geordiesteve710

I'd probably (albeit reluctantly) agree with reference to the Carabao Cup. But suggest similar about the FA Cup and I'm stripping down to the waist and will fight you to the death.

Aye, like a scene from The Hills have eyes or something the fucking gargoyles. That said I've got a few mates that are Villa fans and as a fanbase they're generally OK if you bump into any in a pub in Birmingham so I bare no real malice towards Villa. Still hope we spank them next week, but like others have said I'd be happy with a point.

Mackematically impossible for these to get automatic now.

McClaren would probably have taken off the only striker and put an extra midfielder on.

Yeah, I was a bit surprised by them as well. Thought they'd be full of themselves and not exactly shy about it but they never really got going. In a general sense I don't think they have the same variety of songs they used to, say 10 year ago. Which might be why we don't given that every other song we sang use to be nicked from them

Fair play to them for noticing and keeping up with him. @Heron walks at the speed of sound.

Great win, great performance and a very hostile atmosphere which no doubt helped the players. I'm a little concerned at our lack of composure in front of goal because that could have cost us, and definitely will in other games. Also if this is going to mean anything we'll have to put it behind us and get in the zone ready for two very difficult away games in the next 6 days.

Also think we lost something of a competitive advantage when the paddocks closed and then again when the media deck was installed directly behind the managers. I honestly don't think Klopp or this twat today would have the balls to leave the dugout let alone approach the fourth official!

Even the old family enclosure in front of the East Stand boxes gave away players as much, if not more, grief than anywhere else in the ground!

Yep. Even the all-seater 36,500 was (or seemed to be) noisier than 52,000 after expansion. I don't accept that it's just down to the stadium acoustics either.

While we're on the subject of halftime the first 5 minutes of the second half is an embarrassment and has been for as long as I can remember. Like people think there's a warmup before the second half begins or something.

The wankathon over Man Utd fans in this thread is really bizarre like. I've been to Old Trafford shit loads of times to watch Newcastle and the atmosphere is never like the YouTube video linked above. Could just as easily post a link of the Arsenal game at SJP last year and claim there's no problem at our stadium, which we'd all know is bollocks. They will be loud today because their away fans always are (unless they go home at halftime) but even at Wembley they didn't come over particularly loud either (although the stadium acoustics might not have helped admittedly) and they were streaming out in their thousands before the cup had even been lifted. Such a bizarre fanbase to romanticise. As for our fans today, I don't know what to expect. If people realise how big a game it is we should be up for it from the off, but Sunday games are odd and I think it will depend on what happens on the pitch which is a shame. One of the loudest games I've ever seen at SJP was 97/98 (I think) when Cole scored the only goal and celebrated by dancing all the way down the East Stand touchline. Even though Newcastle were dogshit that day and didn't make a proper chance until injury time, the atmosphere was 90 minutes of intimidating noise. Could do with that today really.

Same. I'm normally Mr Pessimistic but got an odd feeling we'll win tomorrow. It's an unusual feeling so I'm not comfortable with it and it's making me nervous

I think they're better than us but they've also got their best player out and we're at home and have a score to settle. We've every chance. Bookies agree with you fwiw. Honestly can't remember the last time we went into a game against these as favourites.

I hope we smash four past the cunts, someone snaps Fernandes I half and we celebrate every goal with all 11 players, substitutes and coaching staff running to their bench, surrounding the baldy nonce and tapping their wrists sarcastically as if they're complaining about time-wasting.

Ironically a bit like the accepted soundbite in the 90s was we were too naive and soft

Spot on, and this is a practical, demonstrable example of all seater stadiums having a negative impact on the atmosphere. Before the mid-90s when a fan got to the age they knew they wanted to sit down they'd have to leave the Leazes/Gallowgate (dependent on era) to do so. Thus the terraces were predominantly younger /middle aged folk who would be more inclined to be more boisterous. As it stands (no pun intended) now there is no reason for the to move. If nothing is done or this trial isn't extended then the Gallowgate in 10 years will be like the East Stand that we like to gently rib about average age and lack of noise.

They soon will when they can't see anything and get told to fuck off when they ask the person in front to sit down.

Boro flit between being a North East club to a Yorkshire club as it suits. Everyone from Berwick Rangers down to Donny Rovers counts as a derby match. It's nowt more than a marketing ploy to entice more folk along and boost attendances as much as they can as often as they can. Which you can't really blame them for.

See this sounds like the result of a candid, open and honest discussion which all parties are approaching in good faith, and I can honestly see some value in that. Regrettably, that is exactly the sort of conversation I do not think the broadcast or print media in this country are capable of facilitating.

And they need to be consistent on it regardless of the player that does it. A common theme you hear when former referees are interviewed is when they talk about managing a game and reference the need to "protect the product." Part of that is making sure the best players are on the pitch and not sitting out half the games through suspension because they can't control their behaviour. It's why Rooney used to get away with murder in domestic games while the law was laid down to the likes of Joey Barton. Or going back further why Dyer gets sent off for telling a linesman to fuck off but Andy D'Urso lets Keane chase him all around Old Trafford unpunished. I used to ref at grass roots level in the late 90s / early 2000s but gave it up after a few years because almost everyone involved just wanted to give you shit and it just wasn't fun. And every time I saw a Premier league referee indulge some brat in their face shouting at them without punishment my heart sank because it just legitimised that behaviour. So although he's been clumsy in the way he puts it across, I do understand what (I think) Stifler is getting at. I don't think what Fernandes did the other week was anywhere near as bad as Mitrovic, but he should have got a three game ban retrospectively because making physical contact with the ref needs to be a red fucking line that you do not cross regardless of who you are, what club you play for or what level of the game you are playing at. Mitro, as much as I like him, should get the book thrown at him.

Agree with all of this post but especially the bit in bold. If anyone thinks having to face the media afterwards would lessen any bias in the officials decision-making then they haven't been paying attention for the last 25 years.

Fucking hell. I'd walk off stage if I was playing a gig and people started chatting!!!