Benwell Lad

Wow. They'd have no chance in the PL with current regulations in place.

SoL has always been too big for their requirements. Even during their relative good years in the PL it was never full and they were forced to give away discounted and free tickets. It costs money to service an oversized stadium and they will never be able to sell tickets at a premium due to supply outweighing demand. Additionally they'll never be able to generate the atmosphere that a full stadium can. If they'd gone for something similar to Derby or Boro for example, they'd have a far better full atmosphere and, ironically, probably generate higher gate receipts. Building a stadium to a capacity just so it can be filled when they play Newcastle every few years seems like business insanity really.

Not just last night. It's been happening all too often in recent games, careless passing, losing possession and turning into trouble in and around our own box.

Just switched on Norwich versus Oxford and thought they've both won a domestic trophy more recently than us. Crazy really. Has to be put right whatever the circumstances.

Watched as good a game of "non league" football as I've seen all season yesterday. Newcastle University versus an excellent Nottingham University side in the semi final of the British Universities Cup. Nottingham won 4-1 after extra time but in fairness they could have won 4-1 in the ninety minutes. They had five players who play at step 3 in the side. An illustration of the standard is that Loughborough won the other semi against Hartpury College and Hartpury are in the semi final of the FA Vase,

There have always been a lot of Newcastle supporters throughout County Durham in general, and North West Durham (Derwent Valley, Consett, Stanley) is predominantly black and white and always has been. They have had a chairman who publicly stated that he wished Sunderland fans were as loyal as Newcastle fans and another chairman who pleaded with them not to watch their matches in the pub and attend the game instead.

Two options going forward, a back 4 from Trippier, Schar, Burn, Tino and Targett or if we get Botman back on the pitch a back 5 with Schar, Botman and Burn the 3 CBs.

Crazy to think that years ago someone would say at closing time "do you fancy going to (name any club in the country) tomorrow" and eight hours later you'd be in the back of a transit van heading down the A1.

Celsius. Him and Pickford combined might make Fahrenheit.

Alan Gowling ?

If my memory serves right it was :- In Newcastle's fair city. Where the girls are so pretty, I first set my eyes on sweet Molly Malone, As she wheels her wheel barrow from Walker to Jarrow, singing (clap) da da da da da da da da da Geordies / or Magpies,(repeated a few times).

Blaydon Races sang properly is great but in the old Leazes End, by far the loudest and greatest singing section we've ever had, You'll never walk alone was probably the most popular song, it was brilliant and of course back then the scousers hadn't retrospectively copyrighted it and decided to be offended by anyone else singing it. My personal favourite was "In Newcastle's fair city" sung to the tune of Molly Malone with the unforgettable line "as she wheels her wheel barrow from Walker to Jarrow". Best days ever and best place ever to be a Newcastle fan the old Leazes End.

Isak is a world class striker who any team would miss but there is no way we are a one man team. Far from it.

Though I think there's some rose tinted specs going on here about the "old days" (it has always been and probably always will be up and down depending on a variety of circumstances) the recent airings of "You've seen United now fuck off home" really is the nadir. I thought there could never be a worse chant than "You're support is fucking shit" but I was wrong.

Love Fab's ability on the ball and what he gives us, BUT those over confident, usually straight, passes he makes from the back which instantly turns the game against us in the final third are becoming a real concern. It's almost like you know it's going to happen then it does. Sometimes even the classiest defenders just have to minimise risk and put their foot through the ball.