Chicken Dancer

Definitely! He's your typical 'old-school' fan. I remember going to my first few aways with him in the early 00s and him starting chants on the bus and in the ground and almost cringing. Now I look back and think fair fucking play. He was even banging on about the support in the 80s then, so you can imagine how he feels these days. But even in his 60s he's definitely what I would consider a vocal fan for sure.

I could be wrong but I do genuinely believe we lost a fairly vocal home & away element of our support in the summer of 2019 when they walked alongside Benitez. Obviously the way the tickets are issued both home and away play a massive part (probably the main part). I only get to about 4 or 5 a season now (I done 18/23 in 16/17!) and there's definitely a different 'feel' about the away ends these days. By that I mean the type of people I see in the away ends as well as the support levels. Definitely much, much worse. I got told to sit down or move by a fellow fan in the San Siro ffs Coppers basically told us to stand anywhere! I've gave my Wembley ticket to my old man which was always the plan, but I can't see it being any different to 2023.

Eurgh. I hate this fixture. Home and away, but especially away.

This is pretty much it. The only people I don't sympathise with on the subject of moving are those who are just utterly selfish bastards. I genuinely see why people would want to stay and why they would want to move, but those who want to stay purely because they know they are sorted can come across as right pricks. I've a season ticket and I'd be glad to move in order for the club to take the next step. The pros far outweigh the cons for me. There's also a pretty staunch group of our fans who see members are proper peasants or something. It's lifting at times.

I hope so! It should be mentioned too that those 3 games are sandwiched between Ipswich, Chelsea & Everton at home. Hopefully Arsenal away is moved as we are in the FA Cup final that weekend.

Probably quite a few, but they'll definitely be disappointed if they think it will. When the Anfield Rd end was completed by about 10,000 extra seats, I'm sure Liverpool made 10% available for new Season Tickets. Stating the obvious here but one off tickets make the club a lot more money than season ticket holders. That won't change and the club will be looking at 18k extra as more ££. A parent taking their child, whether local or not, is going to likely spend so much more in the ground than a ST holder who MIGHT get a single pie or a pint. There surely can't be many fans who sup even 3/4 in the ground. If I'm feeling frisky and I'm in early enough I'll get 1 pre-match and 1 at HT, but more often than not I get neither. The new stadium will have much better facilities and I reckon they'll do some drinks/food offers post-match like Spurs do to encourage people to maybe stay and watch some of the later game with a few drinks, but given our individual/group routines, and the proximity of the stadium to the city it will never be like Spurs up here. They should definitely bring in a waiting list though. I think given the Trust shat their pants and did nothing for those who cancelled in protest (uploaded points etc, including me) they should try fly the flag for them if they can. I doubt it, but it would be nice for those who haven't been fortunate like myself to get sorted since. The Trust said they didn't approach the club as only about 30 people did it (bollocks btw), so surely 30 wouldn't hurt anybody.

Our away games worry me. Last 3 away are Villa, Brighton & Arsenal. We genuinely should be winning all of our home games left in the league, but well aware that we will probably have at least one slip in there. Hopefully we make up for it with a win at one of the 3 mentioned. Yesterday really was a huge win. Fully expecting our annual defeat at Anfield on Wednesday, so beating West Ham the Monday before the final would be a nice way to go into the game.

I always wanted to stay mainly because I found it quite fascinating that we had played on the same site for the entire history of the club, as well as all of my memories with friends and family - some who are no longer with me. The past 2 years have made me realise that we have to move. It's as simple as that. The next generation of fans won't give two shites about St James' as their memories will be made in the new place. For those of us who have been going our entire lives it's not a nice thing to think about, but as others have said - the current stadium is completely different to the one my Dad grew up with. And his would have (likely) been different to the one me Grandad used to go to. Times change. We need to maximise every penny of revenue that we can, and it's clear as day that moving stadium is the only option. In an ideal world we could extend St James' to 70-75k, I don't think there's anybody that wouldn't have that as their #1 option. But it's just not possible, so we have to move. As for worrying about the atmosphere in a new stadium...well what about the atmosphere in the current one? Too many of us, including myself, look back at past days of going on like lunatics at the match win, lose or draw. Football has changed. My Dad used to (and still does) go on about home & aways in the 70s/80s and how it was much better than now (talking about when I first started going away from home in the 00s). Now I look back and think 'God, it was so much better in the 00s than now'. As long as you get like-minded people together I'm confident there won't be too much of a detrimental effect on atmosphere. We might even be surprised.

Been there 8 times and seen us score one. Sure Fat Sam was manager. Must have conceded about 68 in them games. Thankfully I’m not going tomorrow.

I knew a lad who supported Liverpool from ashington. His brother supported Everton or Villa or something too. Weird set up.

