Quite. I don't imagine that the bookies want a level playing field, where anyone could beat anyone. So much better for odds setting is a nice defined hierarchy and greater predictability in outcomes.
It may be an accident that is what football has become. It may be.
When they are good they are fantastic, and when they aren't they can be terrible. They've forced Spurs to up their Spursiness.
It's one reason why our defeat to them was so frustrating - they weren't good that day.
Hard to know what that means. If he's not fit from the Chelsea knock, why did he play for England. My first thought, he's not mentally right, not wanting to play,
I agree it's a little odd. I guess he really wants to try and keep his England squad spot so probably pushed through the pain, but then came back and the Doctors decided he really needed a proper rest?
I also saw on Instagram that he's been having a barny with his missus about where garland's should be hung for Christmas, so maybe that's got to him worse than it seems.
When Anderson and MGW are out then, for me, Jota Silva ought to be starting because, like them, he is capable of getting a hold on a game and making stuff happen.
I don't think it's relentless optimism to think, with the evidence base we've got, we could realistically do very well this season. We're the only team to have beaten Liverpool (who are going to be champions and are by far thr best team in the league), we have the league's second top scorer, one of the best central defensive partnerships, a keeper who may not be Shilton but at least isn't a Frank Spencer impersonator, and in Ola Aina perhaps the most in form full back in the league. We have an England playmaker and a miniature Gazza to back him up, and other players like Elanga and CHO who are being coveted by bigger clubs. This is not a fluke, somehow it's come together and we're pretty special. Certainly it's I expect not even that controversial to regard this as the best Forest squad for 29 or 30 years. We're not going to win the league Leicester-style, but it's a pretty patchy league this year and genuinely competing with the teams currently jostling for places 4 through to 10 is not crazy. I too will be happy with us not being in a relegation scrap and feel anything else is a bonus, but that's not to say with a fair wind we can't do much much better.
I'm pretty sure bookmakers don't want predictable outcomes. Favourites are favourites because that's where the money is, outsiders winning is what makes them money.
Well the idea of someone on Odergaard didn’t resonate with Nuno. He took the piss all game. I would have needled the fuck out of him. Saka was unplayable today as was the Norwegian. JWP was dreadful unfortunately. I would have hooked him and dropped Jota in the 10. CHO seemed uninterested too. When your only players up for it are Yates and the Serb (although Jota and Aina put themselves about too) then against a team like Arsenal who had the bit between their teeth then it was going to be a long day. Taiwo needs confidence. If CHO had connected from the Aina pass then a different game but we were outclassed all game.
I also think we weren’t aggressive generally. Yates of course was excellent but alone we were going to get twatted. Sels had no chance against the Saka goal and was generally decent. Although we seem to have abandoned playing out of the back which is fine if anyone was up with the big Nigerian.
Seemed flat today. I think we could have played aggressive with Morata being scary and Neco getting Narky. The sexy Spanish man wasn’t at his best today. Didn’t seem to trust his passing.
Ah. Arsenal were much better. I was just a little disappointed with the lack of fire.
It is what it is. Dipshit next week is the real test.
Also outthought and outmuscled vs Newcastle two weeks ago. So that’s 2 games against decent opposition with 6 goals conceded whilst allowing out of form teams to hit form. Villa, United and City will be licking their lips….its a moment: I don’t think Lee should let this drift.
We need a Leicester/West Ham-type performance against Ipswich to get our mojo back, one of Jota/MGW/Anderson on the pitch. Nico and Ryan at the base until others are fit.