The Fish

On Amazon -> Energy Drinks So far I've gone past Fud, Warrior, Aspire, Monster, Emerge, Virtue, Nocco, Relentless, BANG, Reign, Carabao and more... Would you say it's a saturated market?

Aye, when we've been bad before it didn't feel as self inflicted. Honestly, after the initial Gettin! on Lascelles' equaliser I just felt a bit numb. First time we went down, I was gutted and pessimistic, the second I was frustrated but hopeful, now I'm just 'shrug'. If we stay up I won't be half as excited about another season in the top flight as I should be. Not with these cunts in charge.

That's awful news Renton, sorry for your loss.

Usually I get forensic on opposition teams and the table and shit, but the past two seasons I've barely been able to remember where we are in the table, let alone anything else. The disappoint in Ashley staying compounded by Bruce's appointment, and then the subsequent shitdrizzle that he passes off as football is killing me. If we stay up, and if we get bought buy someone else, and if Bruce is booted into the Tyne, I might be interested. But another season of Ashley, Bruce and boring relegation struggles in the Premier League? Nah, not for me.

Newcastle Who would you consider the best player is for West Ham? I like Antonio, and Soucek, but Lingard has been a revelation for you , What do you think West Hams strengths and weaknesses are? You don't press well. But overall I don't see huge weaknesses. How do you think Newcastle will get on for the rest of this season? Either go down, or survive by the skin of our teeth. Not much enjoyment either way. What player for Newcastle should opposing teams watch out for? Normally I'd say Wilson, Almiron or ASM, but they're all out. Willock might be a dangerous player, but Bruce doesn't know how to set up a team, so... I dunno? Carroll if he comes off the bench for more than 30 seconds might injure one of your players? Are you happy with the return of Andy Carroll? Not really. Either he's not up to it, or Bruce doesn't trust him. Either way it's a waste of money and a squad place. How gutted were you when the recent takeover fell through? I was gutted that Ashley retained ownership. I'd prefer not to be owned by murderers. What has been Newcastles biggest struggle this season? Bruce. He was behind the times a decade ago, and hasn't changed much since then. We can't defend, we don't control the ball, and we can't create chances as a team. Wholly reliant on our 'keeper having a good day and maybe, maybe one of our talented attackers to pull something out of thin air. Does Steve Bruce deserve the criticism he receives from fans? Yes. Ask if any other Premier League club would want him and you'd get 19 nos. Couple his incompetence with his petulance, his arrogance, his knack for blaming anybody and everybody else for the issues at the club, and you'll see he deserves all the criticism and more. He'd get it from the media as well if he wasn't their mate. Do you think you will stay up this season? Maybe. Brighton are below us but are playing some nice stuff, Fulham are below us but are playing some nice stuff. If the thre amigos come back and stay fit for the final 8 or 9 games we might have enough. What are your score predictions for Newcastle v West Ham? 0-2

You think Besty, Waugh and Caulkin will want a heads up about this then?

How much does it pay?

All sounds pretty familiar, doesn't it?

Chronicle is saying the £6.5m isn't Bruce's settlement, that'll show in next years accounts.

Already had your third booster shot then?

I think it's either because I live in a Tory stronghold and they haven't cottoned on yet, or it's linked to the NHS fuck up where they thought I was the Dave with a transplant and have sickle cell anemia...

Still don't understand why, so often Carroll comes on the pitch to replace one of the wingers who should be supplying the crosses for his big heed?

I think we do have defenders who want to defend, and I think Joelinton wouldn't have been selected half as many times under a remotely competent manager. The blame lies evenly between the manager and the gomers that employed him. Bruce, like a reverse David Brent; on the surface likeable and well meaning, but a horrible twat underneath it all.

Just three of my secret identities.

The challenges served their purpose, takeover isn't dead, Tom's a cunt.

Got my appointment for the first jab. Hoping it gives me superpowers.

The way I read it was that it was never likely that the member of the panel would be removed, but the raising the question of bias is likely a tactic to try and stop bias. Or at least better arm them should they want to appeal the eventual decision? The request for the process to be public was unlikely to be granted because it's a private company challenging a private company, The club are still pushing hard for the takeover to go through. That author seems to suggest (to me) that the KSA have, in their law, clear separation between the PIF and the state. Even though there are ministers on the PIF board, it is in their law that the two are separate and distinct. Which is encouraging. It is a madness that Ashley hasn't pulled the trigger on Bruce and thrown a fat wedge at someone who would all but guarantee survival. If Bruce does take us down, Ashley loses c£180m on the asking price, the Saudis may well sack it off entirely, which means Ashley will have to spend another £30m to get us back up, he'll likely need to replace Bruce (c£4m), roll the dice on a new manager, etc. Spending £4m now makes financial, logical, footballing sense.

Physio room has them all penciled in for 3/4/21. So, after the Brighton game. So, 9 games left in the season.

No, I'm expecting that, even though we're shit under Bruce, we'll still have enough to survive this season, plus we have two games at the end of the season to make the final picture look a little better.

Brighton have been unlucky, but haven't scored their good chances. They've just lost Lamptey, so all is not rosy on the south coast. They don't have their goal-scorer or best two attackeing midfielder to come back from injury, we do.

Less vigorously, but I'm still confident. Might come closer than I expected after that shock win against Liverpool, but they've a tougher run in than us and by the time we face them (and Sheffield) we should have Wilson, ASM and Almiron back. I don't expect them to be >6pts clear of us going into the final 2 games and if they are then Brighton or Burnley will be below them and in the mix as well. Brighton are below us in the league and have West Ham, Man City and Arsenal as their final 3 games.

FiveThirtyEight less optimistic but still see us getting safe.

Apparently, the chairman we tried to oust for bias was the one that advised the PL just before the 'no owner accused of piracy' bit was added to the O&D Test. I can see why that might make you think they'd be biased against the Saudi case. What with the Saudis being the only potential owners to be accused of piracy, and all that. Funny to see Ashley wanting transparency, and fighting for what the club and the area deserve.

So, after they beat Everton it seemed like the world was convinced that they were going to go on a run of wins and throw humus at us as they passed. They'd definitely beat Burnley, Sheffield and Crystal Palace. They only beat Sheffield, we've still got 3 pts on them and their run of 'easy' fixtures has passed. Fulham have got to pick up points from Liverpool, Man City, and their ilk if they're to overtake us.

Is it not like kids at school loving the push-over teacher, because they got away with murder. But when they're older it was the stricter teachers that they respected the most?