Honest to God I'm more confident of beating Liverpool than Spurs I'm not saying I think we're going to win, but I'd sooner go into the final as an underdog rather than favourites - which we would have been against Spurs. A bit defeatist to say this but losing to Liverpool would feel slightly better than losing to Spurs, no? But we absolutely can win. We're due a win against them, there's no way their players will be as 'up for it' as ours will and I truly believe we can hurt them. At the start of December we caused them all sorts of problems, though granted I'm 99% sure we will (comfortably) lose at Anfield later this month. I'd sooner be playing this version of Liverpool rather than the 18-22 Liverpool, which I know sounds ridiculous given their record this season. They're clearly a belter team and very efficient in what they do, led by 2 of the best players in the world in their positions. But Isak can cause Van Dijk lots of problems, as he has a couple of times. Get Gordon running at Trent all day. Make sure from minute one they know they're in a game. 2023 was a huge deal to the club - players, staff, ownership & especially fans. This is obviously a huge deal too, but this time stay focussed on the task at hand. None of this hanging outside the players hotel before the game as if we'd already won it. Get into them, play a fast game and we've got every chance. If an absolute piss-poor Man United could deservedly beat Man City in the FA Cup final last year, why not us now?

It'll be St holders with (a certain amount of points) with cup scheme then just lower from there I'd gather.

Period 1 was 25pts + 1 cup game that season, I think. Not sure the cup scheme was a thing back then? In fact I'm convinced it came in for this reason.

I'll be giving my ticket to my Dad. Already decided in my head I'd do that if we got there again any time soon. Logic being I hopefully will get there many times. He's no spring chicken! Will travel down though and soak it in. Half tempted to get an early train back Sunday morning to enjoy it in Newcastle, but will depend on price.

I'd be going with a strong team mind. Maybe Wilson in for Isak and going back to a back 4. Willock, Miley or Longstaff in for one of the CBs.

Credit to Howe though. I’ve been going almost 30 years and some of the best atmospheres I’ve experienced - home or away - have been at St James’ under him. He really knows when to use the crowd to the teams advantage. I also think we always raise it for Arsenal. Even in the Robson days when I first got my ticket. I remember a game under Souness (I think) when Nobby scored and it was class then too. Howe’s first year there was fuck all riding on it for us and atmosphere was cracking. Feel like I’ve seen many an Arsenal team crumble here over the years, obviously the anniversary of the most famous of all.

Was class tonight. Not quite PSG (for me) but it was close.

Booed off the day apparently

I quite agree and actually thought it wouldn’t be such a bad thing to sell someone for £100m+ to allow us to push on, but as this season has went on I’ve came to the conclusion that I’d sooner build the team with ‘cheap’, younger players from at home & abroad whilst keeping the core of the squad together. Having Isak, Bruno, Tonali & Botman as your spine means you always have a chance of competing. I’m not daft enough to think you could stick 7 kids with them, but this is where I hope Mitchell earns his keep. I know at some point we will probably have to sell somebody, but I’d sooner we explored every other possible means first. As our academy improves we should start making some ££ there, as well as hopefully a few like Minteh. In my opinion, Isak is the best forward we have ever had - including Shearer. He’s got absolutely everything. I truly believe right this second we have one of the top 2 strikers on the planet. Probably #1. Keeping him also will send a message that we mean serious business. Hopefully a new 6 year deal is announced in the summer.

Fuck sake. That’s him away then. But aye, hoy any savings on Almiron/Trippier/Wilson to him. He’s going to (rightly) want mega money. If you want to be a mega club you have to pay it.

Aye sometimes you just have to hold your hands up and acknowledge you were outplayed and out coached for 90 minutes. Very impressed by them, whilst we had a very off day. It happens. Just need to make sure it doesn’t become a dip.

McMillian for Tampa? I think a lot of them seem harsh over there purely down to the fact they look like they’re just signalling a first down. But aye, much greater significance.

Aye, I’ve a feeling they’ll go up like. Automatically too. They’ll probably be at least 2nd by the time Leeds play Burnley next Monday. The novelty will sharp wear off when they’re getting twatted every week like. That game alone just shows the sheer gulf between the Premier League & Championship now.

Yeah stack fair enough but I think they’d have to offer something special to take the masses away from their normal routine on a Saturday. A fancy restaurant would be decent, open all week. They should have made Wings like that imo, it’s lush in there.

I don't think they'll ever consider moving out of the city. The council would absolutely shit a brick due to the loss in ££ for the city. Also the likes of Spurs can maximise matchday revenue is because there's only a handful of bars within the proximity of their stadium, so people will likely have a good drink/feed in the ground pre-match. I must say having been there I was impressed at how quickly you can get served and get a piss. It's ingrained in our fans - and I hope that would never change - to drink in the town pre and post match. We all have our favourite watering holes. So even making a shiny new stadium on Leazes Park/Castle Leazes probably wouldn't generate as much ££ from food & drink as other new stadiums probably do.