Abacus

I always think that Stavely and Mehrdad are such canny operators across the Middle East, that they could easily bring in sponsorships etc not directly linked to Saudi. They could run rings around the FFP rules made by the corrupt 6 nonces.

Martin Hardy in the Times was also pointing out that he had a poor first half and we improved when he went off, plus that he's struggled in general. Also that he'd ignored Howe telling him to press higher up the field in that game, so it's not just Hope. From my point of view, I thought he was OK. At times he looked like a bright spark in a team that wasn't playing well, and hitting the post is hardly a stick to beat him with. I do think that it's obvious he'll need time and coaching to fit in with the system. As others have said, there seem to be raw materials to work with. My only concern is, with new recruits in the summer and potentially CL being well ahead of schedule, whether he'll get that time because he'll need to come on fast to be in /fit in with our first team.

You'd have to say that Spurs are almost certainly out of the race now so that's one rival down. We'd need to basically lose every game and they'd need to win every one to catch us. As it is, you can see Brighton finishing above Spurs easily, and maybe Villa too. Would be great to see them out of Europe, mainly because I can't stand Levy. But as for us - I just keep looking at the league table in disbelief and watching us dismantle team after team. It's Europe in some form or another for us and most likely champions league now. What a season!

I'm hoarse. The second half was a cracking atmosphere - I think the closer to the corner you are the better. It probably helped that we were behind at half time tbf because it felt like we all had to come out and swing it back our way in the second half.

He did say he'd consider a job in the championship, which I thought was nice of him. Here's one quote "Eddie Howe is manager of the season. Newcastle have spent £200m - that I didn't get by the way". No, Alan. You just had one of the hottest scouts at that time raiding the French league for you and bringing the likes of peak Cabaye. None of his nonsense was challenged, or even analysed though. Surely no-one would take a chance on Pardew now? Oh, you know what, ignore me he's old news.

Pardew has been saying he wants another job in England. It was in a ridiculous puff piece by one of the worst sports journalists around - Alyson Rudd. She basically just quoted all his nonsense verbatim. Edit - in the Times.

Whether he is our best player or not, there's no question to me that Trippier was our most important signing last season. He came into a terrible situation, scored some crucial goals, and helped galvanise a demoralised squad. And he did the latter bit off the pitch after breaking his foot comically early on in his career here. Even now, you see the difference when he is on the pitch. If you're going to ask who saved us from near certain relegation, set the standards and gave us a platform for this incredible season it's Howe and him.

I used to think there was a huge gulf between L1 and the championship. Turns out that there isn't; you can do pretty well with a few experienced players, blooding some young players and some clever loan moves. The premier league is a bit different - as both our clubs have seen, it's thoroughly miserable just being cannon fodder and spending all season scanning the bottom half of the table. There's a fair case to be made that going up now could actually be a bad thing for Sunderland. Then again, what with parachute payments if you get the chance to go up you've got to grab it, I suppose. They'd need serious investment to survive, though - be interesting to see what their owners would do, or whether they stick around.

Enrique

Don't think I'd be playing Gordon either. Just on footballing grounds apart from anything else - a nice option to have off the bench but I don't know who he'd replace from Sunday's starting 11. Also, would be some unnecessary winding up of the home fans to create an atmosphere which they desperately need more than us. Hopefully, our away fans can wind Pickford up into another meltdown, though.

Quite honestly, my favourite player in years. He absolutely bullied Spurs, and his volcanic reaction after he scored showed it meant everything to him. Thought I was way too old to have favourite players, but it turns out he's proved me wrong in that as well ?

Call him up, Gareth.

Fuck you. Also, join the next Traitors thread Yorkie.

Sounds great. But a few people seem to want to recreate the kind of match atmosphere they'd enjoyed instead of sitting waiting to be entertained. Maybe times have moved on. Hope not

Or, maybe let yourself loose every now and again.

It's when you're so raging that even when you do score you lose where you're sat, you fear you're going to lose your teeth on a plastic seat, hug every stranger and belt out stupid rubbish at top volume. Before pretending you've got laryngitis at work the next day. Fine if you want to be in the theatre seats, though. But too many of those just watching like they should be entertained. Sorry - being there is the actual entertainment and it's up to you to be part of it

Agreed. But we can be better too.

Too many folk who just kept their seats despite Ashley now, instead of the ones who actually cared and left.

Retract Owen Vote Barry Venison

Exactly. What Newcastle fan calls themself a "mag" anyway

Had a quick peak on their forum, and it seems to be Joelinton they're most scared of trying to cope with. I would be too if you're up against him, he's a machine - so they're not all daft.

Watched the game yesterday, and it was a deserved win. Have to say, Diallo looked a class above everyone else on the pitch, and will be hard to replace if his loan ends at the end of the season. On the other hand, you may get a striker in, or back to fitness and the difference that makes to a team from front to back is incredible. It'll be an interesting championship next season - probably because it's so hard to call the PL relegation battle. By which I mean, there will be a few decent sides in the mix who you wouldn't normally expect to have gone down.

And I'm fairly sure he's winding you up

I'm not sure if Rafa destroyed Mitro as much as never quite trusted him. You only have to look at how he has just imploded after he had his best PL season. I think there was an element of the players treating the place like a holiday camp after Rafa left. In fact, a literal holiday camp in Portugal - which is fine for a few weeks but not what any professional athlete should be about. And as for Bruce - he virtually destroyed Joelinton's career, a player who now looks almost irreplaceable.

Even now, how are there so many crisp packets blowing around their pitch? Fling The MonsterMunch