Wallsendmag

But it isn't a problem. Our away ends were generally great prior to the rule changes. They're utter shit now. That's the actual problem that we're talking about here which is why it's being discussed in the matchday atmosphere chat. The rule was changed because people who never had any interest in attending away games suddenly decided they wanted to, let's not kid ourselves otherwise. The number one priority is that the team gets maximum support away from home. That doesn't happen anymore because too many of the silent crew who sit on their hands at home games are now able to do the same at away games. Should have kept it as it was and kept back 10% of the allocation exclusively for under 25s to enable them to build points if they so wished.

Another vivid memory of that Blackburn trip was the journey down there. Went on a Transit minibus with bench seats down each side, cases of lager underneath them stretching the full length of the minibus. Can't even remember how I ended up going with them, my mate from school was with me so he must have organised it but I remember them all being a good 10 years older than us and they were a bunch of absolute lunatics. Remember speeding down the motorway and one of them needing a piss and then promptly opening the back doors whilst he pissed out of the back whilst another lad grabbed hold of him by his belt for safety. One slip and he was a goner. Instant death for sure.

Would also let clubs know that we are in a position where we HAVE to sell to comply with the rules and puts us in a really poor negotiating position though.

I was in the front row. Jumped over the fence onto the cinder track when Clarkie scored down the other end with 5 minutes to go. Was promptly grabbed by 2 stewards, one on each arm, and frogmarched out so went to wait on the minibus. Must have sat there best part of half an hour and not a soul came out. Got back off and walked to the ground to see what was going on. All the gates were open so I just walked back in again and the away end was still chocker even though the FT whistle had gone 20 mins ago so I just joined in with the Kevin Keegan song for another half hour or so

Cole was an introvert and didn't like the attention away from the football pitch. He wasn't comfortable with being approached in the supermarket pr out on the street by strangers and I get that. Not a problem. He left under a bit of a cloud which was a shame and the fans backed Keegan, rightfully so. I was one of the 4,000 who stayed back at Ewood Park for over an hour singing "There's only one Kevin Keegan" in our first away match after selling him. My problem was when he went onto the pitch at Wembley after he'd beaten Liverpool in the Cup Final and was singing about us being Sad Geordie Bastards. From that moment he could fuck right off for me. Remember he played in Beardsleys Testimonial and got a generally decent reception but not off me. I booed the cunt.

After what we spent last summer it won't be a huge amount, that much is obvious. Most of our budget will be from what we bring in from sale which is why if the likes of Gordon are away I'd rather it was done quickly so that we can invest sensibly rather than over priced last minute panic buys.

Should just go back to the old way. It's been as bad as lot's of us predicted. If 54 year old Dave who has had a ST for 35 years and had only amassed 6 loyalty points up until October 2021 can't get a ticket then that's his tough shit. The players getting proper support away from home is more important than the likes of him suddenly deciding that he fancies away games. Up until the 90s all your ST guaranteed was all home games at a preferable rate than if you bought match by match, plus priority for home cup games. Away games weren't part of the deal and why should the be? Then the ST culture appeared, clubs decided they wanted as much cash as possible up front, and preference for attending away games became an additional incentive. At one time we were always known for our loud and passionate support away from home. Remember our first season in the PL in 93/94. Fans didn't travel in the numbers they do these days and people hadn't seen anything like it. The likes of Everton didn't come close to filling their 2k allocation in the Gallowgate corner for example. Even Arsenal would give us 5,500 tickets because we'd fill the Clock Stand at Highbury for them and make a hell of a racket. Nobody else got that off them. Last couple of years we've turned into just another generic, passive away support, no different to the likes of Chelsea or Villa etc. Quite sad really.

Just such a shame. I've been following the Scottish title race since their league split off more than the English one and the refereeing decisions to benefit Celtic and penalise Hearts these last few weeks have been absolutely mind blowing. Not incompetence, just cheating and downright corruption, whatever you want to call it that's what it is. I don't really have any opinion of Hearts one way or the other but can't help feeling absolutely gutted for them. If you are a supporter you must be thinking what's the point of it all.

Ref/VAR will make sure Celtic get over the line.

He's ex Celtic and as biased as they come. Real shame for Hearts as they've been tbe best team in that league this season but refereeing decisions recently have shafted them. It's been manufactured for Celtic to win it again which is a real shame.

Scottish league is bent as fuck mind

Just doesn't seem right. They're less likely to reach anywhere near valuation now as they know that he'll become unsettled if we don't allow him to leave which puts us in a really weak position. Suppose that's modern day football though. I'm beginning to dislike it more and more, certainly at the top level.

How come this is suddenly seen as an acceptable way to go about transferring a player? It never used to be. 2 clubs agree on the price then the buying club and player agree terms was how it was done.

How can Bayern and Gordon have already agreed terms if the 2 clubs are miles apart in their valuations? Is that not called "tapping up"?

Went to the San Siro last season to watch AC Milan v Atalanta. Milan were utter shite and lost 1-0 but the noise at times was deafening, probably helped by the fact we weren't too far away from the ultras.

Aye at the back end of 2021, just after our takeover with them stuck in Division 3, if you'd told me we'd go onto invest £750m on new players in the next 4.5 years and at the end of that period they'd finish above us in the league I'd have laughed at you I'll be honest. Finishing above them is no cause for celebration. I'll probably have a celebratory drink if Spurs go down though.

Never forgiven him for that!

The ticketing changes have meant that those miserable twats who contribute nowt meaningful to the home atmosphere can now go and do the same things away. Knew this would happen.

West Ham fans views for those who are interested; https://www.kumb.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=192779

It's a brilliant song. First time I witnessed it was at Tynecastle back in 1992 when NUFC played Hearts there for John Robertsons Testimonial and they were all waving their scarves over their heads at the same time. Very impressive. Superb stadium they've got these days. Really keeps the noise in.

Last sentence is a bit harsh in my humble opinion.

In the grand scheme of things I couldn't care less about finishing above Sunderland. This NE top dogs shite only gets wheeled out on their rare occasion they are above us. If it's a choice of finishing 12th, Mackems finishing 13th but Spurs staying up or ours and the Mackems positions being reversed and Spurs dropping down to the Championship I'd still rather the 2nd option due to it being a once in a lifetime event and being extremely funny.

Must be a tough crowd if he's getting stick during a promotion season!

Bit of a strange move that. Both in the same League next season, Kidderminster on the up and Barrow coming down and Kidderminster certainly have a bigger fanbase.

Just checked mine out of interest and it appears to be correct. Applied for 10 games this season plus Celtic in pre season.