Benwell Lad

I preferred standing in the Leazes and was gutted when they pulled it down, I still enjoyed going in to the Gallowgate, even if it wasn't quite as good. Im sure us oldies have been here before- My dad used to take me in the leazes corner next east stand, them fuckers in the middle section then were mental- was that you? Btw ive just read TT post our average this seaso is 45k.... wtf is dissapointing about that? We've certainly been there before - but why not harp on about it again - it was an amazing experience which could only be witnessed in some Turkish or S.American stadium nowadays. It was violent, passionate, crammed, bordering on uncivilised and deafeningly loud but far better than anywhere I've ever stood or sat since. The "scoreboard" and "corner" which came next in the Gallowgate were decent but didn't even get close to the old Leazes End atmosphere. Used to stand in the Leazes in the late 60s/early 70s - it was an awesome experience, part brill, part bad. You never got cold in winter, everyone packed in like sardines. A voyeur's paradise too, all those lasses being pressed up against you when goals were scored...! Fantastic atmosphere - was there when we beat the Mackems 3-0 in 1970 and feet hardly touched the ground. Same era for me. You're right about the "part bad" bit though - too easy to get over romantic about it - some of the stuff that went on in there was appalling - though at the time seemed pretty normal.

I preferred standing in the Leazes and was gutted when they pulled it down, I still enjoyed going in to the Gallowgate, even if it wasn't quite as good. Im sure us oldies have been here before- My dad used to take me in the leazes corner next east stand, them fuckers in the middle section then were mental- was that you? Btw ive just read TT post our average this seaso is 45k.... wtf is dissapointing about that? We've certainly been there before - but why not harp on about it again - it was an amazing experience which could only be witnessed in some Turkish or S.American stadium nowadays. It was violent, passionate, crammed, bordering on uncivilised and deafeningly loud but far better than anywhere I've ever stood or sat since. The "scoreboard" and "corner" which came next in the Gallowgate were decent but didn't even get close to the old Leazes End atmosphere.

I sit close to there, not in it, and seemed like everyone was standing as normal. Also despite not being full it was as full as anywhere else and certainly not 1/3 full as someone said, probably 80% full - just like the rest of the ground was.

Righto, let's close down the forum then people. Didn't realised you needed a UEFA licence to express an opinion about your team. Thats nowt. You need a minimum of 50 international caps to sit in the seats behind me at the match !

Stoke was probably the extreme because of many afore mentioned reasons. Crowds of circa 45K for Wigan and Arsenal (both of whom will only bring a few hundred) and 50K plus for the mackums will paint a truer picture. Bottom line is crowds are falling throughout British football and the marketing people will have to think again if they want full stadiums. Bundesliga type €15 tickets could be an answer but maybe not THE answer ?

You're from a generation when going to the match was almost a duty not an option, it was also the catalyst which kept groups of mates together and a prelude to a night on the piss. Sky TV and live streams weren't an option. I would ask who "genuinely can't afford it" ? A game every two weeks or so ? OK some people may be saving for something, struggling with a mortgage etc and see a fortnightly £25 making a difference, but to most it's merely a question of priorities - they prefer doing something else with their money and they're perfectly entitled to do so. It's a bit like when politicians harp on about poverty in the UK - 70% of people on the planet live in poverty - none of them are UK citizens.

I think the vast majority would. But when the choice is £25 on a match ticket or feeding the kids/pay a bill it then becomes no choice at all. Dead right mate, going to the match wins every time. Seriously, someone on here carries a signature quoting Henry Winter about how on the Geordie check list of things to do, going to the match is up there with breathing. He needs a rethink. It seems nowadays it doesn't even rate as highly as a mobile top up, a few bottles of imported lager or a pizza on Dean Street to many.

Several specific factors contributed to the Stoke attendance such as, Sunday 4.10pm, live free TV, very unattractive opposition, pathetic away following etc , but behind that there is a trend downwards in general. Has anyone any stats to show if we're more down than any other equivalent club that would help prove the theory it's still an anti-Ashley reaction ? Our friends down the road have still to get out of the 30s so far this season, despite hardly ever being on TV and getting mainly Saturday 3pm kick offs. And they're allegedly on the up and madly in love with their owner and chairman. Even novelty club Blackpool can't sell out, then there's Villa, WBA,Brum, Everton etc etc. What I notice is that by and large the lads who always went to the match still do, although some pick and choose a bit more, but the one's who were obviously the "fashion fans" are disappearing as it becomes less err.. fashionable. I realise it's lost revenue but I find it difficult to pretend I miss them. Almost 50K against Blackpool who didn't sell out their allocation also proves people like Saturday 3pm kick offs best.

I'd heard we are the most watched outside of ManU. Even in the relegation season we pulled in higher viewing figures than anyone bar them.

Hmm. my thoughts exactly, if thats the case why not come out and say we are getting X amount per year from sports direct. Because they haven't sold the naming rights to Sports Direct, they've put the signs up in order to sell the naming rights. i read after the approval had been given that the guy who went to the council meeting on behalf of nufc said sports direct were the only bidders Yeah, because they haven't yet sold the naming rights. The hysteria of the Geordie nation, fuelled by a salivating press didn't do much to help attract potential bidders. Once it's settles down the interest level will rise.

With the exception of Man Utd away (and even then we had a good opening 30 minutes) we have probably been the better team in every game we've played. That is worrying because we have not always achieved the result to go with the performance (Wolves,Blackpool,Stoke). Yesterday's first half was the clearest example yet, much superior to the other team, controlling possession, hardly threatened, yet unable to significantly hurt the opposition for all that. We paid a heavy price for failing to capitalise on our superiority because once they got into their stride we flapped and were unable to cope with the predictable set pieces they threw at us. Unless we start killing the opposition off when we're on top it's going to be a long hard winter.

