Chicken Dancer

Got back at about 8 last night from London, still absolutely fucked now. Others have probably touched on it but it was genuinely fucking amazing at how London was black & white more or less everywhere. No matter what bar I went in and no matter what time of the day or early hours it was, there was at least a decent amount of NUFC in there. Walking through side-streets, down the tube at midnight - B&W all over, amazing. The match itself was obviously disappointing but like Bruno, I'm gutted but proud. Lets just make sure it isn't another 20 years, I'm sure it won't be. As for the atmosphere inside Wembley, I agree it was pretty shit and flat, but not going to whinge and being a miserable bastard about it. It's hard to motivate yourself to jump up and down like a lunatic when it's essentially over by 37 minutes. But it is what it is. Overall I can honestly say I'm so proud to be a Geordie after this weekend. It really did feel like the start of the new NUFC, despite losing. I've had a few texts off Mackems and other fans trying to take the piss. Let them, the reality is that they're fucking shitting it. They know what's coming and theres fuck all they can do about it. PS please, please, please stop signing we've got bruno in the middle 297451535286251 times a game. Christ almighty man. I can still hear it now.

The loyalty points won’t change sadly, the ‘Trust’ made their stance quite clear on that. (not advocating people lose them btw). The way I see it, as @Heronsuggested, is bringing in a system that allows people to accumulate points by other means - ST renewal, cup games etc. If there was a way to ensure the person using the ticket was the person attending would be mint too, but no idea how that would work. I think Brighton have a certain % of away fans have to pick them up with ID at away ground? Could be wrong. The last thing we want to do is shut out the next generation of fan because someone is hoarding loads of points. I know a good few people that buy an away ticket every single game but literally go to one or two a season at a push. That can’t be fair, surely?

1-3 wasn’t it? I was there and for March, it was boiling hot. Was shite second half though I remember being nervous as fuck.

I fail to see how it's unfair really, as others have said the club can't win. Damned if they do and all that. Understand the frustrations from some ST holders but there are also some members who've been to every home game - league and cup - this season. I totally get that there's members who've maybe just done 1 game in the cup and it would be a pisser if they got a ticket over a ST holder, but basically everyone who (probably) deserve a ticket will get one. Not all members have only done 2 or 3 games this season as some would want you to believe. However I do feel like the pot for 6 (5 should be pretty small anyway, surely?) will be a smaller allocation than 4, so the chance will reduce for people trying in period 6.

Would anybody be kind enough to share the email update they received? Still not got mine, but I'm in the mood to be pissed off about something so this could work.

Class news. Might be (one of) the reasons they only released 1k season tickets summer 22? Less people to shift etc?

I think it’s fair ST holders get dibs - why should it be any other way really? However there is many fans who also had ST for 15 years + and packed in during the Ashley years who’ve been to every home game post-takeover, thus also ploughing money into the club. Both things can be true. In our case, there is no real way to measure loyalty as those packing in done what they believed to be the right thing, as did those who stayed. The only thing I’d have changed about the whole ticketing for the final would be to either swap/merge period 5&6, and I say this as someone who has a ticket.

shocking how many left when added time got announced. Them lot don’t deserve a Wembley ticket. West Ham fans quite rightly took the piss, it was shocking. Too many turning up expecting to win.

Come on man. More often than not, every single team has a period over a season where they’re a bit flat. We’re having ours now and we aren’t losing, it’s a positive. We are due to give someone a spanking soon. Keep the faith mate. We are going good.

Exactly, it’s a fucking shambles. The Trust are meant to represent their members not daft , fame-hungry Tories. Really winds me up

See, I completely reject that notion. Of course there would have been some folks wrapping it in because ‘we were shit’, but the vast majority packed in to initiate change more than anything else. If it was because we were shit, surely they would have packed in prior to the 2x Championship seasons? I do understand what you’re saying though, but let’s not start the whole who is a better fan debate.

I think ST holders quite rightly will always get dibs, but I know it’s frustrating being on the outside. Those that packed in (like me) when Bruce came in knew what we were letting go and the risks attached. However those just starting off on their NUFC journey are going to struggle, for sure. Loyalty points is a completely different game though - that needs reformed. I would never advocate those with points, losing them - no chance. But there needs to be opportunities for ST holders (and members for that matter) to be able to build the points up by other means, if the away threshold will never fall to 0 again. How they do it, I don’t know. I also wish I knew the answer to stopping people buying to sell on for a point. I know some will argue it’s fairly rare, however there’s at least 3 supporters coaches in my area for away games that’s always offering tickets (basically the organiser has numerous linked accounts and just buys tickets each away day, thus earning someone a point). There may (and probably will) be a situation here at Wembley where somebody with say 26 points hasn’t done an away in 10 years or so, but gets priority. Yes I get that this person has points, but what about the next person who should have points only the club didn’t record them at that stage? Appreciate it’s entirely hypothetical. I say this as a Father to amazing kids and I really want them to be able to build their own profile so they they can get the opportunity at days out at cup finals in the future. Sadly I’ve just wasted 5 minutes of my time typing that, as whilst NUST keep their current stance, it ain’t changing.

