I just got back from Newcastle and @ the box office i had the choice of behind one of the goals or somewhere in the west stand (level 7) The East stand was sold out. How many do you think will turn out for the match on Saturday?

-- Anonymous, January 02, 2002

Answers

A few more than for the Villa game last season, I'd imagine, but I'd be stunned if it was much more than 40000.

-- Anonymous, January 02, 2002

There will be more away fans than there were against Villa because it means a lot more to Crystal Palace as they're a 1st division club looking to proove something. And SJP is a great place to go. As for our own supporters the fact that we're doing so well will help. The mackem match was moved to 12:30 so maybe a few of the "neutrals" will go to both matches. I agree though 40,000 would be terrific.

-- Anonymous, January 02, 2002

I can speak for seven who will be there and who aren't usually able to go.

-- Anonymous, January 02, 2002

My daughter, Isla, is going to attend St James for the first time in her life !!

-- Anonymous, January 02, 2002

I know she'll enjoy it Mac! How old is she? Is this the full family outing?

-- Anonymous, January 02, 2002

Having subscribed to the direct debit thingy I'll be going twice.

-- Anonymous, January 02, 2002

Macca - named after the lovely Ms Isla St Clair? Another indoctrination to the true faith :-) I foresee 36,500 on Saturday. Long month on the wages after Crimbo, like.

-- Anonymous, January 03, 2002

We had just moved to Scotland when she was born, we wanted a Scottish sounding name, my wife had always loved Isla St Clair (must be a girl thing), so she became Isla. (The other option had been Skye but that was a name of a baby on Neighbours at the time).Isla's 13, saw Phillipe Albert's debut in a Newcastle shirt, which no one else on this bbs did, but has never been that interested.

On Saturday her mum is working, the boys had to go to the match, the guy next to me wasn't taking up his seat so Isla is going.

Two years after she was born Ben arrived. While we didn't know the sex of the child we had to disucss names. My wife agin wanted to go down the Scottish theme and returned to the idea of Skye. For about the only time in my life I actually put my foot down, with a firm hand, and said no. I envisaged standing in a park shouting after my two kids "Isla, Skye". No.

-- Anonymous, January 03, 2002

...so you decided on Benbecula instead???

-- Anonymous, January 03, 2002

Mac - What was Alberts debut match ?

-- Anonymous, January 03, 2002

Any one know Alberts's debut game in black and white, I think we won 5-3, and there was one, European footballer of the year playing ?? As did someone who was the 4th highest goalscorer in the 1982 World Cup finals ?!

-- Anonymous, January 03, 2002

I reckon no more than 32,000 although I hope I'm wrong.

I'm expectin the atmosphere to be absolutely dire.

-- Anonymous, January 05, 2002

Since a certain team decided not to even bother defending the FA Cup, a lot of the shine has been taken off it. Personally I still love the FA Cup, even after having been to 2 losing finals, the atmosphere and camaraderie was / is wonderful and I hope WE (NUFC) give it our very best shot.

40,000 today at St. James's

-- Anonymous, January 05, 2002

The crowd was announced as 38,000 plus. Not too shabby, although the atmosphere was dire.

-- Anonymous, January 05, 2002

Out of interest, we're number 29 in the 4th Round draw tomorrow night.

-- Anonymous, January 05, 2002

Liverpool had just over 40000 and this apparently included 9500 Birmingham fans. The Makems had 29000 which according to RTG included 5000 Baggies.

Our attendance was ace on that basis. I imagine that being dumped out in the third round for 14 out of the past 18 seasons has damped Palace enthusiasm.

-- Anonymous, January 05, 2002

Come on Mac - it must have been a pre season friendly in haggis land.

European player of year - World cup 82 ? Same player or different ?

-- Anonymous, January 05, 2002

Pre-season firendly in Belfast, Billy Bingham's testimonial, George Best 'played' for 5 minutes, tried to take the piss out of a young Andy Cole who just walked away from him waving his hands in disgust, 1982 player was Gerry Armstrong, the most worrying aspect of the game was some 17 year old kid playing on the right wing for the Irish and skinning our new superstar centre half every time he took him on, whatever happened to Keith Gillespie ?

-- Anonymous, January 06, 2002

We had several West Brom fans in the Strawberry who presumably went to both games, they certainly seemed in high spirits.

-- Anonymous, January 06, 2002

".......whatever happened to Keith Gillespie?"

Same as the Likely Lads - fame and (particularly) fortune.

-- Anonymous, January 06, 2002

...and Spiro Agnew?

-- Anonymous, January 06, 2002