Figures 1-0 Football

The way I understood the Sky interview was more of a way to motivate the crowd (and players/staff) before a huge game, not a panic because people are being mean.

Oh that's it then. An interview on Sky. Wow. If that is the biggest achievement of the protests, I stand by my point.

How do you know that? Has Ashley told you? Ashley only cares about himself, NUFC being relegated was a big concern for him - hence the summer changes. Why would Ashley give a toss about a very small group of supporters singing and holding banners up? The sit-in after the game, the group who stood outside Nine bar before a game (forget which one) were both awful and taken up by a very small number. The Tottenham no-show was probably the best, but was still not great.

Teams making substitutions in the 89+ minutes to waste time. So frustrating when you are the team behind/chasing the game, but so brilliant when you are ahead.

My point was the actual protests were extremely poor. The media picked it up and ran with it and gave it a lot more coverage than it probably deserved, which was my point. Ashley hasn't spent money because sixty people stood outside SJP singing songs, Ashley has spent money because he fears NUFC could be relegated. Ashley has spent money because the club had the money available to spend (albeit from sales of players in previous windows).

I agree with the majority on the forum - they could beat us. At the end of the day, it is a game of football... Hayes and Yeading could beat Barcelona on the day. I think they have a decent chance, providing they play a full strength team and play well on the day - but I still think we have more than enough to beat them. The idiots who seem to think we're deluded and think we should win the league are wide of the mark though.

Aye but tbf, if they didn't go to the match it'd be impossible for them to see their BEST mates and 2nd cousin once-removed. Where else can they have a quiet natter about fat uncle gaz and his latest relapse? What about those who are happy that the club's starting to act like a football club again? are they allowed to go back? No because you are not a proper fan if you go to games, not until it's been declared acceptable on twitter. You're killing the club, paying for a ticket and sitting on a seat is killing the club. Implies you don't understand the point tbh, what does it have to do with actual f***ing seats in a stadium and what doesn't it have to do with pumping money into an institution that has been wilfully neglectful of the playing squad, spiteful towards the club's fans and disinterested in success on the field. Ground should have been half empty years ago, might have seen a bit of investment or a new owner sooner. Whether the stadium is full or empty... MA will not give a toss. Too much money is made from TV and sponsorship deals, MA could easily offset the loss of the revenue from matchday by selling two players on high wages. The whole "giving money is killing the club" is totally wrong and wide of the mark. How do you know? Seems awfully convenient we've seen these new players come in following the first instance of organised and focused unrest. As I said in my previous post (bottom of the last page), I feel AshleyOut had a positive input on the changes that have gone on this summer but it will not force him out of the club. I also think their protests were sparse and not very well organised. It was the media focus on the club brought on by AO that forced MA's hand in making changes. But that is besides the point, the fact is - whether SJP is empty on matchday (which it wouldn't be, due to away fans) or not... It would not force MA out of the club as he can easily offset the matchday revenue with other means. Therefore, slating fans for attending games based on money is just downright wrong. Which was my original point.

Aye but tbf, if they didn't go to the match it'd be impossible for them to see their BEST mates and 2nd cousin once-removed. Where else can they have a quiet natter about fat uncle gaz and his latest relapse? What about those who are happy that the club's starting to act like a football club again? are they allowed to go back? No because you are not a proper fan if you go to games, not until it's been declared acceptable on twitter. You're killing the club, paying for a ticket and sitting on a seat is killing the club. Implies you don't understand the point tbh, what does it have to do with actual f***ing seats in a stadium and what doesn't it have to do with pumping money into an institution that has been wilfully neglectful of the playing squad, spiteful towards the club's fans and disinterested in success on the field. Ground should have been half empty years ago, might have seen a bit of investment or a new owner sooner. Whether the stadium is full or empty... MA will not give a toss. Too much money is made from TV and sponsorship deals, MA could easily offset the loss of the revenue from matchday by selling two players on high wages. The whole "giving money is killing the club" is totally wrong and wide of the mark.

Aye but tbf, if they didn't go to the match it'd be impossible for them to see their BEST mates and 2nd cousin once-removed. Where else can they have a quiet natter about fat uncle gaz and his latest relapse? What about those who are happy that the club's starting to act like a football club again? are they allowed to go back? No because you are not a proper fan if you go to games, not until it's been declared acceptable on twitter. You're killing the club, paying for a ticket and sitting on a seat is killing the club.

Great draw for us imo. This is the cup we have most chance with, as all the big teams don't take it seriously.

