TheBrownBottle

He’s an odd one, Ekitike. I viewed it as a bullet missed at the time, but if we’re still after the lad, then clearly Howe and the scouts know far more than me and see something I don’t. The lad’s attitude seems off, or maybe he’s been badly managed at PSG

If Man City are willing to, I could easily see us going for Kalvin Phillips on a loan with obligation to buy in the summer

24 teams is absolutely ridiculous mind. At this point I don’t even know why they bother with qualifiers - there are 55 UEFA nations. Just add an extra KO round at the Euros and have 48 nations there. Have the hosts qualify automatically and the lowest ranked 12 teams play a one-off KO to qualify, ending the tiresome and convoluted qualifying process. You could have a EUROs every two years if you did that, and no more international breaks.

Instead of moving Leazes Terrace to Beamish, why don’t we go for the more realistic plan of digging up the interred body of Archibald Leach, bring him back to life, and have him design us a new stadium which would be in keeping with the aesthetic of its surrounds within Beamish?

While I have to say I did actually laugh out loud reading your comment, it was only about the incredible arrogance of the man actually doing this. What a complete wanker.

I’m just pleased that no camera phones existed. It was a gently lofted curling pass, which would have landed at the keepers feet if he hadn’t - for no hood reason - decided to run towards it and try to control it with his chest

Hilariously, playing right back for Stocksfield was where I got a couple of run-outs in my late teens. At one point I played a floated back-pass which our keeper suddenly made a meal of and I nearly managed to score a 25-yard OG as a consequence.

Yeah, you looked like you could make it tbh - you reminded me of Gillespie at the time. I can imagine Gullit was a complete arse - plenty of stories around about just how self-obsessed the bloke is / was. He was an extraordinary player, but a terrible manager

Probably with his hair net not tucked in, to show that he was a maverick

‘That lad will work in a sausage factory one day, you mark my words’

You’re David Burt? I remember you as a player. Excellent winger. Mind, I probably saw you and your teammates more often than Keegan did … (happily, times seem to have changed re chances for the young players)

I’ve even seen people get het up over twenty-two blokes they’ve never met kicking a ball around. Daft really.

Thought he was poor myself, though Trippier was too

Walbottle had a cracking team which won the National cup - after I left though - Montys were good too. Cuthys, Wallsend and Walker Central were the teams to beat when I was a kid. Same in my dad’s day - he used to play for Walker Central

PS I can just about put up with ‘Premier League’. I’m never saying fucking ‘Championship’ or ‘League One’ mind. Absolutely embarrassing

The money-grabbing breakaway is still vomit-inducing 30-odd years later. The Football League wanking away with ‘Championship’ and ‘League One’ just adds to the embarrassment - apparently no fucker can stand being second tier.

I played - once - for Walbottle (my old high school). Spent the rest of the time in the B team. St Cuthy’s B and C teams were better than most local school sides.

Ramsdale would be an improvement on Pope, just as Pope was an improvement on Dubravka. Not sure that the transfer cost relative to the improvement would be worth it though - I suspect we’ll replace Pope in the next 18 months, though I’d be surprised if it was Ramsdale

Yep, they've shown absolutely no intent of bending the FFP rules so far, and I doubt that they ever will. We're basically potless for January, barring a sale of players. The press will be full of bullshit stories, and some of our support will lap it up - but I doubt we'll do anything more than a potential loan to buy deal in Jan.

I was utter shite, tbh. Played once for the school at RB. Odd match in Sunday League. I was though enthusiastic - I’d run all day. I could read the game well, so could defend well. But once I was on the ball, it all went wrong. Still loved playing though.

Didn’t look good at all vs Bournemouth at LB. Trippier has played there multiple times for England. Always better to play experienced players slightly out of position rather than a young lad whose confidence could be wrecked.

Not particularly confident for this one. And given that it is on at the only correct and proper kick off time for a weekend match (Sat 3pm GMT) I’ll be giving it a miss (2am Sydney time).

Hey, that money came from the pools. As everyone knows, gambling profits are the purest form of money-making. A social good

yeah it’s in Colin Malam’s biography of Shack