Benwell Lad

From a financial angle it's really surprising that they sacked Grayson. They are absolutely committed to shaving every penny off their external debt before 2019 in the hope that they can get it to a level that will be practical to refinance. That means every penny of income, any player with a transfer value and even savings from switching off lights which may previously have been left on will go towards reducing debt. Can only assume that Grayson himself became so disillusioned that he offered to go on a very reduced package and not the full contractual agreement, otherwise they'd most likely have had to keep him regardless. His replacement will be a very cheap option

Why is he trusted, and reliable, playing in pressure matches for Serbia but not for his professional club ? Does he undergo some change between the two ?

May well be the case, but I wouldn't read too much into the word "specialist". Pampered modern day pros are straight round to the Nuffield for 1,000 pound consultation if they break a toe nail nowadays. They don't sit in a GP surgery like the rest of mankind

Suppose the disappointing, but almost predictable, narrow 1-0 defeats have to be considered better than the very disappointing 4-0 capitulations of old

Last night was absolutely rank. As were the Brighton and Huddersfield defeats. There's no doubt that Rafa's tactical nous will put points on board in some games but that's three times now we've approached a game against teams who are certainly no better than us, in exactly the same cautious/negative manner, and they've all panned out the same way. If we displayed some flexibility in our approach to such games, and actually went for it occasionally, I'm pretty sure we'd have something to show from those three matches.

Loved the Champo when we were in it. Good honest pros giving everything, winning most of the time, scoring loads of goals, sell out home games, packed out away ends and overall loads of fun. I know there were detractors and a lot of people from Wearside who said it was like a pub league but it was actually quite competitive and not a bad standard at all.

One of those awarded was probably v Burton too, when the referee invented a random new rule in order to disallow it.

"Estoy contento aquí y tengo años de contrato" is the salient bit.

Brilliant report from RTG. https://www.readytogo.net/smb/threads/gateshead-fc-lapping-up-free-drinks-and-a-big-win-in-the-smoke-report.1398941/

We don't seem to fare too well on penalties either. This could just be dismissed as typical football fan bias towards their own team but there must be hard facts to back it up? Last season we probably spent more time in the last third and opposition penalty area than any other team but had very few penalties compared to the teams around us. Some of the ones we were denied were nothing short of outrageous.

Aye, it seems like a strange time to be putting prices up when they're doing so badly

Apart from Swansea we could have had more from all our away games so far. We'll get something from this.

He's come on a lot in the last year or so and is starting to look like a PL player. Add his undoubted character and the confidence he's currently playing with and it's all looking good for him.

I think it will happen this time. Discussion about price, bearing in mind no one really knows what it is, should take into account the favourable exchange rate for foreign buyers right now. His asking price may be higher in sterling but it's probably no more than before to prospective buyers.

What's going on on the back of his head bottom right?

Apart from some standout stuff he also seems to get a lot of vital interceptions and easy tackles in which are hardly even noticed but very important all the same. Along with Merino he's been a top quality addition to our squad.

There's a whole bunch of mistakes that have put them in the dire situation they're in, but if one single reason stands above others it has to be the amount of money they've paid this overrated, injury prone clogger to be on their staff for almost a decade. Still got three and a half years left on his contract hasn't he ?

Lejeune's shoulder challenge in front of the Milburn Stand. Not many will beat him for strength

There were posts on there today about the possibility of increasing their stadium capacity to 65,000 plus. I kid you not.

Bloody hell. Roger Tames and co. on the old Clock Stand roof and the mentalness in the Roker End as it went in :-)

Why can't we just accept that no one knows what the asking price may or may not be except Ashley and those close to him. All these figures are just plucked out of the sky or speculated by journalists who are forced to come up with a story. Nee fucker really knows anything apart from what was in the official statement the other day and that a decent looking woman who brokers other people's money was at SJP to watch a team she likes

They're here quite regularly, often it's a 747 which is quite unusual at NCL. Royal family members who own a big house on the Northumberland/Durham border and enjoy grouse shooting. They don't come too often really, They even take a helicopter from the airport to their house and it must only be about 15 miles away. I've seen it regularly over the years. No livery, plain white except for UAE flag. Mostly timed around shooting/hunting seasons. Wives, children, all staff etc hence the 747 I guess. Considering the size of the entourage it all goes pretty unnoticed really.

They're here quite regularly, often it's a 747 which is quite unusual at NCL. Royal family members who own a big house on the Northumberland/Durham border and enjoy grouse shooting.

Written nearly 9 years ago. Not much we didn't already know,or have seen transpire, but interesting nonetheless. https://www.theguardian.com/sport/b...-united-mike-ashley-john-hall-freddy-shepherd

Like use a normal amount of hair product?