midds

I'd go along with most of that. The question is how do we change it?

Last Active: Today at 06:25:07 AM Hasn't posted since 8th Sept though....

Lets be fair they did NOT batter us. I thought we shaded the first half due to finishing it the stronger side and went into the break looking the more likely team to win. Second half they were definitely better and probably deserved their victory. Ref handled it pretty well. I said Keane battered Kinnear tactically.

Class player, wish we'd got him when he moved to Pompey. Keegan was quoted in January as saying there wasn't anyone available (in the window) who would have improved us. For the right price... as far as i can recall, Diarra wanted wages that were way over the top. Kevin Keegan dreams of record signing George Caulkin Kevin Keegan has reiterated his determination to “amaze” Newcastle United supporters and named his dream signing as Thierry Henry, the former Arsenal captain. Questioned by the club’s supporters on Thursday night, the manager conceded that the club are facing a relegation battle for the remainder of this season, but he remains characteristically positive about the future. Keegan broke the world transfer record when he signed Alan Shearer from Blackburn Rovers in 1996 and, while Newcastle are now a vastly different institution, the Geordie "Messiah" is defined by his optimism. Returning the club to the upper echelons of the Barclays Premier League is not be a straightforward prospect, but he sees no reason why silverware cannot be won. “It would be nice to beat a world record,” Keegan told BBC Radio Newcastle. “It would be nice to amaze people with the people we’re bringing in. We certainly have an owner who could help find the money. If I could sign one player, you’d want to bring Thierry Henry back to England. When you’re at pitch level and see what he can do to players ...” Some fans were disappointed that Newcastle were unable to strengthen their squad during last month’s transfer window, but Keegan was adamant that he would not sign players for the sake of it. “I sat down with the owners and discussed the players available,” he said. “It was a wish-list, not a hit list, and by the time we crossed off the people who wouldn’t be available, there weren’t many left.” Initially, however, Newcastle, who are twelfth in the table, have a more prosaic and pressing task. “The last time we came into this division, I thought ‘consolidation’ was a word we shouldn’t use, but now the first priority is to make sure we get enough points to secure safety,” Keegan admitted. “I know we’ve got a tough fixture list. I was fully aware of the task. I’m absolutely aware of that. “We’re just on the edge of it (the relegation battle) and we’ve got to be good enough not to get sucked right into it. All our away games are against teams in the top half, but we know what we’ve got to do. We’ve got to stabilise the club. If we can do that and give fans hope that things will get better next year, I think that’ll be enough for them.” Keegan, who last left the club in 1997, resigned from the England job and left Manchester City prior to the end of his contract, refuted his reputation as a “quitter”. “When I left here – and I was here for five years – I’d worked with people to try and turn this club around and I was made promises and those promises weren’t kept quite frankly,” he said. “There were loads of them. “The England thing, I stood up and said exactly what I felt. No one can say I wasn’t honest. I didn’t apply for it, I was head-hunted, I took the job on but it didn’t do enough for me. A lot of the odds are stacked against you. At Manchester City, to be honest, I had a five-year contract and I said after three and a half years, I wouldn’t sign another one ... But I waited a year and three months for them to pay (his contract) up, to help the club out. People don’t realise that.” Keegan said again that he is satisfied with the appointment of Dennis Wise as Newcastle’s executive director. “They didn’t go behind my back,” he said. “I knew they were going to get a director of football and we desperately need that. Chris Mort is a great chairman, but he’s a lawyer by trade. Mike Ashley [the owner] is the main man and he wanted some people on the board he could relate to. “It was in place before I came. Harry Redknapp would have taken the same deal. Of the three names mentioned to me, I’m pleased Dennis the one they plumped for. I know him, I picked him for England and I think he was going to finish with Leeds anyway. I’m meeting him again [on Friday]. Fans shouldn’t see it as a negative. It’s a plus for the club because he’s going to be putting in parts to the club that have been overlooked. “We’ve already got one guy from Italy and there are two more from other parts of the world that we can look at. Whilst local kids coming through are important, if they’re not here at the present moment, the club is right to look further afield. Manchester City are competing for them and paying money in compensation and Liverpool are doing it. If you can’t beat them, you have to join them.” from: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/newcastle/article3330517.ece

Class player, wish we'd got him when he moved to Pompey. Keegan was quoted in January as saying there wasn't anyone available (in the window) who would have improved us. Didn't he move when we were between managers? I seem to remember that being the case. Not sure. Seems to imply that we wouldn't have gone for him anyway...

