J7

Christ, I hadn’t realised it was as bad as that. I remember utterly despising Souness and being fuming, but I hadn’t realised all those results were on top of each other. There were a few horror results in that season. 1-4 at home to Fulham I’m sure was the point I wanted him out.

Beat at Old Trafford with the Rooney wonder goal the following Sunday too.

I think I’m actually more scarred by the FA Cup semi in 2005 in all honesty. The pathetic display, over the top celebration at Sholas consolation, and Nicky Butt walking around being cuddled by Man Utd players at full time. Don’t think I’ve ever been as annoyed at a game. Absolutely fucking hating our manager didn’t help.

I have to admit, nearly all enthusiasm for the cup final has left me. Similarly, it’s the memories of the cup final no shows of the past and our tepid recent displays. The mounting injuries and the general staleness around isn’t helping. I’ve just got visions of our end sitting in silence, YNWA ringing around, then a sea of black white flags getting praise for our support, despite the defeat.

Mind he’s got a point. I’m not sure it was the right thing to have ST holders getting tickets before others like that, but it’s true that the atmosphere is going to be better if you can sit next to like minded people. Separately, I’m not sure why the club couldn’t do something to group similar minded people together, especially in a new stadium. You see it in Scotland at Ibrox and Parkhead where they have ‘ultras’ areas and most of their tickets at ST holders. I’m not advocating ultras with shitty drums, but it’s clearly doable to get people with the same mentality together in a stadium.

I’d say so, or at least a forward who can also play there if we get a first choice RW in. I think the points on struggling to get players out is valid. PSR clearly hasn’t helped with that either. I’d say we’ve missed the sweet spot with Bruno too. I mean it’s good that we still have him, but how much would he fetch now? Certainly not the £100m release clause the club expected to be triggered in the summer.

Mind you only need to have a quick walk around before the game or at half time to realise why the atmosphere is pretty shit. Simply the demographics of folk there. The average age of the crowd must be 50-60. I do think people are looking back with rose tinted glasses too mind.

And season ticket holders.

Aye he was our best player after coming on. Not sure he can be blamed for us not make more of the decent balls he was playing into the area.

We’ve been proper average since November 23 bar a good run, let’s be honest. Fuckin Pardew used to have the odd good run. Obviously I rate Howe far higher and he’s been good for us, but I do wonder what we’re trying to do. From the best defence in the league, to shipping them for fun. From our best goal scoring season in decades, to barely being able to score without Isak. From ‘intensity is our identity’, to tepid displays like today becoming more normal.

The Barnes signing did seem fine at the time, in our position. But in the position of Staveley, Ashworth and co, it probably shouldn’t have given what ended up happening. There seems to have been a lack of medium/long term thinking.

No idea why he has been put back in. Seems totally random. I mean neither keeper is great, but at least Dubravka offers slightly more on the floor.

We’ve not been bad, but the game is an awful watch. Doesn’t seem to be any atmosphere in either end. I’d take this if we hang in and hopefully get a chance or two at the end. I’d like to see Osula too, and Miley at some point.

Oh! You mean location. Not sure if you’ve seen, but the new stadium will overlap the same footprint.

The history of the current ground goes back 25 years, half of which were utterly horrific and not to be remembered fondly.