Asprilla

+1

The trouble is, while people are still filling the stadium, he's going to carry on acting like he has done. I realise you'll never get people not to go though but I do think it's one of the only things that would have an impact. The stupidest part is he'd managed to win over at least half the people again IMO. He's clearly a just fucking nob though and it's thoroughly depressing to see it all implode again. I thought it was somebody elses turn to be the joke club but nope, seems like it's still us. Isn't Beardsley the one who gets you your info via your Dad btw? It'd be very interesting to know what caused all this. I know Graham Carr (Alan's Dad) was responsible for getting Tiote and Ben Arfa in. More as I get it.... You've lost me there I'm afraid.... I know Alan Carr's dad used to be a manager but I'm not getting the connection....! He's Chief Scout at the Toon now. He's also my Grandma's cousin, although that isn't as relevent. It's the last bit of ITK stuff I heard. Got ya. Is that right about him finding Tiote and Ben Arfa? Fuck me! Apparently aye. Apparently he has good contacts all over the continent as he's done a canny bit of scouting over the years (for Spurs amongst others iirc). Doing a good job on the cheap eh? Next in line for the chop then I reckon.

If people are still going to buy the pies and pints and attend the games then what does Ashley care?

The trouble is, while people are still filling the stadium, he's going to carry on acting like he has done. I realise you'll never get people not to go though but I do think it's one of the only things that would have an impact. The stupidest part is he'd managed to win over at least half the people again IMO. He's clearly a just fucking nob though and it's thoroughly depressing to see it all implode again. I thought it was somebody elses turn to be the joke club but nope, seems like it's still us. Isn't Beardsley the one who gets you your info via your Dad btw? It'd be very interesting to know what caused all this. I know Graham Carr (Alan's Dad) was responsible for getting Tiote and Ben Arfa in. More as I get it.... You've lost me there I'm afraid.... I know Alan Carr's dad used to be a manager but I'm not getting the connection....! He's Chief Scout at the Toon now. He's also my Grandma's cousin, although that isn't as relevent. It's the last bit of ITK stuff I heard. Got ya. Is that right about him finding Tiote and Ben Arfa? Fuck me!

The trouble is, while people are still filling the stadium, he's going to carry on acting like he has done. I realise you'll never get people not to go though but I do think it's one of the only things that would have an impact. The stupidest part is he'd managed to win over at least half the people again IMO. He's clearly a just fucking nob though and it's thoroughly depressing to see it all implode again. I thought it was somebody elses turn to be the joke club but nope, seems like it's still us. Isn't Beardsley the one who gets you your info via your Dad btw? It'd be very interesting to know what caused all this. I know Graham Carr (Alan's Dad) was responsible for getting Tiote and Ben Arfa in. More as I get it.... You've lost me there I'm afraid.... I know Alan Carr's dad used to be a manager but I'm not getting the connection....!

How fickle are we I think this is the general consensus. MA blatantly put the Pardew rumour out there so that Jol ends up looking like Mourinho! Did you not see my tears for the great man?

Way better than Pardew but I'd still rather have Hughton back. *weeps*

The trouble is, while people are still filling the stadium, he's going to carry on acting like he has done. I realise you'll never get people not to go though but I do think it's one of the only things that would have an impact. The stupidest part is he'd managed to win over at least half the people again IMO. He's clearly a just fucking nob though and it's thoroughly depressing to see it all implode again. I thought it was somebody elses turn to be the joke club but nope, seems like it's still us. Isn't Beardsley the one who gets you your info via your Dad btw? It'd be very interesting to know what caused all this.

You don't think an empty stadium would give him the shits? Probably aye. Won't happen though. Easy for people who don't go to tell others who've already paid not to as well. Oooh! I'm not telling anyone to do anything. I don't see how Keegan walking is any different though. The players and club all suffered in the short term...why shouldn't the fans at least consider doing something damaging in the short term to try and get him to sling his hook?

You don't think an empty stadium would give him the shits?

There's still 11 men on a pitch who would also suffer if people stopped going to matches. It's for the greater good though. Like when Keegan walked.....

I wonder how long he'd stay if people just stopped going to matches.

Don't do this bit.

Ashley you're an utter moron. Good luck Chris, I had dearly hoped you'd be our manager for the next decade. This fucking club.

I think the world cup just became the global eurovision football contest. It's well and truly jumped the shark IMO and has done for a while. It's just a novelty now, nobody's going to give a shit.

ooh and Qatar! Allah Akbar!

They've got a whole country's money and 7 and a half years to be fair.

Ah well. Just have to console ourselves with having the best league in the world. The world cup is camper than Eurovision now.

Not looking good.

I'm still not convinced we're going to get it....Blatter couldn't look William or Cameron in the eye. Shifty bastard!

the hosts don't need to qualify, they never have. It's not a disadvantage at all, we won it the last time we were hosts !!! Although, I don't see the players to do it again. Every generation of young England players has supposed to have been the "golden generation" when in actual fact, nothing changes. The demands of the premiership, because it is the most demanding league with the most games and the most intense competition, and other factors will always ruin our chances of winning. Having said, these prima donnas who play for England now, would only be worse than ever. I did know that the hosts don't have to qualify btw, although you wouldn't know it from how I worded my post! The previous winners used to qualify automatically too but that's changed now.

Correctomundo. And I think home advantage overcomes the problems of a lack of competitive matches. SA were the first hosts not to get out of the initial group phase. Good point! It's mad to think how long ago 1966 seemed in 1996. Yet it's *almost* as big a gap between 1996 and 2018 (22 years v 30 years).

Dumb question but I'm assuming the hosts don't have to qualify. If we do get it, isn't it a bit of a disadvantage only having to play friendlies for two years leading up to the tournament? (not that we seem to benefit much from good qualifying campaigns!)

Ah well, a point more than we'd have had if it'd been postponed.