bertie

VAR is a vampire sucking the joy out of football with offsides decided by sliderule. I despise VAR - anyone else? How can we, the fans, get rid of this terrible system, which is destroying the game we love?

All VAR does is shift the argument from the ref to a faceless individual in a truck. I despise the way it breaks up the game and sucks the joy out of goal scoring. When fans were last in, chants of: “This isn’t football anymore,” were commonplace. It might sound naive to expect this, but why weren’t fans ever consulted on VAR? I just don’t think it’s improved football at all. I want a game of passion, not one where technology takes precedence. Give us back the ref on the pitch as final arbiter - yes some mistakes - but at least they’d be making decisions as humans and not ruled by machines.

Shrewsbury’s on BT too. I can’t justify having multiple subscriptions - Sky costs me a King’s Ransom as it is.

Was this game always on BT? I had a feeling it was on Sky Sports.

Does anyone have local knowledge of latest Eastleigh rail situation? I’m due to travel down by train from Worcester via Oxford this Sat for Newcastle game - I already had to reschedule from the Villa game as trains were all stuffed up 2 weeks ago. Network Rail is just saying: « Disruption through Eastleigh until further notice. » Seems there was a big derailment.

Looks like poor ticket sales for this one so far. Not exactly catching the imagination. Anyone know if Romsey-Salisbury landslip fixed? I’m due to travel down by rattler on Sat morning.

I despise VAR. It’s breaking up the momentum of games, players and fans don’t know if to celebrate or not and most of all, it’s sucking the joy out of football. This might sound a radical suggestion, but how about actually asking the the fans who pay to attend games or fork out for expensive TV subs if we want it?

Gutted but chuffed with performance. Old Trafford quiet until they score, then colossal wave of noise. Imagine how good that atmosphere would be if they mAde an effort. Could hardly hear Stetfkrd End. It’s obvious thing to say, but Utd a huge money machine - even more than most. So many people walking around around with bulging bags from megastore, while £5 to put my small rucksack into storage? Yes, it’s for charity, but surely a couple of quid would have been reasonable? On plus side, best footie cheeseburger I’ve had in a long time. I enjoyed our: “You’re just a town full of tourists” chant...

Does anyone have any rail insight? Given there’s a strike, would they let you travel a circuitous route - for same fare - OK ambitious I know - but is that a goer? I realise I can ring Network Rail, but maybe there are some experts on here?

Thanks all. It’s the getting back which will be a pain as I live in Worcester so have to change at Brum too. Anyone know if any Saints coaches from St Mary’s stop in the Midlands? It’s annoying as fares to Burnley were showing considerably cheaper than when I went to Huddersfield game.

National Rail website saying Northern is due to strike on 2 Feb and no trains will run after 17:00. Would kaibosh my plans to go to the Burnley game from the Midlands if so. Anyone know if this strike is definitely on?

*New Year’s Day game.

No Boxing Day or New Year’s games for us? Not even a Sat one this weekend. Fixtures list - or Sky - has well and truly mucked us around this year.

I live around 1h from Hawthorns - phoned Saints ticket office today- they said I could only pick up at WBA. They said there were tix available, but in an age when you can get train tix sent to your mobile, this seems archaic, not to mention risking there being no tickets available. I realise this’ll prob not sell out, but it’s still a risk to travel and it being sold out. Not everyone knows their travel plans weeks in advance. Anyone know any away Saints boozers for WBA. Cheers. B.

I'd love us to come out to Thunderstruck - AC DC. Sunderland's is pretty good too. Anything but the appalling and atmosphere-destroying My Way.

Club website said we'd sold out.

Despite away tickets being sold out for Saturday's away game at Baggies, highlights showed dozens of free seats where Saints fans were. Anyone know why?Frustrating as I wanted to go. Also, Stoke at St Mary's is showing Category A game - this surely wouldn't normally be the case? Is club trying to fleece us as it's the last game?

Just heard an ad on TalkSport saying Virgin Media will refund difference if away tix are more than twenty quid. Given Baggies are charging us £30, has anyone taken advantage of that and got refund? Was it easy? I remember a couple of years ago WBA charged us £15 for a Mon night game - are they charging more than normal here for this game? Cheers, Bertie.

Anyone know if any Midlands Saints are watching game in Worcester/Birmingham area? Venue with big screen?

I'm coming down from Midlands to Bournemouth - looking for a ticket for tomorrow if anyone has a spare please? Cheers.

Yeah, £35 activation fee, plus do you need a free view box? I don't have one and BT says I have to watch it using an aerial - is that right? EC was sposed to open up competition with footie - but the effect is to rip us off even more. £108 more for BT coverage for Europa/CL and £48 increase in Sky subs. Well done Brussels - you've just succeeded in fleecing us even more. I might just go down the local hostelry if we progress.

I thought their home atmosphere was best I've heard this year, although one Leicester fan I spoke to said it hadn't been like that all season. Their chant of: "You've only got one song" was cutting if not quite true. Thought Reed was outstanding.

He just seems almost too intricate at times, but don't get me wrong, thought he had a really good game.

Watched game in Moscow bar with Russkie commentary - am chuffed with a point but we seemed to stand like statues for their goal. Mane hovers between being infuriating and brilliant at same time. Frase outstanding - how didn't Terry score?! Great point and sets us up well to give confidence for run-in.

Can someone recommend some good away pubs for West Brom please? Any near The Hawthorns train station or ground?