Abacus

I mostly agree. But on the other hand, as well as taking money out, they have remorselessly grown Man U's commercial brand around the world at the same time. One fan argument is that the club would be better off if they just spent their own money instead of paying some of it to the Glazers and also in debt interest. But on the other hand, it's the Glazers who helped build all that income in the first place, so they've taken money out from a bigger pot they've grown. Give with one hand, take with the other. Unlike Ashley, who not only took money away through sponsorships etc, but actively strangled the commercial side. I.e. he took with both hands. I'm not arguing with your basic point, by the way. Just like their fans, I'd also have detested their ownership if it was us. I just don't think they are as calamitously bad as Ashley in terms of the long term damage they have caused. Also, higher interest rates worldwide on a debt funded asset, where you've now got real competition for your TV money, in a likely future global recession ... yeah, a house of cards that ownership. No surprise to see them and FSG want to cut and run.

They should make him play two more games instead.

You can be delighted for the Saudis without needing to link anything to NUFC. It's a huge sporting upset, and one they deserved, against a tournament favourite. And in what was probably the best match of what has been a pretty stale tournament so far. You don't have to agree with their regime, or anything else, to be able to enjoy that. As for Qatar, I was happy they lost but that's due to how the tournament was awarded to start with and how it has been conducted since.

The Qatari mackems will be fewming

I do sympathise with the travelling fans though. It's seven hour flight at least, plus transfers, to the stadium. Pretty gruelling to be holding it in all that time before they can take a nice relaxing shit in their seat. Here's to the Turtles' Head Trophy.

They are clearly hoping for a bit of investment / sponsorship / interest from the Middle East by piggybacking on our owners. No other reason for them to choose to play a Saudi club. They probably also had to pay the Saudis to sportswash their image, because there's no conceivable benefit in the KSA being associated with the awful Wearside regime.

I agree and think the Tyneside Life guy came across badly in this. I especially liked his "gotcha" where he told the guy that the Saudis hadn't signed up to the Human Rights Convention. Err that's right, agreed the guy suspiciously, clearly wary that he was being lured into some kind of clever trap. Before finding out it was nothing of the sort and it was the questioner who had just made a prat of himself instead. You highlighted that earlier, but at that point my own cringe factor was so high that I had to switch it off. NB I didn't agree with the protests themselves, even if I agree with many of the issues they protest about. Regardless, I thought he was reasonable and afterwards I thought fair enough to him, he's made his case. He was always entitled to do that of course, but whilst you can always say what you want, he at least earned the right to be listened to by how he went about it.

Away first, just after New Year. To be honest, a point there and them still having to come to our place afterwards would be pretty immense.

I don't really understand the shithousery thing. Do you mean, a bit of time wasting near the end of a match or rolling about after a hard tackle? Making the most of a foul and being certain you get it? The odd tactical foul or physical intimidation of players? Being in the ear of the referee the whole game so you're not a pushover? There's a line with all of those things, and I don't think we've crossed it. Making your case to the ref, for example, is a far cry from surrounding and physically bullying the ref like Man U used to do, with Ferguson screaming from the touchline, or has happened against us this season, like with send-him-off Klopp. But if that line isn't crossed, and I don't think we have crossed it, then none of that is shithousery in my book. Blatant diving, cheating, pretending you've been elbowed in the face, or nasty off the ball fouls - that's my definition of shithousery, and I don't think we do much if any of that. Probably the only example I can think of was Zouma getting meowed at, and that was both deserved and hilarious.

Be interested to see how we do against this Arsenal team. There's nothing scary about them, from what I've seen. I mean, they're doing brilliantly so far, but it looks like you can get after them.

Toney looked absolutely furious in his post match interview. I like that attitude.

He won it for us last February as well after the relegation rescue act. Three times with Bournemouth.

Gymnastics is giving them a bit too much credit. It's more like a series of belly-flops.

Be interesting to see what would happen to the rules about related party sponsorships if Qatar took them over.

Saints; So, Steve, would you like to manage Southampton? Bruce; You had me at ham

Cracking finish, really pleased for him. After helping keep us up last season, to become a player who comes off the bench to shore things up this time round, he's become pretty useful. Just please don't say he's about to start smacking in goals all over the shop like Almiron now. Otherwise I'll have to believe that Eddie Howe really is not of this earth.

Yep, two draws please. And for us to stomp all over Southampton, hit third place and really put the cat amongst the pigeons. Well, I can dream, right?

Imagine growing up as a big Fan of Massive Lads in Papua New Guinea, after your parents conceived watching the Netflix documentary. If only there was a way to expand your catchment area, so that two of you could club together for a dodgy satellite dish to properly support the lads. Then your eye catches the vast Pacific ocean. And another mag enemy is born.

Has anyone asked Hassenhutl whether we're allowed to play our new signings yet?

Yeah, I didn't care about him getting a few things wrong about the takeover - everybody did. Not criticising one of the worst managers we've ever had? Nope. A serious blemish against a usually otherwise excellent sports writer.

A quote from a Martin Hardy article in the Times, when asked about qualifying for the Champions League next season; "An outrageous question. We are happy where we are. We are just trying to win every game. Our job is to keep the players very level to win the next game. It is not my job to keep a lid on expectations. I want the supporters to enjoy everything they have seen. Let them enjoy it." Perfect. He's the real deal. I really do feel that I can kick back, relax and enjoy the rollercoaster ride now.

Joelinton. Right from the moment I read about him getting his own fitness trainer to try and turn his own career around, to watching him absolutely dominate teams now. Even the fact that he's not a natural striker now just means that I'm absolutely pumped up when he does score. I still don't even know what exact kind of player he is, but I do know he's been a sensation since Howe raised this club from the dead.

Admittedly, I should have said something about Callum Wilson in this thread. He's not had a long run in the team to see what he's like then. He has the talent, just hasn't had the run of games to consistently find his groove. Steve Watson in commentary on Radio Newcastle yesterday said that Wilson is clearly the next best option for Kane. But that, selfishly, he'd rather he didn't go and stayed fit for Newcastle. Which is exactly what I think too. But, you know. You can't be selfish about these things as it's his dream to be called up. So, through slightly gritted teeth, on balance I hope he goes. And then tears the tournament up. Edit: it would also be quite something, for our team spirit as well, if Pope, Burn, Trippier and Wilson were all on the plane.

* wrongly, in my opinion It is not a club set up, in that they aren't together all the time or going through training for most of the year since that happens at their actual clubs. They have no loyalty to each other outside of the tournaments. Worse, it breeds complacency in those who are picked regardless of skill or form at club level, and makes it pointless for players who are on form but not part of the cosy little club. It also makes you less likely to win a tournament, by not having your best players there. I'm sorry, but you pick the best team on current form, not on emotional attachment. And then, as England manager, your MAIN JOB is to then mould whoever that is into a team and create that spirit. Not to decide on your team first and then try and work on their weaknesses after in a few crucial weeks. Quite honestly, if Harry Maguire ends up going to the World Cup instead of Dan Burn (who plays in two positions as part of the league's best defence), then the hopeless wazzock needs a good paddling.

People have been talking about improving our songbook. It's the least we can do to get 52,000 to learn that. I'm so happy for him - loved the clip the other day of his family being delighted too. After all his earlier struggles, a bit like with big Joe, it makes you root for them all the harder. I'll actually be gutted whenever some of this team leave now!