DJMortimer

I believe the global success rate for penalties is something like 76%. At least that's what the xG statistic has it registered at. And from memory, that's in keeping with the ratio of the most prolific such takers in history like Ronaldo and Messi. In other words, there's about a 1 in 4 chance of it being missed no matter who you have lining up. Such ridiculous histrionics as that opening post, and often with all the contemplation of the vagaries and possibilities that a light switch has, are just absolutely pathetic. And even had we won yesterday, what difference would it ultimately make? Getting relegated by 12 points instead of 15? Big bloody deal.

It's been interesting listening to the commentators and pundits on television in particular. They still talk as if we're just any other team in entirely normal circumstances. Until the last couple of weeks, that was fair enough with United. They had a handsome budget, a squad full of established players and coaches and all the resources required at this level to be competitive. Somehow, and despite everything, they just don't seem to want to comprehend the absolute carnage of the spring/summer and the 95% certainty of our relegation before the fixture schedule was even released. They keep mentioning how far we are from safety as if that is in any way relevant to what we are doing this season. I still want us to win every game of course, but entertaining any idea that we won't be in League One next season is just plain madness, and has been for months. The biggest and only realistic objective of our season has already been achieved - the removal of the duo responsible for the destruction of our foundations. At the moment, about all we can take from this wreckage is the opportunity to see who among our younger players in particular are showing the potential to be long term contributors to the first team in a situation where there is little pressure on them to achieve a whole lot.

I remember a Norwich player trying this at Hillsborough last season and Paterson just ran right over him like a truck rolling down a hill. What a guy.

As I recall, Stoke's only wins that season came against the teams that finished 4th, 7th and 8th. "It's a funny old game, Saint" as a legendary old drunk said many times.

"A wolf remains a wolf, even if it has not eaten your sheep".

Football fans generally, at all levels, have always been like petulant children. No matter the context; and let's face it there are absolutely mountains of that here, they are only ever a few games from stamping their feet and throwing the toys out of the pram. I mean, what are we saying here? That the manager is holding us back? From what exactly? Only being relegated by 10 points instead of 15? Even if we were dumb enough to appoint anyone else soon, what sort of transformation are you expecting? And would you give the new guy long before the same old clichés were coming out, because let's face it; the defeats are going to keep coming regularly. Depending what sort of position we're in nearer the end of the season in terms of morale, finances, long term strategy and embargoes, then that could be a different matter. But even then, Pedersen would be likely getting judged on a ridiculously unfair set of circumstances.

What a thoroughly horrendous game this has been. After the first goal it has been embarrassingly comfortable for them. This is United's first EVER three goal win at Hillsborough. And the truth is it could have been worse. They missed two glorious opportunities just before Cannon got his fortunate deflection. We've not troubled their keeper at all, looked overawed for long periods, made countless defensive mistakes, wasted chances to create openings and even had to battle the referee at times. What a legacy that scumbag of a chairman has left. And I doubt he gives even the tiniest cr@p either. It's been clear since spring that we're a shambles and already relegated. But this is still hard to take. I could have taken losing if we'd made them work for it, but the reality is, we didn't.

Since his reasonably impressive loan spell, it's been 24+31 appearances for Ugbo with just 2 goals (both against lower league opposition in the Carabao Cup). Sometimes these kinds of statistics don't reflect the wider contribution of a forward to a team's attacking play. But in this case, there's absolutely nothing to point to that justifies his selection.

I think attention would be better directed to modern referees. All too often, defenders under a little pressue just flop unconvincingly to the ground whether there is contact or not and the cowardly officials take the easy way out and cave in to it 95% of the time. It needs someone with some stones to let play continue. Once they start paying the price a few times by being left stranded on the ground through their own cheating, maybe we'll see this horrible tactic start to become extinct.

F#ck off Goodman. Him and Lee Hendrie do my head in with their long pauses in the middle of sentences, like their brain can only deal with so many words before it has to reload. Was clearly offside no matter how desperate you were for it not to be. Having said that, I think he was right about the penalty though. Stupid by Palmer to be doing that right in front of the referee.

Sometimes it comes down to fine margins. Horvath got a toe to it. Not quite enough to deflect it wide, but maybe enough to disrupt Max Lowe's judgement of where it was going and taking it between his legs. Up to that point, they had shown nothing much. ANd now our lack of goal threat becomes a real problem, especially with Ugbo leading the line.

Thumping, high energy rock music kills atmosphere? There's even a lengthy scream in it for crying out loud. You make it sound instead like an Enya lullaby.

I'd be amazed if anyone who saw Mel play for any length of time once he'd established himself would have anything but love for him. Not only was he an excellent player with toughness in the tackle, a powerful surging force out of defence and an eye for goal. But he applied himself like you would imagine someone passionate about the club ought to - charging around, giving his all.

If they'd restrained themselves to merely giving such an opinion then that wouldn't be a problem. However, they seem to be appointing themselves sole arbiter of what constitutes good taste and musical competence, even to the point of asserting that the song "rouses nobody". Within just a few replies, it became clear that latter claim was nonsense for a start.

Mantra by Bring Me The Horizon. The lead singer grew up in Stocksbridge and owns a cafe at Kelham Island.

More than 20,000 people in the stadium and one of them thinks they can choose what music is played based on their own subjective preferences?

Modern bloody football. So many times today a player under a bit of pressure, especially in his own half, would just flop unconvingly to the ground. Even more frustratingly, far too often the referee took the easy option and just gave the free kick. Nothing unusual for this game though. Just seems to be an accepted part of the game now.

Got to credit most of this squad for the determination and heart they've been showing for months in such a rotten set of circumstances. The scumbag(s) behind our malaise have finally been removed but they've left so much wreckage to be rebuilt. Given the meagre options up front and consistent lack of attacking threat this season, we have to consider 0-0 away as a fairly decent outcome. Escaping relegation was always unlikely, even before the points deduction, so we shouldn't focus too much on hopes of that.

If the Albion keeper decided to go into the warmth of the dressing room to watch the game on TV, how long would it be before we even noticed? Shame about Brown's injury. Remarkably, he's already established himself as our best option up front. Lowe looks like he doesn't really want to be out there, and Ugbo... ugh.

I was at that game. The gents had no roof on it and was separated from the main supporter walkway by nothing more than a wall about four and a half feet high. So when you walked past, all you could see was a row of heads in a sort of open air steam room.

Remarkably, McMordie finished as our leading scorer that season with 6 goals, despite making only 9 loan appearances for us before going back to Middlesbrough.

I can confirm this is the case. A few months ago I was walking through Birmingham with that logo and no text on my cap and a charming local randomer said to me "Wednesday w@nker".

Goal difference at Hillsborough this season in all competitions... 2 - 19

No one with more than a handful of functioning brain cells needs supporters to prove anything. Our history, status and following are not in any question whatsoever.

...even if the club enters administration in the next few days, as is being rumoured? Such lack of patience and perspective is an unfortunate product of the modern age it seems. The chairman is on the hook for tens of millions and some seem surprised that he didn't give in at the first hint of dissent. If we do actually take that route, then I'd say the boycotts have been a tremendous success and had their desired effect much quicker than I'd anticipated. Of course, that process comes with risk too, but that's a different matter.