ponsaelius

Aye I'm not usually one to obsess over stats but our underlying numbers have been really good throughout so far. Even the one comfortable defeat at Brighton where we were terrible relative to what we are used to seeing was actually weirdly close in terms of xG - far closer than last year where we got away with a lucky 0-0.

I think the unsustainability of keeping it up probably explains why they're going in hard with it early on and dishing out the punishments (or at least making the direct threats), to lay down a marker. They'll also probably continue to advertise that it's going to happen even if it doesn't. Just checked back and the publicity on official website for West Ham before the game still mentions the ID checks happening throughout the season - but apparently according to .com they never happened.

In 99% of cases I'd say yes, you would do, I certainly would do. But I'd also say if you genuinely don't feel comfortable in doing so you should be allowed not to without risk of punishment. Similarly if you've arrived and don't have any ID on you for whatever reason (and you know they're going to ask for it) then it should be OK to not bother trying without being punished. I know what you're saying and the practical realities for most people in most cases. I just can't believe it can be justifiable for the club to do a points deduction unless it is absolutely without doubt clear somebody else is using the ticket.

To be honest if they're sending out emails to people giving them only 3 days to appeal purely for non collection of the ticket on the day that is actually pretty shocking. I regularly go days/weeks without checking my personal email if there's not something I'm specifically waiting on or sending.

While it is absolutely shocking to buy only for the point and simply not attend, I'm not sure how the club could possibly prove that was the case or be justified in enforcing on those terms. There is simply no way to prove it unless the purchaser willingly says that was what they did. I've missed games personally in the past because I was ill on the morning (Wolves away 2017) and because of flooding on train tracks (Wolves away 2020). The universe obviously trying to prevent me going to Molineux (I should have listened). These are common circumstances, among many others, which would prevent attendance on the day. Any rightful purchaser (taking the strict terms under which they're now operating) of a ticket should hold the right to ultimately not attend for whatever reason. This is particularly the case now as there is almost no window whatsoever these days to return a ticket between its delivery and the cut off point for official returns. Under questioning of non attendance it would be perfectly reasonable for them to have the single loyalty point deducted for the game they didn't go to - but not any punishment above and beyond that. Even in instances where a dud ticket was scanned but replacement not collected (I don't know if they're able to corroborate these two elements) I'd say it is not reasonable to punish in such a manner. There are perfectly legitimate reasons why certain individuals would not feel comfortable going around to an away box office on their own. Certainly they should be able to choose not to do so if they wish. Similarly if they've got there and realised they don't have their ID on them as it is back at home/on bus/in car - or they don't have one whatsoever. The only circumstances where I could see the club being justified in full points deductions under this system (accepting the reality of this system) is in a case where somebody who has purchased a resale willingly goes up to the box office and admits this is the case and they aren't the rightful owner of the ticket.

I just don't get how your timescales could be so out of whack. I get we all checked out a bit during recent years, but howay man

Eh? None of those were signed before we got relegated

Good for you bro

Its a difficult one. I'd possibly give him a two year deal to be in the Dummett role going forward, and still buy a new RCB. It's probably unfair on Lascelles for that to be his role though - and although he's playing well at the moment I don't think we should be postponing a CB signing in favour of him.

Love that Longy is getting goals now. Last season he'd have hit that one first time into the keeper - loved that he took his time and slotted it.

8/11 English players. Eddie Howes Brexit mags.

Good to briefly speak to you at the end mate. Hopefully next time can have a proper chat ?

Haven't watched any of Uruguay in a while but that midfield with Bielsa sounds tasty.

I agree it would be great, I just don't think the economics of it would ever stack up. In a country that put infrastructure in place, and then planned resi/commercial development around said infrastructure, then yes. It would possibly be viable long term. One of the big issues with all transport planning is land use. We can all cry about public transport being a public good (and I personally think it is) but in reality you can't throw good money after bad on services that won't come close to washing their own backs. The Tyne Nd Wear Metro system is a case in point - loads of stations are surrounded by industrial uses, green belt land, low density housing. And then we wonder why the service is crap or doesn't make enough money to look after itself. Half the stations get barely any use. We should be putting high density, mixed use development around all existing light and heavy rail stations. Even if they're currently a green field. Instead you get rubbish like the site was approved recently near Chillingham Road metro.

