Date Joined: Apr 30, 2020 17:59:21 GMT -5
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Post by mikemarshall3 on Feb 5, 2023 18:03:56 GMT -5
Another excellent result as we thrashed Southampton 3-0. We are now in 7th place in the Premier League (out of 20 teams) and have a real chance of qualifying for the Europa League. This is beyond my wildest dreams when the season began!
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Date Joined: Apr 30, 2020 17:59:21 GMT -5
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Post by mikemarshall3 on Feb 11, 2023 17:00:38 GMT -5
We continue to punch above our weight. Today we drew 1-1 at league leaders Arsenal - a game from which I had not expected us to be able to salvage anything.
We remain on course for the Europa League and at the least the competition below it - the Conference League.
It is always welcome to see the big fish not always emerging victorious!
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Date Joined: Apr 30, 2020 17:59:21 GMT -5
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Post by mikemarshall3 on Feb 18, 2023 17:04:51 GMT -5
Some surprising results in the Premier League today - bottom club Southampton beat Chelsea 0-1 at Stamford Bridge; Nottingham Forest drew 1-1 with Manchester City; and my club Brentford were struggling against Crystal Palace and losing 0-1 until at the last minute we snatched a late equaliser.
We are still on course for the Europa League though I continue to regard the Conference League as a more realistic ambition for us.
We never give up as we showed against Palace today!
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Date Joined: Apr 30, 2020 17:59:21 GMT -5
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Post by mikemarshall3 on Mar 2, 2023 18:39:00 GMT -5
Our star striker Ivan Toney has been silly and made illegal bets on matches (none involving his team thank goodness.)
The sad thing is that as a result he is likely to face a lengthy ban - possibly the rest of the season.
As he has not only scored 14 goals for us but also created at least twice that number his loss will be keenly felt.
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Date Joined: Mar 14, 2016 18:48:07 GMT -5
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Post by Springschick on Mar 2, 2023 19:02:31 GMT -5
That's a shame, Mike.
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Date Joined: Apr 30, 2020 17:59:21 GMT -5
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Post by mikemarshall3 on Mar 6, 2023 17:22:31 GMT -5
A really exciting game tonight in our local derby against Fulham. Pinnock gave us the lead after 6 minutes but Fulham equalised. Then Toney restored our lead and when Jensen scored our third we thought it was all over but with almost the last kick of the game Fulham grabbed a second goal after a defensive mistake on our part. We hung on to take all three points and move up the table to give us an excellent chance of Europa League qualification.
The crowd saw an excellent spectacle and of course the 3-2 result was welcomed by Bees supporters like myself!
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Date Joined: Apr 30, 2020 17:59:21 GMT -5
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Post by mikemarshall3 on Mar 12, 2023 17:29:23 GMT -5
The game against Everton was bizarre. Everton scored very early on and though we had 67% of the possession we failed to convert our few chances. Then in the 90th minute our manager threw our goalkeeper up into the penalty box for a late corner and he had a golden chance to equalize and though he was unmarked and had a clear shot on goal he missed.
So Everton took all three points but it could have been one of the most bizarre equalizers if our keeper had scored!
In spite of our defeat we are still in 9th place and will probably be able to qualify for the Conference League next season facing some of the third-tier European teams. That will be a welcome first for us and will generate much needed revenue.
Now if only Ivan Toney had been there to meet the corner we would have shared the points!
But Everton are fighting relegation and I suppose I should not grudge them a rare victory.
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Date Joined: Apr 30, 2020 17:59:21 GMT -5
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Post by mikemarshall3 on Mar 16, 2023 17:15:29 GMT -5
Ivan Toney's excellent form has resulted in Gareth Southgate picking him for the England team. He is the second highest English striker in the Premier League after Harry Kane with 17 goals and the third highest in the Premier League after Haaland and Kane.
He was picked once before just prior to the World Cup but was then left out without even making an appearance as a substitute.
Hopefully his form this season will lead Southgate to at least give him a run-out!
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Date Joined: Apr 30, 2020 17:59:21 GMT -5
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Post by mikemarshall3 on Mar 18, 2023 17:30:20 GMT -5
A 1-1 draw with Leicester was disappointing as we had been in the lead but as Leicester are fighting relegation and showed great character it could have been worse. They are a good team and IMO too good to go down.
And we are still in 8th place which is far better than I could have dreamed of at the beginning of the season!
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Date Joined: Apr 30, 2020 17:59:21 GMT -5
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Post by mikemarshall3 on Apr 1, 2023 16:39:10 GMT -5
A difficult but thrilling game at Brighton as we drew 3-3. Three times we took the lead but three times Brighton fought back to equalise.
The result moves us up to 7th place in the Premier League with other results going 'our way.'
Our season continues to astonish me as a lifelong supporter who had spent many years seeing us flatter to deceive and becoming the 'nearly' team in the Football League.
A dream of a Europa League place is looking more possible with every game!
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Date Joined: Apr 30, 2020 17:59:21 GMT -5
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Post by mikemarshall3 on Jun 13, 2023 16:37:47 GMT -5
We ended the season on a high with an away win over Tottenham and a home win over the champions Manchester City.
Sadly Toney has now been banned for eight months and so we will be deprived of his magical touch in front of goal until January. Even Gareth Southgate (the England manager) felt the punishment was excessive. The previous punishment had been a three-month ban for Joey Barton.
Still, we finished 9th which is far higher than I had dared to dream of at the start of the season!
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Date Joined: Apr 30, 2020 17:59:21 GMT -5
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Post by mikemarshall3 on Feb 12, 2024 17:18:16 GMT -5
Following the return of Ivan Toney from an 8-month suspension we are back to winning ways again. He helped us win 2 out of our last 3 games and until half-time we were leading Manchester City.
Welcome back, Ivan!
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Date Joined: Mar 14, 2016 18:48:07 GMT -5
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Post by Springschick on Feb 12, 2024 17:42:24 GMT -5
Good to see you, Mike. I hope you are as well as you can be. I missed you around here.
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Date Joined: Apr 30, 2020 17:59:21 GMT -5
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Post by mikemarshall3 on Feb 12, 2024 17:49:39 GMT -5
Thank you, Springschick. Unfortunately my balance, co-ordination, memory and vision are deteriorating.
Corticobasal degeneration is a related condition to Parkinson's Disease.
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Date Joined: Mar 14, 2016 18:48:07 GMT -5
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Post by Springschick on Feb 12, 2024 18:09:45 GMT -5
You have my best wishes, Mike.
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Date Joined: Jun 7, 2010 10:10:35 GMT -5
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Post by deyana on Feb 12, 2024 19:55:05 GMT -5
Mine too. You are my hero, Mike. I wish you all the best.
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