80

He was way more into the celebrations than I would've expected. Fully involved in soaking Eddie, Geordies taking the piss etc. Good to see.

It's wasn't about his playing quality, but the situation nearly flattened the club's resurgence - financially, spiritually and competitively. It suddenly put us staring down the barrel, it was more than an unsuited player being signed in a dodgy deal and mishandled by an incompetent arsehole. The club was screwed whether we signed Joelinton as a striker or not. But like I say, Tonali (and the club) has done everything he could control right since then so happy to leave that one buried.

It's a bigger turnaround than Joelinton all things considered.

Aye, I think Bruno is best understood as something more like our spirit animal rather than a traditional captain

Totally. On a similar note, given that camaraderie, they must have similar thoughts to us fans re: will they get forcibly broken up if we don't get success soon. Well, we're well and truly on the road to getting it now. He's said before that he doesn't underestimate the significance that his best form has come while he's here - he's seen several other clubs and countries already, so he knows the grass isn't necessarily greener.

It was, but his response was really heartening. So happy for him. He's been on a hell of a story arc with us. Looks himself again in every way. I assume he's off in the summer, but he's well and truly sewn himself into the fabric of the club in the best possible way now.

He's so deserving. Relieved it was him and not other possible alternatives, honestly.

Feel very reassured about his future here given how happy and proud he looked during the celebrations. As much as he might be happy here, you couldn't blame him for having nagging doubts about us being a club that just will never win anything. That was put to bed yesterday. It proves there are no limits.

Huge achievement.

And Palace in 22. Plenty, really.

In a way though, that's actually great because it meant they got to experience the relief and joy of thinking he'd scored and they were still in the tie for an extra couple of minutes. They shouldn't let that be taken away from them unless they are stupid.

Virgil lives.

Dunno, but I'll take SteV at his word. Most posts in player threads do come straight after games after all... It's not like I had to try hard to find these remarks.

@The College Dropout Not targeting anyone, but picked page 35 at random and got these quotes among others. Not that I was mounting a rousing defence of him before he left or anything.

On here, quite a lot did.

By all accounts we fucked him about something rotten in the summer, so I can't see anything wrong with us showing him some good will.

Wish he'd done something more forgivable like getting banned for a season for gambling on games.

Please continue your comedy act. Do you think that if VAR becomes so efficient, maybe driven by AI, that referees start being made redundant that we should then scrap VAR? To make sure they don't face the stress of a life on benefits.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/feb/28/grassroots-clubs-hold-key-as-norway-prepares-for-historic-vote-to-scrap-var What is it about VAR that makes authorities so determined to force it on the game?

This would seem to contradict the spirit of Brad Miller declaring a new stadium would involve having 'lots and lots more seats' than a redeveloped SJP at the stack meeting. Part of me wonders if it's part of a campaign of lowering expectations so that when a final, bigger plan is revealed it picks up additional pro-move momentum, that they're obviously still worried about.

I didn't have high hopes, but what a load of waffle.

Ambrose.

Personally I'd think "that's weird, guess it's Murphy playing a cheeky 'welcome home' trick on a mate. Glad the referee didn't notice".

I agree, but Anderson actually does on this occasion To be clear, I'm not calling for a red. As I said in my original post, on balance of evidence I think it was a rib between mates. But if they hadn't been mates it would've been a different story, similar to helping someone off the floor and pinching their skin as you do it.

Of course. You still haven't dealt with my Bruno observation though... In a world where Schar was sent off against Southampton, it's obvious Anderson was at risk of a red if Murphy had been more devious. He looks back at Murphy's face and then aims his hand at it.