Chicken Dancer

Hate to buy into footballing conspiracy theories but I think the last few months have shown that the red sides of Manchester and Merseyside get plenty help from the powers that be. It’s clear as day.

I struggle to see any scenario where our most important player, who people mocked for talking Champions League when we were 19th when he signed, will be angling to move when we qualify for said competition, miles ahead of schedule. Also has his family (including parents) here with him, a baby that’s not even 1 yet and just about to get married. Also it’s clear him and Joelinton are proper close off the pitch too. I’d be willing to bet my mortgage he signs a new deal this summer. The only way I could see him being relatively pissed off is if he’s asked for a new deal and the club have said no/wait, which we wouldn’t have done because we’re not fucking idiots anymore.

Think that’s a canny move for all parties. He’s a good player.

He's a great player Fernandes - proper bellend though. He is nowhere near the level of player of De Bruyne, who is the best player in the league. No amount of stats will change that imo.

I don't begrudge Pep winning it as he is fantastic and they have a very reasonable chance of doing the treble, but it does seem rather odd that Pardew won it in 2012 when our turnaround under Howe has been much more impressive? It seems to be given for performance in everything, given Klopp won it last year for finishing second but a chance at a quadruple. Also odd given Liverpool ended up with FA & League Cup and Man City still could (albeit unlikely) end with only the league. I say only with a pinch of salt, but we are at the stage where it's more or less expected for Man City to win the league.

Player of the Season: Haaland Most Improved Player of the Season: Ake Surprise package of the season: Brighton. I knew they were good, but I didn't think they'd be as good as they have Most Disappointing Player: Kalvin Phillips, although Rodri is special and he's been unlucky with injuries. I'd have him. Signing of the Season: Has to be Haaland, really. Most disappointing team of the season: Chelsea, albeit hilarious. Goal of the Season: Enciso v Man City Game of the Season: Chelsea 2-2 Spurs/Liverpool 2-2 Arsenal. Both fiery and class. Manager of the Season: De Zerbi Team of the Season: Alisson, Walker, Saliba, Dias, Ake, Rodri, KdB, Odegaard, Saka, Kane, Haaland

Like I said probably not this summer, but you're telling me that this early into our 'project', if Liverpool were really serious about taking Botman as a long term VVD replacement, Botman wouldn't be extremely tempted? Let's not get too carried away based on the back of one fantastic season for us and one down season for them. Liverpool are one of football's giants and it'll take consistent Champions League qualification and challenging for honours before that changes - and I say this as someone who fucking hates them more than any other team. This isn't a dig at NUFC or our owners, it's just the way that it is for now. Not to say it won't change, though. And to reiterate - I'm not worried about them taking one of our or anything like that, certainly not this summer. Just that they're still a huge draw for players, at or away from NUFC.

Aye, we’re miles off being considered a better option than Liverpool. They’re huge. Probably not this summer, but we’d still be vulnerable if Liverpool really were serious about taking one of our players.

I definitely think a fanzone will help with creating original chants. Even if we could have a dedicated bar large enough in town pre-match. Hoy some lad with a guitar on stage and chants will start, ala Jamie Webster who I think started the Van Dijk and the 'Allez, Allez, Allez' chant (I know that isn't original as such). Was gutted I sold my ticket for Sunday in the end Looked/sounded class. Some of the away ends this season I've been in have been mint like, although I was sick of the relentless 'We've got Bruno in the middle' chant in winter!

Player of the Season: Joelinton Most Improved Player of the Season: Longstaff Most Disappointing Player: Nobody to be honest - could argue ASM but he started to look really good before his injury in spring. Targett hasn't been disappointing, just unlucky that the defence was so solid. Signing of the Season: Pope Goal of the Season: Almiron at Fulham Assist of the season: Willock vs Spurs Game of the Season: Spurs (H) Moment of the Season: Bruno's goal against Brighton. That's when I knew it was done. Special mention to the fulltime whistle against Leicester Manager rating out of 10: 100 Season rating out of 10: 100

Aye I'm lucky enough to know somebody so can go to more or less any away that I want, but he's only been to 3 or 4 aways in about 5 years - he agrees it's a problem and he doesn't want the points. He has over 300 because it gets used every single away game (league and cup) throughout a season. That is literally the only issue I have with points/away tickets. I think the system is as fair as can be, save for that. There needs to be something to stop that happening, but good luck to anybody coming up with the solution.

