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I've got to admit, I'm almost scared to engage any of those conspiracy nuts in conversation but I'd like to ask - if it's all just a big conspiracy, why did they not suggest the ref upgrades the Havertz yellow card to a red?

The whole suggestion about it being "rigged" or "fixed" falls down immediately when you realise that VAR could quite reasonably have sent Havertz off and left them with 10 men for 50%+ of the game. Well, that and the fact that the whole idea is tin-foil-hat-level nonsense of course.

And that's exactly why it wasn't overturned. If it's a "probably" then they go with the on field decision. Likewise if the ref had given the foul, they wouldn't have overturned that decision either.

Having watched it again this morning, I think the ball is a little bit too far behind him to take it first time. After that it's just good defending imo.

Carragher said after the Arteta rant that he'd have loved that if he was an Arsenal player. I think he meant it as a compliment but I see it the other way. Sure, in public you can slag the officials off as much as you like, but in the changing room if there isn't an honest assessment of how tepid they were in attack then it's not good for them long-term.

Its amazing they all have such strong opinions on it seeing as honestly marra they don't even care about the barcodes and the PL is all corrupt and they'd rather be at the fireworks

I don't think it was a foul. Probably one of those that goes with the on-field decision whichever way it goes.

I love seeing Arteta's lego head all flustered

I'm showing my ignorance here but wasn't Gordon offside because there was only the defender between him and the goal? Clearly I don't know the offside rule

My feeling was that signing Tonali and the emergence of Anderson (and to a lesser extent Miley) meant we were probably OK at CM. Then Tonali got banned, Anderson picked up an injury and Miley was ill, all before Willock was back to full fitness.

Obviously from a business/money perspective the corporate offering will play a big part in any redevelopment (or a new stadium) but we absolutely 100% must have atmosphere at the forefront of any design. It doesn't need to be a 65k bear pit, people who want to just sit and "enjoy the geeeeym" need somewhere to be, but there needs to be at least one kop/yellow wall style stand where an atmosphere can be generated and maintained.

This is an important point. If Milan knew and there was any communication other than verbally between Tonali and Milan then there will be evidence. Unless the Italian police...well, you know...

Now the boy has made some bad choices but COME ON

10 months (assuming he's allowed to train from at least July) is about as good as we could have hoped for. Gives us a chance to make a move in January and Eddie time to do an Anthony Gordon on him by the start of next season.

What was the L, Benfica?

No doubt there are numerous areas around Newcastle is dire need of...just about everything really. But @NE27 is right, the city itself is shocking. We went to the Empire (which is quite nice on the inside actually) and got the train from Newcastle Central about 6ish. Short train ride, got out at Sunderland and the place was deserted. Everywhere was shut. No people about. I honestly thought we'd got off at the wrong stop.

Unfortunately due to work commitments and no success in the ballot this was my first game this season so I assumed we & Palace had agreed to ask the officials not to bother.

Did anyone notice yesterday that neither side were following the rule about only one member of staff being in the technical area at one time? We had Howe & Tindall for long periods, they had three up there on more than one occasion.

Unless we're moving Targett? Priority for me is still CB (as good as Lascelles has been) and CM (assuming Tonali is out 12+ months).

Tonali would have been 10 in April 2011 tbf

There are three certainties in life. Death, taxes and Palace finishing 11th. Edit - that was supposed to quote "Palace are boring" but the point stands

Yeah but if he's banned for a year think how class next Christmas is going to be!

We keep getting told this is a 5-10 year plan. If we think he's serious about recovery and is still going to be a top player then we won't write him off. Kalvin Philips on loan in January, reasses in the summer.

Anything with the Italian legal system and press is going to be a garbled mess. I can't see the punishment for gambling on games he's playing in being equivalent to a bad injury. How long was Krafth out for? Even Willock has missed about 6 months and he just did his hamstring.

If he's been betting on his own games and gets 7-12 months he's got off pretty lightly.