Sadly I don’t think they ever got will. Wembley tickets was probably the first instance where they need to gauge opinion and the first thing they done was go to them 3 - they obviously think they represent the feelings of the fan base as a whole when it couldn’t be further from the truth. They obviously look at them as the mouthpiece of the fans. They should use True Faith instead… oh shit. It’s the same thing.

Good question, although I doubt it will get to 4.

I didn't realise the Trust was just the opinion of 3 board members? They have - and will always - put their own interests ahead of their members. I think we can all come to an agreement that the trust is an extension of True Faith and if you're in that click, you're sorted for life. There's become a bit of a cult online since the takeover - (some of) those with ST & especially with lots of points talking down to other fans not in the fortunate position they are. Obviously they don't represent everyone, but it really is tiresome and frankly some of stuff you see is shocking. I'm also well aware that social media opinion should be taken with a pinch of salt, but I've had plenty of interaction with people in person who act the same way. I sympathise with the club in this instance as they were never going to please everybody, but I do wish they would understand that the trust isn't representative of the fanbase and they would be wise to survey season ticket holders and members in the future for any potential changes they are considering.

I do think it's probably been as fair as possible, certainly from a selfish perspective as I've had it pretty much confirmed today I've got a ticket. However the only thing I would suggest is a tad unfair is section 6 - I think that should be equal to 5 at the least. A minor issue with what they've done, but they were never able to win.

Sadly not true, as our allocation published won't include the tickets dished out to corporate and hospitality. Probably would have been useful if the club did publish that, in fairness.

I'm now somewhat ridiculously terrified that there's a royal death or horrific weather that leads to the postponement of one of our games The mackems will probably ring a bomb scare to SJP this weekend or something. Not ideal he misses the 3 league games either, mind. Great chance to pick up at least 7 points.

Surely he shouldn't play regardless? I know it's completely different given the hits they take, but read up on Tua Tagovailoa in the NFL. Scary shit.

It does seem incredibly fitting that two local lads sent us to the Semi and Final respectively. You could see Longstaff almost welling up in his post-match interview last night.

It's all they ever say. At the end of the day, the Trust are scared to rock the boat with the club, especially if it doesn't suit the board members. Like you say, WiFi is a higher priority for them. Agree with everything you said - ideally there would be 2 standing/singing sections - SEC & L7 (next to away fans). Would allow the atmosphere to bounce round the ground a bit too. I think we need to stop playing Hey Jude pre-match too, or at least turn it off and let the fans take over. Sounds incredibly cheesy imo and forced. Let the atmosphere build organically for games like last night. Of course, it's basically impossible to create a fantastic atmosphere every games - people just aren't as up for it at 12:30 on a Saturday or 14:00 on a Sunday which I guess is fair enough, but safe standing would definitely improve it.

Was bouncing then when they scored completely flat. Think everyone was nervous, despite the lead. I agree though, no excuse.

Voice has gone, heads gone. We deserve this lads and lasses. All them years. All them protests. All the pain. Take these moments all in with loved ones, special times. This one is for my late brother whose last game at St James was Liverpool in May 19. If only he could see us now. First Wembley appearance of many. Fucking come on.

We've probably brought Gordon forward from the summer imo. Like others have touched on, we're incredibly thin - especially at CM - but we also have the benefit of no European football and no cup football (hopefully after 26th Feb..) with often a week between games. I did think at the start of the window we may have twisted rather than stick, but Gordon immediately improves our options - whether from the bench or starting. Murphy has appeared in every league game I think, so that's an improvement straight away. I understand the worry about Shelvey leaving but he was a high-earner at an age where this is probably his last decent move. He's only played 34 minutes this season so we aren't exactly going to miss him, and Gordon signing means we can push Willock/Joelinton back into midfield if there's an injury. Not ideal but it is what it is. Getting £15m for Wood is just madness, a great deal for us. Isak takes his role in the squad - and more - so we've improved there too. I actually think we're stronger than we were at the start of Jan given who's left given that Isak is now fit and Gordon improves the squad more than 2 aging bit-part players. The one worry I do have is Wilson's injury record. 7/10 for me, moving to a 10 if we get a CM in.