ponsaelius

I went for a piss so missed Burn's goal live. Caught it on the screen in the concourse. It's weird seeing a goal on those screens - the crowd roar is slightly early but not enough to ruin it.

He's not bad. Out for the season though.

Yeah those kind of goals are always weirdly subdued now. I never properly celebrate if I think there's a chance he might be off. There was a ridiculousness to immediately getting a fourth after such a nervous game I think which sent people over the edge. I pretty much lost the plot at that point.

Had a buddy from the US over yesterday, been a Toon fan since the 90s, but first times he's been since 2015 during the darkest Pardew years. He was absolutely blown away by the atmosphere in the Gallowgate and couldn't believe how the feeling of the club has changed. We had a great day doing a pub crawl down the Ouseburn and up into town. Was even tempted into getting the Saudi shirt for £20 - the first toon shirt I've bought since 2010. Brilliant day all-round. Just hope we finish the job now on Monday.

The IPTV i have has a catch-up service

Wilson on the left? Wot

I stayed over in Luton for a flight last month. I really don't like this tendancy to call UK towns/cities 'shitholes'. Most places I find are actually a lot better than the reputation that precedes them, indeed most of the depressed northern towns/cities that get that given that moniker actually have loads of civic grandeur but are just a bit run down. But Luton really is incredibly nondescript and grey. I was actually flying to Chisinau, in the poorest country in Europe, and considering how nice it was by comparison only hammered home how sad Luton was.

Fucking hell didn't realise that until now

Proper old school ground, nasty physical side. I think they'd be great. Most of the league plays exactly the same way these days it's dull.

Also played in orange in the 70s and once in early 2000s I think. Might be wrong but I think there was a vote to go back to it because it had positive connotations from that period. Edit: http://www.historicalkits.co.uk/Luton_Town/Luton_Town.htm

I don't even gamble usually Haven't in 10 years. I just got in on it recently to try and offset the heartbreak and because I couldn't believe how good the odds were for Liverpool to win all their games/us to finish outside the top four with Liverpool/Man United in. Part of it was definitely just to alleviate stress, but it was equally because of how tempting the odds were. I've got two separate bets on now that will pay out about £700 just from free bets.

Not sure what solution is. They're the most northerly 22/44 teams.

I don't understand how anybody can be convinced that human made statistical models and betting odds for a sport as complex as football are perfectly represented by statistical principles. This isn't rolling a dice or flipping a coin 9 times. They are just numbers made up by humans to try and quantify something that has a whole multitude of difficult to quantify factors. It is ultimately just well educated and calculated guesswork. Leicester were 5000-1 to win the league, now you will never get any team for less than 1000-1 before a season begins. Why did that change? Why does one historical event change something so dramatically? Because at the end of the day it's just somebody's guesswork (and in the bookies case protecting their interests). I would question this isn't a case of not understanding statistics, but actually not understanding football if you think statistical likelihood can be exactly applied. Or certainly if you think there is any singular truth that can't be reasonably contested or questioned by others.

Those odds were clearly nonsense, and there was money to be made on it. I just wish I'd done more than free bets. Ridiculously easy run of games, no real pressure, fully fit squad, no European distractions, and a repeated track record of doing exactly this. Plenty of people on here said they'd do it and it's looking to be the case.

It was definitely likely. They clearly had momentum with all their attacking players back and have had an absolutely piss easy run in of fixtures.

I can't see Man Utd getting less than 6 points from those remaining fixtures.

Sorry to be miserable but I just think we're going to fall short. Main reason being that the midfield balance has just not looked right without Longstaff (LWLD the last games he's missed), and it's exacerbating the fact there is serious fatigue in that area of the pitch for us. Hope I'm wrong, but if we don't beat Brighton we're gone IMO.

When they were good their weird milquetoast atmosphere seemed to work to their benefit. No pressure and the players thrived. But like you say it's to their detriment now their players are gutless and pathetic. Can you imagine Goodison, Elland Road or City Ground in this situation ffs. The team might be shit but at least it would be a hate filled cauldron.

5ft5. Bit small for our land of giants

Well Pope is far better than Steele too.

They weren't even that bad against Everton. They created plenty of chances. Way higher XG and shots. But they had Steele and Everton had Pickford on his good day.

Don't think it's unreasonable to say it's going to be an extremely hard game. Not just because Brighton are a good side but because their strengths will play really well against our current weaknesses unfortunately. Lack of balance to the midfield and full backs that are looking a bit tired. It probably wouldn't go well with the home crowd but I'd almost be tempted to play a bit like the away side. Keep it solid and hit them on the break.

Especially since I've been doing exactly that and making a fortune

Brighton don't look ready to roll over this season. Going to be a tough game.

I don't really understand how Pickford gets away with just taking players out on the regular.