TomYam

?? Can't make head or tail of this. When did Dickie Grainger fuck you? What is the run down dump? Who are the mallards and dickies - did you see them in Leazes Park?

The city could do with a few hundred wealthy day-trippers. Granted, 30,000 of them would affect the atmosphere in the stadium.

My tune remains the same. I'd wholeheartedly support a move on the condition that: 1. The stadium is built in the city centre. The Arena site is ideal as it's very close to the station, there's plenty of room for ancillary buildings, parking, decent infrastructure and has a spectacularly prominent riverside location. The economic boost to this part of town would be immense. 2. The stadium is of outstanding design. A capacity of 75,000 would be ideal. 3. The vacant site at St.James's Park is largely incorporated into an extended Leazes Park. I believe Newcastle has fewer trees and less public park space than any other large city in the UK and this would go some way to ameliorating that woeful statistic.

Stewart Barrowclough was my favourite player as a child supporter in the mid 70s

It's long been evident for anyone with eyes and ears that certain clubs - especially ManU, Liverpool and Arsenal - are constantly being hyped and promoted at the expense of ither clubs. For decades these clubs have had unbalanced representation in the corridors of power (FA, FL/PL, UEFA, newspapers, BBC, Sky, etc). Yesterday's play-off final between Huddersfield and Nottingham Forest was very interesting. I was decorating a room and was avidly listening to the build up and then the game itself. The day began with me being entirely neutral, but I found myself increasingly wanting Hudddersfield to win. The reason? The BBC correspondents were uniformly prejudiced in favour of Forest - even the referee seemed to jump on board the bias train. I'm probably just whistling in the wind, but this just gives succor to the belief that there's no such thing as a level playing field.

You mentioned Burley, Stoke and Bolton: 3 of the original 12 FL clubs. I suppose West Brom and Blackburn would fit your bill as lingering, stinking clubs too? Truth is historic clubs based in struggling, unfashionable towns usually have limited financial capability that would let them compete with wealthier, big city clubs and this often leads to playing a more rudimentary style of football with unsexy players. For all the limited watchability of Dyche's Burnley over the past few years, there's something life-affirming about a club like Burnley competing well in the richest football league in the world.

Austerity and then brexit were both pursued for idealigical and selfish reasons against the received expert opinion of the vast majority of economists. These policies have been polarising and deeply damaging societally. Having said that, I agree with your sentiment. I'm no Tory but many of my friends are and, while I can get frustrated with some of their opinions and stances, why should it affect a friendship?

I agree....and yet Chelsea and (probably) Liverpool have become Champions League winning non-champions at the same time ManCity dominated the PL.

Crazy that Blyth and Gloucester are in the same regional division. 275 miles apart, cross country. Congratulations to Iron Mike and The Heed. Great news for a club that hasn't had an easy history.

Sunderland was a giant club, as big as any, prior to 1957. Post 1957, Sunderland has become just another yoyo football club like Boro, Norwich, Palace, SheffU, Stoke or West Brom. They'll make their way back to the PL a few years from now, but it's highly unlikey they'll break into the top 6 ever again. We, on the other hand, could break the top 6 in 2023....

Good club, West Brom. Sack Bruce, get a decent manager in and then we can talk..

Such a shame he's so injury-prone. He's a great player and seems like a great pro and person too. Cold hard fact is we will never be able to rely on his availability and that means we need to find an alternative or replacement.

Yes. U.A.E gets a bit of a free pass in the media because a) it's been an open commercial powerhouse for 2-3 decades and many have been enriched by those ties b) lots of instagram disciples just love topping up their tans there. Saudi and U.A.E have long been joined at the hip in a big bro/little bro way, but there has been a sparating of the ways recently. Saudi wants some international commercial stardust while retaing its traditional alliances (USA, UK, EU, Kuwait, Egypt, Qatar) while U.A.E covets closer ties with China, Russia, Syria, Israel and Turkey. Vis-a-vis Yemen, my understanding is that U.A.E convinced Saudi to increase involvement there but they've backed off in attempting more cordial relations with Iran while Saudi has been left carrying the can and feels compelled to carry on in order to save face. Saudi needs to find a way out pronto.

Assuming it's three of the bottom 5 going down, I'd prefer Norwich to stay up and Everton to go down down deeper and down. Sadly we've probably save their toffee-caked arses.

Yes, Saint Max can frustrate and lose the ball at crucial times but, when all is said and done, I love the guy. He is a joy to watch. He's mercurial and exudes charisma, intelligence and flair. He's special and I'm so happy he plays for us.

Difference is there are more teams fighting relegation this year. If we only win one more game this season, let it be at Goodison.

The way he's burying his career, I'd say he's just behind Fred and Rose.

That's how I feel. Some buildings I dislike intensely because I feel they defile the city due to them being architecturally substandard AND in negatively impacting the immediate environment. In Newcastle, examples would include Stanegate House (Groat Market) and CU bldg (Pilgrim St). I'm tempted to include the East Stand too although the my love of the club stops me.

Let me respectfully suggest that 100% of those that love the city of Newcastle upon Tyne care very much about the preservation of its heritage and advancement of its economy.

I vote for you and gjohnson to become the leaders of our newly named city of Newcastle upon Nothing But Football. We should demolish every listed building, outlaw Conservation Areas, concrete over every park and replace them with football pitches, sports bars and car parks.

You're embarrassing yourself.

This is a trip into a world of fairies and unicorns and other fantasy, but IF the authorities were to consider moving Leazes Terrace elsewhere they be compelled to move dozens of other buildings too. Essentially most, of not all, of Leazes Village Conservation Area. Certainly Leazes Crescent , St.James Place and St.Thomas Street/Crescent/Square. They were built over the same period (c.1830-1840) and together they form a group value of national significance with Leazed Terrace the crowning glory. So in order to increase the size of the football stadium by 10% you'd be willing to remove Newcastle's most architecturally distinguished neighbourhood?

It seems to me that Abramovich has led a charmed life since aiding Putler in his quest for power. He's had a free hand to do as he liked, greased Tory palms, lived the life of Riley.

I broadly agree with this. This is still such a class ridden society. Open your mouth and you're pigeon-holed as thick northern, posh snob, spivvy cockney, etc. So very ignorant. Also, the worship of money that has developed so strongly over the past 4 decades feels so much greater here than in neighbouring countries. In football, the cultivation of the Big 4/5/6 reflects this. The constant marketing and promotion of the richest and most powerful clubs has a willing audience, sadly.

I like him.