TheBrownBottle

Four tries, here were my best two goes - first one won it but not convinced by the side; fourth one I thought 'I'm retiring now', no way I get a better side (though it ended with fewer points) :

100%, but I get the distinct impression that a few of the higher-ups have been impressed by bullshitters due to their own lack of footballing knowledge. Hopefully Wilson has a handle on this now and we see proper progress this year

Wasn’t it written by Rob Roy in a cave with a timorous beastie as a pet or something?

It was aimed specifically at the Germans when it started out - in the same way the humming ‘The Dambusters’ or singing about Bomber Harris is. It’s been ‘gentrified’ by the (fucking irritating) England band, but it was 100% jingoistic shite which wasn’t hummed in good faith. Most national anthems relate to wars which occurred outside of everyone’s lifetimes - they have the distance of history. It is a bit like people at the rugby today singing ‘Swing Low, Sweet Chariot’, which has completely dubious origins but now is adopted by the crowd without any thought as to why it’s being sung. ‘Any idea why we’re singing a negro spiritual at a rugby match, Tristan?’ ‘No idea old boy’.

I wonder if repeating the DC Magpie post in the Ramsdale thread is a pisstake too far?

‘Is Tuchel taking the piss?’

Almost as if he’s not been good enough this season

If they’re having that I want our Texaco Cups counted

I’m looking forward to Derek Llambias telling everyone how it can’t compete with the Bridges

Makes sense - though traditionally Spurs were always bigger; the year you were born they were part of the ‘big five’.

Yeah, I can imagine - the absolute scum of the earth some of them

I can remember a mate of my dad’s telling me about that, he was in there that day (mid-80s I think). Said it just came out of nowhere.

Yeah, their away support was always sizeable including when they were in the second division. Mostly complete cunts of course.

Only bettered by the ending of A Losing Streak (the card game with Boycie) for me

Yeah, it definitely seemed to be referred to far less. 100% can accept anyone preferring Given to Pope, it’s just Pope edges it for me.

Likewise mate

They hadn’t won more than WHU when I was a kid - WHU had the same number until I was well into my teens. But I think it would be straightforward to make an argument for either side at that time - but I can’t imagine anyone saw them as a major club.

Better than Given for me - like Given he has his flaws (distribution being their shared weakness - my old seat in the Leazes put me head-height with Given and in line with the edge of the six yard box, Christ could that lad shank a goal kick) but I’d take Pope ahead of Given if I was asked to name a keeper. I can of course see the argument the other way.

‘According to N-O, we are looking for a 6ft 7in dwarf, aged between 15 and 50. A white male with oriental features, who's as black as Newgate's knocker! And, oh yeah, he wears a deaf-aid’

I’m in complete agreement on that - they’ve spent the last few years flaunting their piss-taking, and have an approach to recruitment which feels more like factory-farming. The whole ‘feeder club’ shit also should’ve been banned by UEFA years ago, if they had any bollocks. Chelsea has got the headroom to fuck up, but they’ve gamed the system as cynically as possible too.

I think that’s arguable - though they always pulled in decent crowds (when they’ve been in the top flight anyway). I always thought of West Ham being London’s third club when I was a kid - but it’s not a hill I’d be willing to die on

Yeah, of course this is the case. But we live in a post-Abramovich world and they’re now one of the most successful and famous clubs on the planet. They were London’s fourth club when I was a young’un.

I can’t see the issue - which sub?

If he goes this summer he might be my favourite NUFC keeper (it’s not a long list tbf) - he’s been a colossus for us in the past.

Agreed. Also, as popular as it is to blame it, it’s also not down to PSR. Chelsea clearly would spend even more than they do today without the shackles, they’re a vastly more successful club (and far more popular than us globally), and you get to live in London. The only thing we could offer a player - with or without PSR - that Chelsea can’t is a better chance of first team football, and like you said if the player backs themself anyway that may not be much of a hand.