timnufc22

Please lads & lasses, if you’re going - be singing with gusto and engaged with every kick.

Best game in a long, long time.

I’d scrap VAR in general and try two officials behind each goal instead. Anything that happens in the box, they have a close up view and the ref can consult with them and go off their opinion if he’s unsure. It would bring extra help to the ref, get more decisions correct while also keeping the flow of the game, removing the wait while a video it being checked over and over. As a compromise I’d maybe keep VAR for offside on the condition that a leeway is introduced and can be programmed into the technology, say 15cm. This is to preserve the whole point of the rule, that was to stop attackers having a clear advantage while preventing goals being ruled offside when they’re such a tiny fraction ahead it has no tangible advantage. Either way, no matter how much VAR is getting right (which is probably most the time), it is changing the culture of the game aswell as the flow of the game, which underpinned why loved football in the first place. If something is preventing you from celebrating a goal - the supposed peak of supporting a team - then you know whatever ‘benefit’ it’s for is at too greater cost.

Ah yeah. Tears wont change the score for me. Would love it if that was belted out.

Tune?

I understand the idea behind Tripper LB & Livramento RB, but in my mind ideally Hall would slot in at LB. He was brilliant vs Man Utd, its his position and Livremento can rotate with Trippier.

People will say this is negative and OTT and maybe I’m venting and want to get it off my chest…. But this is what can happen when you freeze players out for so long, they’re going to be be more liable to injury when they finally do play. There’s absolutely no doubt Targett should have been played more games, simple rotation here & there. He should not have been frozen out and it pisses me off now we see him go off like that.

Was an great night that was, complete domination on and off the pitch. The camaraderie in L7 was absolutely brilliant.

He marked Ginola out the game in the FA Cup semi final and was generally a good full back for us. Was always a little baffled why Robson dropped him for Hughes, who came through as a centre back.

Pope Livramento Lascelles Dummett Targett/Burn Longstaff Bruno Hall Almiron Gordon Joelinton For me, I'd be playing Willock vs Arsenal in place of Joelinton and I'd be weary of him playing two games in a short space of time after a long lay off. I'd also be playing Targett vs Arsenal and after a lack of action for a long time I'd be tempted to play Burn vs Man Utd if it meant Targett was ok to play vs Arsenal.

I find that quite amazing considering the money we spent on Livramento & Hall. We’ve been crying out for some changes during this second half, some players look dead on their feet. Crazy not to use the squad that we have left fit.

I don’t understand Howe’s reluctance to rotate, despite spending big money on the likes of Livramento. Why burn players out like trippier until you decide to play their ‘backups’? By the time Livramento plays he could be in a rusty situation. I think it’s really going to hurt us to is season with such a congested fixture list.

I agree, a by product of going off precise video replays instead of the naked eye is that we're forgetting what the purpose of the offside rule was in the first. There's no way some of the goals chalked off have had any advantage from being a millimetre ahead. So in conjunction with VAR offsides, a very small leeway should be brought in to help bring back and emphasise the original purpose of the rule. Even though VAR has got more things right than wrong, at this stage I may actually be in favour of scrapping it completely if it was an option. Simply because it is gravely damaging the emotion and spontaneously that underpins the excitement of the game.

I actually love that home kit mock-up. It's a great balance of traditional while having its own slant - I agree with the designer in general that you don't want near enough carbon copy kits each year. I think the blue and gold work together as it's subtle enough but serves a purpose (blue piping brings an end to the stipes, the gold serves as lush trims on the adidas stripes and both colours are reflected by the crest). It has a lot of nods to many different kits over the years as oppose to an on-the-nose homage to one. Would be chuffed with it.

