Jonas

Crespo's goal for Argentina v Colombia in an Olympic Qualifier in 1996 is worth checking out since he's popped up. but yeah, Batistuta was better by quite a margin but then again, Owen's in there and there's no Van Basten (or any number of players) so no idea what the criteria is really.

Because they're playing tonight, Dortmund weren't particularly well supported until the 90s - 30,000 was a big gate. They're not particularly successful and get 80,000 now.

The health and safety on that! It doesn't really show in that picture but it was very wet and rainy that day (Southend h 92/93). Remember when people were watching the games from the trees in Leazes Park when it was blowing a gale against Peterborough that season?

Watched the Leeds home match in 95/96 recently. Its the feed so no commentary and picked up a chat off camera pre-interview with John Motson. JM “I thought Rob Lee played well didn't you” KK “He's been like that all season. Someone had the cheek to put in the national press that he wasn't good enough to play for England” JM “I think at the moment he's our best midfield player” KK “He's the best player in this country in ANY position, no doubt about it” Love his interviews when I see them back, but even his pre interview craic is great.

End of debate. 2nd Tino v Barca. Passing mention for Ginola at Sheffield Wed and Stoke the same season. Beardsley too at Stoke.

Why aren't we ranting and raving about Jeff being an MLF and some 'mackedia'.? Do you have to have an inferiority complex or something?

If only he'd have replaced Keegan instead of coming in after Dalglish/Gullit. Sliding doors that. To be fair to the club that's what they wanted and tried for.

I did like O'Leary clearly saying "fucking prick" to that sperm headed c*nt Danny Mills after he got sent off at our place in 01/02 and jogged past him down the tunnel. Was the appropriate repsonse to Mills at anytime but especially in that scenario. Was quite well documented at the time but had forgotten all about it until watched the match a couple weeks back.

As long as its self-contained criticism of the game and performances therein - fine but spilling over into criticising the club, the manager and the players generally, in a season far better than expected is shit fanmanship.

I'd prefer them to beat Everton and stop the bad run before they play us. Think they'll be up for putting us in our place and we'll have minds on the week ahead. I'll take 0-0 unfortunately because was really looking forward to sticking one right up Klopp until recently.

Wasn't just a bad appointment it was a bad acceptance given the secure job at Luton, probably finished himself for a third chance now and will have to go lower.

Interesting point by Scotty above about the price we'd get for ASM now. Which I hadn't thought about. Its decreasing at a fair rate and opens up a debate about what selling him could actually fund now. We'd probably be doing well to get £40-45m now. Not to be sniffed at but not a snap their hands of fee.

Oh well. Still a good one. Not as good a story though. *Thing I remember most about it was Mira hitting the bar with a cracking effort, Grobelaar rooted and the water pouring off the bar. And the police dog show at half-time

Amazingly mine might have been Frank Pingel. 2-2 v Liverpool in 1989. Don't want to check in case it was Mirandinha who got the first.

Robbing Peter to pay Paul, damned if you do damned if you don't. The league was dominated and a closed shop before Chelsea/Man City's takeovers. (Man United and Arsenal exclusively for 10years with one the exception of Blackburn which was basically a homegrown Chelsea/Man City). There was no way for us in 3rd, to get into 2nd, in 2003. Seems a matter of whom and how its dominated by and who is closed out.

The Forest game on day one was basically one of these draws but for a Schar pile-driver. Most of our games dont reflect the amount of the game we've had but if we win its forgotten. Win these games we've drawn with the exact same performance with a worldy and they'd feel worlds different. Bournemouth - not sure how they approach it. A draw would be a good result for them but there'll be pressure to win homes games now.

If anything it would probably be Kingston Park. Boring ground anyway so nothing missed by building it temporarily much bigger (Qatar22 style) and downsizing thereafter and will probably leave a more unique looking stadium thereafter, plenty space to do so etc.

Fair enough. Its not like there's anywhere else on this island we live on that's near a coast.

In an optical illusion there was nearly 10,000 more empty seats there last night than the West Brom game.

Was in the back row of the lower bowl for the 1999 final, okay its an old stadium with a roof over me but it felt just the same there. Couldn't see more than half the stadium, just a pitch. Barcelona was of course a treat for us, but for home fans in that tier regularly it would be very weird compared to what we were used to. Was very removed

Should have stated when saying don't limit a Gallowgate to Leazes/Milburn height I was only thinking of a couple thousand extra seets in a curve or something. Just trying to get to a magic number with the East Stand difficulties.

Agree with both to get a situation like Spurs/Dortmund capacity plus not steep, we'd have to flatten the stadium and start over. This isn't an option many are keen on and we'll probably have to move away whilst it happens The other clubs mentioned Milan/Barcelona/Real/Liverpool had to be creative and build steeply on what was already established as we'll have to/already have. Milan had space but chose to build steeply rather than start over.

Playing 3-4 seasons only to have them relegated in the end or even a massive points deduction seems disconcerting. Like the punishment is being deferred in a game of musical chairs and you just hope it happens in a year that benefits you regarding titles/CL/relegation.

That's inevitable in any big stadium. Its not physically possible to have a big stadium with a big capacity and have everyone having feel part of the game. Iconic stadiums like Milan, Barcelona, Real Madrid have done okay with lopsided and far away views/experiences whilst Old Trafford is and Anfield was lopsided. Its personal choices but they're all better than Arsenal's ground for me.

Wow, because it was a similar day, spring creeping in, to today I can almost taste that. Was like a religious experience when he just came back (and I never knew him as a player) but that game was something else. Wish I could watch the video/ext highlights now.