Jonas

So they've altered the 'big club' parameters to suit again. As ever European and 3rd Division football don't count, but strangely most recent trophy (heavily featured with regards to ourselves) also doesn't count this time whilst attendances (ignored with regards to ourselves) is a key factor now. I'd rather just admit I was average and get on with life.

Howe: Free the defensive shackles Bruce: Free Willy

Well the c*nts need to update the title, like they need to update their clubs stature this side of the early 80s (*and even then their gates were s**t)

Usually mindful about playing teams after a good seeing to for the natural response and upped game to avoid the same treatment. Not so much now more because of us more than the reaction of whoever we'd play. Been a bit of a procession for the big teams this round. Needed two rounds of games like usual.

And as is so often the case, its the opposite with us. How many fans remember clear as a bell when we got bad gates 31-33years ago for 3years out of the last 40years, like that isn't the exception.

Its hard lost I suppose. Think we all felt a bit of the old McKeag/Westwood era when Cole was sold despite three great years and everything suggesting the opposite.

Because there's more chance to beat Manchester City/Liverpool in a one-off game at home, than over two legs and a one-off final at a neutral venue against clubs totally familiar with finals.

I'd spend the build up to that expecting to lose like 98 and 99. Would like the feeling of fancying winning, even if to be dashed. I was more guttted losing the semi to Chelsea in 2000 than the two cup finals because I was convinved we'd have turned Villa over in the final than the 98 and 99 finals I had zero expectations of, mostly because of what we were facing - double and treble winners.

Couldn't believe that week. Even though we were having a good season I wouldn't have expected Keegan's teams to win three games that week including two at Arsenal and Leeds. Snowed like mad up here that day. Can still see a mate running down a road like Forest Gump Christmas Special after the evening celebrations with a snowball for an ear-ring and no idea he was on a road. Halcyon days.

Robbie Savage part owns a club. Bruce is available.

Three more years and it will be the 100th time in 121 years we've had a higher average. That they'd even open this arguement shows there's no reasoning with them. As for Spurs Spurs v Coventry 8/2/86 13,135 (actually more at reverse fixture) Spurs v Liverpool 2/3/86 16,436 Spurs v West Brom 8/3/86 10,841 Spurs v Birmingham 16/4/86 9,359 Spurs v Aston Villa 3/5/86 14,845 Spurs v Southampton 8/5/86 13,036 Premier League: Spurs v Wimbledon 24/11/93 17,744 Spurs v Aston Villa 2/3/94 17,452

Howe: Salt of the earth Bruce: Leaves behind scorched earth

All that's really left of the rivalry for me is seeing the lies they're coming up with on RTG via Deluded World or this forum and feeling the need to call it out. Whenever I've got total sport on and they talk about them I turn it off, having no interest in or knowledge of the playing side. If they're blocking outsiders from seeing that forum/thread its going to expedite the insignificance.

The above post about rose-tinted specs is it for me. People are using the context that people were unhappy at finishing 5th based on what's happened since when the context at the time was 5th was a massively detrimental needless own goal by the club and things needed stirred. We probably got booed off 10-20 times under Sir Bobby. Even earlier that season at home to Bolton and Birmingham. Its a time honoured response at the end of exceptionally awful performances - its not hounding out. I didn't stay back after Wolves to give them something to think about, not condone it. The ground was half-empty for the walk around after 00/01 too. Is the reason that wasn't hounding out because he wasn't sacked 4month after like 04? Was there even one "Robson out" chant or banner or protest? Everyone, including the players, knew Sir Bobby was leaving at the end of the season. Every time that seemed to happen things fell apart at clubs. That's ultimately why he was sacked, to break that situation up. Everybody would have preferred to get rid of Bellamy, Jenas and Dyer but that's not how it works. The fans worry and frustration ended up being fully vindicated. Abramovic has just arrived and there was one place left to fight for. It was ours and they messed it up and doomed us to the stagnancy that followed, not the fans. Any clubs fans fearing that and seeing it would react that way. Its arguably what fans are supposed to do rather than just accept decline (see the Ashley era)

Worst world champions I've ever seen and there going to win it twice.

Stopped watching at HT of Extra Time because I think Argentina have been by far the better team and played by far the best football so kinda sensed what was coming next.

Eddie: Organises friendly between games Bruce: Organises holiday between games

Taken all of a few games to turn around the mess Bruce couldn't turn around in months/years again I see. Feels more thief than fraud in light of this latest drastic instant turn around.

Is it the new manager or the old manager because this is happened in three of his last four jobs (dropped Sheffield Wed in the clarts too quickly to form a judgement on that one)

Speaking of things being thrown then getting exciting. West Brom winning...again.

Match attending Newcastle fan before and after fame, heavily associated with all things Newcastle, never once anywhere indicated anything but that is the case much less the exact opposite.....he's obviously a mackem.

European teams will likely and hopefully bin it off like they mostly always have. Even when it was just one game in Tokyo it was nothing but a pain in the arse for everybody.

Moon Army

That'd be quite the white elephant. Its hard enough now to make the place look reasonably full. I remember at work the eve of the 05/06 season they were on about extending the stadium, was a piece in the back of the echo that night. The next day for their big return to the big time before they had a record breaking bad season - 37,000. Can see where Murray got his 'one more seat' fixation from.

Yeah. Actually there's not many managers they've had that I hated. The stand out two being Bruce and Keane for the Manchester United and personality factors. O'Neill I've always found a complete tit of man and Howard Wilkinson a weirdo but most have been either no bother or likeable - McCarthy I think is a great bloke. Did anybody hate Peter Reid? and he was by far their most succesful manager of the last 40years. Mowbray is of the same ilk. This is the sort of thing that can drive them a bit nuts. The idea that they don't mean enough to be hated, that at times we've wanted them to win (cos it suited is - like beating Man United in 96/97) or admitting Phillips was a good player. Its like telling someone that hates you they don't mean enough to you to feel the same way.