Why? Because Williamson is a penalty waiting to happen most of the time, Sol gives us more from a leadership point of view. Thought Sol and Colo together last night, looked pretty good. Williamson has been a steady eddy so far, but just think he's gonna get called for the holding he does constantly at some point. He reminds me a bit of Bassong who did very well for us but was always a little borderline. If he stay of the right side of the line he looks good but wouldn't take much to push him over. Agree with comments about Williamson - made the same point after the Everton game because he DOES hold players in the pen area and soon refs are going to be telling linesmen to watch for it - they will also be looking out for it too and we WILL concede pens that way. Might be wrong but can't see Hughton leaving out a 6 foot 4 inch CB for this one.

Excellent post ! It's the humility of the man which impresses me most in a game so full of egos. It may be that right now could be Hughton's biggest test so far, as a man who admits to not enjoying the limelight is thrust into the media spotlight because of the excellent job he is doing. That said I think he will cope with it just as he has coped with everything else thrown at him since he stepped up. Chris Hughton is after all no football novice - he has played and coached at the highest level since he left school - and he's old and wise enough to not get too carried away by either praise or criticism when they're thrown at him. An interview with Jose Enrique last season gave a good insight into Hughton's management style, how hard he works, how he prepares for every game meticulously, and most importantly the respect his players and staff have for the man. In a sport where greed is so prevalent, with Hughton you get the impression that he is not the type of person who would run away to the highest bidder, although our board must realise he will be getting noticed elsewhere and look after him accordingly. When we hit a bad patch and lose 2 or 3 in a row- as we surely will - lets make sure that we stand by him and give him the support he deserves.

Any judgement and praise for Hughton must be in the context of where we were when he officially took over. Absolutely top guy. Colin Calderwood's contribution (and a few others) has been significant too.

I'd add to that Shola has always had a strange ability to come good in a big game when it really matters and make a positive contribution. (derby matches, big European away games, Forest last season etc) Some of the hysterical criticism he gets on here is crazy. We all know Shola can look awful at times but right now he is a better and stronger player than he has been at any point in his career and I can't think of any club which wouldn't want him as a squad player - which is what he has become for us since the ascendancy of Andy Carrol.

Funny how when Chelsea were in the lead it was such a big deal and when we were leading it was just a mickey mouse cup game. Actually the very same cup their manager wanted so much he played an almost full strength team against West Ham reserves. I didn't think I'd be saying this a couple of years ago, but we have a better squad than them and we certainly have a better manager than them.

Does any member of the Sunderland management or playing staff actually live there, or even set foot in the place except when they play there ? Bloody cheek to ask foreign visitors to go there for world cup games when they can't stand the place themselves ! New players they recruit must get a hell of a shock when they see the place for the first time after being shown around Darras Hall, Jesmond and the Quayside first. Sunderland's world cup promotional brochure with it's splendid pictures of Bamburgh Castle, Durham Cathedral, the Tyne Millenium bridge and err......... the Tees barrage really sums up how hard it must be to sell the dump.

Just confirms what we always knew. There are no decent hotels in Sunderland.

Well he certainly goes through the motions and tries to give the right soundbites but I'm not sure he knows what he's doing down there. He gambled on LC success by playing an almost full strength side against West Ham's reserves (featuring Scott Parker) but apparently his team didn't share his desire to progress in the competition. It'll all end in tears.

Shearer is awful on MOTD but still better than Hansen and Lawrenson. I've never understood why they were employed let alone given huge salaries. The BBC is looking to prune it's costs and it could start with getting rid of the so called "pundits". Cut their slavver out and we'd get an extra 15 minutes football to watch.

Good point. All of a sudden we're looking OK for cover in the midfield department.

We now defend, and indeed play, like a team. To mention an individual, although others contribute just as much, I liked the look of M.Williamson from the first time he pulled on a B&W shirt. He could be one of the best and most astute buys we've made in a long time.

Well no, as he was a world class finisher. Good in the air aswell. I can't say i have seen a whole lot of Bent but wouldn't Bent be considered a world class finisher ? Nah..... a world class finisher would probably have scored from open play four games into the season.

Sorry for late reply Dave. Answer is - I dunno. Who does ? Nothing directly I would think, but there may be some chipping away at money owed ?? I'm sure if some airline or bank or something wanted it they'd get it but they obviously don't. BTW I'm against the thing in principle but there again I'm pretty anti-sponsorship in general - much preferred Division 2 to the CCC. Being pragmatic though, sadly we need to explore all commercial possibilities to compete in today's game. Football sold it's soul a long time ago and this is just another step in that direction.

The stadium next to the one that used to be called Highbury is absolutely plastered with corporate advertising for Emirates and even named after them (whatever next !) and it's one of the best looking arenas in Europe. Just sounds like a few Newcastle fans being up their own arse again about how special THEIR stadium is. (Which of course it is) Benny - Arsenal are getting £100 million from there sponsor. http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2004/oct/05/business.marketingandpr How much are we getting from Sportsdirect? Remember is Ashley is not Sportsdirect. I am sure if Microsoft, Tesco or Ronald McDonald came along with mega wedge most fans would buy into it but atm like most people I would be surprised if were getting decent coin from Sportsdirect. Thanks for pointing that out (courtesy of the Grauniad) Spenny. However you've jumped in a bit quick as that particular point, and post, was relating to aesthetics and not money.