Happinesstan

Refs are under pressure from their assessors to implement the rules regardless of emotions attached to a certain celebration - I have no qualms about the ref issuing the card at that time, all he is doing is following orders (which he is under pressure to do) - the FA should IMO just rescind the card now after the event FWIW Claude Puel said he accepted the card as Leicester City approached the game professionally and he expected everyone else (i.e. the refs) to do the same Agreed - it's a yellow card offence. The referee shouldn't have make decisions on what events are or aren't worthy of being commemorated by taking your shirt off. Refs are under pressure from their assessors to implement the rules regardless of emotions attached to a certain celebration - I have no qualms about the ref issuing the card at that time, all he is doing is following orders (which he is under pressure to do) - the FA should IMO just rescind the card now after the event FWIW Claude Puel said he accepted the card as Leicester City approached the game professionally and he expected everyone else (i.e. the refs) to do the same Agree with both your comments and have great respect for Puel's considered response. It's a shame that this should have been a tlaking point at all, and it wouldn't be if it wasn't for the unnecessary, totally unrelated to the game in any way, rule being in place.

What if the champions league winners come from a different country to the relegated club?

Once they've got VAR up to speed they'll be able to program the electronic advertising boards to show, country specific ads. Imagine being able to sell the same ad space in every country.

Booking players for taking their shirts off. Absolutely ridiculous.

Maybe their was a bit of humility in his ear-plugging. Maybe he is perfectly aware that his performances have been below standard, and feels he hasn't earned the roars of passion that come with scoring. But of course not. Everything is a personal fucking affront. The lad seem a lot more humble than 95% of we pricks on here.

Yeah but think about the kickbacks from the money laundering. A super league would be like a world cup every weekend.

A very good point.

"We go again".

Totally agree. Used to see them all out in the Biggie, Masters for last orders, anyone? My mate knew Clarky and Watson from WBC so they'd often chat. Coley seemed like a rabbit caught in headlights. But I remember something to do with a photo of him, with mates from Bristol (I think) which gave him a reputation as a bit flash.

"The Bishop hits back with the uppercut, and the Toon is shaken"

Maybe. Just maybe. Rafa and Lascelles instructions "not to protest" are aimed at these people.

I honestly think if the previous regime had had the explosion of new PL money wed be in a similar position to Spurs by now Could you imagine the Shepherds with this money? We'd definitely be where Spurs are, but they'll be rolling into the stadium with gold teeth, a gold limousine and 10 Spanish prostitutes. And I'll be totally okay with it. He'd be spending on marquee players and we'd be better off compared to where we are now because we'd have a few big name players at least, even if they might be over the hill. But it's still Freddie Shepherd. The lining of his own pockets wasn't the only issue even though it's a pretty big one - reducing our available resources, heavily influencing who who we'd buy since e.g. we brought exclusively from Willie McKay alot of the time just to further line the Shepherd family pockets. But his appointment in managers pre and post Sir Bobby was beyond dreadful. The guy appointed Souness, Roeder and Allardyce in an era when our competitors were going for world class talent (like Rafa) or progressive visionaries (Wenger at Arsenal). I remember the day Souness was appointed when practically our entire fanbase felt sick to our stomachs with how bad that appointment was, especially when you look back to who the rumoured candidates for the job were and the calibre of some of those putting their names forward. Houllier? Nope. Lippi? Nope. Capello? Nope. Cuper? Nope. Hitzfeld? Clearly a gambling scam. How about the widely viewed as shiite manager from Blackburn, at a club at the bottom of the table and on the verge of the sack, with a reputation for falling out with players? YES! It's exactly the same sort of shit decision making Ashley has shown for most of his tenure here. Spurs right now have Ponchettino, a progressive genius of a manager who Shepherd would probably never appoint. I'd argue the Sir Bobby era has heavily influenced how many people remember Shepherd. Sir Bobby was practically a Geordie with emotional ties to the club, a world class manager with vast continental experience at the highest levels, and coming towards the end of his career looking to return home - it was the easiest appointment in the world for Freddie, and something he should get minimal credit for (in the same way Ashley should get minimal credit for appointing Rafa, circumstances just aligned). There's no Sir Bobby out there for us, no easy appointment, so who do you honestly think Shepherd would be appointing? Probably a Moyes or Warnock. Yeah you pretty much nailed it. Will never forgive that Souness appointment. Was working in the restaurant the night he took Souness to dinner. Should have seen the writing on the wall, but I didn't think they'd ever sack Bobby for Souness.

Should have demanded a free transfer if we get relegated.

I demand that you bring your father over to boycott. Only kidding.

"It's always a tragedy when you lose somebody that dedicated their life to others."

Newcastle United Football Club is the lifeblood of Newcastle upon Tyne. Sports Direct is the lifeblood of Mike Ashley. He started it I say we finish it. Any efforts should be directed at SD, make it so nobody wants to be involved with him in any business sense. No effort should be wasted arguing amongst ourselves.

This is the thing. It's so hard to not just scream in people's faces but it'll do nothing. I'm not totally convinced the effort needed to convince people is worth it either, it's proper draining at times. I think arguing with people online is definitely tiring and frustrating. People hold their positions much more resolutely online. Maybe Plenum is right and we need a more simple approach, posters in local shops would be a constant presence and a symbol that the community is behind the movement. I think we'd need to be careful of dragging the online discourse into the realm of public reality, by not screaming in peoples faces, and maybe keeping it to anti Ashley posters, rather than the more divisive issue of boycott.

I really do think at times our fanbase is a lost cause tbh and will happily have shit sprayed in their face and they would still turn up. They'd bring their own tissues too. The club could turn it into a competition where only one person gets shit on, and they'd all be "Me!Me!Me!" Half time entertainment "the crap cannon" like t-shirt cannons, "the diarrhoea distributor", water cannons. It'll be like Ibiza, man.

Though I agree with the article to a point I don't think it has helped those sitting on the fence in 2 minds to boycott or not. People don't want to be told what to do and told they are part of the problem and will now go out of spite. Hopefully these flyers that are given out before the Watford game help to pull people back towards boycotting. To be honest the main thing that's going to decide how many boycott is how many games we win or lose between now or then. If we go on a 3 game winning run everything will be rosy again for most supporters and they will turn up. Couldn't give two fucks for that kind of person, personally.

"There's no point voting for Corbyn because he won't win."

I would imagine the advertising is worth more than that which would be paid to advertise.

Wish I'd known he was looking to buy a football club and make them champions, when I was serving him his lunch, every other Saturday.

Imagine losing your husband and daughter, then receiving an email from Ashley advising you how to deal with it.

Could do with David Batty.