TheBrownBottle

Is Howe’s press conference today? Was expecting it to be a couple of days before. Itching to listen to the man speak - he normally instills some confidence (and I’m not the one playing)

Did you repaint your Black Cat Bar, did you repaint your Black Cat Bar? Black Cat Bar; Monkey’s Bra

Yeah, this is where I’m at with him. It’s only if Wilson isn’t happy I’d move him on. We definitely need to get someone in either way, as both our centre forwards are injury-prone.

I reckon any lower half club would be on him straight away - or a newly promoted club with money to spend. He’s an excellent centre forward - when fit.

Yeah, agreed. I’m a boring traditionalist, so I’d rather not have VAR - but having different rules within the same round of the competition just seems really wrong. Having the final ties at Wembley being VAR-based makes a lot of sense if it is to be used (and a referee’s mistake at that stage would be a lot more costly)

Yeah, I think you’re right. I don’t think challenging ‘FMV’ has the same political implications of challenging FFP. I also think it wouldn’t be beyond PIF’s capacity to get multiple external bidders …

I did that with two Mackems at work after the 5-1 game. It was delicious - spent the morning stony-faced saying nowt about it n

(Also, Athletic’s colours were based on Southampton’s kit. Mackem weirdos)

‘The Geordies of Sunderland’ The Mackem pseudo-etymologists will be up in fucking arms

PSG would likely double his wages - and he’d win things, and be guaranteed CL football. There’s every chance he’s off if they bid at the release clause price. And I’d be astonished if they didn’t get a feeler from his agent before bidding. That doesn’t mean they are like - not sure how much credence I put into a Twitter account.

£129m t/o for NUFC. I‘m not serious, of course - but the ‘big four / five / six’ stuff has always been in flux since I was a kid (AFC, LFC, MUFC the exceptions). What has been put in place via current regs calcifies a snapshot in time - Chelsea, Spurs, Man City at various points were either not in there or were miles away from it.

You’re pushing an open door with me on that one Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE waiting five minutes to learn whether or not I can celebrate a goal. I hate spontaneity.

There shouldn’t be any VAR in the FA Cup. The game should be played under the same rules in all ties in the competition

The lad might have made the right move, if true. Better to get games and experience at 18.

We had a much bigger income than Spurs and Man City when Ashley came in, despite a couple of years in mid-table. Perhaps we should have locked FFP in place then?

I’d force them to. ‘Come and meet the locals’. Perfect for new signings

Only thing I can think of at the moment is loads of little deals (which would no doubt quickly be ‘de-loopholed’ by the usual clubs). Stadium naming rights etc would add a few quid - but the ‘FMV’ shite would nail us as existing grounds wouldn’t likely attract the same commercial revenues as a new build. A new ground with vastly increased corporate would be an obvious money-spinner, but that wouldn’t be a quick solution.

Yep - drinking in the house / at a mate’s house instead. Which is likely to increase the rate of consumption, not slow it.

‘Yeah, get the cunt doxxed’

I have a strong dislike for the police and licensing agencies intruding on people’s liberties generally. If someone is a drunken lout, then lock the fucker up. The vast vast majority of punters can handle drinking earlier than normal.

The current rules and regs need to be taken down for this to occur. At the moment, we’re boxed in. It’s hard to see how we grow much from next season.

The park in Byker? I’d be surprised if they got permission there. It’s not exactly filled with green field sites round that neck of the woods

I love it when they turn. It doesn’t take much, either. Wait until we’re 4-0 up and Bruno gets red-carded for doing his fistipumps after a tackle and whipping the penicopter for emphasis. The handful still there will be apoplectic

No, I’m with you 100%. The lad has played really well, but he’s also very raw, very young, and very easy to ghost past. I’ve seen lots of these young lads come through and very few genuinely make it. He’s got potential, but it is potential atm.