TomYam

It's their nuclear threat option. The Cartel 4 are like Russia - every time their noses are pushed slightly out of joint, they threaten us with a breakaway or an A bomb. We then back off and accommodate them.

Reading withdrew due to financial problems and it was deemed too late to fill the void.

?? Midtable. 5 points from 4 games.

72-75,000 is the sweet spot.

True - but The Odeon wasn't listed due to having been stripped of all it's glorious Art Deco detailing by a previous unscrupulous owner.

There are 3 domestic trophies that matter. We have won 10 - a considerable number. Or at least it was 50+ years ago. We won those trophies in the first 51 years of becoming FL members. In the subsequent 69 years we have won zilch. We all have a powerful emotional attachment to St James's Park, but describing the land as hallowed is for the magpies and other birds. It's been more hollowed than hallowed since 1955.

Interesting. Never considered that. I'd suggest the City Stadium site at the top of the Ouseburn off Warwick Street. It'd have to be shallow or mounded, though, as there's a culvert below it.

Quite. Any options laid before fan groups, etc, need to be detailed re location, design, materials, capacity, benefits, infrastructure, otherwise it'll end up with a simplistic brexit-like debate with a wholly negative outcome. Do you want to move - yes/no? - would lead to an inevitably negative response without considering any details whatsoever.

I've added my two cents worth on this subject a few times over the years, Whitley, and I think our views chime to great degree. I've always approached the subject of stadium expansion/relocation/immutability in the light of what I believe to be best for both the football club as a whole and the city fabric itself. If there are 3 options: 1. stay as is and make some improvements including a possible new Gallowgate stand 2. rebuild on current site with temporary relocation somewhere/anywhere 3. new stadium on Castle Leazes (with relatively minor infringement into Leazes Park) .....then I'd wholeheartedly support the third option. The ideal scenario for club and city is for a sumptuous new stadium with a capacity of about 72,000. The St James's Park footprint should then be incorporated into an extended and renovated Leazes Park. The club could then maintain the park as an asset. The area behind St James's Street and facing Steawberry Place - where the Gallowgate stand sits - could be developed for residential in the style of Leazes Terrace, while tall builds should be constructed on the land in front of the metro station where Stack now sits. In my opinion, such a development would be a great leap forward for the football club and a monumental improvement for the city. We all have a strong emotional attachment to St.James's Park, and many have fear of the unknown, but that shouldn't hold us back, ossify us. We have a great and probably singular opportunity to turbo boost the club forward AND a vastly improved city asset.

There really is no 'astonishing' difference at all. Leazes Park has a play area, a nice cafe, a lake, and areas to sit in a lovely outdoor space - just like Exhibition Park! Admittedly there are some antisocial characters that hang around the Barrack Road end on occasion, but sadly that's become normal in all but the most well to do areas. It is a well-used and hugely important green lung for the city. I live nearby and enjoy regular visits to the park - as do hundreds/thousands of other folk including dog walkers, book readers, joggers, hospital patients, basketballers, tennis players, pingpongers, diners, picnickers, strollers, fishermen, etc.

Club I like: Ipswich Club I quite like: Leicester Clubs I'm cool with: Brentford West Ham Man City Southampton Forest Fulham Wolves Brighton Bournemouth Clubs I don't care for: Crystal Palace Aston Villa Clubs I find objectionable: Everton Arsenal Tottenham Chelsea Liverpool Club that I'd rather didn't exist: Manchester Reds (fka Newton Heath)

This move for Odysseas is a real Troy of the Rovers story. Hopefully he feels as comfortable in a net as he does in a wooden horse.

I hope the whole PL explodes and a new administrative body is formed which is more equitable and not in the pocket of or kowtowing to 3 or 4 'elite' clubs. Mind you, that's surely not what Man City or Chelsea wish to pursue...

Definitely was a thing. Can't remember when or where.

It's a shame. Nothing more, nothing less. It would have given us a genuine chance of winning a trophy for the first time in 56 years and could have been a lot of fun as well as improving our status, but we're probably more likely to qualify for the CL next year without the distraction of all those additional games.

Dreadful. Only hope these containers don't linger too long.

Well, yes, we lost Pope for more than 60% of the season to a seemingly innocuous injury that had previously occurred. Like it or not l, Pope is now in the category for high risk of repeated injuries. He's been excellent for us, but the club would be prudent to look at alternatives for this key position.

...and Ashworth's is called Stealin Dan.

Last time I looked they were both anticipated to return in January 2025.

I think places like Morecambe, Barrow, Lancaster and Rochdale are beyond the north now. The north these days is a small area containing only south Lancashire and north Cheshire (which was the midlands when I was a lad) - and 'levelling up' has been quite successful for these 'northerners'.

Berwick's an odd place. It's been horribly underfunded for several decades and has become one if the poorest towns in the country when once it was among the richest - an unpolished gem of a town.

Depends how old school you go. West Brom go way back, but the other 3 contenders had barely playes in the top tier before the mid '60s. So for the old school feel I'd rather West Brom win the playoffs.

Che sollievo!!

So happy for Ipswich - just finish the job against 'Udders.

Arsenal have suffered just over 50% of our days lost to injury. Bournemouth, Everton, ManCity, Fulham and Wolves about one third of our injuries, while West Ham have had one quarter. On top of that, we've had the unique situation of losing Tonali all season to something other than injury. Morever, we are the only club to lose 2 players to injury for at least half of next season too.