OCOCOL

Worrying

On another note was great getting off the Eurostar and hearing “an N and an E and. wubble U, C” belting round the Gare du Nord. Spoke to a canny few favs without tickets so whilst not on Dortmund proportions reckon there’s a canny turnout here.

Mehrad was at St Pancras yesterday surrounded by quite a few of our fans. I wasn’t close enough to hear what was being said but I assume he was backtracking.

In Dabbawaal Jesmond tonight with sone pals. My brother tried to get an autograph for his bairn but was stopped by a minder / staff. Fair play I don’t agree with interrupting their nights out but it’s a fine line. I had a railway curry and a Jakehead trust he enjoyed what he had Assume he’s not on my Eurostar to Paris tomorrow.

Agree with all this - there’s a lot of revisionism in football but imho PSG was as good as the Barca / Tino game. Other notable games for me were David Kelly v Pompey (most vital result in our recent history) and I think the “Rafa love in” v Tottenham - last home gone as we were relegated that season.

20 mins - you were lucky. I gave a mate my ST in the gallowgate and went in L7 with my son and step son - we queued for 40 mins to get in and missed kick off. I don’t know what the answer is but there were loads who’s queued longer than us. Stewarding was a shambles they should have opened the gates - tempers we’re getting frayed and it will end in trouble one match I reckon

I think this is a bit of a myth - yes kids don't play out in the street anymore - mixture of tech socialising, perception of danger, more cars etc. But junior grassroots football is massive - I am sure there are more teams than when I was younger - my 2 sons both play and at U14 level there's 10 divisions in the league and this is just a Newcastle / North Tyneside based league. Back to the point I was average - my younger brother had trials for Newcastle - eh was a goalkeeper and his understudy for county got in - which seems unfair as they basically had a match and my brothers team won 5-0 and he didn't have to make a save. He was academic too - but if he hadn't have been he could have played league football. Represented the North of England and his school team won the all England Championship in c. 1999.

Nick the mike Williamson one: ”His names too long to fit in a song, Ben Parkinson! Ben Parkinson, Ben, Parkinson, Ben Park-in-Son…”

We talking for his physio skills, the entertaining sprints versus the other clubs magic sponge man or as a player

Well done he's 13...

I applied but wasn't successful. I assume the Trust will have people there, hopefully NUSC too. But be good if both groups could canvas some opinions in advance. The club SLO should probably do this. But given the club don't even seem to bother to reply to emails then the latter might be wishful thinking atm.

Even all the scousers and mancs who bought them just to sit in our end

Aye sorry I’m just taking the piss

judging by the name it’s a lass… cheap shot I know but howay fkin Keelan

I think you have a fair middle ground here . It's sensible so most likely never get any traction

Lots of these people would just wouldn't have got the loyalty point...So yes I see your point. The Trust reneged on a promise to fight for the return of Loyalty points to those who jacked in STs under Ashley (including some of the people I mention in the post you replied to) - this allied with perhaps an unfair perception that some people are only interested now the football is better rankles a lot of people I know. No system will ever meet the current demand - but some better comms from the club, increased transparency and engagement will go a long way.

100% agree and unfortunately some people who are perceived as "newer" supporters have raised their heads above the parapet. It's unfortunate that someone has posted a picture on twitter that has then got the vultures circling. Ultimately regardless of how any individual YouTuber / Podcaster etc. gets their tickets people want some transparency. I'm not impacted personally but I know others with decent points (30-40 - for context you'd have had to do 50% of all aways for 4-5 years and had a season ticket to accumulate these compliantly) who will feel aggrieved as what they see as injustice / queue jumping so I try and be objective as possible whilst realising some of the changes we're seeing are an unfortunate by product of "success".

They should investigate then and publish the findings it would help build / restore confidence in the Trust. As I have heard similar to what @Wallsendmags said. Similar conversations cropped up in Milan about how she'd got tickets - it is possible it's due to True Faith or Journalist connections rather than from the club directly- but it doesn't sit right (if true) when ticketing remains such an issue among the fanbase atm.

Or be very friendly with a journalist

Exactly - 2 weeks off then Chelsea at home and are a lot of yous in Paris I’ll be honest now and admit I’ll be nowhere near the Louvre also not doing rubbers or ket spoons but if anyone fancies a pint give me a DM. howay the lads

I think people need to keep sone perspective- it’s one lad who’s now apologised. Tripps acted admirably as a captain whilst showing passion abs that he cares. Draw a line and move on. I wish people would stop calling our fans we’re not a homogeneous group we’re all different and tbf tge aways I have been to this season have shown there’s se changes occurring gir the reasons we’ve debated at length here. I still know most of the lads (and lasses) I know who’ve supported us for years are among the best people to share my non work / family time with. Social media amplifies the good and the bad. Many old farts (that includes me) are also recalling our younger dafter days with some myopia. Nostalgia I think they call it

young kid in palace end wearing a Man U top ?

just a feeling where there’s money there’s corruption and fraud. Boyd Weddel is still employed by the club too… I might be massively wide of the mark (not for them first time) but there’s always been insiders across all clubs exploiting their access to tickets.

I think some of them will be from within the club …

He’s a great lad helped me out when I was younger - to repay the favour I had contacts at GNER so managed to get him some reduced tickets when they were left stranded after delayed flights etc. He spent his exiled years following the happy cats and saw doctors touring so he obviously likes his travel as well as football /the toon !! Did anyone go on his Dortmund trip - if it included a hotel stay it was canny value?