J7

Massive game.

All the little weaknesses of our players have been exposed today.

It would be pretty disastrous to be in a position to have to let him go unless it was for an huge fee, and especially given the number of games we’ll have next season. We need extra if anything and I don’t think keeping Longstaff is an option.

Clicks

I mean it can’t be easy when you’ve not been playing much, but the subs have all been pretty poor, including Miley.

Thought that was a great day from start to finish. The atmosphere was brilliant and the whole city was energised. There aren’t many clubs who can do it like that. I actually thought Ant and Dec were good, but Bruno and Eddie made the event at the Town Moor. Both got the mood perfectly. Chuffed I went down from Edinburgh for it.

He’s amazing.

You might be right, but I’d still expect most people to turn up later in the day. I can’t see much appeal of watching the match replay in a field, or having a Q&A with the woman’s team and Bobby Moncur. The music line up is like the kind of Z list thing you see at a gay pride event.

I really can’t see many people bothering their arse to be there before the bus has gone past. I don’t envy them tbh. It’s pretty difficult to put something on that will hold the interest of all demographics for such a length of time, but a full bus parade would have probably been better.

Schär is 34 in December and there are already signs of performance drop off. RCB is surely one of our priority positions. Some of our best players have had bad games, especially out of position in a team not playing well. It’s pretty short sighted to write someone off because of that. And I’m not sure ‘he’s not good enough’ for Liverpool. He’s a good sale for them for PSR. And even if he’s not good enough for them, they’re the best team in the league. We’re not in a position yet to be only trying to sign players who’d get in the Liverpool team. I’m not even saying we should sign him, but I wouldn’t be writing him off.

I think it’s fairly obvious Schär has had a drop off this season. He was great in the cup final, but he’s having more bad performances than he was having over the past couple seasons. He’s hitting his mid-30s, so it’s hardly a surprise tbh. We’ve got one of the oldest starting 11s in the league and waiting until performances fall off a cliff isn’t an option.

One of our greats. For someone who had such poor English when he joined, to giving that interview on the pitch after captaining the team to our first trophy in 70 years. I can’t imagine anyone being able to explain what it means any better than that, and with such emotion. He was brilliant yesterday.

The atmosphere, the crack, being with friends, having a drink, seeing a new place etc etc.

Any Daily Mail subscribers able to share the article?

I’m excited again.

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.