Baba Yaga

The non european play off games will be played in Qatar in the middle of June, I wonder if you might get some unexpected outcomes. UAE are clear underdogs but should be best suited to the climate.

They got 14pts in their first 7 games but since then it's only 8pts from 18. Personally I think they will stay up but it's by no means certain. Next 2 games both at home to Wolves and Newcastle, very interested to see how they turn out. Still have to go to Burnley and Watford which look like huge games for them if they don't turn things around soon. Financially I wonder if Usmanov was more involved with the club that he is on paper where it's Moshiri's name above the door, now Usmanov has been sanctioned I suspect they are in the shit and going down this season would be a complete disaster.

I have been watching the highlights for the local teams in League 2 for the past few weeks, quite interesting to me at the moment with FGR top but currently on a bad run and the gas (54 pts), Swindon (55), Newport (56) all in the play off battle, guess you might count Exeter (57) too. I think Rovers are very much outsiders for promotion this season but they are on a good run and seems like things are quite upbeat where as for City it's a little different mood but life in the championship is bound to be more of a struggle due to the much harder teams.

Not much pressure on the team this season due to the other clubs point deductions, I think without them the gap to relegation zone would be 5pts rather than what we have. Playing a young squad in that situation I think people would feel very differently and it may not have worked out. Getting more game time now when things are relatively comfortable will hopefully build them up for the challenges ahead next year. In terms of goals scored it has been a very good effort from the team so hoping that continues, strange that the team can't buy an away win now after going so long without winning at Ashton Gate.

It will be Europe that will be frozen if they stop buying Russian gas so there has to be a measured response to this. Staying on football I thought Russia were pretty awful in the euros and doubt they would have even qualified anyway. For me they should still play (there are other bad countries out there who still play) but it's going to look awful for FIFA if they insist that Poland play them or get kicked out. Maybe just get the winners of Sweden vs Czech Republic to qualify.

Tough job to go into at the moment, probably known for trying to play good football at Chelsea and Derby but I don't think his track record as a manager is anything special, giving it to Duncan Ferguson until the end of the season and seeing whose available then might not have been such a bad move.

Shame that poor defending has cost the match, for Senegal it seems they have got to the semis without getting beyond third gear. Looking forward to the final next week, Fam only 2 games away from winning his countries first ever AFCON.

Agree if it was the prem that would not have been overturned, good equaliser and that Nsue chance could have been 2-1. EG already beaten Algeria and given Ivory Coast a very good game too. Set up for a good last 30 mins here.

Just put them a goal up, good pass from Mane. Hadn't really got going but still haven't conceded yet this tournament either.

A lot of the games this season have the same pattern, City start really well but only one goal up or still level and the other team comes back into the game and scores. Quite a few times this has happened. Shame the weak defending at set pieces cost the team because it was a good away performance for most of the evening.

Don't want to pre judge the new owner because there is a fair chance he will splash the cash and improve their league position but for me it's a worrying sign when they come in and fire the manager straight away regardless of form. I know the Hull fans hated their previous owner because he wanted to change the club name but it seems this guy is bringing in new people just because they are well liked in Turkey. Whatever success/failure happens there I think I would prefer an owner like Lansdown myself, but I will be watching on with interest as it seems like anything can happen. I'm guessing a Sunderland style documentary series available in Turkish could possibly be on the cards.

Looking at their history seems like they have had a few of these over the years so I would expect them to be relatively calm at this stage (might be completely wrong). From a selfish point of view it would be good to see Bertrand Traore really fired up for their next game, looked quality when Villa beat us in the league cup last season.

Have ended up watching 2 of Ghana's games and Woolacott has looked very shakey in goal at times. Didn't look like he had a supportive dressing room from those games, some senior players clearly not happy with the way things are going in the tournament and getting moody, it's a very hard place to show character when you don't have many caps and play in the lower leagues. Still a great experience for him but a terrible moment for that country's football, it's not like they have great competition in gk position so he may even get another chance. Enjoyed seeing Comoros get surely their best ever win and probably the most memorable afcon game I have seen. Apparently the tournament isn't actually being televised in Comoros but I'm sure people will take notice of a win against a much bigger nation.

Ghana v Comoros is turning out to be a good game, 10 man Ghana 25 mins away from crashing out but they got a goal back a few mins ago so it's game on.

You can watch them all here I think.

I watched the Ivory Coast game last night, would have been a great game if Equatorial Guinea's finishing was better. Was 1-0 but could have easily been 3-2 or something. From watching highlights I think a few other teams have the same problem. All teams have played a game each and Cameroon are out on their own with 2 goals scored. They should really score a few against Ethiopia later to bring the excitement levels up a little bit.

Was looking into them earlier, the lowest ranked club in the tournament, have never been to an AFCON before. They needed penalties to a beat a team ranked around 195th in the world to get through the first round of qualifying (to compare to Europe that's lower than Leichtenstein). Then in the next round they won their qualifying group. For the tournament in general I have to back Senegal to win it (but I thought the same last time and they lost the final). Algeria and Ivory Coast also look strong but not sure they are as well balanced as Senegal. Heard that Cameroon have never lost a competitive game at home (don't quote me on that but if true that's some record) but they don't have the best of teams this time around it seems to me.

They were in the play off places in league one when the previous manager walked out on them but by all accounts they weren't playing easy on the eye football. Garner came in and started changing the style of football and their league position tanked. Think he brought in quite a few players and their squad became disjointed and struggled to adapt. I think it's easier for their fans to blame him for their relegation rather than other managers/their owners but there was quite poor recruitment under his watch I think and their slide began when he was in charge.

Was thinking in the prem off the bench at least and maybe more starts in the upcoming rounds of the cup if he keeps doing well. Probably a few good players in front of him mind you. As for Swindon I think after getting completely dominated first half they will be pretty happy with that, penalty save and the goal were good moments and it wasn't a complete cricket score against a very strong Man City side. Defence was a but suspect at times but they are league 2 for a reason.

Normal service resumed now, haven't heard of Palmer before but would like to see him get some more game time.

Good finish that to be fair, can they get another ?

Looks like Swindon sticking to their passing football principles lasted about 10 minutes. Can't blame then really though.

Strong team to be fair, Pep knows that Garnerball is not to be taken lightly. Talent recognises talent. ?

Starts in 1 hour unless there is some last minute covid outbreak, thinking of giving it a watch and seeing how a local team get on against one of the big boys minus a few first teamers. Maybe tonight Ben Garners managerial career takes off after a bumpy start ?

I am not knocking the club as SL will still be bailing it out to the tune of millions per year, I am just playing around with what the most likely scenario based on the goals of lowering the wage bill, using more academy players and possibly changing the type of players we look to sign. To be honest future success does sound a little bit based on high hopes and belief rather than investment levels and current progress although that is probably similar to most of championship clubs who don't receive parachute payments and have been squeezed quite badly by covid. To use 2 financial extremes think of Blackpool's 2010 as one approach to getting promoted and let's say Fulham's recent big budget promoted teams as the other. Our strategy is somewhere in the middle but drifting slightly more towards to Blackpool model (being very simplistic here but hope this makes sense). There will always be 1 or 2 clubs every few seasons who buck the trend and get promoted against the odds, and I think if Nige gets the culture improved and like you say astute signings then those things will go a long way to improving on the current position at least.