Howaythelads

I am not defending "Freddy in so many topics." I'm pointing out where people are posting rubbish, where they are attributing responsibility to the Chairman that really rests with the manager and even with the players. Such as Robson putting out weakened teams in a competition we could have won or the players failing to turn up on the big day. Apparently everything is down to the Chairman and the Board. The fact they have given successive managers more than adequate resources to bring some success to the club yet failed to do that is the fault of the board. We could have won the FA Cup the League Cup and the Uefa Cup under this board had the managers got it right on the day, had the players turned up and performed at all in line with their ability. Those things not happening are not the responsibility of the board, they are the responsibility of the manager. (Cue the drone about, "who appoints the manager", blah blah blah) BTW I could just as easily mention the "slating of Freddy in so many topics." I have never started a thread in order to praise the Board, I reply to those who continually post ignoring how far we've come under the current Board. If you want to interpret that as a belief I think the current lot are fantastic and can do no wrong, then you are as wrong as some of the others. They have made mistakes, bad mistakes but imo not bad enough that I'd like them to be replaced just yet. Yes, strangely, many people feel the responsibility for running the club rests with the people who have the responsibility for running the club. A difficult concept for some, it would seem. Yes, it is strange that some people seek to absolve the manager and players of any responsibility. I wonder why managers get the sack for team performances being below a club's expectations. I mean, they do get the sack, don't they? Or does a manager remain in their job despite a shite performance and it's the Chairman who gets the bullet? Is that how it is? Hmm, actually I think managers take the responsibility and are happy to do so. They generally stand or fall by the results on the field of play and they know that before they take up a job. If they're backed by the board of whatever club they are manager, they can have no complaints and successive managers have been backed at Newcastle. So in a nutshell what you're saying is that the fact the board has given successive managers (with proven track records) more than adequate resources to bring some success to the club, yet the managers have failed to deliver, this is the fault of the board?? What do you suggest they do to bring success? Appoint a manager and back him? Or appoint a manager, don't back him at all and do it all themselves? Oh I know, let's just say that because Fred earns a lot of money he should automatically appoint someone better than Wenger and Ferguson. Yeah, easy, isn't it. Of course, if he did manage to do that and we started winning everything in sight, those great CEO's at Manure and Chelsea would then be what exactly? Are they now shit because we're winning the trophies?

I am not defending "Freddy in so many topics." I'm pointing out where people are posting rubbish, where they are attributing responsibility to the Chairman that really rests with the manager and even with the players. Such as Robson putting out weakened teams in a competition we could have won or the players failing to turn up on the big day. Apparently everything is down to the Chairman and the Board. The fact they have given successive managers more than adequate resources to bring some success to the club yet failed to do that is the fault of the board??? We could have won the FA Cup the League Cup and the Uefa Cup under this board had the managers got it right on the day, had the players turned up and performed at all in line with their ability. Those things not happening are not the responsibility of the board, they are the responsibility of the manager. (Cue the drone about, "who appoints the manager", blah blah blah) BTW I could just as easily mention the "slating of Freddy in so many topics." I have never started a thread in order to praise the Board, I reply to those who continually post ignoring how far we've come under the current Board. If you want to interpret that as a belief I think the current lot are fantastic and can do no wrong, then you are as wrong as some of the others. They have made mistakes, bad mistakes but imo not bad enough that I'd like them to be replaced just yet.

I'll wait for the usual suspects to tell you why the club shouldn't be spending any money at all, let alone "investing heavily."

Why not stick to football? There's really no need for you to stick your oar in with an insult, but you do tend to do this a lot, contributing nowt to the discussion. As you've moved the thread off topic with an insult I'll say that the more off topic interjections you post to insult other members the more I'm sure you're really a soft shite acting tough from behind the safety of your computer. Ehm, its not like you never insult people either.. Like your " " response to my post yesterday and other things that I feel just has the aim of trying to make people feel stupid for not agreeing with you or NE5. Though that of course does not motivate his post.

Why not stick to football? There's really no need for you to stick your oar in with an insult, but you do tend to do this a lot, contributing nowt to the discussion. As you've moved the thread off topic with an insult I'll say that the more off topic interjections you post to insult other members the more I'm sure you're really a soft shite acting tough from behind the safety of your computer.

