Benwell Lad

I think there may be some misunderstanding regarding the "attendance patter". Who really cares ? Most realise that the 2,000 or so who watch Crawley Town, for example, are as good and arguably more committed than the 50,000 who watch us. What makes it different with the mackems is that they obsess about attendances, particularly ours. They have threads about attendances, they constantly define and redefine imaginary geographic borders to show they are bigger than us and then in almost the same breath use those same "boundaries" as an excuse for their inferior crowds. They make ridiculous claims that all the red and whites they know go to games but the "mags" they know dont. Figure that out ? They constantly pat themselves on the back about having such great support when gate receipts prove that many are using free tickets. The holy grail of having a higher average than Newcastle never happens, even when we're a division below, and it drives many of them insane. Nah, I don't think anyone is really that bothered, but their sensitivity just makes it easy for us to turn it round and use it as another thing to rip the piss out of them about.

Best poster on tinternet Terry, deserves his own column in Viz. Some of his characters man - Imran O'Grady

8 points off safety already. Unlikely they'll be lighting up Penshaw monument or flying any planes across Newcastle for "winning" 17th place this season.

He's our best goalkeeper in doing goalkeeper things, like saving shots and commanding his area. Not arsed if he kicks a ball like a 12 year old girl, because he's head and shoulders above the others imo. Don't get this kicking criticism- always looked ok when I watch him. Certainly much better than Krul ever was.

Can't see it, their motivation's gone. They 'relegated' it. The Sunderland of previous seasons may well have hung on for a draw against Arsenal after equalising yesterday, no matter how undeserved. Their class of 16/17 looks worse than anything there's ever been in the PL. Kone, who they bigged up like he was some kind of world class defender, is costing them big time.

Did Mad Moyes say they played well and deserved something ? I know statistics don't tell the full story but these probably do. Home Team Sunderland Away Team Arsenal Possession Home 34% Away 66% Shots Home 3 Away 21 On Target Home 1 Away 7 Accurate passes Home 216 Away 505 Corners Home 0 Away 8

M.Gray is one biased bitter mackem like. Understable though considering what's going on.

Mitro may arguably be our best loony ever.

Spoil the ballot paper. Either. What a nice dilemma.

Pitch is different to ours, set up for their long ball game and throws. Good that we can adapt and also win ugly as well as stylish plus having Rafa's ability to set up bespoke teams puts us in a very good place.

:lol:

That game didn't look like two teams at opposite ends of the same league, it didn't even look like two teams from different leagues, it looked like teams from different planets. Also been wondering for a while about the Pickford hype? Barely average at best will never be a regular starter in a decent PL side.

How did they get off so lightly regarding this ? http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2016/10/27/ex-sunderland-chief-margaret-byrne---who-quit-over-handling-of-a/

"The Tenerife players collectively lost their minds and started flooding towards the corner flag. Morales led the way, grabbing the hem of his shirt and thrusting it out in front of him, wildly flapping it up and down like his balls were on fire and he was trying to put it out, his elbows flailing around like an over-caffeinated hummingbird. He wheeled around the corner and half way down the touchline before he collapsed and his team-mates poured on top of him, engulfing him in a tidal wave of baggy, navy shirts." :lol: Worth clicking the link to that to see the accompanying photos of the young Rafa,

So lets get this right. Their strongest side except Defoe (who subsequently came on) was beaten by Southampton's second or third choice team; they have 2 points from 9 games; their fans are revolting and most are ready to hound out yet another manager after just a hand full of games; they're skint and the owner is looking increasingly disinterested; they've paid way over the odds for players on long contracts who have negligible resale value and they play Arsenal tomorrow! I didn't quite understand what they meant when they were going on about us "winning" relegation but it's becoming a little clearer as time goes by.

Rafa's got a project and he's loving every minute of it.

37 quid ! Sad indictment of how far Leeds have sunk that they have to profiteer on the back of our amazing support like some little tin pot club. Shame we'll give them more and cheaper when they're up here.

Yeah, can see them turning a corner when those 6 or 7 world class players they currently have out injured return.

I have heard from a reliable source that he is really enjoying life in general up here and, perhaps equally importantly, his wife is growing fond of the area too. They live in Merseyside? Yeah. But he does have a house up here (rented) and must be allowing her to visit occasionally by all accounts

PNE boss Nearly Will Gompertz said :- "This time last year, their manager was at Real Madrid, they are a fantastic side" What a difference a year can make !

I have heard from a reliable source that he is really enjoying life in general up here and, perhaps equally importantly, his wife is growing fond of the area too.

Good post. I think the attraction of a Gayle/Mitro combination appeals to us all in some way but we may as well be realistic, Rafa will not do it, unless injuries give him no option or we're chasing a game late on. He just doesn't do two up front.

Also see the lynch mob are after the young journalist again because he had the audacity to write an article about them. I almost wish they would win a game just to relieve some of their bitter, jealous frustration which stops them behaving like sane people.

Makes sense and Rafa is balancing the "squad competition and inclusion" part expertly thus far, as you'd expect a manger of his stature to do. True that some players are just so important that he will play them in almost every game, but very encouraging that there is less between what may be considered our "first XI" and the "shadow XI" than I can ever remember.

Reminded me a little bit of Beardsley vs. Portsmouth. said that at the match