That's the thing, isn't it? There is never going to be a way to please all. As @SteV said re: home tickets becoming digital, the policing of it will be lax, but the idea of it will be enough to deter people. I'd like to think they could do the same with away tickets. You'd see far more drop to 0-20, thus giving more hope to youngsters being able to build up points for finals/European aways 10/15 years in the future. I say this as a Father who just wants my kids to have the chance to build up their points legitimately. EDIT: with regards to your second point, then there should be a facility (Ticket Exchange) to pass the ticket on, which it looks like may happen in the near future. You should lose the point of course.

We should implement something similar to Brighton, really. Would stop people hoarding points - and I say this as someone who currently benefits. To my knowledge, Brighton name must match the ticket, with random checks/away ground pick-ups enforcing it. Those found guilty lose some of their loyalty points, which I think is 10.

Would like to hope he hasn't cheated on his wife and kids like but it doesn't look great. Footballer thinking with dick shouldn't be a shock to anyone, sadly.

Christ he looks like he had a hell of a time in the 80s as a frontman in a regional rock band.

Team of the season: Alisson, Trippier, Dias, Saliba, Ake, Odegaard, Rodri, De Bruyne, Kane, Haaland, Saka Player of the season: Haaland Young player of the season (under 24, choose a different player if they're also your player of the season): Saka Manager of the season: Howe Underrated players of the season: Joelinton, Palinha, Kane (Haaland has meant we haven't really heard as much of him despite having an incredible season), Dunk, Gibbs-White, Lavia, Salah Overrated players of the season: TAA (delivery superb, defender horrendous. Last 5 games good, 30 prior shit), Casemiro, Maddison, Ward-Prowse

1. Joelinton 2. Trippier 3. Bruno (easy to forget how much we rely on him, despite having a couple of off games when he was carrying the injury) 4. Schar 5. Wilson

Can't believe someone voted ASM !? Nowt against him and I hope we keep him, but how can you have watched this season and think he was our best player

Which is a fair argument, however fuck them. It maybe is harsh punishing those who didn't chant, but it would also go a long way to pissing off their fans so that next time there is any racist chanting, those chanting would be reported/called out within the stadium. The only way to send the correct message is to ban all fans from the stadium, imo.

Would La Liga/Spanish FA not consider a stadium ban for Valencia @Village Idiot ? Really if they banned fans for the first 5/10 games next season, or even if they threw the book at them and rightly banned them for the entire 23/24 season, surely that would send the correct message that it isn't tolerated?

We will definitely be the team in Pot 4 those in the other pots will be wanting to avoid. I'm definitely not saying we would beat the likes of Bayern, Real Madrid etc at home, but we have a fighting chance of making it very competitive in a one off game with a bouncing St James'. I know the stats show it was more down to sheer luck, but I remember Celtic beating Barcelona back in 2012 at home. I'm sure they had like 16% possession but they went 2-0 up (I think)

Fair enough, I just assumed it was against the rules these days. Ahh well crack on then, £35m a season to match Spurs' seems fair, giving we're in the elite competition and they aren't!

It would be crazy to use a company owned by PIF imo. Just asking for trouble.

I actually agree with Neville & Carragher last night to be fair. Granted Man City are structured to have success for years to come now, but I don't think they would be as dominant (5/6 titles) without Guardiola. They'd definitely be there or thereabouts every season, but they're absolutely relentless with him there. Crazy to think Liverpool got 97, 99 and 92 points and only won one title in there. Will definitely be interesting when he leaves. Wouldn't be shocked if they went for Arteta.

Late summer is when it's said to come out. FFS I wanted to get my fix during the lean months with no football Mind what a season they chose. I know it's not the same as All or Nothing or STID but at least we get a happy ending compared to the recent Arsenal one and of course the hilarious Sunderland one.