TRon

Whatever we think of their society, the main thing is they don't try and impose their values on us, and on that score they have been very respectful. I think that's as much as we can ask of PIF, who are an investment firm at the end of the day, I don't think they have much influence on the penal code in Saudi Arabia.

Very good breakdown of Bruce's relentless stupidity. I particularly liked how you highlighted his cringey attempt at humour re Livermore.

I don't think we'll play particularly well, just too many of our best players missing to expect a good performance, but if we can defend resolutely like we have been doing for the past couple of months, we can still snatch something. For all the shitstorm which is surrounding Chelsea, they are still one of the best teams in the world, a result would be massive.

Probably the most sensible approach. Take the Eddie Howe approach, this isn't something we have control over, we are just here to follow our football club as fans.

FWIW, Saudi Arabia didn't start executing criminals yesterday, they have a medieval justice system since their inception back in the 1900s or whenever the state was created. PIF have followed other dubious owners into British football because we encouraged it. We've won Champions league trophies on the back of the wealth pumped into British football on the back of this money. That's just how it is, by all means I can understand if people don't like it, but it's the reality of football for the last 20 years. It didn't just happen yesterday.

It seems somewhat predictable that Russia invading the Ukraine is going to translate into us being the bad guys today.

Yep. I switched on Sky News for five minutes and the presenter was grilling Keith Starmer about Newcastle being owned by a Saudi investment firm. That was the actual news channel as well, not Sky Sports.

At least I'm not reduced to personal insults when I don't have an answer.

Well you should care. If you were that bothered about 81 people being executed you should welcome swapping owners with Man U.

Would you like to swap owners with Man U's?

Froggy still pissed off they ended up with the Glazers I see.

That's a pretty high quality hattrick like.

That was the whole point of it tbh.

Yes I know their fans are up themselves a bit, but they still bring the big match atmosphere which makes the Premier what it is. What would you look forward to more? A chance to turn over Leeds at a pulsating St James or a game against Burnley?

Yeah, we'll probably have been bought and sold twice before we ever get to give them the derby drubbing they are due. Oh well, maybe we'll draw them in the cup.

Looking forward to this being renamed Big 6-Ometer next season.

Same, always thought Leeds brought something to the Premier, although it's a bit less once they stabbed Bielsa in the back.

We are in a no lose situation with these now. If they fuck up the promotion again, then it's all laughs. If they ever get back in the Premier we'll be twatting them so badly they'll get wish they stayed in the third division.

I know John Pilger's seen as enemy of the state, and there's probably good reason for it, but it's journalists like him who down the years have provided the other side of the story to the spoon fed stuff we are usually fed on national television.

He's not getting them promoted ever man. He'll just wallow around mid-table like a hippo in a swamp.

Looks like West Brom are in for the long haul with Bruce as manager. He'll spread the rot over at least two seasons now, possibly three before the gormless fans finally twig what's happened.

I'm already used to it, people can try and drag us into it, but SA are never going to be in a military stand off with the UK. I do imagine many of the glory hunter supporters who latched onto Chelsea over the glory years will start to drop off, so that will be interesting. Too bad, but they've done alright for the last couple of decades.

Sky Sports mentioning that some Amensty spokesman has named us as one of the clubs linked with evil regimes and urging the govt to intervene in other clubs as well as Chelsea . I don't think that's happening like since Saudi Arabia have been approached to ramp up the supply of oil to offset the shortage from Russia.

He's only started getting credit for it recently, but it's well deserved. I don't think anybody else in our squad could close down the defenders as effectively with the exception of Joelinton maybe.