Wallace

Hartlepool's nowhere near Newcastle In time taken, Hartlepool to Sunderland is just as far as Altrincham to Manchester. Hartlepool is also a relatively small club (like Altrincham) and Sunderland/Newcastle/Boro are the biggest teams near to Hartlepool. Therefore, by the logic of "he lives close to Manchester, so he has some sort of feelings towards Man Utd" - the ref from Hartlepool should have some feelings towards Sunderland and never have ref'd our match. I'm not saying it's right that he's been given this match, I just think it's ludicrous that people would go so over the top when his performances have never been bought into question when refereeing a Man Utd match and he has absolutely no feelings towards either club. It's also about the same distance to Liverpool, so it's moot imo. I lived in Altrincham for a while (about 30 years ago) and it was more Man Utd then as it was that side of the city and Old Trafford was only 6-7 miles up the road. Although in Cheshire, it really is just part of the Greater Manchester area.

http://www.dunstabletoday.co.uk/sport/football/hatters/wonderful-gilliead-tipped-to-become-a-premier-league-player-1-7633308?

Apparently there has been a change this season whereby referees can now officiate at any match but not those involving a team they support. Previously, Clattenburg and Oliver could not referee Sunderland games because they supported us but they can now.

Good read that, would love him to do Man Utd in a cup this year It's pretty weird how they've both sort of switched roles in their age though, with him now looking like a much more likeable character in the dressing room and Mourinho seemingly falling out with everyone. He certainly seems a warmer character than in previous jobs. Past players talk of him being cold and distant even if they had respect for him but the relationship between Rafa and our players seems to be really good and they all seem somewhat in awe of him. Maybe there is less ego because they are not the elite players.

I thought that too. Last time, clubs like Doncaster, Peterborough and Scunthorpe were completely overawed and often in those games, we won them in the first 20 minutes - as on Saturday. The players at those clubs would be taking photos of themselves and the stadium when they arrived which I think is a bit of sign. I am not sure there are so many of those teams this time round.

It is pretty pathetic that he allowed himself to be in a weak position with the board. When a club keeps coming in for you despite rejecting them previously, surely you can dictate your own terms. Anyway, I guess we had to suffer the pain of McClaren in order to get Rafa. If McClaren had picked up a couple more wins, he would not have been sacked and Rafa would probably have ended up elsewhere and we would be the ones appointing Steve Bruce.

Received mine today.

Pav's brother is the one with the white hat next to Peacock.

Regardless of the interviewee, at least the club are allowing the players to be interviewed again outside of the obligatory match interviews.

Surprised the Burton game is not on TV. I would have thought they would be desperate to see us get beat in that game as Nigel Clough has had a few cup upsets in the past and no doubt, they will treat that game in that way.

Isn't his brother a professional basketball player as well? Just come back to the UK after playing in the US.

Hardly the most inspiring list ever I dunno Dyche, Johnson and Wagner may be great picks for them. What they don't need to do is promote Clarke, he's a nothing type of guy, who's stolen a living based on a reputation he somehow picked up early on in his career as Guillet's lackey. I'm in two minds on Bruce, I think he's washed up and way past his prime but he has been promoted 4 times in his career and that's what Villa need, he could take them to the playoffs this year and he knows how to win them, if they look short term he could be what they need but if they want to fulfill the ridiculous long term aims of their owner then he absolutely not the right man. Bruce is one of those I see with a shelf life of 18 months to 2 years. Has an initial impact and would probably get them promoted and stay up the first season. After that he starts to struggle. Although at Villa his budget would be bigger than what he has worked with before so that might help him.

From NUFC.com's Rotherham match report. "The closeness and newness of the venue attracted a noticeably older away clientele (including the return of the Indian war crier), in stark contrast to what had the feeling of a school trip to the Derby County game last month."

Villa supporter isn't he?

Apparently 6 of Norwich's games so far have been against teams in the bottom half whereas we have mostly played teams in the top half. So I guess it is hard to know how good Norwich are and if they have been really tested in games.

Do we have a lot more kids in our away support than other clubs? It seems that way at times.

I see their local press are running stories about the faux rivalry and who is the bigger club. I don't think it helps when the media get involved in trying to stoke up the tension.

I wondered if that was something to do with Rafa. More time to prepare for the Saturday game perhaps?

No mention of that on the official site - just the date and ticket prices.

http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/match-reports/sunderland-no-newcastle-talking-points-11920725? Sunderland were no Newcastle Eight days on from their mauling at the hands of the Magpies Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink’s men were much more at home against their rivals from the north-east. The 30 degree drop in temperature certainly helped as it meant the home side could play a more up-tempo pressing game which unsettled opponents lacking confidence after a rocky start in the Premier League. Although the Black Cats had enough to edge post Hoops, they didn't have the style of the Magpies.

A fine example of man management for a young kid. No wonder so many regressed under his management.

NUFC.co.uk say that the PNE fans are due to be sat in Level 7.

I wondered how long it would be before he was linked with Southampton.

Why don't you contact the club and suggest it to them. Alternatively, it could be raised at the next Fan's Forum. After all the club seems to be trying to improve their PR and their relationship with fans and may be more receptive to such ideas than before.

I normally sit in the Gallowgate but now sit in the Milburn for Cup games because I got fed up with the large group of kids that turned up for those games being such a pain as described above.