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#262043 The Lower League Thread

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29 Apr 2015 23:10:41

I guess I'm impressed by the Bournemouth stuff because of the whole thing with the club nearly dying off on several occasions, including the much discussed episode in 2008. Sure, the current incarnation has plenty of cash behind it and it has plenty of players that weren't exactly cheap, but its still an impressive turnaround in a brief amount of time.

Agreed on the hopes of the extremely cheaply assembled Ipswich going up though.

#262033 Barclays Premier League 2014/15

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29 Apr 2015 22:07:59

Much as it would be a great achievement for Chelsea to have topped the league from first to last weekend, by Christ its been fucking boring.

Hopefully next year will have a more open title race.

#261916 The Lower League Thread

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29 Apr 2015 11:19:57

By Sam | On 29 April 2015 - 06:53 AM

I'm glad Wigan and Millwall are down, but ffs I would have preferred Rotherham. Mainly because of the twat that is Steve Evans.

Bit poor taste to then say "Enjoy League One" to them in his post-match press conference. Even if a Millwall player had started it.

#261826 Barclays Premier League 2014/15

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28 Apr 2015 20:32:37

Not only that but the date, day of the week and kick-off time are all the same.

Something to look forward to.

#261783 Newcastle Thread

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28 Apr 2015 17:53:26

Since the Keegan inquiry in 2009 ruled that the club "habitually lied" to the fans and media, there's always been background cynicism at everything they publicly say, and its really felt like not enough has been done to resolve these fears.

In Fans Forum meetings, it always felt like we're not being the full picture by club PR's and representatives.

#261765 Newcastle Thread

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28 Apr 2015 16:15:09

I don't know about worst in the last 20 years by results, but atmospherically, everything feels so negative, be it both in terms of team play and supporters relationship with the club. As a fact for on-pitch matters, this sequence is the worst form Newcastle have been in since 1977, which was a run of 12 defeats in a row at the start of a campaign that ended in a player's revolt and relegation. We're not quite there yet, but its not exactly roses and sunshine either.

Meanwhile, club statement on the SportsDirect thingamy: http://www.nufc.co.uk/articles/20150428/newcastle-united-club-statement_2281670_4675719

Bit rich of them to accuse Channel 4 of antagonising Newcastle fans. But I also get the feeling we're still going to be waiting longer for an explanation as to why commercial income dipped virtually the moment Ashley stepped in through the door, nevermind failing to pick up when we got back to the Premier League.

I do agree with Poe's line - so what if Carver loves the club or is from the city? Doesn't make him the right person to manage the enterprise - even moreso given how shit a job he's doing with it.

#261750 Barclays Premier League 2014/15

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28 Apr 2015 14:38:46

I'm impressed Shola went for David Conn, despite him not presenting, being involved in or even Tweeting about the damn programme.

I thought the Dispatches episode would cover the dodgy methods used when SportsDirect put USC into faux-administration in January to get out of paying roughly £14million of debts to clothing companies and suppliers, as well as sacking people there and then. The zero-hour thing and fake discounts is practically part of their business model by this point and I think its fairly common knowledge both are, even if the sacking for sick notes is a troubling arrangement.

I avoid buying there not because of some high-and-mighty stand but because my taste in clothing means I don't need to, even if I have purchased at USC more recently. But such blindness to business practices is normal in the retail consumer market. Hell, its been common knowledge for at least 20 years that virtually every high street clothing retailer (including SD) makes their apparel in sweatshops in Asia, but people don't boycott them.

It has been fairly typical of recent shenanigans that so far, the biggest refution of the programme came through nufc.co.uk. As if we're really just part of that particular empire.

#261690 Newcastle Thread

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28 Apr 2015 00:28:58

I remember seeing an old Premier League Years that euphemistically called that incident a fight between Shearer and Gillespie, which KG himself referred to as all of one (admittedly decisive) punch from Shearer being the entire thing.

JFK vs Phil Brown is something that slipped my mind. Was it that physical?

