Wolfcastle

Yeah, we knew Canada were limited, or should have known, and they did really well with what they had. The lack of quality didn't bother me like it wouldn't with a lower-league team giving a PL team a game

Should have been around for Hungary in 1982 and Sandor Kiss, what a hoot that was. But this 'receptions' stat. Ffs. What next expected goals or some shit?!

I kinda enjoyed the Canada game, pulling for them and they deserved it. Didn't see Saudi-Argentina. Everything else I've seen has been dire.

Just going to put it out there in case history repeats. Same situation as 1990, racuous atmosphere, rotten game, Argentina second game broke the deadlock with a massive cock-up by the Soviets (iirc unless that was the second goal).

As bad a game as you could ever see. Poor refereeing too. That said the edge, the atmosphere and the scenario is enough for me. I get entertainment out of such like all the same. Sometimes more than open games. Maradona could take better set plays in those charity kick-abouts a few years ago than Messi.

Gutted for Canada. Always had a soft spot for some reason and would love to have had them at SJP for a world cup game. Its like they're better coached but not better individually, like being better than a mate on a football game but him having by far the beter team. The passes, the moves are right but he can just bloot one. Witzel - never got the point of that. Hope they get something at this world cup, a win or at least a few goals as I've a horrible feeling they won't.

People are trying to start one though all of a sudden.

Wouldn't be surprised if Spain and Costa Rica finished ahead of both of them. Was championship level stuff first-half, Germany are shit but play like they're still good.

It'd be like having Owen again. Big name you know doesn't fit in, who is finished and on a fortune and every time he went down you'd be expecting an injury.

He was s**t hot, but that still amounts to one good season in the top flight so the point, harsh though it seems stands. Went right off the boil and was just average after. Still think his form in 97-99 would have applied to the PL but we'll never know. He came back to our place with either Villa or Southampton one time didn't even get to be booed he had that little involvement. Got booed when he went back there the first time though.

Saudi Arabia played in every world cup from 94-06 without any of this. It was all but certainly a far worse place for human rights then than now. Its the current climate that's the factor. The national dance at the 94 opening ceremony included dancing with swords ffs.

Hope the media isn't going to be all cutesy about Wales as a home nation - they're stinking up the place. Ireland got away with playing atrocious football in 90 and 94 but at least they were half decent.

Howe: Manages the Magpies Bruce: Managed a bag of pies...for brunch Bruce: Keepers working hard Howe: Keepers hardly working

I'd guess not judging by that thread on the most exciting/existing players they've seen including as highlights Nicky Summerbee, Kieron Brady, Marco Gabbiadini, Allan Jonhston, Adam Nonceson, Patrick Roberts, Martin Smith, Don Hutchison, Gary Rowell. Three of whom even managed to have careers mostly in the top division albeit unspectacularly.

Yeah, Thuram's old man was a beast, that's what I'm going off and yet it still satisfied

That he has to embelish things that are bad if just told truthfully (misrepresenting Yemen constantly, mid-teen MBS planned 9/11) is self-defeating. Comes off as a obsessive warped liar. That people just give him a like, like he's a sage on these things is pretty frightening though. Why does he only care about Saudi Arabia and human rights? Can he answer that? As he's literally defended Russia in his own attack there and there's zero comparison? Who grieves for the quarter of a million dead at Putin's hand? Not old bleeding heart Exile that's for sure. If only there was a common denominator in what he's selectively outraged by.

To be genunine it would mean the inhabitants of Sunderland are specifically and uniquely sensitive and compassioante to human rights violations around the world (or even just Saudi ones, which defeats the concept), as opposed to anywhere else that's a lot less bothered (and personally effected, coincidentally). The only people I could honestly see convincing themselves of that, are their lunatics.

Aye completely forgot about that shirt. Didn't see that floating around much. Nice Velez Sarsfield homage for that Argentine kid were after.

England played there when Wembley was being rebuilt so this must be a new thing. On both counts cos a couple international play-offs were played there.

"Already had Mags on to me.... FFS" "Just tell them you’re dead against it and Sartori is a ****. Simple" were against their practices and beliefs and Ashley is a ****, so that's that then apparently "Not getting the hate from the bit research I just did. The club have a woman on the board, the owner seems a fairly decent bloke and it's not like I'm expected to hate the whole of the middle east, or am I ?" heard of Amanda Staveley? "However, this is a Saudi team that is not owned by the Saudi state." Plays in a Saudi state owned league, in Saudi, which is completely controlled, so they kept telling us, by MBS And "Most of our fans. Mags were hoping we'd make excuses. Unlucky" WTF is all that above then? from the very same page

20% are fine with it. I wonder what exit poll number you'd get if they were offered mega millions, the chance to win trophies and most importantly be North East top dogs instead of just a mid-season training match. Despite having painted themselves into a corner with their phony outrage got to think it would be at least 50-60%

They did warm weather training in Dubai in 2016 without a word said. The Yemen conflict had been going on for a couple years and UAE were part of the Arab coalition. Wonder why nothing was said then. On an unrelated note, Mike Ashley still owned Newcastle.

Bit retro but quite pleasing to see Everton worse under Lampard than under Rafa.

Were at least being paid hundreds of millions of pounds for our pacification after being saved from terminal decline. They're doing it for free of their own accord.

Kids, kids, calm down, easy....you're both wankers