Of course we should have cover, however I'd prefer us to have quality in our starting 11 positions rather than good back up in one and nobody of any quality at all in another. Don't you agree? You can only sign players who are available and Duff was available. I wanted the club to sign at least one more quality striker with even another striker as further backup, but it didn't happen for whatever reason. The fact we need strikers doesn't make Duff a shite signing. "You can only sign players who are available and Duff was available." So because Duff was available, we HAD to sign him, despite having one good first team left winger and several good attacking players capable of filling in in that position, whilst also having severe weaknesses in various other positions on the pitch? And of course you can only sign players who are available. Sorin, a solid international fullback, was available and considered going to Bolton, turning them down because he wanted 35k per week, but were we interested? No, we were too busy snapping up Duff and scouting Kuyt in pre-seaon friendlies. Weve badly needed a decent left back, and weve suffered without one. But hey, all those leaked goals and terrible performances down the left flank mean nowt, because weve signed Duff. Benni McCarthy could have been signed for 4-5 mill. Hes scored 10 in the Prem, 15 overall so far, and will most likely hit 20, possibly 25, by the season is finished. Weve had to put up with dross like Sibierski, Duff and Rossi up front, so could really have done with a decent goalscorer like McCarthy. Who cares about that though, weve got Duff. Plenty of good players were available, players who would have been major improvements for us simply because they played in positions that we desperately needed reinforcements for, but our board/manager went for the easy big name crowd pleaser because its easy to throw money at a big name like Duff, and at the same time our directors and managers lack the foresight or footballing knowledge to do what is hard - scouting, planning, strategy, etc. You know, the same lot who thought Graeme Souness would be a spankingly good idea, when everyone else with an ounce of footballing knowledge either laughed their tits off at that decision (non-toon fans), or threw up (toon fans). This accusation of the manager and board being shite on the basis they don't sign players YOU want them to sign is laughable. It seems this arrogance is spreading around the forum. See the bit in bold: To which I'll keep saying that in fact we didn't have anyone capable of filling the left side other than Zog. That both Zog and Duff have been injured is enough to prove the point.

If we had any sort of depth in the other positions, the likes of Milner and Dyer could comfortably fill in on the left wing whilst Zog is injured. Because we lack strikers and defenders and havent replaced Jenas, Dyer is having to play up front or centre mid and Nobby is having to play at right back, meaning Milner has to play right wing. Its funny how Duff was supposedly a necessary signing because right now we have noone to play on the left. The reason we have noone to play on the left is because we have noone to play in several other positions, and all those who can play on the left are having to fill in elsewhere. Dyer and Milner aren't good enough for the left. You can't just throw someone at a position and say 'hey presto', we've filled that gap on the left. Having just one player (Zog) capable of performing to the required standard on the left is not enough, Duff at the price is a player who can play LM and also LB, he's a proven PL player and is a good signing. Had he not unfortunately been injured as well he'd be playing every game, fully justifying the signing. So Duff can play left back but Milner and Dyer arent good enough for left wing, you are so full of shit HTL its unreal I honestly can't believe what I read from you at times, in your first paragraph you say you just can't throw a player in a position and "hey presto" its filled then you contradict yourself in the second saying we can do that with Duff! Fact is we have ZERO players who are capable of performing to the required standard at left back so surely that would be a priority over left wing when we have at least one? (although Milner is more than capable down the left wing but lets ignore that for a second). Also we have one player capable of doing a job in the centre of defence when we need at least 2. Aye left wing was definitely where we needed to get another player in. :rolleyes: Yes, Duff can play LB having done so many times. Same as Solano can perform at RB. Both of these players can fill the fullback positions far more effectively than Dyer or Milner can play left midfield. We've seen Dyer and Milner on the left and both are pretty rubbish. You can disagree if you like, but do yourself a favour, grow up and cut out the "full of shit" juvenile remarks. It makes you come across like a dickhead in what has so far been a reasonable thread. Well you are really, to claim Duff can do a better job at left back than Milner can on the left wing when he has looked very effective there (especially for Villa) is just moronic, tbh. As said before we had one player who can do a good job on the left wing and NO players who could do a good job at left back. Signing a left winger who has played there a few times in the past isnt the answer at all. Aye, just because the club didn't sign players YOU wanted them to sign means the club has got it wrong. Hilarious.

Do you understand the concept of availability? Yes, we need to strengthen in other areas as I've just said in my previous post, but Duff became available at a decent price and is a proven qualiity PL player. So if a quality keeper comes on the market at a good price should we go for one of those aswell? A quality striker was available this transfer window on a 6 month loan deal (Montella), very low risk and proven ability BUT has gone to Fulham, im sure we couldn't have competed with their might! Aye, just because the club didn't sign players YOU wanted them to sign means the club has got it wrong. Hilarious.

