STM

23 minutes of the pod on the Tyne. Caulkin in tears at half time. Can barely speak. The feeling he had resonates so much with how I was feeling. Utter disbelief.

I keep thinking about little things like Gordon being hounded by Everton fans and wondering if he envisaged 3 years later he'd be lifting a trophy with us. I honestly don't think some of them know what it means either. It means when they are retired, they will be part of our culture and heritage, on podcasts, repeats, highlights, wherever they go people will be offering them a pint, whenever they are interviewed as a pundit they will be calling Newcastle "we". If players like Cabaye and Ryan Taylor are considered club hero's, what the hell does that make Fabian Schar or Sandro Tonali? God's? Fate chose these lads to be forever ours.

That we knew this was going on but he was protected by the media was the worst. I know alot of people don't like Craig Hope but he did an absolute solid for us.

Yeah im not bothering with that. Way too much hassle to see something that will be blocked out by the curvature of the earth. I'll watch it on TV with a beer and a takeaway.

The idea of Bruno leaving might be the stupidest shit ive ever heard like. His whole family is entwined in the region. I can't imagine for a second there is any desire from him, his family or any other player to leave. There are scenarios where it could happen but it's so minute that it's not worth even a second thought IMO.

There is an odd sadness to any end of an era. Like the end of a good holiday or seeing a family member who lives abroad that has to fly home again. I doubt any of us would change a single second of that weekend, dare I say even the Liverpool goal, which merely added to the drama but I bet we all wish we could re-live it over and over.

Final whistle shows the raw emotion.

Wow. 4 years ago. Not 20. 4.

Anyone know what Brunos arm tattoo has written on it? Something in Portuguese i presume.

In fairness, im assuming Orstein was asked about it, rather than merely blurting out that sentence.

I agree with the above, however I'm prepared to let it go with Pardew. The difference is that when Pardew left, he speaks fondly of Newcastle. The likes of Souness, Allardyce and Bruce, did nothing but belittle the club and blame the fans. Pardew falls in the same category as Ruud Guillit, a piss poor manager but I bare no ill will. We know Pardews personality like but ive also heard that he's genuinely a decent ish bloke behind the scenes, despite the "king" stuff, so that's where I'm at. It helps that I have no room for hatred since my heart is full of joy mind.

Channel?

Dark haired fella in the middle absolutely mortal getting bounced around.

Would be an A1 signing. PL proven, loads of years and loads of forward value. Him and Botman will bag us more trophies.

At this stage Trippier needs convinced to see out his days here as a player/coach. He might believe he could start for someone else, but I suspect Howe will give him the puppy dog eyes to stay. It's up to the player essentially. Trippier is nailed on for management. If he had any sense at all he would ask to be part of Howes back room team. No better place to learn his trade and start building his coaching portfolio.

Keep: Isak, Gordon, Bruno, Tonali, Hall, Tino, Botman, Joelinton, Miley. Not worth selling (hold other value to us beyond the few million we might get): Trippier, Schar, Krafth, Dubravka/Pope, Burn. Saleable assets: Murphy (won't happen), Willock, Longstaff, Barnes, Targett, Greek fella. Release: Wilson, Lascelles, Gillespie? Ruddy? The above is how I see it. With that in mind and with PSR to be considered, we have to entertain offers for the "saleable" players IMO. Murphy is like the club mascot and there's zero chance he leaves IMO. Longstaff I could see 20m to Everton or handful of other clubs. Barnes has held his value despite not playing too much. He'd be a top player for anyone and he'd be valuable to us in Europe, id want north of 30m before entertaining his exit. Willock is somewhere in between Barnes and Longstaff. His injury record let's him down. If we could get 25m, I think we'd do a deal. Brentford, West Ham, Brighton, somewhere like that. Targett, be lucky to get anything back but his days are numbered.

I said before the final that any player who wins us a trophy has earned their right to leave when they want to, provided the finances are right for us. I don't think for a second Isak is going anywhere though.

Shearer was in Amsterdam watching Sam Fender.

My day started with burying my daughters gerbil. Which I know it sounds weird but I was stood out in the garden with the spade, my 7 year old and a gerbil wrapped in an old amazon box. I was doing dad stuff. Id listened to 5live in the morning and a woman that lives along the road was talking to Colin Murray, id talked to her son in the pub the night before. She missed the final 2 years ago after shattering her leg. Me and my friend took our two sons to my local in the afternoon for a few games of pool and darts. Just filling the day in, making a day of it. Doubles, round the clock, I won every game... a good start. Then on to my mates house. I can barely remember anything. Straddling him after Burns goal, diving on him after Isaks goal. Pressing a plastic stress ball against my face for the last 10 minutes. The final whistle, on the floor crying and laughing at the same time. The most incredible feeling of emotion. Stumbling to my local club for the after party. Hugging friends and strangers, pure euphoria, what an amazing atmosphere. Home, drunk, happy. A day I won't ever forget or won't ever be surpassed.

It was when he rocked up that morning with his staff and their suitcases, like the A team.

Again, stick around. Our other Villa fan is a bellend. This place is much better with opposition fans.

I'm getting to a scary place where I'm running out of content. I'm desperate for match cam. I'm also hopeful on some sort of netflix documentary on our rise and cup win. Someone somewhere will likely do it. Full feature length shit.

Howe is the most talented, responsible manager I've ever seen. Even after Sunday, he didn't party with the rest of the players and staff at the box park, he was typically understated. He will be considered one of the greatest English managers of all time by the time he retires.

Miss you Dave.

Welcome mate. Feel free to hang around, we haven't had a regular Liverpool fan around these parts in a while. We treat strangers kindly.... just ask Froggy our resident Man United fan.