OTF

Coffers suitably refurnished. Count me in for número two-no. And apologies in advance for whomever draws Australia. That bet should pay out if we score. /secretly confident /blatant lie

Paid up. Massive sweetener should ensure that I've Qatar'd the draw

Thanks guy, I've passed the info on. Unfortunately it's not for me.

Where's the best place/area to stay in Newcastle with the one provision being that it has to be vehicle friendly. For a couple of nights in August.

I'll be at one of them.

Coming to Australia according to that article.. That's the first I've heard of that...

It's about 30km from the City Centre. Perth is an odd place to visit if coming from the UK (specifically Fremantle even more so). That's with my east coast bias as I've never been. Sydney and Melbourne are the most progressive cities in Australia. They're geographically massive and home to huge diverse cultural populations so different parts will have distinctly individual feels to them. It also means that there's good cuisine spanning a vast number of international cuisines as well as local Australian offering usually with hints of international inspiration. /touristguide

I think you've got the spelling wrong there. 'Cow bars' are Bull Bars over here. I've not been to Perth before, but it sounds as though you were a little out of town if the conversation was regarding both Aboriginals and bull bars in any capacity. This isn't excusing anything, but the thinking in more rural areas is more stereotypically ignorant with absolutely no adherence to political correctness. I would imagine this is not a cultural phenomenon limited to Australia.

Sad but true. They've undermined their own policies.

I'm not entering this ridiculous discussion, but I would be interested to hear when you were here and the specifics of your experiences with racism (where, when and context). It's not something that I encounter at all.

Alf Stewart ya flamin' galah!

I'm in.

Racist pricks.

Pardew or Martinez, that would be a difficult decision.

Research indicates that damp squibs will do no harm. Mainstream media opposition should help to swing the tide, however at the base level I suspect many match goers don't know or care about the way in which the Newcastle United brand is being ridden into the ground. There's emotion and passion in supporting Newcastle United, but there is none of that from Mike Ashley. If that passion could be redirected as distaste for Ashley and the way the club is being run then it would have to trigger action of some kind.

fair play.

As if Pardew has any say in who is signed.

That seems to fit with the way Shola reacted. I'd believe him over Dowd if the twat was to offer up a different explanation. I agree that nothing will come of it.

I wonder what the pay out would be, and if it would be influenced by the fact that Pardew met the target for the season.

Let's hope the last chapter has been written in his book at Newcastle United. There's been a few odd paragraphs of brilliance in there, but for a tale of that length the plot failed to develop at all.

I'm nowhere near 50, but that sounds like fun.

I do enjoy when the club that spends the most money wins it. It's what this game is about these days. Looking at the fans though, money can buy you happiness.

After watching the replay both commentators agreed that it was a red, saying that he "followed through" after the contact. Might as well read off a script inconsequential to what actually happens on the pitch.

Not sure what Dummett was doing though?

Is this game the season in 90 minutes? First half doing well, ahead of where we thought we would be. Then in the second half it all goes to shit, we lose a key player and carry on with nothing to play for.