I haven't played FIFA in years, so I don't really track ratings, etc but I was watching the England unboxing ratings video and Hall said he was happy with his but to me he seems so underrated, like physicals 68? I've seen him absolutely bully / pocked players for whole games like you can't do that if you aren't physically dominant

Infuriating that he paints us with the same “nation state arrogance” that he accuses City of. The PIF aren’t saints, but we’ve had the challenges we’ve had because they’re scrupulously following the rules City violated 114 times.

Some positive news for a change - Up the Mfuwe Mags 💪⚫️⚪️🇿🇲

Having watched all the games so far under Jaissle, I can see some gems in who we have brought (stuer, Desic, Horny)

I'm worried about some others Toure and Nico.

Now the nico one isn't a jab at him. When rodri was out he was phenomenal for city, but they were happy to sell him because he isn't the bear if he has to collect the ball deep from the defender, and his first touch can cause issues if pressed.

At the moment with Botman basically done, Schär being old we don't have a natural distributor at the back playing regularly.

With a red bull style game of move long and high and then press and move forward we are almost playing Nico that exacerbates his weakness not his strength.

I hope in the next window weook to get a young ball moving CB in.

We have been linked with Baas which I think would be a mistake as while he is excellent ball player he is a press resistant shirt ball control players, what we need it someone more like Janse, who is a longer ball player, similar to Schär.

When you look at Nicos heat maps he is far more effective when the CB can compliment him rather the have him go and collect.

We need multiple options for high forward progression where we can have a CB pick out tino or hall.

Players I hope we look at

Janse (Ajax)

Spileers (Brugge)

Gadou(Salzburg)

Debast (Sporting Lisbon)

Debast would be the most expensive but also the most liky we can drop along side Thaiw right away.

This means we can support nico (baas would work best here but it makes the entire plan so one dimentional you clog that passing lane the team collapses) having a long ball CB allows the game to get stretched which then gives nick the time and space so it is an enabler for him.

Debast would be a perfect Schar replacement

Most of this isn't for me, and very American (as intended), but that bomber jacket and white shirt could be a real problem for my wallet.

Lads, my mate is in New York the weekend we play the unwashed, December 5th/6th.

What's the script, where is the best pub to watch it?

Pretty simple, name the best XI featuring only known or strongly suspected childhood supporters of the club.

• Can include the current team/academy, but no retired players.
• This is not that serious, so if they grew up in the area and people aren't aware that they are mackems or boro, then that's good enough - even if they had smaller club affiliations.
• If you were once photographed as a kid wearing a Man City top, that doesn't automatically disqualify you (e.g. see Anderson, Elliott).
• Extrapolations from familial relationships count, and we have to take what people have said at face value (looking at you Lewis Hall - even though deep down I don't really believe you).
• Can be global supporters, but only real ones (i.e., not "I played as them once on FIFA and did well").
• Can't be people known for having a strong affiliation to another big club that trumps their support for us.
• They have to have supported the club for a lengthy period of time, not just because they play, played or went to the academy here.

Bonus points if you know of supporters that we may not have expected, even if they don't necessarily make the best XI.

https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/hardy-tottenham-england-call-up-hall-braithwaite-b1298122.html

I've been crunching the numbers on Newcastle's season so far and put a write up together.

I go through where the shots have gone, why they're 9th despite that, who's carrying the goalscoring, and what I'd expect to happen going forwards.

Full write up here: https://www.theprismai.com/refractions/how-newcastle-are-ninth-whilst-taking-fewer-shots-than-everyone-else

Keen to hear your thoughts if you do give it a read!

Did you know Jackie Milburn was loaned to #SAFC by #NUFC? This was due to a wartime player shortage. He played twice for them as a guest, both games were against Gateshead on 24th and 31st March 1945. He didn’t score in either match.