[Albion] Newcastle United vs Brighton & Hove Albion *** Official Match Thread ***

[dazzer6666]

It all depends what you want really, but for a bit of history try the Old George in the Bigg Market. There's a pub been on that site since the 1600s to my knowledge, and does some cask ales (buy 6, get your 7th free) if that's what you're after. There's a few 'proper' pubs round there - none of the Wetherspoon/Greene King shi*e we seem to be subjected to most of the time.

The Bridge Tavern is a personal favourite though - their terrace/beer garden is directly beneath the Tyne Bridge. The beer is pretty poor though. The Charles Grey just outside of Monument metro station has some nice beers and panoramic views of the city.

To be honest, you don't have to look far. Crown Posada still has it's Victorian decor too, that's just down towards the Quayside.


I understand what you're saying for sure, but from my perspective there is no kick in the balls. I support the XI on the pitch and nothing more. I was there during the Ashley years (I'm in no way comparing Ashley to KSA btw) and I'll be there after the Saudi's are gone, God willing. I understand that it will be somewhat tainted but I'm here to enjoy the game, it's not the players or the fans fault this has happened. The Premier League are to blame - it should never have happened.

More to the point, in 2021 I lost my brother who I had attended matches with since we were 8 and 6 respectively. Our last match together was just before COVID hit in 2020. We used to joke on about reaching cup finals and being in the Champions League and it saddens me that he won't see this version of Newcastle as he should be beside me in the Gallowgate like it always was. His final memory was of the shower that was Messrs Ashley & Bruce. The football & general mood was horrific.

I've no doubt he'd have been as uncomfortable as me and my Dad both are with the ownership, but as I've said in previous posts - whether you like to admit it or not, football fans are fickle. The politics are put to the side once you enter the stadium, as is all of your other worries - whether that be paying bills, feeding your kids or even where to go on fuc*ing holiday. It's a release and an escape, nothing more. It's slowly been taken from the working man as it was originally intended, now filling the pockets of Americans, Russians, Chinese or even actual states. Will I ever agree with that? Never. Will I still enjoy myself on a Saturday with friends and family? Always.

Some of the days/nights I've had this season in that stadium were absolutely magic, last night included. Seeing old blokes in their 70s/80s jumping for joy as we were 5-0 up against Spurs in 20 minutes. Seeing young lads on their Dad's shoulders singing 'We're going to Italy!'. It's just what it's all about. I wish I was bold enough to care about tainted success or even walk away, but I just can't and never could. It's my club, my first love and it always will be, no matter who's on the pitch or in the Director's box.

I'd be all for British football following the German model, but it will never happen because the Premier League brand = ££. The rich get richer. Football itself is broken, I will always admit that. But money will always win, in any walk of life. It's absolutely sh*t.

Great post

 

[trueblue]

I agree with your overall point, but doesn't the injury to Solly suggest they didn't have enough data on the condition he was in?

He was left out of the starting line-up and brought on because we were desperate.

 

[axscott]

Agree with most of what you said but I can't believe you (and a bunch of others) have written off Buonanotte already. An 18 year old kid come half way around the world a few months ago, not speaking the language, playing in the toughest league in the world, expected to play in a totally new role and system and being thrown in at the deep end because we don't have the squad depth to give him the time to settle down.

How many years was Mac Allister here before he regularly played and got to his current level? He's already played more games than Caicedo did in his first year and a half, Caicedo was 6 months in before he got his first game and then went out on loan for 6 months.

But no, he's f-ing useless because he's not scoring worldies after being here for 4 months.

Get a grip people.

Absolutely, he's a kid and needs time. Someone also replied to me saying "are you suggesting we get rid of Mitoma?" like no, that is not what my post says. My post is saying that we are relying on a clearly tired Mitoma and a kid who hasn't had the time to settle in properly. That is not what we should be relying on at this stage of the season, just highlighting how unprepared our squad is for this kind of fixture congestion along with the super demanding football.

Buonanotte is being called upon because March and Sarmiento are injured, I would sincerely hope people aren't expecting the 3rd choice RW to be a world-beater (yet), I hope it didn't come across like I've written him off but I think it is fair to say that he is not good enough at the moment and that is part of the struggles in some games but that is not his fault and I hope this first team experience really aids his development.

