number37

Do you reckon they can just put the Sports Direct signs back up if taking them down has done this to us?

Yeah, I get what you mean. There's a bunch of sport on TV that I'm not interested in and am always disappointed when I'd rather have something on that I'd like. When Amazon have all the matches on together it's almost too much of a good problem! I was just being a little bit of a dick earlier, trying to be funny. I know we're not a bunch of mysogonsists on here - we just want to watch what we want to watch.

Sorry! Deep, deep... deep down he probably does have some redeemable qualities, perhaps not as a broadcaster but at least as a human being but I'm unwilling to give him any more time. He's clearly doing something right though! Again, so sorry to detract from a more worthy discussion. See, this is what he does.

I'd also like to caveat that viewing figures may not necessarily reflect quality or appeal. Prime example is anything that has to have either Gregg Wallace or Jermaine Jenas featured. Objectively, a colonoscopy is better value but unfortunately MasterChef viewing figures suggest otherwise. Also not everyone has sports packages on their TV so that would impact potential audience figures. The women's game needs to start somewhere though and it'll certainly grow in popularity as it is given more exposure, which it should and we shouldn't expect it to immediately have viewing figures like an FA Cup final from the 1970s. Sorry to temporarily take us a little off topic there. Fucking Gregg Wallace, man. Tit.

Those pesky women, you'd have thought they'd be satisfied (thankful) when we allowed them equal rights but now they're wanting enhanced rights for their showpiece event? It's a good point about standalone teams for women, I think that's what they have in America and there are a couple of teams in the Women's Championship that are distinct. I think I'd probably be in favour (just as long as they're not demanding their matches be broadcast on Men's television) but can understand why it's not the case here.

Whenever Thomas Partey is mentioned on TV, does 'Who Likes to Rock the Party?' by Flight of the Conchords immediately pop into anyone else's mind? Could just be me.

To give Arsenal a wee bit of credit there, if I remember rightly, Steve Bruce was in charge of Sheffield United at the time so it's understandable and justifiable shithousery.

Yeah, I do agree with the sporting and fair play element, almost like it's gentlemanly conduct and certainly something I'd love to see more of in the modern game - that Corinthian spirit. But it's Man Utd at Old Trafford, so fuck 'em.

I've definitely forgotten what giving a shit actually feels like. Torture!

The castle and lion is their city's coat of arms.

It's quite fitting that you'd usually give the widest possible berth to someone who believes it's acceptable to dot an upper case I. Eddie deserves so much better.

I find it a bit strange how the modern approach is to dumb down a badge in order to make it easier for digital reproduction or whatever horseshit marketing term there is when surely it's never been easier to render a more complex image? With all the technology we have now when on some massive TV you can see the hairs on the arse of a fly from the other side of the room but drawing a couple of seahorses and a stripy shield is a step too far? I could understand if it was the Victorian times when they'd be individually stitched by hand but not now when they're directly printed onto shirts and we've all got retina destroying displays on our phones. We should keep our badge because it's mint. Worst case scenario - evolution not revolution.

As a relatively young manger, I think it's fair enough to try and model your footballing philosophy or managerial style on Sir Alex Ferguson, he's one of the best in history after all, but you do still need to have the ability to pull it off or at least get close. It's understandable though and at least he's picked a great manager to base himself on, it's just not worked out like that, just like it wouldn't have for quite a lot of managers. He could have sought inspiration from another Manchester United legend, Steve Bruce of course, but I guess that would be like trying to be the Michael Schumacher of skiing.

He said he's only really been to the training ground and his hotel. Assuming he didn't catch covid at training, is it safe to assume he caught it at Clifton Hotel & Bar, Elswick? The club have FFP to consider so they may be reluctant to blow a load of money on a luxury/safe/clean/hygienic hotel. Eddie is a history man so would know one of the first (perhaps even first) games United ever played was against Elswick Leather Works second XI. He hasn't been taking his own car to training because it was obviously stolen from outside the hotel. It all makes too much sense, man. Anyway, he'll still be 100% more effective away from the ground than his predecessor was at the ground.

How will the club manage without him?

Aye, perhaps. At least it's provided minutes of wonder and debate decades later!

From what I've found over the years from little bits of research, which may be completely wrong, is that it was just a genuine error that has stuck. No one knows why. It shouldn't be blue, should be white of course, but is now simply one of those little quirks!

I personally think we'd be in murky waters (pardon the pun) if we sideline our history too much. It's true the Tyne is no longer used for heavy industry as it once was but it still has undeniable resonance, like it's still physically there flowing through the city! On a similar note, I doubt the Manchester shipping canal is used as much as it was historically but still remains visible on the crests of both Manchester clubs. Arsenal have long since moved away from the manufacturing of armaments, they've even relocated from the area of London where this took place but they still have a cannon on their badge.

I rather loved this prototype from a few years ago. It's funny how something so amazing is almost too easy. As a slight tweak you could always just change the red/white stripes to black/white that are just above the seahorses' hooves. Maybe use the regular blue scroll for the club name too seeing as it's not the 125 anniversary any more.

Not wanting to cross the streams but they do something very similar in rugby for their World Cup, although that might work better/differently because there are generally fewer higher level nations compared to football so the same old countries will always qualify anyway through the World Cup rather than qualification. I suppose it's six and two threes really. Someone like Germany or Brazil are pretty much always going to qualify, whether that's because they'll usually reach the knockouts or inevitably just sail through qualifying. Could maybe help the lower nations, I guess, but I think that was the thought behind linking Nations League progress with Euro and World Cup qualifying in terms of giving them a playoff spot to put in their back pocket in case main qualifying doesn't go so well. Who knows what'll happen when Wenger gets his way and there'll be qualifying for the next World Cup midway through the current one in some multi group format where the top two in each group qualify for a World Cup in odd years and the next two for a World Cup in even years and the bottom teams qualify for the Euros.

Stones on, Southgate looking to keep things tight for the last 20.

I wanted to see how universal this dislike of Sam Matterface is (spoiler alert: it's widespread, obviously) and I stumbled upon a Brighton and Hove Albion forum and they were discussing the commentary options of BBC v ITV at the Euros and one hero likened our antagonist to the equally unpleasant stain on British society from MasterChef: Source: https://www.northstandchat.com/showthread.php?388901-Matterface-on-ITV-or-Mowbray-on-BBC&p=9927270&viewfull=1#post9927270

With the money we're not spending on HS2 to Leeds, could we not give Italy £10bn to build a border wall around San Marino (twice if necessary) to keep Sam Matterface there and also give San Marino £11bn in compensation for keeping Sam Matterface there.

Their record defeat is 13-0, which is the same as our record win so if it's not 14-0 then it might as well be a defeat. If records aren't getting broken then hopefully Matterface does at least.

They're no Panama, El Salvador or Martinique but I guess they've got every right to enter and take part. At least they're a genuine, recognised country, if we're looking closer to home.