midds

You're getting far too upset over this. This is the way Africa have organised their football calender. No matter how much you twist and whine, they won't change it. Do you hear African football fans complain because the winter Premiership fixtures interfere with the build-up to the ACN? Thought not. Actually, yes, Laryea Kingston says in this months FourFourTwo Magazine that Ghana complained about Hearts schedule, so he had to tell them to shut the fuck up. And the Hearts fixtures were changed as a result of the complaint, yes? Or did they just ignore the complaints and play the games anyway? No, but FIFA got involved and the end result was that Kingston was forced to leave one week earlier than had initially been agreed. I still dont believe that the best compromise has been reached. In the end of the day, fixtures aren't up to the African FA or the leagues, its up to FIFA who can specify exactly when players must be released to their federations. That is why FIFA should step in, get everyone on the table, and see if they can find a compromise that suits all parties. The idea of a universal international break appeals to me to be honest. It suits the international teams, it suits the federations, and it suits the clubs, especiallyifan extended transfer window was thrown in. What compromise would you have suggested then?

You're getting far too upset over this. This is the way Africa have organised their football calender. No matter how much you twist and whine, they won't change it. Do you hear African football fans complain because the winter Premiership fixtures interfere with the build-up to the ACN? Thought not. Hehe, i'm not getting upset about the ACN schedule, i honestly don't care, i'm sat around on the sofa at home and thought it was a vaguely interesting convo, what irritated me was you preaching to me about the matter, re-iterating things i already know and trying to make out that i'm proposing sweeping reforms of the African game! I just expressed a couple of ideas! Grief, are you on all the other threads telling people their opinions are irrelevant as they're not actually going to make a difference at the end of the day "however much they twist and whine" or have you just chosen to on this one because you mistakenly believe your soap box stance makes you seem more politically conscious?! Aye, that's it... So, go on, why then? Because you appear to think you should be able to change the entire football calender of an entire continent so it doesn't have any adverse affect on NUFC. Or, if I'm mistaken, why are you against the ACN being held right now?

You're getting far too upset over this. This is the way Africa have organised their football calender. No matter how much you twist and whine, they won't change it. Do you hear African football fans complain because the winter Premiership fixtures interfere with the build-up to the ACN? Thought not. Hehe, i'm not getting upset about the ACN schedule, i honestly don't care, i'm sat around on the sofa at home and thought it was a vaguely interesting convo, what irritated me was you preaching to me about the matter, re-iterating things i already know and trying to make out that i'm proposing sweeping reforms of the African game! I just expressed a couple of ideas! Grief, are you on all the other threads telling people their opinions are irrelevant as they're not actually going to make a difference at the end of the day "however much they twist and whine" or have you just chosen to on this one because you mistakenly believe your soap box stance makes you seem more politically conscious?! Aye, that's it...

You're getting far too upset over this. This is the way Africa have organised their football calender. No matter how much you twist and whine, they won't change it. Do you hear African football fans complain because the winter Premiership fixtures interfere with the build-up to the ACN? Thought not. Actually, yes, Laryea Kingston says in this months FourFourTwo Magazine that Ghana complained about Hearts schedule, so he had to tell them to shut the fuck up. And the Hearts fixtures were changed as a result of the complaint, yes? Or did they just ignore the complaints and play the games anyway?

You're getting far too upset over this. This is the way Africa have organised their football calender. No matter how much you twist and whine, they won't change it. Do you hear African football fans complain because the winter Premiership fixtures interfere with the build-up to the ACN? Thought not.