I swear there were a load of NUFC fans that wanted Carver to lamp McManaman during that incident. Maybe he needs an episode like that to win back people, as his managerial ability is clearly not the answer to that problem. Although apparently he's arranged to meet the fan he was photographed having a shouting match with during the Swansea game.

#261685 Newcastle Thread

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27 Apr 2015 23:25:47

By Vercoe | On 27 April 2015 - 15:14 PM

And called Pellegrini a fucking old cunt.

Oh yeah forgot about that.

Not as bad as when Carver tried to lamp a Wigan coach over Callum McManaman's tackling ability, or lack of it, mind.

#261682 The Lower League Thread

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27 Apr 2015 23:02:50

I'd say his CV is more impressive than Dyche's was this time last year, but only as Dyche had only ever managed at Championship level. Lambert is more close-run though. Nigel Adkins was also looking good when Southampton got promoted, although its seemed to have come unstuck for him since he signed up for Reading.

Nevertheless, and even with the cash, going from the basement end of League Two to the Premier League in six years is still a hell of an achievement.

#261668 The Lower League Thread

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27 Apr 2015 21:31:40

3-0 win for Bournemouth means they are effectively promoted to the Premier League, barring a 20 goal swing. Although kudos to the guy running Charlton's Twitter for his attempt to promise an interesting end: https://twitter.com/CAFCofficial/status/592789244357255168

#261565 Newcastle Thread

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26 Apr 2015 23:39:32

By Poe | On 26 April 2015 - 16:19 PM

He reminds me a bit of a geordie Mike Bassett.

Isn't it a plot point in Mike Bassett that he relegated Newcastle twice at one point?

By Shola | On 26 April 2015 - 18:21 PM

John Carver should hit someone. Better to be remembered as that manager who punched someone, than that manager who was quite shite for a bit.

Tbf in about 5-10 years, Pardew will be mainly remember as the manager that headbutted an opponent and shoved over a linesman.

#261297 Newcastle Thread

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25 Apr 2015 18:12:25

Apparently John Carver told a fan who remonstrated, "I'll meet you outside after this ya cunt" or words to that effect.

Given his similar idiocy at Southampton back in September, we can only wonder what the fuck those morons Ashley and Charnley were thinking when they decided this cretin was better than 79 other candidates to manage NUFC.

#261272 Barclays Premier League 2014/15

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25 Apr 2015 16:32:19

By K3VO | On 25 April 2015 - 16:09 PM

Was that the seventh Premier League defeat in a row today?

Looking at the table Newcastle could actually go down if they don't pick up a few points soon.

It was. First time NUFC have managed it since 1977.

We sound desperately shit, especially in defence.

#261268 The Lower League Thread

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25 Apr 2015 16:02:01

Blimey all the shenanigans going on here were exhausting to watch, nevermind have an emotional investment in.

So Watford in the Prem, Shrewsbury up, Tranmere and Cheltenham down.

#261260 Barclays Premier League 2014/15

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25 Apr 2015 15:22:03

Well, we're clearly in big fucking trouble. As it stands.

#261201 Barclays Premier League 2014/15

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25 Apr 2015 10:13:28

I doubt fear of contempt is gonna suffice for the inevitable mocking he's going to be receiving from terraces, although the only thing that non-suspension changes is that he gets to hear it.

#261121 What Was The Last Film You Saw?

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24 Apr 2015 20:01:52

Avengers: Age of Ultron

Bit indulgent, messy and filled with explosions, and the 3D was a problem, but entertaining enough. Funnier than the first one, and I do enjoy the characters. I liked more than I didn't. Saying that, it can't have been easy to put something like 20 characters into that particular combination.

#261038 The Lower League Thread

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24 Apr 2015 11:20:47

Literally been confirmed in the last few minutes that Rotherham have been deducted three points for fielding an ineligible player in their win over Brighton last month.

That could be something that relegates them.

#261027 Newcastle Thread

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24 Apr 2015 10:34:43

It is. But its also the fact that the merchandising department at NUFC is fully fused into the SportsDirect machine, which is money that could be a few million a season not even entering the club. I have also seem an allegation the kit deal money is also going there, but that might be fantasy.

