Wallsendmag

Why the FA suddenly started appointing referees who have previous history with us? Madeley v Brighton (who gave them the expected dodgy penalty) and now the bloke who possibly gave the most biased refereeing performance against us of all time. Even Chris Hughton lost it with him after that West Brom game. It was a complete farce and an embarrassment. It comes to something when even the West Brom fans were sympathising with us afterwards.

Simpsons references never fail to crack me up on here.

Very good point on the back of 2 excellent away results. On the pre match thread I felt a lot of people on here were underestimating Reading a bit as they have a very good home record and are looking good for a play off place. Good that we're picking up draws in games like this as we'd probably have lost it 1-0 a few months ago.

Dear me! It doesn't matter as they'll stay up - it's 6/1 so you can take some consolation when it happens! They are the turd that simply will not flush! I put £50 on them to stay up last season when they were 9/2 and I've got £35 on them at 6/1 to stay up this season. As you say it's a bit of a consolation prize when they somehow manage to wriggle their way out of it.

They're in so much debt that if we paid them a grand or so they probably let us do it at the SoS.

Based on the evidence against Preston at home in the cup and away in the league, Mitrovic should start before Murphy. I think we've both played our hands and in reality neither should start. Murphy should start before Mitrovic. He's a better finisher and puts himself about a lot more as well. An added bonus is that he's less likely to get sent off.

They'd more likely have a season similar to what Villa are having than what we are.

Yedlin is a far better right back than Anita like.

Based on the evidence of the QPR home game, he shouldn't start, he's OK to bring off the bench against tired legs. Based on the evidence against Birmingham (cup) and Rotherham he should start before Mitrovic.

Excellent when he came on today.

Reminded me of Everton v Liverpool last season. They were running around like lunatics for the first 45 minutes but of course it's impossible to do that for 90 minutes and unless you're 3 or 4 up after that you'll struggle 2nd half. I said at half time they'd blown themselves out and we'd get at least a draw out of it. When we did score I fancied us to win it. Very tactically inept performance from them I felt. 4 or 5 times I've seen Brighton this season and I'm yet to be impressed.

More than likely we'll lose this one.

Murphy scores goals at this level like.

Any good striker would have at least gambled on some of those balls put into the box today tbf.

I'd play Elliot v Brighton. The mistakes he was making earlier in the season, that he was getting away with, are costing us goals, and points now. He looks a decent back up keeper, but that's it.

He's sh*t. Pure and simple. Shearer would have had a hattrick today with some of those balls put into the box but this lad has literally zero strikers instinct to his game. Ritchie looked fed up with him.

I'm not a fan, I don't like strikers who are clumsy in front of goal, but I did suggest that with Gayle out for a month we should start with Mitro on Saturday for the same reason. He's not a goal scorer, but we have been playing a lot of long ball stuff in recent games and if we are going to do that, we might as well use him for his strengths in that area. The idea being, even if he doesn't score he can create enough havoc to allow other players to get in on goal while he occupies defenders. I think Ritchie has benefited especially from Gayle being out, Mitro pulls defenders out of position and with Yedlin bombing forward, he's made the most of what he's been given. Gayle pulls defenders all over the place more than Mitrovic with his movement. Mobility is another weak part of Mitrovic's game. Yedlin is the reason why Richie's performances have improved.

We've had a few enquiries from fans in the leazes, all lasses as it happens. It will happen I'm sure but with the numbers we have now it's busy enough just sorting the gallowgate. The east stand and milburn I'm not to sure !! Best just leaving it in the Gallowgate for now. The fans in the Leazes End don't deserve a display until they end their 90 minutes sposonsored silence at every home match. I'd give the fans in the East Stand a few flags before the Leazes. At least it's directly opposite the players when they come out of the tunnel.

I didnt say or even imply it does. Was just an example of how these things can f*** with other parents in similar situations. Why was Bradley "chosen", so to speak? That's all I'm wondering Cold and heartless here....chosen because or a rare(but not unique) condition and was pictured in Sunderland top. Sunderland desperately needed good publicity after the Adam Johnson disgrace. This was like manna from heaven... What they have done is good, but dont for a second imagine anything would have been done if it wasnt to their own benefit....Unfortunately just like most clubs.....as you say Bradley is not unique in his terrible position so where are the london clubs with kids like him? Where are the North West lot with similar kids? Nowhere..at least not so publically anyway. Sunderland knew they had a reputation to repair (always claiming to be a family club) after allowing Johnson to play despite knowoing of his guilt....what better way than supporting a child with an incurable illness. Or maybe im just cynical Tbh I agree with this but if the young bairn gets to fulfill some dreams through it in his final weeks then I don't see what the problem is. It's tragic what that little lad is going through but even more so that there's other bairns like him who'll just slip away without anyone noticing other than their devastated families.

And it's not even half time yet.

Whenever the mackems are at home there's always loads of the opposition supporters drinking in Newcastle and then getting the Metro through to the village of the dammed at the last minute then back into Newcastle after the match. It's such an unwelcoming and pointless place for anyone from outside of there to visit. Unless you're unfortunate enough to live there it's just one of those places that you just wouldn't go to other than out of necessity. Seen they've started mocking our flag displays as well now. Sh*t idea blah blah, yet you just know it's something that they'll try and copy in the very near future. Not sure how they'll get a load of empty seats to start waving flags like but that's their problem.

Not quite. 2,800. Seem to remember they don't like us very much for some reason; https://youtu.be/V1QE2d0dx58

His goal papered over what I thought was a really poor performance from him last night. I'll be amazed if he's not finished here come the end of the season.

What they've spent on the trip to New York could have paid the annual salaries for a fair few of their other workers who will currently be on minimum wage or slightly higher. Shame really.

Had a good game other than one typical Colback moment in the 1st half where he tried to do something he isn't capable of and almost cost us a goal.