TheBrownBottle

Who's heads? The issue is the ownership

He's everyone's favourite Bruce-loving WUM. But he isn't wrong on this one. In fact, he's spot-on for me. Related party transactions aren't banned - hence why Sela is on our tops (Sela is PIF-owned). They've just been painfully slow in getting what should have been a shitload of deals done. It isn't a massive surprise to anyone familiar with the workings of the KSA state - it is ponderous and inefficient (the least of the concerns tbf).

That huge sums being poured into a single club destabilises football in a way which has negative consequences all the way down the pyramid; that Chelsea and Man City basically caused hyperinflation in football, and that this should not be allowed to happen again. No problem with that. Where I have a real problem is that the current rules and regs basically lock in the status quo. They’re not the only two possible outcomes. I understand that there are plenty who want unfettered rampant capitalism applied to football - that’s up to them. I’d rather see sensible controls applied which allow growth at sensible rates and allow stimulus, but not to replicate the ridiculous initial approaches of PSG, Chelsea or Man City.

Fair enough - I just hate VAR mate. I always love the democratic feel of football as a sport - that the laws are the same whether you’re playing amateur level on a Sunday or in the cup final. It’s no longer the case. I’m perfectly ok with FFP as a concept. I don’t like how it currently works

VAR is far worse for the game than FFP for me. I’m supportive of financial regulation in football - my issue is that the current version of the rules are simply baking in the existing hierarchy. VAR has created a two-tier game, and has destroyed football’s greatest pleasure - the immediacy of a goal

Conference League would be European qualification, and would be absolutely great.

It would be, tbf

And another:

I'm still trying to forget the Ashley era; it certainly shouldn't be used as a benchmark, and not sure why people use watching us during it as a badge of honour. Plenty of us have experienced much, much worse than our lowest ebb being a couple of second division titles (football wise, the Ashley era was hardly the worst anyone 40+ has experienced). I honestly don't remember during the poor run in the second half of 94-95 people saying 'hey, do remember how shit 90/91 was, how you were bored to tears at the back end of Smith's reign and how we just looked every part a mid-table second division club playing regularly in front of sub-20k crowds. Now you should stop saying KK should drop Rob Lee, or if not you can fuck off and watch Man Utd'.

This is all that's happened since the late '80s (and we've been more than party to it on a few occasions). It is what created the PL breakaway, the failure to reduce the top division to 18 clubs as planned, the change from the European Cup to the 'Champions League', from there to 2nd / 3rd / 4th places qualifying, to payments based upon club co-efficients, to 'FFP / FMV' etc. The game has been slowly rigged for years (and again, NUFC were a player in the original breakaway plans in '88; John Hall was one of the biggest gobshites for a 'European Super League' in the mid-90s, etc)

I can’t see what the criticism would be of Howe based on tonight. He played his strongest team, adapted tactics to suit both opposition and the hand he has to play, made aggressive subs, and I thought we did ok all things considered. The last four months haven’t exactly been great, but the manager can’t be criticised for the Man City game

Even the best centre forwards have off days - Isak had vs Man City; that’s all it was. Service wasn’t the issue

We could also be two defeats from 13th, which on current form is as plausible as two wins from 7th (not referring to the Man City game) Plenty to play for still and we should aim as high as possible, but I wouldn’t be confident of winning lots of games at the moment.

Yep, no shiny pots again this year but plenty to play for yet

Thought Howe called it pretty much right today - we were just outclassed against probably the world’s best side

Another season’s daydream ends Didn’t think we were all that bad - though Man City definitely took their foot off the pedal second half We’re giving the cups a go, and that is a positive for me regardless. Nothing pisses me off more than NUFC playing reserves in these competitions

Only need one if you’re Maradona like

Yep, when he bulks out a bit in the next few years he could be a hell of a player

Commentator even pronounces ‘Bobb’ like Rowan Atkinson

The commentary on the UK commentary has been the best part of this game It’s like being in a comedy club, but you can only hear the hecklers

Yep, love a bit of defiance

I hate tiki-taka mind. Fucking hate it. Defensive football in the opponent’s half. Hated it when Barcelona played it. Boring as fuck

Hall playing well here. Which just adds to the confusion re why he hasn’t had minutes tbh

Love Isak, but he’s had a bit of an off-day so far

Percolator must be knackered; here’s Hall