J7

They probably have a fair idea as to who scams the system, so it may not be random. Or it may just be a deterrent and it doesn’t happen. I understand some of the complaints, but I’ve seen people on Twitter defend the idea that you should need to know, or make friends with other fans who sell tickets on, to get a ticket. I mean I’ve benefited from that and probably won’t get now, but can hardly complain. The club should clearly be expected, especially by the home club, to make sure that the person who owns the ticket is the person attending. It shouldn’t be delegated to random superfan to decide who goes, with someone sitting at home collecting a loyalty point every fortnight.

Not sure about unstoppable. It was a good ball, touch and finish, but he still switched off.

He did quite well there, but was utterly dreadful against Spurs when they howked us 5-1, and switched off at the wrong moment down at Chelsea in the same season. A bit of a stretch to say he’s been great every time he’s played there. I’d be worried if we got an injury and he was starting every week in that position,

You’ll have people who usually choose to go to a handful of games a season putting themselves into every ballot given the chances now. It’s really shit for folk who used to go to every game through a membership but don’t think the club have many options. The 10am race was shit for many others too.

The club are clearly going to act differently now though when theres such a demand. It’s not like the Ashley era was the norm in terms of demand and everyone trying to get now who didn’t go then is a glory seeker. They’re going to clamp down on companies who had a raft of tickets for clients and those who have more than one ticket in their own name, even if that was fine 5 years ago when crowds were at 45k or whatever. Every club is going digital and will be doing similar. I travel down from Edinburgh and you can’t even get into Hearts and Hibs without a supporter number and they’re phasing out printed tickets.

I can’t remember what the loyalty system was like back then, but I used to go loads without even having a Season Ticket. Remember buying my own for Anfield when Barton was sent off in the relegation season. Saw us lose every Boxing Day at either Bolton or Wigan. Didn’t have a season ticket for the loyalty point to go on.

So your son started accumulating them aged 7. How would a 7 year old today start accumulating them? You’ve conveniently ignored the other points too, such as people accumulating points by getting the ticket and selling it on, just like those outraged on Twitter are doing. edited to add; I’m not trying to be an arse here, but you’re complaining about your specific circumstance and a potential disadvantage, while not considering all of the issues involved. The club need to do this.

If they crack down properly on the passing on of tickets, which again I admit I’ve benefitted from, then the points to get a ticket for an away game should be lower anyway regardless of the small amount going to ballot. There has to be a way for those in the younger age group to build up points and not rely on a friend getting them a ticket. Some people have hundreds of loyalty points who’ve barely ever been. Nothing will be perfect and there will be criticism whatever the club do. I understand that for myself, despite being in an away end of 800 at Everton on a Monday night and going to most of the Championship aways when Hughton was manager, there’s going to be a very slim chance of me getting now, but I can’t personally think of a much better way of them doing it, or the perfect system.

I’d get this argument if the same people making it on Twitter cared about the fact that hundreds in the away end are getting the tickets passed on by friends. I mean I’ve been to 50+ away games and don’t have a loyalty point so I’ve taken advantage myself. Being up in arms about fairness because the cut off point is going to be higher because 100-200 are going to a ballot, doesn’t seem to be anything to do with fairness. I saw someone arguing all day yesterday on Twitter who at one point said ‘get some friends’. The club aren’t going to be back a system that sees hundreds of people getting tickets passed on to them, or people building up loyalty points up even though they don’t go. It’s been convenient for me, but it’s hardly ‘fair’.

This is an argument against nearly every organisation that goes digital. I work for a housing association with a far high percentage of vulnerable tenants than vulnerable matchgoers, and we’re constantly pushing everyone to go digital. Clubs up and down the country are doing it. The ticket ballot is a shambles though. Given how late in the day it’s been announced, I suspect it’s as much to do with the limitations in the box office than anything. I’d hope so anyway as if it’s a conscious long term decision, it’s a poor one.

The box office seems to be a bit of a shambles to be honest. It can’t be that difficult to put in a new website or system. You’ll get people who specifically want to be in the Platinum Club, and others who want the cheapest ticket possible. Neither are going to be happy unless they get lucky. Moving people to the standing area seemed a bit of a farce too. I couldn’t add more than three when there were four of us, so it left off my mates son who is 8. I called him and he then put a separate one in for him and his son. They both got moved, then I got an email to say I’d been moved too, swiftly followed by a call to say I was being moved back as my third person was in a two. I asked if our remaining two could be moved then, and they said no as it was for a three. The woman in the box office basically had a go at me and said I was to add the forth in the comments section. I’m not that bothered as my seat is decent anyway, but just seemed shambolic. Also seems bizarre you can’t move seats in the summer too. At least I’ve got a Season Ticket but they don’t inspire confidence in their decisions.

Really impressed with Miley and Anderson. Bruno and Tonali looked like they were working together when we were in possession, but when Villa were breaking it was painful. Would be interesting to see them with Joelinton on the pitch at the same time. That said, it was only a friendly. Interesting to see how things come together.

Gordon can play on the right too, and I’m sure Howe isn’t going to do anything to stall his development. I suspect you’ve barely watched Diaby and you don’t have much of a clue as to the kind of player that the manager has been looking for.

Any Newcastle pubs before tonight’s game? Suspect they’ll be strict in the city going by previous visits.

Maybe its just me, but I quite like that the seats are grey. Looks classier imo.

People are going to have to get used to the fact that we will need to sell players (some who may even be popular) who are actually worth something if we want to progress. I love him and he's unplayable on his day, but he's injury prone and inconsistent. If we can get £30m plus for him we should be selling.

You know what I mean. There's nothing on his own social media which is the norm now. Don't worry, I'm not in meltdown about it.

I'll look forward to it. Just strange at least not to get a comment from the player. Suppose that could come before the weekend.

Bit of a weird unveiling compared to our previous ones under the new ownership. Nowt more than a cartoon with the shirt on and nothing on his own social media beyond a bye bye video for Milan.

I'm not sure I'd class Villa and West Ham getting £100m plus for one player each as them being pillaged.

Yeah, if only they let us sign a load of has beens.

Two big signings and some bargains is hardly the worst thing in the world. I think it was the Tifo podcast recently that talked about us following a similar pattern to early Klopp Liverpool that was pretty much this.

We've already spent over £200m without bringing barely anything in. That said, I agree not to spend this window given what kind of attraction we will be with Champions League football would be a mistake. It's the perfect opportunity to take a leap in terms of quality that might not be there next year if we didn't qualify again, which is still more likely than not I'd say.

We've just qualified for the Champions League ffs. I'd expect us to make a few big signings, despite any noises coming out of the club. It doesn't do us any good if other clubs are expecting us to go crazy. I'd expect the owners to take advantage of this opportunity where we've qualified for the CL probably 3 or 4 years ahead of schedule. Spend money and make the right signings and you have the potential to go far in the competition, as well as have a better chance of qualifying again. If it was just 2 or 3 and then just relying on the current squad, you might end up 6th or 7th next year and it be a lot harder to get a higher standard of player in.

Cunt didn't realise what he had. Idiot.