Ally

I've defended Bramble in the past, I think on his day he's a terrific defender. The nailed on fact though is that he has a lot more bad days than good ones, and when he's bad he's extremely bad. If we offer him a new contract it will show the ambition that Roeder, Shepherd et all have. If they've any desire to move up the table they'll let him go and sign a good, consistent defender to replace him. Loads of other teams have them so its not as if they're like gold-dust. Taylor has got the talent, but alongside Bramble he's going to learn nothing but bad habits. We need to bring him along with a good, solid centre half. Not a clown.

Class socks tbh, wanted ones like those for years.

I know its relevant, and of course having seen the club over a longer spell you've experienced more. We've been spoilt as young fans over the past 15 years, and I appreciate that you've been through some harder times as a fan through relegation etc, but that doesn't make anyone else's opinion less valid. My Dad is 56 (similar age to you?) supported the team since he was a kid, but he doesn't bring up the past all the time. The pre 1990s board was dreadful and the word McKeag is a swear word in our house, but he will still criticise the current lot if need be. They might be better now than the old regime, but that doesn't make them good or immune from criticism. You wouldn't say that Babayaro is a good player just because you've seen worse left backs in the 70s, 80s etc, would you? That might have lost coherence, but hope the point comes out. Fair post, but I knew you would make a fair post. I still criticise the board, appointing Souness was a huge mistake as most of us know, although there are still some people around who defend his decision to sell Bellamy. How can anybody say we would not be better off if he was still here ? Amazing. Babayaro is obviously a weak link in the team, and like a lot of people, and your dad, I would tell you the good left backs and the not so good ones and the poor ones. He would be in the middle section in my opinion. You shouldn't really misinterpret my comments about the possibility of replacing the current board with an inferior one to mean anything other than what they say, because it is precisely what it means. It's only because people like me have seen worse directors that we realise such a thing is possible, I understand why some people may not see this. They should listen, its just common sense. If someone who supported the club in the 1950's told me something he believed and backed it up, I would listen to what he said. A bloke I know, told me that Bobby Mitchell was better than Tony Green. Now, I respect this blokes opinion, I don't believe him though but nah....seriously, this bloke is a lifelong NUFC fan and if he thinks Mitchell was better than Tony Green then I accept he must have been special and I wouldn't argue with him about it. Whatever. I hope you can see my point here. I know a few lads who are in their 20's just like you and they are as passionate about the club as anyone. One posts on here. But you can't disregard the past. People can either accept the club have moved forward a long way under the current major shareholders or not, but nobody else seems to think they can do better and appears to want to prove it either, so if they don't want to believe that, then there is really nothing else you can say. Aye good points raised there. Good to see a reasonable conversation/debate with you in this thread rather the bickering that often takes place. I'm sceptical of the Fred Out bandwagon tbh, as you say the grass isn't always greener. I couldn't believe how many people were disappointed the Belgravia takeover fell apart, what were they excited about? It was a very anonoymous approach, not even a single figurehead to it. Fred has had some truly incompetent moments, but whats to say the new chairman won't be an even bigger moron? Hell, even Souness is looking to try and buy clubs! 'You can't disregard the past', aye as a History student I should definetely agree with you there.

Not seen enough from him in his Toon career tbh, probably best for all parties for him to go. You could say that about the majority of the squad tbh. Indeed, thats why we're in the bottom half. Agree with YG by the way on the Butt-Emre partnership, but we're not going to see that again unless Parker gets injured. Emre will get shunted on the left wing where he's even less effective, still leaving N'Zogbia on the bench. Making Parker captain was an absolutely shite decision tbh.

