Jonas

So that's just Lee, Albert, Howey, Sellars, Fox and Peacock missing from a squad smaller than we have now.

Wasn't any alternative. It would have been much changed even before the injures/suspensions - so more fool anybody expecting anything else tbh. They'd only have moaned about tiredness at the weekend and next week anyway, having moaned about tiredness and not changing players on Saturday gone.

That's wrong on all counts except the shit final but then most finals are. *Most of them were literally on in Prime Time 6-11pm. A lot better than half the games on during work/school or morning's (Japan/Korea) - they changed the times to suit Europe. And its no different to Brazil or Mexico (home of two well remembered tournaments) *It was the best attended world cup in history. The average attendance was 69,000, smallest 44,000 which was as big as it got at Euro96 outside of Wembley and the average or above of previous world cups and was far more full despite the stadium sizes. There was arguements at the time as to whether it was the best or best since 1970. And neither of the next two were close.

I think 1966 and 1996 were memorable only to England. Can only really speak for Euro 96 and for whatever reason it was poor if were honest. USA 94 on the other hand was fantastic. I'd give a WC to America before England every day and I'm English. At this point we may as well just say the World Cup starts with the qualifiers and everybody is a joint host. Just designate a neutral venue for the knockouts and be done with it and just skip the inevitable 92 team tournament in 21 co-host venues shit show.

Ignoring and dismissing the views of the two sets of fans with first hand experience of him, who total well over 100,000, 99% of whom hate the bloke, but citing the more favourable appraisal of Ashley of our bitter rivals as sound and objective when the fact they don't hate Ashley is as damning an indictment as you can get is some level of wilful ignorance on top of the usual ignorance (e.g. Ashley 13years v the 13years before - because two exact same duration time-frames juxtaposed wouldn't tell you anything compared to a mackem forum) Like asking Liverpool or City fans for their opinion on the Glazers because Man U fans don't know what they're talking about. Hope they go the same way as West Brom with Bruce. Wouldn't wish Ashley on anyone except for the pricks who actually want him.

Pep couldn't find the code to beat them or us.

We all knew we had a small squad that was going to be stretched by Europe, were just trying to battle through being ahead of schedule and having several key players out. We've had CL football, Man City in our only league cup game and are going for the CL again in the league, making alternating very difficult without drawing the same undue criticism as the Sheffield Wed game last season. .

Absolutely. Everything being equal could be our fullbacks for years. Saving money when it comes to FFP. Airs to Burn and Trippier. Probably both play at Man United, get the full 90 to give it their all whilst Trippier, Burn rest up. Idea might be for the two sets to give everything in the two games being our best bet and giving both cups the best shot we can

Totally agree with the above - Standing doesn't equate to singing or atmosphere for me and that its definitely more an issue of clientele and being able to be with like-minded people/mates so as to let go I was under no illusions it would make much difference. There's an inaccurate idea around that atmosphere's were great before seating. Most places were bad most of the time prior, including SJP which was a mix of bad/toxic for most of the time 89-91 that I experienced. Think that's why we all let rip at away games.

Remember when Arsenal played Sheffield United, Arsenal scored a dodgy goal and Bruce took a fit and hauled his players off the pitch before a rematch was arranged, which Arsenal won easily? Classic Brucey.

Only thing that bothers me about that is its just parrotted without any context. Its almost never explained and there's a lack of self-awareness, humility to accept the reality that we were right and it was they who were deluded - when changes of ownership do show what we could/should have been. (post McKeag/Ashley)

Yes its a real shame that move isn't working out. Nearly as much of a shame as it is a surprise.

Even with the Platinum Club 93/94 was predominantly rocking, maybe even more than 92/93, due to the Leazes changes. Just think football changed in this country. The sweet spot was the mid 90s before it was too sanitised and with the hooligan elements disappearing. Its sad but it must be 25years since I accepted this so cant get vexed now. Every atmosphere in the country is worse than it was and rarely good (excluding idiots on drums and stuff at Palace or Accrington which isn't really atmosphere) We reap the rewards of that sanitisation and bigger crowds when its comes to having more money than other leagues, even without the various takeovers, atmosphere is the sacrifice.

Pulled myself off a sick bed at 6.45 to get to that Feyenoord one. The queues outside, missed the anthem, suggest different clientele to normal would be in attendance which usually meant a drop in noise. It so often effects everyone else which is probably the killer. Definitely effected me being shy anyway but even the two regular quite rowdy blokes a few seats up were like cats amongst pigeons.

Bingo. English crowds are reactive. Europeans, specifcally Germany and PSG bang drums and wave flags and shout on the megaphone removed from the actual match itself. See c*nts in Germany waving flags around and facing the other way as goals go in.

The atmosphere was (Barcelona the first aside) never good in the CL before either, often well below average for even a humdrum PL game. Its not a new thing. That was leagues above any other English clubs 2nd home game and all of our 2nd games previously. PSG is an unrealistic ideal the circumstances behind which cannot be replicated.

Its a wait and see with the injuries but at this point I think we can get a draw over there - since both teams wont mind it that may even be likely. A shit house draw at PSG and beat a hopefully demoralised Milan. Don't see us getting out of the group unless we beat Dortmund, can't see how we do that if the injury situation isn't markedly better than now - but just happy to be here. We've already held our own, reeks of 97/98 but we'll get a bash at the Europa quite probably, with hopefully everyone bar Tonali available.

Dread to look back at it. It can only make sense if they consider Borussia Dortmund to be an average team. How anybody could come to that conclusion f*ck knows

It really is. Makes many a final game a dead-rubber when it needn't be. Bloody stupid.

Even game overall, whilst accepting as the away side they cant be begrudged the win. Given the thinness of squad when injuries hit, that was pretty much our first January after 13years of Ashley team - no criticisms here. PSV 97 vibes. Think the next game decides it. Win and through.Lose and out.

These nights are magic. Over 24hours of that feeling as if they're coming out the tunnel.

Feels like a go-pro/minority report and real pace version of leaving the bar (Gotham Town) at 2.50pm for a 3pm kick-off -

40 even. Going back that far Boro have more points in the top division, have won a cup and played in Europe twice *, played in more cup finals, not set foot in the 3rd tier and had bigger name players. All the mackems have over them is attendances which in turn they'll say doesn't count for anything with us. Luckily they'd concede Boro were a bigger club than them just so they can be a bigger club than us even though not a single element of that makes sense to anybody else.

We're no different before and after Ashley?! Okaaaaay.

They've been no different under his ownership to what they were before and since.