iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

James @jbmitchell.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

It’s great isn’t it. I adore The Detectorists, so it scratched an itch.

James @jbmitchell.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

I went for a 2-3 home loss on my predictor thingy. I think we need the int. break and bodies back. I think Hull might outmuscle us today.

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James @jbmitchell.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

I’ve got a feeling Tino will leave for a knock-down fee or for free. Not gonna get much for him given his injury record.

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James @jbmitchell.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

I think there’ll be plenty of games we lose due to inexperience, new squad etc. But I’m not sure we can afford to persist with what is basically a mid-2000s 442, long ball set up, with no 8. And a crap version of that to boot. Tactically it’s honking, personnel aside.

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James @jbmitchell.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

It’s like an even crapper version of the type of Big Sam team that was bemoaned. 442, long ball. Just awful.

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James @jbmitchell.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Two sitting CMs with Wissa in front of them just isn’t working. Tactically this looks utterly dreadful.

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James @jbmitchell.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

I think we'll do well this weekend. I'm normally pessimistic, but I think we might go on a pretty good run before we falter.

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James @jbmitchell.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

(Gonzalez! Duh. Incredible value/class etc etc. Interested to see MFP’s pace and directness too.)

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James @jbmitchell.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

These are all random musings on the bigger unknowns/question marks - all the positives are obvious and go without saying. Hornicek, Dedic, Steur, Joauen all look good/brilliant. Miley ready to push on. Elanga/Wissa turning a corner. Jaissle class. Good youth coming through. Exciting seasons ahead!

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James @jbmitchell.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

*Toure* I was at the Visit Malta cup where Toure played well, but looked so one dimensional. Didn’t quite see what everyone else did in him, but obviously quick and direct. First few appearances indicate (like Bamba), he’s gonna need some time. Think we majorly missed out on Munoz, tbh. Great value

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James @jbmitchell.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

*Tino’s role* Love the lad, but the signs are he’ll be ‘high class cover’ for LB and RB. Be an interesting one given him and Hall are at risk of going next summer. (Could see both going, tbh.)

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James @jbmitchell.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

*Willock’s role* I’m weirdly excited about keeping Willock, after expecting him to leave for a while. Despite injuries he still has bags of pace. He’s always puzzled me as he’s not a typical CM. Has the pace MJ seems to like in a 10. Best form for us was basically as a 10 under Bruce. Could be fun!

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James @jbmitchell.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

*Ramsey’s role* Harder to tell. 10 seems obvious but he’s less ‘strikery’ than Jaissle seems to want from his 10s. I think he’s quite risky in a pivot as his inclination is to dribble out of trouble. Given the ball away a fair amount doing that. But I reckon he’ll be a rotation/‘finisher’ 6/8.

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James @jbmitchell.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

*Joelinton’s role* I suspect he might become a ‘destructive 10’. Not good enough on the ball in a pivot. More/better options in the front three. He’s decent at box crashing, good aerial outlet for long balls, and can press really well. Reckon that’s where he’ll end up when fit.

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James @jbmitchell.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Being a natural pessimist I was concerned about NUFC’s transfer window 3/4 weeks ago, but seemingly we’ve done some good business. This squad will have undoubtedly have some low moments, but there’s a better technical level, more depth, and just loads of excitement about the unknown. Random 🧠🧐s… 1/

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James @jbmitchell.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Jaissle clearly wants a mobile no. 10 and tbh Willock would be far better at that than as a no. 8. I don’t mind it!

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James @jbmitchell.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

Incredible the amount of excuses RDZ has made so far. Tonali not being fit is preposterous. An incredible athlete who was in second gear last season and has had the whole summer to get fit.

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James @jbmitchell.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

Usual caveats that it hasn’t happened yet: but is MFP what #NUFC need? Don’t want to sound like a chip-pisser. Seems better on the left. Apparently can play 10 but more often used up top. But seems like a true 10 and a left-footed RW would make a bigger difference to us?

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James @jbmitchell.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

They are just shit, but loads of musos seem to be doing mental gymnastics about why they’re good. Like the xx. A hill I will die on. Drab shite.

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James @jbmitchell.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Hard agree. Real shame though 😕

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James @jbmitchell.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

i.e. the kind of things that aren’t particularly memorable but are massively under-appreciated and so important.

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James @jbmitchell.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Listened to a popular football podcast today where the panel collectively remarked that they could recall nothing about Nico Gonzalez. For a DM like we need, I think that’s actually sort of perfect. A positionally-disciplined, metronomic but physically imposing (if not fast) DM is gonna make us tick

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Reposted by James

Jake Jackman @jakejackman.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

It's going to be a fun season with these young lads. They'll make mistakes along the way - Jaouen last night, but we need to give them room to make these and learn from them. Thought his footwork was class. Can see the talent in all of the signings, but some will need longer than others. #nufc

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James @jbmitchell.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

They’ve also suppressed the crowd noise, just to exacerbate the issue.

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James @jbmitchell.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

That’s fair, but I think largely speaking the system is more of a problem for Villa than them occasionally buying players from club/s that essentially horde talent unrelentingly.

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James @jbmitchell.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Also, competing regularly with the top 6 is simply *systematically* out of reach, no matter how well you do in any given, or several, transfer windows.

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James @jbmitchell.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

My retort to that would be: only one of those is not in the top 6. Spurs' geography and non-football revenue will keep them in the top 6 economically speaking. Villa don't really have the luxury of choice - not many places they can get (semi)proven players for the CL campaign. They're boxed in.

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James @jbmitchell.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

There’s also the possibility he doesn’t sign a new deal. Let’s be honest: we need to brace ourselves for Hall leaving next summer.

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James @jbmitchell.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

My way of viewing players with his sort of potential but also shortcomings is, if we saw him at another club would we like him at ours? Aye.

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James @jbmitchell.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

Yep! I’m excited for him this season.

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James @jbmitchell.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

I think it was so obvious, but so under appreciated, how his knee injury impacted him last season. It was basically a season ender.

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James @jbmitchell.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

Oh man Wissa HAS to bury that 😰😰

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James @jbmitchell.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

Him and Steur both quite similar in their ball progression and drops of the shoulder to get turned. Lovely to watch, but feel a lot more comfortable now that they’re not basically the midfield 2!

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James @jbmitchell.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

Yeah! Strange to start him in what was basically a midfield 2 really.

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James @jbmitchell.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

That goal was coming. GAPING hole in midfield almost all game

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James @jbmitchell.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

This pessimistic git would be surprised at anything other than a comfortable win for Liverpool today. Can see Isak exploiting Botman’s turning circle and that midfield just not having enough to deal with Liverpool. 😰 Hopefully we give a decent account of ourselves though

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James @jbmitchell.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

From a City fan perspective: would he be a good get for NUFC?

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James @jbmitchell.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

FWIW I’m quite happy with the signings we’ve made but very unhappy with the ones we haven’t. Midfield presence sorely lacking and our right hand side attack looks poor. We’ve lost so many G/A this summer, which many fans seem to be overlooking.

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James @jbmitchell.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

Notice how, as ever, as time progresses the estimated number decreases. It’ll be two and neither before the final few days of the window in my - granted, pessimistic - opinion.

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James @jbmitchell.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

Well he did complete it, he just didn’t pass it. Please excuse the pedantry!

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James @jbmitchell.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

I agree, but at some point we have to put the onus on people to step up and provide that/improve, if it’s in their skillset. Which it is with him.

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James @jbmitchell.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

Ramsey used to do exactly that for Villa, tbf. He should be a great solution to our midfield. Up to him and MJ to make it work.

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