Of course we should have cover, however I'd prefer us to have quality in our starting 11 positions rather than good back up in one and nobody of any quality at all in another. Don't you agree? You can only sign players who are available and Duff was available. I wanted the club to sign at least one more quality striker with even another striker as further backup, but it didn't happen for whatever reason. The fact we need strikers doesn't make Duff a shite signing. There were players available though as over clubs proved, people on here (myself and Skirge and a few more) said we should go for McCarthy, he went for about £3m and scored his 15th goal of the season, so are we just world class talent scouts and wasting our time in the jobs we currently do or are there OBVIOUS signings out there but Roeder and the board fucked the window up? Aye, just because the club didn't sign players YOU wanted them to sign means the club has got it wrong. Hilarious.

If we had any sort of depth in the other positions, the likes of Milner and Dyer could comfortably fill in on the left wing whilst Zog is injured. Because we lack strikers and defenders and havent replaced Jenas, Dyer is having to play up front or centre mid and Nobby is having to play at right back, meaning Milner has to play right wing. Its funny how Duff was supposedly a necessary signing because right now we have noone to play on the left. The reason we have noone to play on the left is because we have noone to play in several other positions, and all those who can play on the left are having to fill in elsewhere. Dyer and Milner aren't good enough for the left. You can't just throw someone at a position and say 'hey presto', we've filled that gap on the left. Having just one player (Zog) capable of performing to the required standard on the left is not enough, Duff at the price is a player who can play LM and also LB, he's a proven PL player and is a good signing. Had he not unfortunately been injured as well he'd be playing every game, fully justifying the signing. So Duff can play left back but Milner and Dyer arent good enough for left wing, you are so full of shit HTL its unreal I honestly can't believe what I read from you at times, in your first paragraph you say you just can't throw a player in a position and "hey presto" its filled then you contradict yourself in the second saying we can do that with Duff! Fact is we have ZERO players who are capable of performing to the required standard at left back so surely that would be a priority over left wing when we have at least one? (although Milner is more than capable down the left wing but lets ignore that for a second). Also we have one player capable of doing a job in the centre of defence when we need at least 2. Aye left wing was definitely where we needed to get another player in. :rolleyes: Yes, Duff can play LB having done so many times. Same as Solano can perform at RB. Both of these players can fill the fullback positions far more effectively than Dyer or Milner can play left midfield. We've seen Dyer and Milner on the left and both are pretty rubbish. You can disagree if you like, but do yourself a favour, grow up and cut out the "full of shit" juvenile remarks. It makes you come across like a dickhead in what has so far been a reasonable thread.

Do you understand the concept of availability? Yes, we need to strengthen in other areas as I've just said in my previous post, but Duff became available at a decent price and is a proven qualiity PL player.

Of course we should have cover, however I'd prefer us to have quality in our starting 11 positions rather than good back up in one and nobody of any quality at all in another. Don't you agree? You can only sign players who are available and Duff was available. I wanted the club to sign at least one more quality striker with even another striker as further backup, but it didn't happen for whatever reason. The fact we need strikers doesn't make Duff a shite signing.

If we had any sort of depth in the other positions, the likes of Milner and Dyer could comfortably fill in on the left wing whilst Zog is injured. Because we lack strikers and defenders and havent replaced Jenas, Dyer is having to play up front or centre mid and Nobby is having to play at right back, meaning Milner has to play right wing. Its funny how Duff was supposedly a necessary signing because right now we have noone to play on the left. The reason we have noone to play on the left is because we have noone to play in several other positions, and all those who can play on the left are having to fill in elsewhere. Dyer and Milner aren't good enough for the left. You can't just throw someone at a position and say 'hey presto', we've filled that gap on the left. Having just one player (Zog) capable of performing to the required standard on the left is not enough, Duff at the price is a player who can play LM and also LB, he's a proven PL player and is a good signing. Had he not unfortunately been injured as well he'd be playing every game, fully justifying the signing.

In an ideal world neither would I, if the circumstances were right to spend such vast sums on one player but you have to admit they were not right, the circumstances. I liken Owen's signing exactly to that of Boumsong - a panic signing. I see no difference between signing Boumsong at an inflated price to replace one player than doing the exact same with Owen to replace Shearer. At least we had the money to spend on Boumsong because of the money we got for Woodgate, and he wanted to join us and never had an injury record. Owen, we didn't have the money, he didn't want to join us and he is injury prone. If you were Chairman and you didn't have the money, the player didn't want to join, the player had a dodgy record of injuries, and there were other areas to strengthen first and foremost, would you sign him? Honestly? I can't think of one Chairman other than our own who would, Liverpool pulled out at 8m. Even the way we went about it was madness, they offer 8m, the player says he would only join us on loan and doesn't want to join us full-time, so what do we do? We offer 17m. Madness and it is that wrecklessness that is costing us big time and why so many have zero faith in the board. Agreed, Shepherd giving Souness the money to spend on those players was almost as crazy as the decision to appoint him. It all leads back to that appointment so in my eyes, they just can't be excuses, you could argue in their favour about Owen or whatever, but the fact remains, had they not appointed Souness there would be no sale of Bellamy, no wasting of mega money and no debate. Every mistake made even if not directly their fault is a result of that one decision. They want sacked for even considering Souness, god it still boils my piss thinking about that day and how angry I was, forced to support Souness and look on the brightside even though you knew it was all gonna end in tears. Grrrr! Finally.......