Tell that to Gary Rowell....

Class player, wish we'd got him when he moved to Pompey. Keegan was quoted in January as saying there wasn't anyone available (in the window) who would have improved us.

Keane battered Kinnear tactically yesterday. Having 3 in the middle allowed them to dictate the possession and tempo of the game. They had to sacrifice a forward to do it but Cisse played brilliantly and was a handful all game. Guthrie getting booked after 4 minutes meant he couldn't be as aggressive and Butt clearly wasn't 100%. The could attack down both flanks and had runners through the middle. Ameobi and Martins up front should have been an advantage for us but they couldn't link up together and struggled to hold it up as Yorke dropped off to pick up the bits and pieces from their dismal displays. Their movement was shocking. Once they changed it and brought Jones on they were in complete control and could have scored more than they did. Barton and Gutierrez should have been on much sooner if they were to change things. Thought the referee was good too - no complaints there.

My mackem brother-in-law (canny lad as it happens) was sat in front of where Barton was warming up. He said as he was stretching he was giving a fan the "come on then" sign with his open palm/4 fingers.

Had yet another poor game yesterday. Marking the penalty spot for their first goal. Diouf did well to draw Beye inside but Taylor had time to have a look around and spot Cisse. Just looks shaky but Bassong (the obvious choice to replace him in the middle) wasn't great either.

Having a thread dedicated to him on a Newcastle forum will also have made his weekend.

The lack of communication between NUFC and the fans has been disgraceful for some time now. Hats off to Levy for putting fans in the picture and explaining his decisions. Ashley could learn a few lessons from him. If he still wanted any part of us that is, which he obviously doesn't.

They've still got a s*** side and about as much attacking threat upfront as we do with Ameobi. seriously though... they make very drastic and very bold and it could work well with them... by sacking the whole setup.. and replacing with a manager that's clearly rated above our manager.. so why we couldn't do that either when this Keegan saga was on us? Ramos was sacked by Spurs which meant they were in control of the situation and thus were able to make sure they had someone lined up to take over straight away. Keegan walked out on the club, pretty much out of the blue, leaving no time for the club to organise a replacement straight away.

They've still got a shit side and about as much attacking threat upfront as we do with Ameobi. Well, we'll see then won't we?

People can take the piss out of Spurs all they want. The fact remains that they've: a) realised they had a serious problem. b) taken swift action (the timing of 11.30 the night before a game is irrelevant) c) replaced the manager within hours. They'll win today and start moving up the league. If we don't keep pace and start winning a few games then we're going to be rooted at the bottom. Wonder how many people will be laughing then?

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No real complaints about that actually. The first half was pretty even but they were much better in the second half. Quality free kick won it for them. We had far too many players who didn't perform and if that happens invariably you lose.

Wouldn't surprise me if they appointed Allardyce to kick them out of the CCC then sacked the fat cunt and appointed Roberto Baggio to spent the real $$$$.

Score first, and we'll win. The mackems I know are mentally burnt out. Their confidence has ebbed away as Barton, Gutierrez, Martins, Gonzalez, Enrique and now Beye have come back into contention. Given, Shola and Duff have picked up a bit too. We'll name a strong XI and we'll have options and quality on the bench. We should have nothing to fear going down there and we're long overdue a win. Bring it on.

Loads of stories about Whitehurst fighting gypsies in his spare time to supplement his income. Both of those 2 would have squashed Keane flat.

The decision to rescind it has precisely fuck all to do with Hughes and he should shut his mouth. He should be pointing fingers at his own players who couldn't beat us despite being given a goal start and a man advantage for 80 mins. Wanker.

He'll get no sympathy from me. Nor me. If he still thinks he was right, and the FA have over-ruled him, then it's tough shit. Fuck him.

He could have avoided all of this furore by simply running over to his linesman, who didn't give it, and asking his opinion. But no, the arrogant wanker gave the pen and sent Beye off - thus changing the course of the game. He's in charge of the game and he carries the can for making the mistake.

Lovely.

Fucking great header. 1-1 Villa