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It's unmanly to gossip

to be clear, I meant Ritchie was involved in that fiction too. From what I'd know, he seems like the sort who'd be honest with himself about what he can and can't do at his age, and him and Howe have old loyalties going back to Bournemouth of course.

To be honest, I would more imagine that they're colluding to not make him look bad in public when they're in agreement that he's finished at our level of football. Howe was making some noises about 'not wanting to lose him' in the summer but that 'he was fancying a move closer to his home' which I think was the same thing, trying to help Ritchie negotiate from a better position with a future club.

This, in fairness, is a valid point you're making. That said, mate, you seem to be deeply paranoid about women en masse without good cause. Yes, there are inadequate and pitiful men out there. Yes, there are probably a few on this forum. Yes, there are shit women out there. No, you shouldn't generalise about all women accordingly. In my view, a major place you're going wrong is in concentrating on looking at the world through largely fake group dynamics. Men vs. Women etc. when you should be predominantly focused on judging them as individuals, and trying to analyse their lives from several different angles. And by that same token, focus on judging yourself and your lifestyle on the individual level rather than worrying too much about what one dweeb on the internet is up to. You would almost certainly be a stronger and more persuasive person as a result.

50,000 trying to hit the high note when replacing Take On Me with Eddie Howe would be quite a... noise...

Yeah fair enough. Like I say, my spider senses tingled too, I wouldn't deny that. Just, it's pretty serious language. Must be depressing for a young black kid to be taught that Souness is Souness to you because you're black, rather than just because he's Graeme Souness.

I got that vibe too, but it's a bit early to be judging.

To be honest, I'd disagree with that somewhat. He's almost functioning as a striker for us right now, insofar as how important his scoring is to his overall attacking game (obviously, his defensive game is great). If and when his scoring dries up a bit, I would hope his goals are replaced by assists...

2004 Greece says yassou.

It was the nadir of Shepherd's running of the club. We ricocheted between managerial styles subsequently. Robson's failing was probably that he was trying to handle situations with more class than the club deserved at the time. It would've been ugly, but it might have worked out better if he'd aired some dirty laundry in public e.g. Shepherd effectively making himself DOF for incomings and outgoings. It wasn't Robson's style to do such a thing, of course. Re: Robson's departure, I backed him but the writing on the wall was so clear that I kind of wanted to get his departure over and done with because it was all so undignified. But when Souness was first linked I thought it was a sick joke. I remember watching developments on SSN and I couldn't believe what was happening - he was about a fortnight away from being sacked for underperformance at Blackburn at the time.

It was clear he was just wanting to get all the previous words out of the way so he could finish on that

Returning at a good time for us.

The Arsenal games are what intrigue me. Our end of season demolition versus their new form. It'll be interesting.

Thought it was a nice return for him. When he's been out in the past, he's often been over eager to impress so was pleased for him.

Particularly given Joelinton was missing, he really stepped up to the plate today. Good on him.

It talked about the first 40 games, so I assume they were Div 2 points!

When he was sacked, it wasn't exactly harsh but it was brutal. Like putting down a well loved pet. He'd done his best to serve us well.

It's got to the stage where if he has half a chance, I expect him to score. Wow.

I often wonder why it is statue making seems to have become a dying art. I don't remember seeing any shit ones that were made before I was born, but nowadays, they pretty much all are. But yeah, I remember thinking that Jackie Milburn one is the best new one I've seen in a long time.

Diving is diving ultimately. Really appalling, good thing we've got VAR to sort these problems out...

Given the way VAR is actually used, I doubt they actually would've been ruled out though...

Genuinely thought it was George Graham for a split second.

Not exactly an inspiring interview with Hassenhutl there...

Would be nice if they did kids for a fiver or something, just to balance things out. Give a load of youngsters the chance to see us in the middle of a great season.

Great times But yeah, there was often an element of patronisation around for us then. Even when we were flying, journalists would often pester Robson, asking about how old he felt and why doesn't he go and put his feet up in a garden shed. He was in his late 60s. Funnily enough, when Alex Ferguson hit that age, I don't remember him receiving the same treatment.