TheBrownBottle

Good luck with the campaign - the simple and sad truth is that football atmospheres died with all-seater stadiums, and - no less importantly - the huge price hikes and no ‘on the turnstile’ tickets that followed (somehow clubs missed Lord Justice Taylor’s comments that going all-seater shouldn’t see huge price hikes). This isn’t a recent thing - the atmosphere at SJP has been pap most of the time for nearly 30 years. The change in the demographics of those attending has hit football’s atmosphere hard. No longer do you get huge groups of pissed-up young lads gannin crackers. The whole ground now is what the West and East stand seats used to be - the average age of a match-goer is now mid-40s. Loads of them would have given up going years ago once upon a time. Standing therefore isn’t the magic bullet, to me - but it would be a good start.

Gordon won't be picking up anything like Rice's salary and signing-on fee. I also don't think Gordon goes for much more than 30m - Everton has missed the silly money boat for him.

Yep - even though Tames was an Arsenal fan he often grated when talking about other NE clubs. Though he also grated when talking about us - his after-the-fact commentary on NUFC matches was so obvious in its lack of spontaneity - despite having the time to prep, think and plan - he was a bane of end of season VHS tapes

I’m in those ranks, too. I’m ready with the steel helmet, but I always thought Given had too many weaknesses to be a top keeper. Pope seems to have few weaknesses and the back line look so confident knowing he’s behind them

It’s not a Derby, but the twattish nature of their support, along with running a gauntlet outside their ground, always adds that edge to the away games, definitely. Home games are non-entities though

A local copper pulled mine back and let it slap me in the face before asking me to remove - away in 2001-02. Smoggie wanker

I’ve got two smoggie mates - one older, one younger. Older one claims Leeds is their big game - a Yorkshire ‘derby’ (Leeds would argue that, I reckon). Younger alternates between us and the Mackems. My suggestion that Hartlepool is their Derby as no other fucker gives a solitary shite about them usually falls on deaf ears. I’m only trying to help.

The Second Prize Derby is an exciting one. For them.

He’s still thinking about the bad news

Fnarr fnarr

It’s the last time I went to Soton away that game. Coach didn’t get back to Newcastle until about 6am - went straight to work with a change of clothes and did a rudimentary set of ablutions in the work bogs, still no doubt lifting of stale lager and tabs. Happy days

Southampton leaving the Dell has been a godsend for us. We couldn’t buy a win at their old ground

Yep, I’d be astonished if at least one signing isn’t made - backfilling Wood’s empty slot for starters

Doesn’t mean that they’re going to spend it. The constant FFP references suggest to me that they intend to grow the club’s finances via sponsorships, not through throwing PIF’s own money in constantly. It’s not a Man City / PSG model - which suits me fine.

If everyone is expecting Diaby or Maddison to walk through the SJP gates before the end of Jan, I think they’re going to be disappointed. Someone like Gordon looks much more likely to me - the club are insisting on keeping costs down, and I don’t imagine there is the panic like there was last Jan. The club looks ahead of schedule - why overpay now on a gamble? I can’t see Maddison or Diaby going for less than 70m in Jan.

Agreed with everything except the use of the word ‘Wembo’

Every position we finish above 8th is a colossal achievement for me with this squad. There’s half a season to play and people are panicking re top four status - I’d recommend not worrying at all about that unless we’re top four with a handful of games to go. The squad is shallow and some of these lads have been coached to play well beyond their normal capabilities. As far as I’m concerned, we’re one point from safety with 18 games to play. Next target is 50, which pretty much guarantees a top half finish.

Surprised Isak is the one being singled out for poor finishing like

Can’t remember the precise figure, but it’s around 2-3% of PL corners result in a goal

I thought ASM was average again off the bench mind. Murphy did more in three mins than ASM did in thirty.

I’d have taken a point before hand. Defence is so solid. Stoppage time was frustrating mind - we’re going to have to learn how to play AGAINST shithousery - just like Leeds, some stupid decision-making allowed Palace to run down the clock. Hate playing Palace mind. Fucking non-entity of a club.

Cracking play by Murphy mind

What a fucking save that is

The most frustrating part is knowing that if we score one early enough, we’ll likely score a few as sides like Palace are forced to chase the game and open up