I know its relevant, and of course having seen the club over a longer spell you've experienced more. We've been spoilt as young fans over the past 15 years, and I appreciate that you've been through some harder times as a fan through relegation etc, but that doesn't make anyone else's opinion less valid. My Dad is 56 (similar age to you?) supported the team since he was a kid, but he doesn't bring up the past all the time. The pre 1990s board was dreadful and the word McKeag is a swear word in our house, but he will still criticise the current lot if need be. They might be better now than the old regime, but that doesn't make them good or immune from criticism. You wouldn't say that Babayaro is a good player just because you've seen worse left backs in the 70s, 80s etc, would you? That might have lost coherence, but hope the point comes out.

Not seen enough from him in his Toon career tbh, probably best for all parties for him to go.

Good stuff. Was always going to be very hard to prove anything anyway, its just one word against another. Can imagine we'll sell him anyway though

That collar looks shit, and everything Nick is saying sounds absolutely horrible!

He's been fucking dreadful recently. I'm not a fan of Dyer at all but he's a better option up top than Sib is

Thing is, a lot of the people on this forum are young lads so they aren't going to know about the 1980s etc. I'm 21, started supporting Newcastle in 1992 - that doesn't mean i'm a 'sky boy', apologies for not being in the Gallowgate in my pushchair. HTL's response on page 2 is excellent and shows he actually appreciates the fact that some people weren't alive. NE5 just seems to resent young people and has to pretend to be a massive super-fan to make himself feel better. Small man syndrome?

Too many people forget that we signed Woodgate for £9m in the January though.

Urgh no that kit was horrible. Money making swizz to get you to buy the names and numbers because it looked so shit without it.

Rooney is not fit to tie Bergkamp's laces. Some might think that's hyperbole, but I genuinely believe that. Come back in ten years though, after Rooney has walked the walk for more than a decade, and I might change my opinion... Obviously, but Rooney is a similar type of player, ie a creative forward rather than an out and out scorer.

Who is it? Ronaldo, one of "the best players in the world" should be scoring 20+ goals in the league alone, not all competitions. 10 league goals doesn't say genius to me. Martins has also scored 10, he's playing in a far worse team, and this is his first season in a tottaly different league and he's still adapting. The way some people go on about Rooney they'd probably take him over Messi or Kaka.. Dennis Bergkamp. Not a prolific goalscorer by any means, but a class player who set up hatfuls. Rooney might not score loads, but his general play is so good for the team. Man Utd would miss him big time if he was injured.

Scottass, you like strikers to consistently score goals, so on paper do you like this player? 553 league games, 201 goals.

Is this the same Rooney that i've been watching? All of those are quality players, but he's better than most of them. It all makes sense now why scottass was such a big proponent of Luque. He's clueless. Where is Luque on that list? Fucks sake he would be if only Roeder gave him a chance!11!111

Is this the same Rooney that i've been watching? All of those are quality players, but he's better than most of them.

I'm not arsed if AZ keep up their unbeaten record, a draw will do nicely.

Aye, but then thats really predictable and a good full back will just put him onto his left foot and he'll be wasted.

McDonald is a wanker tbh. Can't believe they're cutting people off about it

I don't know if thats tongue in cheek, but I wholeheartadly agree.

Ott my arse. His best position for me is probably behind the striker like has this season, but I don't particularly rate him there - he's just better there than on the wing or as a non-tackling central midfielder. As far as i'm concerned though, when people say someone is 'really versatile' its another way of saying that they aren't really good enough in any position to make it their own, hence them getting shunted about. He's one of those players you get sometimes who just has no real technical football ability. His first touch isn't great, you very rarely see him hit the ball with his laces, he can't cross etc etc. Reasonably effective due to his pace though, i'll give him that. In terms of the poll though, get rid of the bastard.

Why are people so defensive about Martins? He's a top class player, but so is Berbatov by the look of it. Can we not just accept they're both good players withouth having to say 'ours is better na na'.

Chopra was just a headless chicken for us, ran around annoying defenders but not posing any threat on goal. Pleased that he's doing well though, probably found his level - a quality Div 1 player. Loads of strikers would score hatfuls in that division, someone like Shola would easily.

Treaty of Rome