Well it clearly has. The Cups will be taken seriously for a start (If you believe McClaren - I've got no reason not too). The players signed are of a better quality than we've signed in the last few years. You say bare minimum yet we've got more options and a stronger bench than anytime I can remember in the last.... f*** knows how long. We still need more, which is why I said I'll wait and see what they do in the next 6-12 months. But there's clearly been a change in mentality, in my opinion. a) We've got about 7 years of reasons not to believe those running the club. McClaren may be new, but he knows exactly who he's working for. b) I don't believe they're of better quality than a lot of the players we've signed and then shipped out, and our bench is not massively dissimilar to the bench during the start of last season. But we have no depth, as you say, so in a month or so time, it'll be f***ing s*** once again. c) There hasn't been a change in mentality, as shown by the fact we've already stopped looking at players for this window on the basis that the squad is already full enough (of Williamsons, Obertans and Gouffrans). Nothing has changed. a) Agree b) I disagree with this entirely, I think we do have depth - when we have a fully fit squad we are able to field a strong 11 and also have the likes of Darlow, Saylor, Dummett, Perez, Aarons, SDJ, Cisse knocking on the door to get into the squad. Behind that you have shit players like Williamson, Obertan, Gouf - but so does every club. They are third/fourth choice in some circumstances. Liverpool's third choice midfielder is Joe Allen for example. c) I would be very interested to see if Williamson is sold (if a buyer can be found) whether or not another player is bought in, if that is the case then you are wrong. Fact is, because nobody has bought anyone of us - this point cant be tested. I think the club have made big strides this season, I'll never be fully satisfied until MA has gone but with no realistic prospect of that happening then I am hoping for the best possible outcome with him at the club. If at the end of the season we finish 10th with a half decent cup run, but then make no new additions and go backwards again - you are spot on. I don't think that will happen though, I genuinely think the club have turned a corner - possibly because MA is more of a sleeping partner now and (apparently) not so involved. Maybe I'm wrong, maybe you are right - only time will tell. Don't understand the whole not attending and attacking people who do attend. If you don't want to go, don't go - but why moan at others who do go? No amount of protesting will convince MA to sell the club, I've said it all along. I feel the Ashley Out campaign had a positive influence in the changes this summer, but it will not make MA sell.

Come off it man, they are clearly better than us and we always do f*** all against them. Not saying we won't get anything but they are one of the best teams in the league for a reason. They are the one of the "top teams" in the league who I don't really fear playing against. Anybody who shows up with a good performance can give them a real go. Arsenal beat poor teams but struggle against good teams.

Would be disappointed with anything less than a draw against these. They are underwhelming and I think we're starting to get things together, plus they're never great away from home.

Chelsea, Arsenal, Man City or Man Utd away it will be then... Would love another home draw against someone like Carlisle.

In comparison, Palace are currently struggling against Shrewsbury. I wonder what the similar point is...

Thauvin looks a real good signing to me, him swinging balls in for Mitrovic could be something special. I fancy us doing well this year in this cup to be honest, no big team takes it seriously.

Probably the first time in years I've looked at our team in a cup match and thought "they should win this". Glad to see Thauvin getting a first start and hope Perez and Aarons do well.

A bit like going on one date with a girl then stabbing her eyes out with a fork when she sleeps with someone else?

This is awful. They are showing games in random orders, the gimmicks are dreadful and the presenters are idiots.

Oh I don't disagree with that at all, I'll never be fully satisfied until Ashley is gone. My post was more aimed towards people sniping at players and McClaren (not just in this thread but others too). I'm more than happy to give players like Obertan the opportunity to play, as I'm pretty sure the oaths in charge of the tactics/coaching/team picking previously were dreadful and I have much more confidence in the current staffing. I also believe McClaren will know the team inside out after 5 or 6 games and the dross that we all dislike will be miles away from the first team squad.

Doubt he'll start tomorrow, imagine Cisse will and he'll come on around 60 minutes or so. Would love he and Cisse to play together personally, but managers are allergic to playing two strikers these days.

This is the same player that threw his toys out of the pram and refused to play for us because he wanted to piss off. Good player, will do well for Palace - I'd have had him back at NUFC but can't say I'd worship the ground he walks on.

Glad he is now in a position where he is able to play regular football in a standard appropriate to his development rather than rotting in our reserves/on the bench/having a ball whacked at him from 70 yards.

Some people in life are always just negative and it's usually the negative ones who appear on forums/social media/local press etc. to vent their angry feelings. If Obertan plays, Obertan plays... The result of this fixture will not be down to one poor performance by Obertan. I personally wouldn't play him, but I'm willing to give every NUFC player a clean slate under a manager who I believe is a hundred times better than the previous. People need to realise that McClaren is not Pardew - and he will probably drop players who perform poorly. Give the bloke a chance.

If I'm honest, this tells me that McClaren has more say in his start as manager than Pardew ever did. Ashley/Charnley have allowed Steve to assess Colo AND make the decision on whether to keep him AND give him the decision to offer a new deal.