Greg

and he did this because 2 vital strikers were passed fit to start for him for the first time, meaning we had 3 very good strikers to attack with. his methods didnt just "click" suddenly. did we attack teams in the same manner with smith, ameobi and owen upfront? no, we didnt. dude, you're starting to annoy me with the repetitiveness of this now...i agree with you in the sense that when we had those three things clicked and he changed the system to accommodate, and it worked very well what was the alternative before they came back? what would a better manager have done with the tools at his disposal? only thing i can see is throw in untested bairns in the hope they'd do better than duff/smith etc... what else could have have done with such s****? which, again, is my entire point. the thread (i think) is bashing somebody because the football we're playing isnt great but with all the players missing what are people expecting? we looked s*** last year before martins and viduka came back so, like you say, how else can we attack teams with any potency without our best 3 strikers? if we get owen, martins and viduka (and possibly barton) all fit and playing we'll look infinitely better, like we did last year. It's not a bashing thread, more of a questioning one of where are we going? Not now, but come next season. Will we look to bring in a highly rated manager who will build a squad over the next couple of years that will play attractive progressive football? Or will we look to hire a cheap coach who will toe the line and buy hard working players who will graft out a result and try and keep us out of relegation trouble? I'm asking because it's undeniable that Kinnear was offered a two year contract extension. How does that sit with the expectations of last summer when Keegan was downplaying Ashley's aims of a top four place, saying we could aim for top eight maybe? Only the board can answer that in May, the decisions they make will tell us a lot. Good post. I would like to think we will bring in a highly rated manager playing attractive football but I cant see such a manager coming here with the current footballing set up (i.e. without full control over transfers and in all likelihood with little funding available) There will be funds available according to Llambias, the money raised from Given and N'Zogbia, plus we should be losing a few highly paid wasters at the end of the season. Someone on TT claims to be ITK that Steve Bruce is coming here in May, read what you want into that. I don't think Bruce is mates with our lot in charge can't see it happening. Gus Poyet if Kinnear can't return imo. Whelan would never let Bruce join us anyway, he hates ashley after ashey reported his company for price fixing. Looking at how JJB is fairing at the moment I don't think he can be overly picky with his finances. Bruce will probably have some sort of clause in his contract anyway. Dave Whelan has sold his stake in JJB. That was kept quiet. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/wigan_athletic/6736421.stm http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/migrationtemp/2810288/Whelan-faces-FSA-probe.html

and he did this because 2 vital strikers were passed fit to start for him for the first time, meaning we had 3 very good strikers to attack with. his methods didnt just "click" suddenly. did we attack teams in the same manner with smith, ameobi and owen upfront? no, we didnt. dude, you're starting to annoy me with the repetitiveness of this now...i agree with you in the sense that when we had those three things clicked and he changed the system to accommodate, and it worked very well what was the alternative before they came back? what would a better manager have done with the tools at his disposal? only thing i can see is throw in untested bairns in the hope they'd do better than duff/smith etc... what else could have have done with such s****? which, again, is my entire point. the thread (i think) is bashing somebody because the football we're playing isnt great but with all the players missing what are people expecting? we looked s*** last year before martins and viduka came back so, like you say, how else can we attack teams with any potency without our best 3 strikers? if we get owen, martins and viduka (and possibly barton) all fit and playing we'll look infinitely better, like we did last year. It's not a bashing thread, more of a questioning one of where are we going? Not now, but come next season. Will we look to bring in a highly rated manager who will build a squad over the next couple of years that will play attractive progressive football? Or will we look to hire a cheap coach who will toe the line and buy hard working players who will graft out a result and try and keep us out of relegation trouble? I'm asking because it's undeniable that Kinnear was offered a two year contract extension. How does that sit with the expectations of last summer when Keegan was downplaying Ashley's aims of a top four place, saying we could aim for top eight maybe? Only the board can answer that in May, the decisions they make will tell us a lot. Good post. I would like to think we will bring in a highly rated manager playing attractive football but I cant see such a manager coming here with the current footballing set up (i.e. without full control over transfers and in all likelihood with little funding available) There will be funds available according to Llambias, the money raised from Given and N'Zogbia, plus we should be losing a few highly paid wasters at the end of the season. Someone on TT claims to be ITK that Steve Bruce is coming here in May, read what you want into that. I don't think Bruce is mates with our lot in charge can't see it happening. Gus Poyet if Kinnear can't return imo. Whelan would never let Bruce join us anyway, he hates ashley after ashey reported his company for price fixing. Looking at how JJB is fairing at the moment I don't think he can be overly picky with his finances. Bruce will probably have some sort of clause in his contract anyway. Dave Whelan has sold his stake in JJB.

No final date is decide until the pitch is booked. Who wants to book the pitch? I can't as I'm skint.

I can, was caught in possession which led to Nolan making that horrible tackle and getting sent off. Other than that on the whole he had a good game.