I'd just drawn up a petition to get you guys to sign as well... You've blown my entire scheme out the water. It's like my life's work, down the drain Righto. K, apologies for the sarcasm, i just think saying that i was telling an entire continent when they should play football is a bit extreme, i was merely suggesting it in light of the current problems that have arisen. I mean, your argument states of a need for more exposure but then you state it is arrogance to have the whole thing organised around the major leagues in the world. Surely if that's who the exposure is for then it would make sense to arrange around this? Now, i'm not saying they should / should not move the tournament, I am just saying that a lot of people, including the players, think there may be a better solution. As a bystander, i was solely offering a suggestion as to what might help, not demanding changes, i thought the concept of such discussions was to offer such alternatives? I realise my view is of no influence whatsoever, otherwise i wouldn't be on here bandying it about! I fully respect each and every continent / FA / team / player's right to their own view and to do things how they wish - doesn't necessarily mean i have to agree with them! I'm not trying to say English / European needs are greater, far from it, i'm just suggesting it might be right trying to work out a compromise - that would be good both for European and African football If the ACN were to be held in June/July then it would lead to several problems. One is the climate/geography of Africa. Another is the fact that the ACN would inevitably be competing with either the European or S. American Championships or the World Cup for viewers, sponsorship and attention from the rest of the world. Any club worth it's salt is going to have a squad of scouts in Ghana in the next few weeks. Watching games and looking at potential players. Not sure that would be possible if it clashed with Euro 2008 this summer. Africa can hold their tournament/qualifiers whenever it likes no matter how many European fans complain about it. Deal with it.

You are right there, but I dont think international teams should have the right to play players whom have club commitments at the same time. Given that ANC occurs on odd numbered years, why not just create a compulsory 6 week domestic fixture break every other January, and get the European clubs to play all of their international qualifiers in the same period? So we should have shut down the Premiership, La Lia, Serie a et al this year for the next 6 weeks. Returning to action at the end of Feb?

I'd just drawn up a petition to get you guys to sign as well... You've blown my entire scheme out the water. It's like my life's work, down the drain Righto.

THEY should move them to whenever is convenient for THEM, if THEY think THEY need to move them at all... It's up to Africa to decide and everyone else to deal with it. As followers of NUFC, we've got no right whatsoever to tell an entire continent when and when they shouldn't be playing football. We aren't nearly that important. To think otherwise is ridiculous.

Perhaps?? But that's a different argument. African Internationals benefit from having every single June and July off, year in - year out. The fact that a handful of European clubs have to make do without a few players from it's squad's for about a month isn't reason enough to alter the African football calender imo. To assume the world football calender should be organised to accommodate the Premiership, Serie A, La Liga and the Bundesliga is beyond arrogance. So african teams don't play in the world cup now?! Apart from 4 African nations who play in the World Cup every 4th Summer for a month... As well as: African countries will have to play their first four qualifying matches for the 2010 World Cup on successive weekends, FIFA said last Friday. The first group phase of the qualifiers begin at the end of May and conclude in September. :parky: If you hadn't have told me, I'd have never have known..... Hence my earlier assertion that African football needs more exposure.

Perhaps?? But that's a different argument. African Internationals benefit from having every single June and July off, year in - year out. The fact that a handful of European clubs have to make do without a few players from it's squad's for about a month isn't reason enough to alter the African football calender imo. To assume the world football calender should be organised to accommodate the Premiership, Serie A, La Liga and the Bundesliga is beyond arrogance. So african teams don't play in the world cup now?! Apart from 4 African nations who play in the World Cup every 4th Summer for a month...

Perhaps?? But that's a different argument. African Internationals benefit from having every single June and July off, year in - year out. The fact that a handful of European clubs have to make do without a few players from it's squad's for about a month isn't reason enough to alter the African football calender imo. To assume the world football calender should be organised to accommodate the Premiership, Serie A, La Liga and the Bundesliga is beyond arrogance.

