Rayvin

What a triumph. We've banned Evian. It's all been worth it now.

I mean I went straight to elite as a euphemism for rich and powerful but this it's quite possible he's just talking about footballing elite. Given that he's included Bruce, I actually think the former is more likely. Bruce is definitely rich, if not anyone's definition of powerful. He's certainly not elite in the footballing sense though. I still can't get over Arteta calling him one of the most significant managers in the English game tbh, what does that say about standards in this country...

Actually am I being unfair there - does he just mean elite in the footballing sense? If so then yes, it's mental that he's grouped Steve Bruce in with that but I retract everything else

The fact that he thinks there is even a category of people who could justifiably be called elite is offensive, the servile fuck. What's even worse is that he seems to be saying that he personally believes these people are elite, and that the discontent people have with them is somehow more problematic than, say, the existence of "elite" people themselves.

Ah so this is just abuse on twitter we're talking about? No one's actually been chanting for his demise from the stands or running up to him in the street and calling him a cunt? If so then, while I find twitter abuse deplorable, as you say - it's about as fucking consistent a phenomenon as can exist in the modern day. It's certainly not limited to just Steve Bruce unless some of our fans have really gone above and beyond. I've not noticed any mention of death threats in the media and if there'd been even a sniff of one, it'd be all over the place.

What is anyone actually meant to have said to Bruce that is so awful? Is it that he looks like a cabbage?

Yeah I'm also not sure that we should be spending that kind of money on players who would be prepared to come and dig us out of a relegation battle. I think we have to be really careful in this window tbh. Do just enough to survive and then go full power in the summer.

"We kept playing it long to Stewart, we need to keep it simple instead". Does it get much simpler than long balls? "Where did it all go wrong?" "The team". What an insight.

Cynically, this is totally how the club should hit back on this stuff. Accusations of racism. I suspect its not that far from the truth anyway. As an aside, would that be the banner that the guardian displayed front and centre without challenging?

Absolutely this IMO. Not sure that particular communication is going to be read that way though.

Dunno how we got a point, but if there's any sense at all that Palace have been robbed then I am extremely pleased and I hope they choke on it.

I wonder how much they're that motivated though, given the absolute certainty of them being replaced...

I mean presumably we can just buy from abroad anyway, but this really is utterly mental at this point (if true). Here's the article anyway - it's a report about a few things and the bit about this 'transfer embargo' is midway down. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-10121965/Newcastle-Man-City-fear-rivals-ganging-ownerships.html

The mail has indicated that many clubs are privately intending to refuse to sell to us in January in the hopes of us being relegated. What the fuck is wrong with all of them seriously, it's getting fucking stupid.

It is actually pretty good I still can't believe how successful he's been. He started as a drunk fat guy yelling about Pardew and Ashley, and he's become some sort of swole indie boxing promoter with a million subs and Alan Shearer's phone number. I do respect the guy, I just can't get away from that

"Far left trolling"..? He's being trolled by communists?

I remember when we got relegated under Rafa and the pundits were predicting a very hostile atmosphere at our final home game, given how toxic we were and how much we 'demand success'. Instead we were serenading Rafa all game, probably a key factor in pushing him to stay, and I distinctly remember that they had next to fuck all to say about it. Didn't fit the narrative I suppose. The individual in question is relevant. Were Man Utd fans singing David Moyes name at any point?

FFS Right, I'm just going to ping you next time something concerning comes up before trying to appraise it and you can tell me if the source is reliable or not before I waste any time on it.

What is his rationale for thinking this? Because this would be a concern if true. I mean I can't imagine someone just told him that they were caught off guard.

Aye but then you'd think he just wouldn't say anything if he felt that way.

Interesting to see. Speaks well of ASM but does suggest that Bruce had a genuine rapport with at least some of the players.

I reckon this might, just might, be a bit childish now.

You know what, fair enough. It does track with all the stuff you see elsewhere about impersonating other cultures and how demeaning that is for the cultures in question. I could make a decent argument against it I think but it's not for this thread and I have been told off about bringing in politics before. We should just do what they say because it's easier and they're probably right anyway.

I am really struggling, even with my guardian hat on, to see the racism in an affectionate impersonation of a particular culture - I'm struggling to see it even more given that Arab people on twitter appear to be encouraging it. Having said that - I do wonder if this is the club maybe taking the opportunity to get people to stop doing this because of the real reason it's objectionable - that it buys hugely into the sportswashing thing and has caused a lot of fuss - and I daresay the everyone at the club wants the takeover and the parties involved to be normalised as soon as possible. So the quicker we move away from things that spark outrage, the better. Moreover it would indeed be terrible PR at the moment to start a fight with Kick it Out. And in Kick it Out's defence, they presumably have a set of policies and rules that they have to impose consistently or they'd be deemed selective, partial and unfit for purpose.

Fair. I mean I'm still feeling fairly confident on this now anyway given the discussions that have gone on. Still can't believe they're bothering though, I'd be flabbergasted if Newcastle United actually became a global footballing superpower.