You said we didn't need Duff and I'm asking you why that is since the only other player for the left midfield is Zog. If Duff wasn't injured he'd be playing, do you agree? Do you think we should have cover across the team, or just one player for every position?

Who do we have on the left side right now, Jon?

If we think he's worth £1.5m it would be pretty bloody stupid to cough up almost twice that much, no doubt you'd then slag the Board of paying over the top in transfer fees. Is this the way you run your personal finances? You think something is worth £15 but instead you offer to pay £27 for it just because you've got the cash? If so, you're a mug. I've got a digital camera that I reckon is worth about £150 on the secondhand market, but just for you I'll let it go for £270. What do you reckon? Do we have a deal? Footballers aren't digital cameras. Footballers are all unique, while digital cameras are mass produced in factories so there are many identical items available all over the place. Also, digital cameras are only as good as the person who uses it. The same does not apply for a footballer. As there is no possible comparison, only the owner of the player's playing registration can know the true value. Not Shepherd. Good spot.

If we think he's worth £1.5m it would be pretty bloody stupid to cough up almost twice that much, no doubt you'd then slag the Board for paying over the top in transfer fees. Is this the way you run your personal finances? You think something is worth £15 but instead you offer to pay £27 for it just because you've got the cash? If so, you're a mug. I've got a digital camera that I reckon is worth about £150 on the secondhand market, but just for you I'll let it go for £270. What do you reckon? Do we have a deal?

I agree with most of it, but I think it really starts at the front. If the front men can't hold up the ball it just keeps on coming back. It's a team thing, you need some kind of shape when you lose the ball. Headless chickens who produce nowt but graft aren't good enough.

I agree, tbh. Signing Shearer was a mistake. Keegan didn't make many but I do believe that was one.

Just comapre these two: Glenn Roeder: Teams managed 1992-1993 Gillingham (player-manager) 1993-1996 Watford 2001-2003 West Ham United 2006- Newcastle United Ottmar Hitzfeld: Career as Coach Period Club Titles 1983-84 FC Zug 1984-88 FC Aarau 1988 - Swiss Cup 1988-91 Grasshopper Club Zürich 1989 - Swiss Cup 1990 - Swiss Cup 1990 - Championship 1991 - Championship 1991-97 Borussia Dortmund 1995 - Championship 1996 - Championship 1997 - UEFA Champions League 1998-04 FC Bayern Munich 1999 - Championship 2000 - German Cup 2000 - Championship 2001 - Championship 2001 - UEFA Champions League 2001 - Intercontinental Cup 2003 - German Cup 2003 - Championship 1997 - "World Coach of the Year" 2001 - "World Coach of the Year" Is that enough to a normal people to see and to decide which one of these two are better and so its for the best for the club :uglystupid2: And on that logic the club would never have appointed Keegan who's CV would have been blank. My point is that a CV doesn't guarantee succes. Take Bertie Vogts for example. He has an equally impressive CV however he was complete crap for Scotland. Paul Le Guen etc etc etc Yup, agreed. It's not easy to get the right man, but not many people around here realise that.

Yeah, because hes done a huge amount in keeping our necks above water. Yeah thats right Owen delibrately injured himself FFS. I agree the amount spent on the aforementioned is ridiculous. A fit owen will provide more than the others put together 10 mill for Luque, 8 for Viana, 8 for Boumsong, 7 for Cort. Who said hes deliberately injuring himself? Fact is that Owen's injuries has cost us big time during the past 2 seasons. Had we signed 3 decent to good players for that amount (5mill, 5mill, 7mill for example), wed have been so much better off. We basically sacrificed the squad to sign him, and were currently paying the price for it, with academy kids and players who shouldnt be at near the first team (eg Shearer last season, Sibierski) getting games regularly. Do you think we did the right thing when we signed Shearer?

Good manager, Dave Jones.

I hope those people who are screaming for new signings right now read your post properly and understand it. I also hope those people who appear to think we should bring in half a team every transfer window also understand it. As I said earlier, the position we're in can all be traced back to one thing, the appointment of Souness. A huge mistake.

I don't think the club takes the public for granted anyway. They know we've had shit crowds before, they know that if we suddenly become really shit it will happen again because when we are really shit the bandwagon jumpers will disappear.