LFEE

I take your point and agree with it if going off the eye test. Yet not long ago after a tough start to season without him he came back into the side and we started winning and keeping clean sheets again and the general consensus was “I can’t believe I’m saying this but we miss Longstaff..” etc. I agree though I always feel a tinge of sadness when you sell a local lad.

Wouldn’t want to do it for every away game but for a one off (which the club made clear it was to secure 6k allocation against our dearest enemies) then don’t have a problem with it. In an ideal world we’d be able to pick & choose how we get to games but that ain’t the world we live in sadly. I’m always of the opinion if you remove all the police and segregation you’d actually find that their would be very little trouble if you were sensible and didn’t overly display your colours and kept head down on public transport and up to the ground. Most people aren’t as tough or aggressive when no police to protect them. Unfortunately there is always enough numbers of people that seem to take it too far and can’t behave themselves. I pose a question to those not happy with it… would you trade off the bubble bus for free reign to make your own way there knowing you had to take and pass a alcohol test (equivalent of 2 pints) outside the turnstile's to gain access to the ground?

I got a chant going on Saturday but sadly only in small numbers… ? Black Cat Bar is Black & White Stadium Of Light is fcuking shite we’ll not meet for 10 more years Geordie Boys are on the beers…

The support debate will run and run forever now unfortunately. Social media mainly to blame with false accounts many from those who feel pushed out now the club is enforcing T&Cs trying to pick fault and run it down and magnify anything that suits their narrative. There is also the changing in social behaviour as time goes on etc not as conducive to “limbs” or “singing” etc. Same as at a music gig these days. However what support is best for the team/individual players? Is it song after song? Or just cheering and urging the team on more effective? In which case not a lot has changed. I think some fans mistake them having a good time singing as great support when it could be argued it’s not as effective as we’ve thought compared to just cheering. Either way silence is never the answer. Yesterday I’d argue there was plenty of support but mainly of the later type. Watch the match-cam and judge for yourselves if our end was quiet…

The club said this would happen in their email to supporters. It was also spread across social media. I sat in my seat for 25-30mins singing songs and watched the warmed down. Thought it was no different to every other visit there. Just the usual impatience from those who couldn’t see what they were trying to do (Fill so many buses at a time and let them getaway so they could line up the next batch and release more people to fill them, no different to outbound journey). If I was to pick a fault you could’ve had the police with a megaphone explain it whilst stood outside but in fairness I was explaining to everyone moaning around me what they were doing and they still weren’t having it. Police can never win unfortunately. Lot of thick people unfortunately and just like to moan or shout abuse with no grounds. Overall there and back I thought it was organised very well and not a hint of danger with regards the police. As for SAFC they could’ve had more staff on for serving and I believe after the game they didn’t sell anything despite them meant to be as per email. I did hear that the card machine signals failed (?) so they gave some free drinks out that had been poured then closed so maybe that was the reason ??‍♂️

Blaydon Races was sang yesterday. (Yes… I was there). Don’t believe everything you read on social media.

That was last season playing one game a week with the front 6 being our best defenders. Analytics teams have had summer to pick holes and squad depth in tatters short term. Not saying we can’t play the same way half the season but it is wise to have a plan B other than just plan A with fresh subs for certain games as even Liverpool/Dortmund found out you can only do the crazy pressing for so long before players start fading when fixtures increase. Mind you we have 5 subs these days and bigger benches so maybe it will be. Think you could argue it both ways. Currently we are 433 but playing one as a DM to me would make it 4123 so the personnel does change the system. I think you are getting carried away. It’s a tweak for certain games not ripping up philosophies. Not a fan of KP and DM’s and have always argued that EH prefers midfielders that can do a bit of everything so we shall see what happens. Even with Tonali back next season I still worry about our lack of pace/athleticism in midfield regardless of system tweaks/changes. KP short or long term doesn’t solve that problem either so you’d think a positional tweak for certain games might be in EH’s short term thinking ??‍♂️ Wouldn’t surprise me we find out Willlock misses most of the season. Tonali misses start of next season. Bruno/Joelinton/Longstaff all playing like they are carrying knocks going down regularly. Some interesting and tough decisions to be made this window.

Whoever wins at Anfield you’d imagine will be massive. City don’t have the best of records there but if they win that one should see them home. Much harder to predict this year as teams 3-10 can cause problems to any front runners.

Already changed for TV so you are safe.

“… relieve for Zagallo at last”

Thought we did that last round…

(The answer you are looking for is in the poster ?)

We say that and it turned out that way but looking back Dubravka had to make two great saves. One of them a little fortuitously with his leg after huge deflection. 2-1 and it would’ve made for an interesting last quarter of the game. The key was we never let their crowd in it from minute one.

Yeah they were both good. Atmosphere was cracking and pretty much nonstop.

Great game. Credit to both teams and both sets of fans but in particular the ref. Just shows when you just let the majority of debatable fouls just go and blow for obvious ones how much more a game flows and players in the end just try to play football.

Very cool and calm finisher in general. Would like him to improve his back to goal/leading the line part of his game. Hopefully will come with experience.

I’m guessing to combat our midfield being shredded by a single pass, solidify the defence particularly away from home and become less predictable game to game would be the main three reasons…

Thanks for clarifying further @Heron ???

Surprised it’s been allowed TBH.

It was really jarring how they adjusted it. They then seem to slide it back up a minute or so later. It’s like they are making a record and adding overdubs and cutting and slicing bits when they want ?

Still no decent links other than KP?

Interesting how the atmosphere (that sounded great just there) was suddenly faded… Never trust crowd noise on TV.

Read the last several posts but feel the simple question wasn’t answered. Does £17k seem the correct cost for such a display? The only facts we have are a lot of it was reused from last November so that would rule out extortionate delivery costs in the main. Especially as the draw was made so long ago. Secondly weeks leading up to this questions from their own fans about the cost and where was the money going (I believe the original target was £5-10k approximately and kept getting increased…) Thirdly is S73 have decided to jack it in. So just to put into perspective @Heronhow much did the Dortmund display or similar cost approximately? Even just a rough ballpark figure. Not after a witch hunt but very curious. Like many quite gobsmacked something of that scale would cost anywhere near £17k especially when a lot of it was recycled.

Hope we stuff them for their antics over the original fixture.

Thought Tonali was meant to be that?