#260982 Barclays Premier League 2014/15

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23 Apr 2015 21:46:49

I don't really wanna say much but presumably Sunderland will be receiving a few awkward questions about recalling him.

By Shola | On 23 April 2015 - 15:55 PM

And weirdly twitter's reaction of blaming the girl.

Sadly, that seems to be normal on Twitter. As is the casual rape threats.

#260470 Barclays Premier League 2014/15

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21 Apr 2015 11:13:16

By Poe | On 21 April 2015 - 08:25 AM

There's rumours going round this morning that we've offered John Carver the head coach role permanently

Relegation next year if true.

So I've heard. If that's true that is possibly the fucking worst decision possible.

#260441 Barclays Premier League 2014/15

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20 Apr 2015 22:50:48

Aye read that this morning. Was an interesting read, although I'm pretty sure we're missing out on commercial revenue by the club retail arm and associated revenues being swallowed up by Sports Direct. SD is clearly a problem, as is USC - those two companies are getting millions in free advertising because of a certain M. Ashley. Puma is also reportedly getting a deal on the cheap. Which leaves us with wonga, who are apparently not doing so well financially and may walk away.

Meanwhile, there's a claim the attendance at the NUFC-Spurs game was barely higher than 30,000. I think its clear it wasn't the 47,400 Newcastle claimed it was, and might rival the club's lowest Premier League-era attendance (41,053, according to nufc.com), but not sure if it was that low.

#260291 Barclays Premier League 2014/15

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19 Apr 2015 21:19:44

I'm guessing 16,000 was a fantasy target more drawn out of hope than expectation. But it was definitely more than 5,000, as the club said it was. The only way to know for sure is to make an FOI request to the police's turnstile counters, which I'm presuming someone from local/national media will be doing eventually.

But at the least, the aim was presumably to get people talking about the current situation at the club by virtue of doing stunts like this. Sky, BBC and all the national newspapers have talked about the boycott and by association the issue they're boycotting for, and some big pundits have been on the sympathetic side. So for them, it's presumably worked.

#260280 Barclays Premier League 2014/15

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19 Apr 2015 18:34:19

By VP. | On 19 April 2015 - 17:31 PM

It must be a problem with your mouse or something.

Wouldn't surprise me. My mouse is shit.

By Shola | On 19 April 2015 - 17:46 PM

I would have thought 43'000 maybe?

Looked lower than that to me in images I've seen, although it looked fuller at the start.

#260265 Barclays Premier League 2014/15

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19 Apr 2015 17:19:51

Again with the doubles?

#260264 Barclays Premier League 2014/15

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19 Apr 2015 17:19:51

What a waste of time and energy that was.

Also that 47,200+ attendance figure is way higher than what looked like actually being there.

#260202 Barclays Premier League 2014/15

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19 Apr 2015 13:04:37

Police averages claimed Manchester United were regularly over-stating attendances by 10,000, and in many cases more: http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/revealed-manchester-uniteds-old-trafford-2592078

Its counted by tickets sold (inc season ones already paid for long ago) so its not out of the realms of possibility they might claim its higher than it actually is. Only way you'd know for sure is asking police turnstile counters, as was done here.

I don't think you can get something like this off the ground and continue pressing the publicity for it without being attention seeking. Plus change is entirely possible for starting by some loudmouth nuisances gathering support. I'm not saying its a good way, but it is a way and it seems to have gathered some momentum. After all, it was loudmouths that got people to notice the problems at Liverpool during their previous owners' run, yet at the time nobody was saying that Liverpool fans were lucky to be in the Premier League so should shut up when Hicks & Gilett were crashing and burning that enterprise.

But whatever. It just feels set to be an anti-climax. At least despite its fairly chaotic organisation, the Cardiff protest did leave an impression. I'd say the double walkout effect was actually quite good. This just doesn't feel like it has enough support and the fans seem more interested in arguing with one another. Or at least online they do, anyway.

On another note, Alan Smith apparently claimed Man City fans have had to "sit and suffer." Please - the owners of City are very much the opposite of the fucking Oystons.