The Northumberland Line is more than just planned - the line works are more or less done and all stations are all under construction. Due to run from summer next year although you wouldn't be surprised if there were more delays. Stops will be: Central Manors Northumberland Park Seaton Delaval Bedlington Newsham Bebside Ashington That map is not really proposals, just somebody's little dreamscape. The most regularly discussed one is that is shown as the green line loop on there from South Hylton proposing to reinstate the old Leamside Line. However if it ever did come forward I think it would be more likely as heavy rail in part to help alleviate freight capacity on the ECML. Light rail needs the population density to justify it. I just don't see that on the Leamside route personally. Washington is just too sprawling to really justify it unless you significantly changed its urban layout and densified around certain stations. The same is true for much of the Sunderland extension anyway - the stations are generally significantly less used than the yellow line. Same also goes for the Tyne Valley. It's perfectly suitable as a heavy rail route across the country to connect with Carlisle and should really be electrified - but it's not really a suitable metro extension. The one area which would benefit from a metro extension the most would be the West End of the city - but that will always be too expensive because it would requiring digging tunnels.

Well I've just looked at transfermarkt and he played as an orthodox CB in a back four on a number of occasions as well as playing in a back three. I agree it's not his primary role.

Transfers are always a risk. Can't get them all right. We ended up with Isak because Ekitike fell through. Just got to roll with the punches.

I have definitely watched him play CB for Leeds - particularly in their Championship promotion season he played about half of the season there. Not sure he's done it often in the PL and I'm not saying that's what should happen - more making the point that he operates in that area of the pitch not further forward. Agree with everything else. I'm not convinced by him and worried he'd be a career repair job we could do without. But as a stop gap he might be OK.

Honestly I think that's worse. It's basically using insider knowledge to allow your mates to defraud betting companies. Not that I have any sympathy with the companies. Betting on your own team to win (if that's what it is), especially if you're not even involved, is a lesser act. Not that it should be allowed.

I think not allowing the players to train is ridiculous. I didn't realise they did that with Toney. Sure, ban them from playing, but isolating them completely is counterproductive if you're dealing with somebody who has an addiction and a vice they routinely fulfill during their time off.

Phillips is a DM not a #8 though. He can also do a job at CB. I think he's a repair job which worries me because we haven't really gone for these kind of big club cast offs. But he arguably gives us a bit more balance in midfield options as somebody who can genuinely play #6.

Don't massively rate Phillips but would definitely take him loan-to-buy if we're going to be without Tonali for the rest of the season. I think Howe rates him. We need numbers in midfield. Miley isn't ready.

He's a £55 million investment on a 5 year contract though. You have to be tactful here. Even if it costs us in the short term. Not paying his wages and just allowing him to go back to Italy for a year. Imo that is tantamount to writing off the player. You're basically giving up and we'll be loaning him out on the cheap. We need to bite the bullet to stick by him and try to keep him integrated fully - as difficult as that will be. We need to at very least contest his ability to train and be amongst the team on grounds of helping the player's wellbeing.

If it's a ban for a year because he's betting on football then it's fair enough and you just have to accept it like a big injury. Shit but it is what it is - deserves punishment. He however needs supporting and given the help required if it's an addiction. The thing that worries me about it is if he's also banned from the training ground and being around the club completely. I don't think that will be helpful at all for the player. He needs support networks and to continue to be integrated into his new country. It's only likely to exacerbate the problem if you take away his day-to-day routine and job. The authorities need to see that when dishing out these punishments. We also need to pursue compensation under the presumption Milan knew something about it. Milan already had Bennacer out for a while and were obviously staring at his midfield partner being out long term too. They cashed in and used it to fund a rebuild. Dirty trick but I think it's absolutely clear they knew about it. It was a weird transfer from day 1.

That's exactly it. The reports say he bet on Milan while he was unavailable to play.