Chicken Dancer

I appreciate what you're saying and I pretty much echo them thoughts. I've just been to Germany and had a great time, then I was in the away end on Sunday and had a shit time. Results (and performances) obviously have the biggest impact on enjoyment though, but I've definitely not lost my passion, nor am I fickle. I say what I see, or at least I like to think so. I know people are desperate to get in the ground so consider it a privilege I'm able to go every week, and of course take my son as and when. FWIW I help others as much as I can too. I've been disappointed with our home (and away) support for some time tbh, and I've said on here many times I'm in favour of reform of the away ticketing. This is somebody who can get to more or less any away game they want. The home crowd has been poor for some time, certainly this season. It was great against Liverpool, very good against Man City and good against Barca. I suppose Arsenal was OK too. I can't imagine it being bouncing tonight. Sign of the times but maybe I'm being a spoilt brat because of Sunday. Can't fault the pricing for cup games though, no issue with that for ST holders/members. Hopefully I'm very wrong and it's electric with a 4-0 hiding of them, I just can't see it.

This is probably rose tinted nostalgia but the best away days for me were the Ashley years. Had some cracking trips in both stints in the Championship. Them days alongside the L7 corner were absolutely class, though I was personally in my prime session days which probably has a bearing. The result was definitely secondary in those days, but I suppose that's part of the package when you become good. Doesn't mean we should accept shite on or off the pitch because we're now decent and used to be crap though. Performances on the pitch and in the stands haven't been good enough all season, save for the odd occasion.

Yes glad to take him, but it's not a crime to feel a bit lethargic about going. The kick off time itself is the main reason to be honest. Especially on a school night, even if all he'll be doing is watching films all week. 20:15 is a fucking disgrace.

I'm going with me Son tonight else I'd have been very tempted to do that. I can't get to (most) league or CL games with him these days but the lad I sit with has gave his to me tonight, as I gave mine to him so he could take his boy for the Spurs game in the last round.

Hey Jude used to be absolutely class when it was sang organically from the stands. Playing it before kick off is pure Brentford shite, it needs binned as soon as possible. Reminds me of that little period under Allardyce when we used to play Sham 69 in place of Local Hero - it just doesn't work. Bring back the 00s pre-match playlist I say, though this daft Premier League music doesn't help things (nor does the new CL music shite as the teams are walking out).

I must say I've never enjoyed the experience at Sunderland away. I thought the cup game last year was the best organised one. If anyone was there, the one in 2012 (Cabaye early goal) was fucking horrible. Penned in walking to the ground from St Peters, getting all sorts chucked off you then only 2 turnstiles working which meant it was real scary getting into the ground. Loads missed our goal IIRC. As I said on Sunday though, the atmosphere from our lot was the worst I'd experienced there. I've been 9 times, though one was in the home end (2006). Would never do that again either - awful, even if I was a kid at the time.

I sit in the Gallowgate upper. Glad it's going to be warmer than I expected, but the rest still stands. Hope I'm wrong.

I think it’s fair to say that there’s people (including me) who are 100% against sacking Howe but also able to detach and accept that we’ve been turgid to watch for 90% of this season, awful on the road and there’s huge question marks about how we recruited in the summer. Just because he’s the best manager in our lifetimes and brought us untold joy doesn’t mean he’s above criticism. I think plenty of the issues this season he’s been to blame for. But I still wouldn’t want to see him go and I trust him to figure it out.

The team that qualified for the Champions League first time round would have been about 4-0 up at the hour mark. The energy in that team was ridiculous, by far my favourite season of attending games. Obviously last season had the cup so will always be the best, but 22/23 was definitely my favourite Newcastle side.

I really want to be, but I wasn’t too keen on the signing to begin with. I want him to end up class I just cannot see it whatsoever based on the evidence so far. In a position like ours when we have to really watch what we spend from a PSR perspective, £55m will probably be Tier A - of players we can afford. Certainly what the budget will stretch to. He played for a team that predominantly sat back and hit teams with pace on the break (very successfully I will say). For a team like us when the onus is to take the game to the opposition in probably 75% of the games we play, he just doesn’t suit it at all. I said it at the time but I’d have been far more comfortable buying two players for £55m and hoping for a similar outlay in terms of stats and overall impact on the team. 4 months in and it wouldn’t have been too hard to achieve that.

Elanga is a shit footballer. In terms of technical ability and control he’s dogshit. I gave him 4 months which is a fair enough sample size before going in, even if the writing was on the wall sharpish. Can’t get over the fact we coveted him for 2 summers as well. Then paid £55m for him, Christ.

It’ll be dead sadly mate. 20:15 kick off, bitter cold and on the back of a gutless derby defeat. I’d be lying if I was said I was as up for this as Leicester in 22/23. Factor in the atmosphere is usually poor these days and it doesn’t look good. It’ll be a tepid game to boot, if the league game was out to go by.

Definitely shouldn’t be sacked anytime soon. Looking forward to dropping £45m on James Garner in January though.

I’m not sure we scouted him just signed him because he’s PL proven. He suited Forest down to the ground because they were a team that would just sit and play on the break 90% of the time. With the ball at his feet he’s absolutely shocking. I’d be ringing Nuno now and asking if he wants to sign him for West Ham.

He’s play enough now for me to make a judgement- I did hold off at first despite him looking like he’d won a competition. He’s basically Obertan and that’s probably harsh on Obertan. Sign midtable shite, become midtable shite. £55m man Whoever sanctioned that needs peddled. Absolutely awful footballer.

If we don’t absolutely do these cunts in march man. Heads should roll.

Spending £140m on him, Wissa and Elanga is gross misconduct. I know it’s almost illegal to have a pop at Howe but that is utterly tragic like.

just dead. I’ve been there when we’ve been beat 3-0 and it’s been better than today.

it was shit mate. Worst I’ve experienced down there by far.

was my 6th trip to wearside today and by far the worst I’ve experienced. Maybe it’s the emotional side of me being dramatic but it felt shit. Probably the most angry I’ve been in the Howe era today. Paying £43m for a midfielder that can’t get a kick and paying £55m for a competition winner is mind boggling. Fuming doesn’t come close.

We were absolutely shit and I didn’t think much of the away end either. Fucking awful, they want shot with shit.

Quietly confident about this. They're a decent side with bags of energy and quite hard to break down. If we can play the game on our terms we will win. The most likely result is probably draw, but I can't pretend I won't be shitting it if we're leading/drawing 80minutes +. These score a lot late and we concede a lot late - not a good combination.

We looked great in parts second half, and we could have reasonably been 1-5 up by the 88th minute (post x 2, Thiaw save). Really enjoyed the game and the trip itself, had a couple of nights in Dussledorf. Really enjoyed it and left feeling very festive. Germans are class.

I thought he was areet Turns nice on the ball, he could do with a consistent run of games to get going properly. Agree with what’s been said about recruitment though. An odd signing.

I’d say the Villa, Liverpool, Man City & Everton games are the only times in the league we’ve looked remotely like our old selves. All of the points we’ve got seem so laboured. Obviously there’s reasons for this - mainly the Isak situation and having to adapt to a ‘new’ style - but we’ve not been a good watch bar those games I mentioned. Yesterday was shit but the win was the most important thing. It was very similar to the Wolves and Fulham home games and the atmosphere was just as pony too.