Weekend Notes: Jobe's A Good'un

Eleven. Wins. In. A. Row. Stockport are ridiculous.

Ali Maxwell

I love this time of year, the drawn-in evenings and drawn-up hoods. Freezing fingers clenched together as it dawns on fans up and down the country that winter is coming. Dust off the big coat, order the Bovrils, and bed down for fluctuation — because things get weird in the run-up to Christmas.

For starters, the John Lewis advert is already out and this year the protagonist is a giant Venus Fly Trap. That’s weird. But in the EFL, as the games come thick, fast and frosty, we start to see unexpected form emerging from nowhere, big runs coming to an end, and there’s always the threat of that perennial #MatchOff hashtag appearing. The weirdness means some unfancied sides profit, whilst others we fancy lose out. It messes with our expectations.

That is all to come. It will happen quickly. And we’re here — with Weekend Notes on the EFL Newsletter — to keep you in the loop. So if you haven’t already, sign up now to get this email in full delivered to your inbox every Monday first thing.

This whole enterprise started out as a podcast. Two mates talking about the EFL twice a week. And honestly, little has changed. George and I stick to that structure like a manager who knows his best XI. Yes, we’ve expanded and embellished here on the EFL Newsletter, and we’re proud of that. But the podcast — the odd illness, marriage and childbirth aside — is an unshifting constellation on the horizon. And I think that’s why we got the nod for this year’s Football Supporter’s Association Awards. We’re up for best podcast, and I’d love it if you’d take the time to vote for us.

And now, for this week’s 5iveLights, Top Lines and your letters…

1. Beautiful footage of Sam Greenwood’s exquisite free kick

2. Bryan’s Gunn does it time and time and time again

3. Football is great, isn’t it?

4. Fun weekend in the stands: Sleeping Man and Chinos Man the subject of mirth

5. (Arthur) Read all about it!