I agree that the reputation we have for great support / atmosphere - something that the club plays on - is a commercial asset too. It’s part of our positive identity. Therefore it needs to be preserved or bumped up to match said reputation. We also want it to be an attraction for players - granted there’s many other things higher in the list decision wise, but even if it’s that extra 1% advantage to sway a player. We can’t be pumping out official videos all the time and likely asking players to do promo vids saying how amazing the atmosphere is, while at the same time refusing to listen to fans who are incredibly frustrated at not being able to generate one and even getting letters sent asking them to sit down. The point I’m trying to make is that in amongst the ever increasing soulless aspects of football, it’s more important than ever to protect unique, personal aspects of the club. I also agree that we can’t have rose tinted specs on and pretend every single game at SJP used to be amazing atmosphere and there’s always going to be a levelling off between big games and low key games. What I would say is, at least put seating/standing plans in place to find out what our levelling off baseline is. It may improve things a lot, it may not. But let’s find out.

I've always been staunchly against a blank back but I think I feel the same about this as well. I think the patch here it actually lends itself to more traditional red numbered shirts, at least one back in the 70s/80s sticks in my mind watching old clips, where the red number was against a small white patch.

Turn the speaker volume down from the ridiculous level its currently at. I know someone said about regulation issues which is weird how every other ground - seemingly - dont have their speakers anywhere near the same volume. If there are regulation issues the club should be challenging these. Change up the songs every month or so (but keep Fortuna & Local Hero obviously). Extend the standing section and pinpoint it as a singing section. You could have it sprawl across into the middle of the Gallowgate end, around 5/6k total allocation. Create a second designated standing/singing section next to the away fans in the Leazes corner - whether it be L4 or L7. Even if its 2k allocation, that would be enough to give robust responses to the away fans and bring about some great banter. If the club deem it too problematic to move people around in the Gallowgate end due to ST holders, then create one big standing/singing section in the leazes L4 corner. Above all, this is for good of the team and thus club aswell as catering for as many different match goers as possible. With this in mind, the club shouldn't worry about moving people around.

Needs to spend less time moaning at the ref and focus on the game.

It sounds tedious dosent it, Hey Jude has been done to death and it’s sung by many others clubs aswell. Mix it up sometimes ffs. I’ve said countless times - the volume needs to be turned down massively both pre match and full time anyway. I can’t think of any other club that I watch on tv who’s PA system comes across as being played anywhere near as loud as ours is.

The fact your team is making progress into the oppositions box and you’re more focused on synchronised clapping and droning on with constant defeating drums is ridiculous to me. But it’s about different football cultures. The drum itself isn’t a bad thing if you’ve sparingly, like one used to be at Spurs and Blackburn.

Totally agree, the majority would stay in the strawberry corner anyway but others can move if they don’t want to be part of a singing section. There needs to be a fuss kicked up about the seating arrangements and the club need to know fans are frustrated they can’t generate an atmosphere they want. Imo an absolute must is a second singing section near the away fans. Interaction with them is a big way to get the atmospheres going.

Isak’s hold up play is better

Not overly keen on Jenas though there’s certainly worse. Completely agree about McCoist, he’s like a caricature of himself. Yes mate, you’re there to “be totally honest” and to “tell us something”. Minus the ‘off air’ racist comment obviously, someone like Ron Atkinson was a much more authentic co-commentator back in the day. Heck even the much maligned Andy Townsend too. A lot of commentary is so hyperbolic and childish it distorts the moment of genuine enthusiasm / analysis.

What’s embarrassing is all of the hype after the PSG game, which by all accounts was immense. Then all of the media are frothing at the mouth in excitement at the prospect of our next home game. Then when it comes along, with no doubt some tuning in/going to see what the fuss is about, they’re presented with that damp squib, pardon the pun. The players deserved more during a difficult moment, after everything they’ve given us the past 2 years.

We kept plugging away against an organised team but just lacked sharpness in the final third. Can’t fault the application. Isak massive miss. Targett did well when he came on and I think should have been rotated more. He’s a good player and has always offered good link up play and crossing ability. Burn has definitely earned his starting spot, but Targett should have made more appearances before now. Thought Bruno played well, Gordon was quality. Joelinton is a great ‘water carrier’ but lacks the quality and quickness of thought to be a precise midfielder at the highest level imo. I’m not being reactionary I’ve always thought that, not taking anything away from his turnaround. We need Willock to get up to speed asap. In hindsight I think Murphy should have started.