OpenC

Nice one, I think she could be great there given a couple of weeks in the position

Sub keeper finally given a run today. No keeper on the bench. Bartle back in the squad as well

What makes you think it would be a big draw in Newcastle @Dr Jinx? Not disputing, just wondering - I only know one person who talks about it, I had assumed it was still pretty minority interest here.

Everybody knows that a properly designed stadium is 85% more likely to make the whole place sing Blaydon Races like we did in the 80s

No, the pop up is 'Bar 73', literally scaffold and planks, and it's on the bridge heading down to the A Love Supreme shop. The food outlets there are more numerous and all much bigger than the ones we get at SJP, it's not even close to the same. And I'm not sure how much retail cores come into it. Nobody is taking bags of new clothes into SJP - the SoL is a canny bit further from good and plentiful food and drink choices than SJP is from the Monument or Stowell Street, I think they're the city centre feature which is of more significance.

I went to Sunderland today for photographic purposes. Never been to their ground before and it left me in a stronger frame of mind that generic stadiums built on derelict brownfield are an absolute no for me. The people were all friendly enough and because of the way they're channeled to the stadium from the city centre across the bridge it honestly seems loads busier in a lot of places than SJP does around 2.30 (and apparently a lot come in from the west as well as from the centre). But the stadium itself looks a soulless, characterless thing other than the branding (give me something which is half lopsided throwback, half towering fortress any day) and the car parks that are all around it and were no doubt part of the design make for a weird combination of parking cars and wandering fans. The other point of note is that the whole place seems completely surrounded by shit burger vans, stalls which noisily advertise that they're selling blue sweets and blue pop and one pop up pub (which was alright when it was quiet). This is all, I guess, because the stadium is a sufficient distance from the city centre for people to want to eat and drink closer to the venue, something we don't have to suffer and consequently we don't have quarter of the fast food outside our ground and less shite lying around as a result. I am certain this is what would happen in Newcastle if we moved to the riverside, which is similarly close-but-not-quite. The amount of food detritus lying around outside is why there are so many gulls making an appearance in the stadium, certainly. I couldn't see anywhere selling crisps mind. We would be mad to give up on the heritage, character and location of SJP imo, absolutely insane. The stuff that people are confidently asserting will spring up around a new ground to make the area feel less derelict has just not appeared on Wearside. I actually liked it quite a lot from a football fan perspective but I like what we've got much more.

Not a big fan of Never Forgets but didn't know this one

Probably a fair few. I feel like plenty more people want us to move only because they think we'll then be able to spend as much money as we want with no further questions asked. So much upheaval and disruption to try to meet the conditions of a discredited and almost universally despised financial test which is already limping heavily and imo almost certain to be bulleted in its current form before the first paying fan enters our new arena

Looking forward to making this exact point later on today

literally dozens

100% this. It would be the best option I think and if it was allowed to happen I think a redeveloped park on what's currently SJP would be hugely better than what we've got now (a falling apart rat infested grade 2 park) but there would be just as much opposition now as there was last time it/Castle Leazes was mooted imo

Is Option A 95% the same as Celtic Park or my imagination? Have they got a similar issue to us with the small stand, or are they just happy with how it is?

Looks like just what might happen if planning regs and physics weren't a consideration

I suppose if you're not interested you're not interested; there are still plenty of supporters who just aren't bothered about the women's game, which is both fair enough and their loss I know a few women's team fans who couldn't give less of a fuck about the men's team.

The other great thing about this is that Katie Barker (among others) doesn't appear to have hit anything like her ceiling at this level. Really direct and aggressive player, and one of the few who stepped up against hashtag with an eye for a shot. Was discussing with stifler during the game that she's great on the wing because she works so hard and either crosses or cuts in so well (and crucially gets her head up so she knows which is the best option), but you could easily see her somewhere else across the front. I don't doubt there'll be incomings and outgoings but I'd be disappointed if very many of the players who formed the core of the team this season went much further than the bench. Going back to O'Neill's post a couple of weeks ago, he watches way more than I do and will have a much better idea of the standard of the Championship and I accept that a fully (?) professional league is a very different proposition to a fully professional team in an amateur or semi pro league routinely turning over opponents by close to double figures, of course

It's definitely one of the reasons I've enjoyed it so much like, and being (usually) able to switch ends at HT has been great as well.

I'm not convinced you'd have got another 3,000 in today like, for all the stadium is rated 10,300 apparently. Stand opposite filled up a bit more than this after I took the video. I thought the announcer gave the crowd as 10k+ rather than 7k+ and I believed him

Very tight at the top of the Championship now with not many games left to play. Epic last day game for Sunlun on the cards, Durham still in the mix to pass Newcastle going the other way. Would be canny to have two local away trips next season.

It was only ever in doubt for me when De Bruyne wasn't playing, even then I was fairly sure they'd do it

Finally made it onto the BBC https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68792073

Fucking brilliant day love that they didn't take their foot off the neck/gas either. Felt a bit for the Huddersfield keeper like, lass looked sick of her life whole second half. Good to meet you as well @Stifler, will get you a pint back next season

You on the covered terrace @Iwantcurlyhair2? They're busier than usual

It will be before long I reckon

Turning into a bit of a procession I can live with that

Great crowd, and a canny old crack with stifler as well. Good day already