SteV

I agree in that it was rarely abused in terms of direct touting (probably did go on a little bit, but certainly not to the point where it was a major issue). But they had they had to open up a door to youngsters to accumulate their own points somehow. People complained recently (rightly or wrongly) about the away following at the mackems being made up of ‘oldies’. If we didn’t do something to start getting youngsters to accrue points, that would only get worse.

The one’s up the Thames might be class, but I’m not sure going up in the Tyne when it’s -3 in January would have the same effect…?

Of course, but it was clearly reaching a point last season where the number of points that EVERY game was selling out on was getting ridiculous. You basically had to have 50+ points or know ‘someone’ to stand any chance whatsoever of getting to an away game. Not saying I agree with what they’ve come up with, but I understand why they felt they had to do something. As I say I think some kind of transferability will help to a degree, but if they knock checking on the head completely, we’ll be straight back to where we were last season.

I don’t really want to go over it, as now it’s ruled out, it’s completely irrelevant, but.. if you’re coming from the (localised) west you’re more than likely coming in via the Redheugh Bridge or Scotswood Road. If you were to whack a new mega stadium at that location, you make those two routes, that get very congested on match day, even more congested, possibly to the point where they struggle to cope. Maybe they’d get round it with some large-scale park and rides somewhere the other side of Gateshead and somewhere near the MetroCentre, but you’d need a fair chunk of land. Anyway, like I said, all irrelevant now, so I’ll not waste everyone’s time any further.

They won’t confirm this (obviously) but it’s fairly clear that there’s been an effort to target people who run buses and people that travel with them. Some people would say that’s probably fair enough as that’s where a lot of the ‘passing on’ of tickets was taking place. I agree, as I think the majority of fans do, that the way this is currently implemented isn’t really very sensible. People may agree with the overall principle of what they’re trying to achieve, but as you say, it’s potentially a massive pain in the arse if you are picked. Brighton do something where you get notified 48hrs ahead that you will have to pick your ticket up (with ID) at a designated location, in the couple of hours before ko. Maybe that’s more sensible, although I then don’t know what approach you take towards people who don’t turn up? I think eventually some kind of limited away ticket transfer system will get put in place, which may help, but even then you’ve still got to have some form of checking in place otherwise it’s a waste of time.

Didn’t see how that site ever really worked from a transport infrastructure POV. Doesn’t matter now though.

It’s a very odd situation. There seems to be varying deals that people are on. Mine expired at the start of this season, and I’m sure some people’s did the season before. I’m sure we still weren’t offering the deal at the start of the 14/15 season, but take whatever you can get!

From what Eddie said in his presser on Friday it was an automatic trigger, although I’m not sure whether the obligation was on our side or his?

Cunha out for a while with a hamstring injury for Wolves. Handy with us playing them shortly.

“Contract talks stalled” ? Even Toney wouldn’t take the odds offered on him signing a new contract with Brentford.

So tbf, he could actually have started training ‘with the group’ by now. Suppose we’ll find out Friday.

That’s taken from his presser last week isn’t it?

I think anecdotally, people have heard both versions. To me it would seem a fairly pointless exercise if they don’t, however you could argue it was all about just creating that deterrent and fear factor. You’d also be a tad miffed it you’d lost all your points and it turned out that if the person who was trying to get in hadn’t gone to the box office (in what was presumably a fairly pointless exercise), you’d have been alright. So if I had to guess I’d say they do get that info, but I’m not basing that on any actual evidence.

I think more people are just prepared to take the risk, knowing checks are not happening at every game, and even if they are, the odds are still in your favour. I wouldn’t say it’s back to being “rife” mind. The points that games are selling out on are still nowhere near what they were last season.

‘Only’ £75k, which is nothing by Chelsea standards. That kid they signed from Villa, that’s injured now, is apparently on £100k.

Ballot for this open tomorrow morning if anyone’s still after a ticket.

No way we’re spending ~£100m on a central striker unless Isak gets sold.

That first photo is tremendous ?

Ended at seven then as well. Chance to beat it on Saturday.

The thing is with these ‘conversations’ that are had with opposition fans, who in their right minds is going to get into a chat with the other teams fans and tell them they don’t like them but the fans of their biggest rivals are sound. Majority of time people that aren’t massive dickheads will just say stuff to get along with their hosts and create a cosy environment.

Yesterday was the seventh game in a row we’ve scored at least two. Haven’t bothered checking but feels like that can’t be a very common occurrence? Maybe in the Championship seasons?

Is that @Heron just in front of Graham Swann?

Nailed on unless someone really steps up from hear on in.

It’s mad when you have a player who’s ran his bollocks off for 60/70 mins, but then you can replace him with an equally good ‘fresh’ player, that you look better as a team.

Fuck you Bayern.