Alex

Was thinking about going to SJP for the Olympics just since it seems a shame not to when it's on your door step. They can fuck off if the ticket prices are daft though.

Whether you agree with him or not I think he was expressing a genuine opinion when he said that (and when he said Leazes was ruining the board). He's not a wum, or doesn't seem the type, and doesn't get involved with arguments with Leazes. Obviously others are involved but there's always one common denominator. He'll be reasonable about it for a short while then normal service will resume. I totally agree it must put a lot of people off the place as well.

Without checking though I'd bet a few go down the following season.

Haven't been in but their beer is nice. Also, apparently they look for locations that are suitable but also disused when opening their pubs. Some of the pints of guest ale in the Free Trade are about £5-6. Canny boozer and all that but that is taking the piss a bit. Keeps the charvs out like.

Fox was shit, albeit relative to our being spoiled by having such good players at that time. Loved a bit of nose candy as well. Proper charva. Used to take members of the Sayers family (not Leo) into the players lounge with him. Allegedly.

I remember Allardyce continually saying it was our best start in 10 years or something like that. I think .com showed it was our best start in two years or something. It was only after about 2 or 3 games that his statement was accurate but he kept on repeating it. I don't think anyone in the press pulled him up on it either. In fact, a fair few kept repeating the lie as way of beating us with the 'deluded Toon fans' stick.

That Brew Dog pub has opened on Dean Street now (on the corner next to Surtess Hotel, it's been a few restaurants down the years). I used to go as a bairn when it was the Italian Job. It featured in the film Stormy Monday (as Wee Gees). Bit of naff movie trivia there.

Yeah, I think it is for all Uefa competitions.

Allardyce man. Derby away and he played for a draw and lost. We can laugh about it now but fuck me. That was the only game they won that season in the league as well. It was only a late Viduka equaliser that stopped Derby getting what would've been their only other win of that season at SJP as well. I think Fulham away that season it the most boring game of football I've ever seen. And I include watching Burradon Colliery Welfare in the North East Sunday League Div C in that. What a cunt.

It'll never go back to being the Saturday after the league season finishes now either because that's when the CL final is.

Seems weird it being a week before the season is finished too. I know it was last year but it's not right. How long before it's a Sunday or a Monday night k.o.?

Robbie Elliott was roundly slated when he returned but he played a big part in the side that came 4th.

Don't know anything about motorbikes but I wouldn't buy a 2nd hand CD off that fuck wit.

Nah, lots of people didn't buy tickets for all the CL games because the scheme was something like you had to buy one ticket or three as a package or something like that.

He's on about £4k a week isn't he? (Came out in court when he was done for speeding or drink driving). Alan Smith on the other hand Edit: Wrong thread, I meant Guthrie.

Great fight that. Live on ITV wasn't it?

Wigan seem better suited / set up to playing away atm so we've got a chance at the DW stadium the way we're playing.

He was probably trying to win over the fans (understandably) and counting no one being prepared to the £30m + asking price for Carroll as well as expecting Carroll to want to stay (apparently he said to Pardew he wanted to go which is backed up by his transfer request). Obviously that gamble backfired for Pardew at the time and made him look daft. It would be churlish to make too much of that now though I reckon.

Actually, fuck it. What's the point?

Bloke me Dad knows used to play with Pulis. Speaks highly of him and also reckons he's as hard as they come.

He's the best manager they've had Alan Durban got them into the old first division so I would imagine they love the bloke.

Stop derailing the thread.

yeah. absolute gash like the majority of the signings from that era Dumas wasn't a shit player though. He was a victim of Gullit's madness, cluelessness or whatever you want to call it. He'd spent his career playing in France as a classy continental-style sweeper then Gullit signed him and instantly tried to convert him into a central midfielder in the most cut and thrust league in world football. This was even dafter when you consider it was at the expense of Rob Lee, who didn't even get a squad number from Gullit. It's not really any surprise Dumas didn't succeed and went back to France but he'd probably have looked good alongside a big strong centre-back.

Solano was never that good though. Even when he was class for us he rarely performed away from home. I love Nobby as well.