camp but would love for the Ravens to do it for Jackson and Henry though.

He’s a confidence player. Brilliant in a good team. A struggle In a struggling team.

What’s the connection between West Ham, Everton, Bournemouth, Spurs and Ipswich? They’re the only teams we’ve played in the league this season and didn’t concede at least two goals. We got 9 points out of 15. Other 15 games - 6 points. It’s not difficult to work out the issue.

Fave albums from 2024: Bill Ryder-Jones - Icheyd Da Beth Gibbons - Lives Outgrown English Teacher - This Could be Texas Mannequin Pussy - I Got Heaven Moin - You Never End King Hannah - Big Swimmer Kendrick Lamar - GNX Laura Marling - Patterns In Repeat

Armageddon. Imagine telling your grandkids you were around for that.

I had really low expectations to begin with anyway. With Southampton bringing in a decent keeper in and Ipswich’s signings while we were obviously weaker I couldn’t see how we’d stay up. That’s partly down to underestimating Mads who has more than proven he belongs at this level. I dread to think where we’d have been without him. I do think we’re better than Ipswich and Southampton now. It’s a struggle currently seeing who else we can get above. It could depend on how long the Wolves new manager bounce lasts. I did wonder if Everton might fall down after an unusually good start, but they’ve just had two 0-0 draws with Chelsea and Arsenal. You wouldn’t back us to get a clean sheet against anyone. It’s also really worrying opposition players like Gakpo are commenting they’re surprised about how much time and options they have playing against. It needs at least a Robert Huth-like game changing signing at the back. It’s difficult to buy in January though. You’re either going to pay over the odds or have to go for someone out of favour.

The worst thing about today is we’re going to get his post match lecture about how good we are. He hasn’t been able to do that to anyone since Russell Martin.

Very well written. The most depressing thing is a lot of it is PSR and the fact we didn’t sell one summer when we were trying to take the next step. Clubs like Man U and Chelsea can make expensive mistakes galore and because of their wealth the worst that happens to them is they finish mid-table. The latter have been dreadfully run recently but the worst that’s happening to them is they had to knick our manager and best player and be given a comfortable waltz towards a European title that they’re not even that fussed about. Not selling a player so cash is suddenly tight, plus keeping Rodgers for too long, were critical errors for us in the way they’re not for the richer clubs. Same with the current ‘well run’ poster boy clubs. They’re just a couple of mistakes from following the path we have. That’s how modern football has been set up to be.

Same with the Broncos tbf. Didn’t go for two and I can’t believe how many times on crucial plays they’ve thrown five yards behind the line of scrimmage.

One of the worst best games I’ve seen.

The one in second half was on Daka, the one in the first half was a very poor ball from Mavididi. I don’t think he realised how easy a pass it was to make and hit it too hard.

He said too he was surprised how many options he always had, which would be on the whole team, not just Justin. You’re right though, surely RVN or any of the staff who provided his match report pointed it out.

Real strange mix today. Excellent assist and our only decent ball forward in the entire second half, but on a couple of occasions a lack of quality meant we didn’t create a chance we should have done. Ultimately I don’t think he truly believes in himself currently. Seemed too hesitant with the ball, especially in the second half. It’s a bit unfair to be too judgemental though because there needs to be more than just him as our only attacking midfielder linking the play with the strikers. It seemed at times all on him to get us forward bar Ayew occasionally falling over to get free kicks.

Cody Gakpo saying how surprised he was with how much space he had all game and the options he had probably tells us more about our side than anything we’ve seen to be honest.

Edouard?

To be fair we did that last year and got promoted.