BBC sports editor Mihir Bose wrote: 'Perhaps the most striking thing he said was that the credit crunch and the coming economic collapse does not affect him. 'He was not in the sub-prime market, he is full of cash, his business is growing and he is confident that even if the world crashed around him, the Stanford brand would be secure.' Or not, as it turned out. mackems.gif

Had another groin op by Dr Ulrike Muschaweck apparently.

Probably schoolboys. Do you know anything about any of our academy/youth keepers who haven't played at U18 level yet? Err no, Jak Alnwick is only young but has played at Under 18 level.

Probably schoolboys.

Was it as good as Greg's? That one didn't hit the wall either. I'll have you know I scored a screamer today, 25 yards out, hit both posts and then the back of the net, beauty. Never knew you were good at FIFA. I'm not. Seriously man, that was an off day. I'll show you what I can at the next one, I'm not so bad outfield for someone who plays in net.

Was it as good as Greg's? That one didn't hit the wall either. I'll have you know I scored a screamer today, 25 yards out, hit both posts and then the back of the net, beauty.

The club held a charity dinner for him with the money going to his foundation.

Newcastle V Portsmouth at St James’ Park has been moved to Monday, April 27, kick-off 8pm and will be shown live on Setanta Sports.

Sir Bobby laughs off cancer fight. Sir Bobby Robson and Fabio Capello at the opening of the Sir Bobby Cancer Trials Research Centre. Sir Bobby Robson made light of his fight against cancer as he opened a new research centre into the disease. The former England manager played down his condition at the ceremony at Newcastle's Freeman Hospital. The 76-year-old, who was diagnosed with cancer for a fifth time last year, told guests: "I have had longer than a football league manager." He was asked to help raise £500,000 to equip the centre at the hospital - a target he reached in just seven weeks. County Durham-born Sir Bobby, who also managed Ipswich Town, Newcastle United, PSV Eindhoven and Barcelona in a distinguished career, was first diagnosed with cancer in 1991. 'Horrific disease' He had not been expected to speak at opening of the Sir Bobby Cancer Trials Research Centre, a research unit which aims to develop new treatments and carry out live trials of drugs. However, Sir Bobby made a 15-minute speech about his cancer battle in which he talked about the inspiration he has drawn from his fellow patients. He told the audience that cancer would affect one in three people. "It's a horrific disease. It is a disease which we must attack, with time, patience and money." Sir Bobby then lightened the mood by looking to his former players and joking: "I said I wasn't going to make a speech, and this is like, Alan (Shearer) would say, one of my lengthy team-talks." He also thanked England coach Fabio Capello for attending the opening, and joked: "By the way, if you want to see Newcastle, I can get you a ticket." Sir Bobby added that the Italian's presence made this "a perfect day". Capello, who handed over a £75,000 cheque from the FA, recalled the times when they had been on opposing sides as managers at different clubs across Europe. "But now we are here together to fight against cancer," the England manager said. Sir Bobby cracked jokes at the ceremony Last year doctors discovered Sir Bobby had small cancerous nodules in his lungs. He has battled the disease on and off for the past 15 years, undergoing surgery four times. Peter Beardsley was also at the opening along with his former England and Newcastle colleague Alan Shearer. Afterwards Shearer said: "He set out to raise half a million pounds and did that after seven weeks. "They have gone on to raise £1.2m which is incredible, and he will continue working and continue generating success for the hospital." Beardsley said of his former boss: "The man is unbelievable. He knows the right words for the right occasion. "He makes you feel 10ft tall and when you hear him speak, you don't want him to stop. "The man has an aura about him." http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7901685.stm

Bassong should be left centre back.

I think either the day after the Fulham home game or day before we play Villa.

So day after Fulham game or day before Villa game?

Would people be against moving this to in the summer? A lot of the people involved are students and will have exams around the proposed dates so just thought I'd see what people think about this?

I've got bugger all interest in anything a student has to say about being a supporter. Whoever wrote that (and I haven't read it) should get a real job. It wasn't written by a student.

Highlights of them are available on NUFCTV.

Always wondered if the club provide flats for young players that are not from the region or if its left for the player/family to sort it out As I understand it the club sorts it out. Inman lives here with his mother, Ranger also lives with them.

Inman is a central midfielder, spotted by Kenny Wharton and Peter Beardsley when they were over in Australia years ago, very highly rated by Dicky Dosh and staff. Dummet is a left back, tidy player but still got a lot to learn.

On the bench for the stiffs tonight.

http://www.newcastle-online.org/nufcforum/index.php/topic,32584.msg1704138.html#msg1704138

Did Nolan and Guthrie not play together at Bolton? I believe they were playing together when Bolton was up around the 8th spot. He spent one season at Bolton, last season. Bolton finished 16th.

Hopefully back by the Bolton game according to Hughton.