It’s been a season that has gone on for ever. With the highest of highs and the lowest of lows, 23/24 has really given the club everything it has had to offer.
Two cup runs, incredible ‘pinch-me’ moments of our return to the Champions League, winning 8-0 in the Premier League… it’s been one hell of a ride.
Mainly, it has been a ride plagued with injuries, suspensions and rumour. But we face Brentford knowing that a win would give us some chance of European qualification next season. Back-to-back European places would be such an incredible achievement for this club given where we have been over the last five years.
Just this trip to Brentford – to cap off and end this season full of equal parts elation and distress.
One thing we will want to leave behind in this season is our away form, which has not been sparkling. It’s an area boss Eddie Howe has been addressing:
“Just look at the numbers, we’ve conceded far too many goals on the road this season. Our defending has to be key for us,” he said. “We’re going to try come back a tighter team. Our goalscoring has been good both home and away. But I felt we left goals on the pitch on Wednesday. Areas to improve in both aspects.
“It’s a big last day for us, no denying that. We go to Brentford knowing we have to do our part, which is win the game. Then we’re in the hands of other clubs. The players are determined to finish on an high.”
Team news
Anthony Gordon took a knock to his ankle after being raked down by Sofyan Amrabat at Old Trafford. While it wasn’t enough for VAR to give a penalty (somehow?!), it could be enough to see him miss out on the final game of the season. However, Callum Wilson is expected to be back in the squad.
Meanwhile the Bees will have to check on the injured Nathan Collins and Frank Onyeka, but the Premier League’s resident s***house Neal Maupay should be back in the squad after the birth of his child.
Predicted line-up: Pope; Trippier, Schar, Burn, Hall; Bruno, Longstaff, Joelinton; Almiron, Isak, Barnes.
I think Nick Pope may start, although I am not certain on this. With Livramento out, Trippier is a shoe-in to start, while Hall should keep his place on the other side of the back four.
It would be nice to see Joelinton in from the start, although I am unsure as to whether Howe may take that risk. The front three could see Almiron return, with Gordon currently a doubt amid rumours he’s not travelled with the squad.
Prediction: Brentford 1-1 Newcastle
This side has a poor habit of not hitting the heights of what is required when there is something on the line. Think Man U (twice), think Leicester at home last season…
I don’t think we’ll lose, but I worry that we’ll have to rely on Brighton to do us a favour against Man U.
(Future me, did the reverse psychology work?)
HWTL!
We have to play to win the final game. Every fan that paid their money to travel down deserves the team to try their best to win the game. Re Europe, 🤷🏻♂️… what will be will be. The Chelsea and Man united game results are out of our hands.
I just wish it was on TV.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
I said exactly that on the last thread yesterday Gilly, play to win, always, we end up where we end up.
kimtoon(Quote)
Shame we can’t watch the game.
kimtoon(Quote)
I predict that Chelsea beat Bmth to secure that spot above us.
But I think Brighton beat Man Utd. De Zerbi leaving in their final home game – and of course Man Utd play City in the final next week so they will prioritise that imo – they are guaranteed Europa if they win the final & obviously win silverware.
If Man Utd get beat our result is almost irrelevant. Our goal difference is so much greater than theirs that win, lose or draw we finish 7th.
You’ll note I’ve avoided predicting our score. Our away form has been so poor who knows 🤷🏼♂️. We are the better side, but something just hasn’t worked away from home this season.
I guess if your reviewing the season, you could say in a decent season finishing 7th, we’ve left so many points on the road – in fact, only 10 more points & we’d be going into the final game a point behind Villa and chasing 4th with Europa guaranteed.
Sharpy17(Quote)
On watching the game – it’s long passed time that changed now!!.
We have ‘prime’ weeks around Christmas where Amazon make all fixtures available to fans.
The amount of money Sky, BT and Prime want off subscribers each season now – the games should be available to view – and are in some parts of the world.