What I will say is that the injuries are not being talked about enough by media/other fans, Arsenal missing 1 player (Saliba) has been credited with their downfall but we lose Veltman, March, Lallana and Webster, Ferguson, Sarmiento, Lamptey, Colwill etc for months each and nobody bats an eyelid! We even had a £20m player retire and Moder (£15m?) unavailable all season!

 

[Machiavelli]

Absolutely, he's a kid and needs time. Someone also replied to me saying "are you suggesting we get rid of Mitoma?" like no, that is not what my post says. My post is saying that we are relying on a clearly tired Mitoma and a kid who hasn't had the time to settle in properly. That is not what we should be relying on at this stage of the season, just highlighting how unprepared our squad is for this kind of fixture congestion along with the super demanding football.

Buonanotte is being called upon because March and Sarmiento are injured, I would sincerely hope people aren't expecting the 3rd choice RW to be a world-beater (yet), I hope it didn't come across like I've written him off but I think it is fair to say that he is not good enough at the moment and that is part of the struggles in some games but that is not his fault and I hope this first team experience really aids his development.

What I will say is that the injuries are not being talked about enough by media/other fans, Arsenal missing 1 player (Saliba) has been credited with their downfall but we lose Veltman, March, Lallana and Webster, Ferguson, Sarmiento, Lamptey, Colwill etc for months each and nobody bats an eyelid! We even had a £20m player retire and Moder (£15m?) unavailable all season!

While I agree that Buonanotte has had too much to do too soon, and Mitoma has looked shattered, I disagree with what you're saying about the squad. This squad, however depleted, has earned a top six finish. That's extraordinary. At the start of the season, we couldn't have envisaged the fixture congestion that we've endured over the last two months, nor could we have expected the depth of the injuries.
The situation will be different for next season, and we'll have a much deeper squad, but even doing that will throw up its own problems -- look at how Sanchez has reacted to losing his place.

 

[albionalex]

No, a slow defender playing so high is a bad start, and nowhere near his CB colleague is also a bad starting position. He should be slightly diagonal to Dunk not square.

Incidentally, touch tight would have been better than stepping up as well, as he could have grabbed his shirt or blocked him, see Veltman or even Hunenmeir.

Arguably Dunk was also too high, and could have held his position as well a little longer, even if it ended 2 on 2, but still better than a clear run on goal. Perhaps that is harsh though.

Sorry Alex, I don’t agree with you on this, stepping up is poor defending and rarely comes off….

Luckily it came off today for the Walcott offside

 

[One Teddy Maybank]

Luckily it came off today for the Walcott offside

He didn’t step up though, he was chasing?
Haven’t seen the replay yet, so you may be right…..

God that was a horrible 3-4 mins…..

But yes you’re right, thank goodness - just slumped in my seat, really thought he was onside…..

 

[The Fish]

While you're here, you don't feel like recommending a pub in the centre of Newcastle for a pint of decent beer do you?
I'm up here semi regularly but always seem to find myself in the pub opposite the station or Wetherspoon-type places.

Like NUFC1 says, it depends on what you're after. There's over 100 pubs in walking distance of the ground and if you're staying semi regular there are plenty of opportunities to find the right one for you.

Bridge Tavern is good for food and the terrace etc. The Forth is a personal favourite, decent selection of beers, good crowd, really close to the ground. Get out to the Ouseburn area and you'll find some good bars/pubs, Tyne Bar chief among them (great view of the quayside and bridges up the Tyne). The Wylam Brewery in Exhibition park is a big taproom in a Grade II listed building constructed to exhibit art back in the 1920s.

Tilleys is a bit less refined than the Forth, but it's got the sport on, and a good selection of beers too.

 

[The Fish]

Initially I was surprised at your line up, but I guess it made sense to rest a few key players so that your most winnable remaining game, had the best available players.

Way more needle in the game than I was expecting, I guess with the stakes being so high for us the blood was up. Bruno and Joelinton certainly played the occasion and not the game. Mind you, your lad must have done something to make Almiron drop his perma-smile. Almiron, always looks like a kid that wants to set something alight.

Hope everyone that made it up had a good time regardless of the result, Thursday nights aren't great for an away day, especially when you have to travel the length of the country.

Congratulations on getting Europe, who'd have thought back in 2017, that we'd both be dusting off our Inter-Rail maps so soon?