If this is a sport for the fans, let the fans watch THEIR team!!.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I absolutely agree Sharpy. While I lived in Dubai, I subscribed to Bein Sports and got every single game, legally. I never missed a toon game unless I was away on business somewhere. With what we pay here to three companies, as you say, we should, these days, get what the rest of the world gets. To watch our team play.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
No Gordon. Wilson on the bench.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Tell you what has to change next season – Howe has to sub & protect injured players better next season 😡😡
Fancy Gordon missing the last game of the season coz he played on with an injury last week!!
Sharpy17(Quote)
HWTL
kimtoon(Quote)
ffs
kimtoon(Quote)
WTF
Gilly Toon(Quote)
offside apparently
kimtoon(Quote)
And no streams to watch. Boils my **** when I pay so much for Sky, TNT and Prime 😡
Gilly Toon(Quote)
yep offside
VAR saving our blushes, we have been warned
kimtoon(Quote)
Gilly, me too.
kimtoon(Quote)
I have the Chelsea game on my tv and listening to our match.
I’m not hopeful today. Brentford are well up for it.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
I somehow feel we will end the season in 8th. We tend to blow it in situations like this
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Chelsea 1-0 ahead 😡
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Barnessssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssget in
kimtoon(Quote)
Get iiiiiinnnnnnnnnn Barnes
Gilly Toon(Quote)
I hate VAR
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Joelinton seems to have regressed …. ☹️
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Joelinton is going to get a red if he’s not careful by the sounds of it. 🤬
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Murphhhhhhhhhhhhhh get in
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Murphyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy
0.2
kimtoon(Quote)
Isasssskkkkkkkkkk
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Isakkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk
0.3
kimtoon(Quote)
🤔 can’t be sure but I think they may be playing to win here like 😂😂
Sharpy17(Quote)
Hope you’re not too disappointed
PremAndUp(Quote)
You could just be correct mate. But we need Bournemouth to do us a favour and Chelsea winning right now
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Yep, Bournemouth not helping us much.
kimtoon(Quote)
1.3
caught napping
kimtoon(Quote)
****! And Bournemouth just scored, Chelsea 2-1 up.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
What the hell
Wake the f up lads
kimtoon(Quote)
We are going to throw away a 3-0 lead. 🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬
Gilly Toon(Quote)
If we throw this away I will be fuming
kimtoon(Quote)
pen
kimtoon(Quote)
Pen! Must score it.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
VAR, needs to do one
no pen
kimtoon(Quote)
Unbelievable. VAr tried tried. Karma … scored.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Getinnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
Scored anyway f you VAR
2.4
kimtoon(Quote)
Brunooo
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Mad dog booked lol
kimtoon(Quote)
Manure winning so we must hold on to the win
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Bournemouth just fluffed a golden opportunity to equalise 🤬
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Chelsea take 6th. All over there
Gilly Toon(Quote)
So those 115 breaches of FFP/PSR have paid off once again. 🤬🤬🤬🤬 City champions again.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Lost two in the last 6 that would have got us 5th
Still can’t argue with 7th
PremAndUp(Quote)
Well Conference League it is then 😂.
Mad to think as difficult as this season has been – 3 more wins & we’d be back in the CL – that’s hardly a burst bubble like is it?!
Sharpy17(Quote)
Only in conf if City win Cup final
PremAndUp(Quote)
Gilly – it’s a joke isn’t it. Likewise with Chelsea.
I can’t watch our club be forced to sell our best players this summer just to comply with this BS rule – I would absolutely commit to us taking a points deduction instead.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Prem – I didn’t realise that. I thought we’d get Conference League for finishing 7th and if Utd won they’d get Europa & Chelsea would drop into Conference league WITH us not instead of
Sharpy17(Quote)
That’s what I heard, Could be wrong.
PremAndUp(Quote)
You are correct Prem.
kimtoon(Quote)