every two years. This is what bugs me. It should be 4 years. Why? Make it more prestigious. An African player can realistically take part in 6 ANC's whilst he could only play in the world cup 3 times. Don't you think that African football needs a bit more exposure? Not, really. By that logic they should have the women's World Cup every fortnight. I just think that Africa needs to hold their continental championships more often than Europe or S. America to get a bit more attention/sponsorship than they would if were held every 4 years. Holding the ACN when, and as often, as they do raises the profile of African football and that can only be good for the sport in general. Not if it starts to limit the players' chances of getting moves to bigger leagues as the clubs can't afford to lose them though, which i think is beginning to happen as teams have become more dependent on their African contingent. Maybe now is the time to move the tournament as African football clearly does achieve a lot of exposure, hence the number of African players in the prem Surely that's for the organisers of African football to decide, no? Or do you know better? Also would there be as many African players in the Premiership if they were not 'in the shop window' quite as often? No, actually, it's for me to decide, i am the ruler of Africa and by proxy the ruler of all football that takes place there, thus i will be moving the tournament going forward, i just decided to voice this in the form of someone hypothosising on a newcastle forum... As for the shop window argument, i understand that, i was offering my view as the flipside. It's chicken and egg, you can very easily argue both sides. I think that the blokes who do matter have already given it a bit of thought. The fact so many African players are making a career in the sport proves, to me, that they're getting things right in general. It's Africa's tournament, they can hold it whenever, and as often, as they fucking like. Don't like it? Tough shit.

every two years. This is what bugs me. It should be 4 years. Why? Make it more prestigious. An African player can realistically take part in 6 ANC's whilst he could only play in the world cup 3 times. Don't you think that African football needs a bit more exposure? Not, really. By that logic they should have the women's World Cup every fortnight. I just think that Africa needs to hold their continental championships more often than Europe or S. America to get a bit more attention/sponsorship than they would if were held every 4 years. Holding the ACN when, and as often, as they do raises the profile of African football and that can only be good for the sport in general. Not if it starts to limit the players' chances of getting moves to bigger leagues as the clubs can't afford to lose them though, which i think is beginning to happen as teams have become more dependent on their African contingent. Maybe now is the time to move the tournament as African football clearly does achieve a lot of exposure, hence the number of African players in the prem Surely that's for the organisers of African football to decide, no? Or do you know better? Also would there be as many African players in the Premiership if they were not 'in the shop window' quite as often?

every two years. This is what bugs me. It should be 4 years. Why? Make it more prestigious. An African player can realistically take part in 6 ANC's whilst he could only play in the world cup 3 times. Don't you think that African football needs a bit more exposure? Not, really. By that logic they should have the women's World Cup every fortnight. I just think that Africa needs to hold their continental championships more often than Europe or S. America to get a bit more attention/sponsorship than they would if were held every 4 years. Holding the ACN when, and as often, as they do raises the profile of African football and that can only be good for the sport in general.

every two years. This is what bugs me. It should be 4 years. Why? Make it more prestigious. An African player can realistically take part in 6 ANC's whilst he could only play in the world cup 3 times. Don't you think that African football needs a bit more exposure?

every two years. This is what bugs me. It should be 4 years. Why?

the stick shearer got from the press when he played for england was unbelievable, especially from the mirror which had a long running vendetta against him. then as soon as he retired they were all fawning over him and begging him back. needless to say they're cunts. Harry Harris in particular. blueyes.gif

Genuinely think Ashley's made a massive rick in going for Redknapp. He's not a bad manager by any stretch but he's a wheeler-dealer. A loaner and a scrimping and scratching about manager. Which is fine and he's done remarkably well at Portsmouth........but he's not a 'spender'. I very much doubt he'll attract the quality we all want up here. If Ashley's going to splash out big style then why go for Redknapp. He should have gone for the fillet steak but he's chosen fucking SPAM fritters.

Feel like someone's kicked me square in the knackers...

I'm actually quite enjoying not knowing what's going on tttt. If nothing is coming out of the club it means that things are happening behind the scenes which is exactly where the business should be conducted. The shit-stirring hacks on Fleet Street are guessing because they're getting nothing from Mort and it's fantastic. They will undoubtedly have pissed off fans of Portsmouth, Everton and Blackburn too by linking their bosses this morning too.

Chances of it being Redknapp are negligible imo. He's settled at Pompey and he's got them punching way above their weight. There's no way he'll leave all that and uproot his family 350 miles North. Hughes is an option I suppose but I'd be surprised if he left Blackburn for us. Wouldn't be much of an upgrade for us. McClaren is out of the question. The negative publicity he attracted whilst failing miserably with England means he won't get another job at a big club for the rest of his career. Got a feeling it's a biggie tbh.

Really hope you're right. Or you owe me money.

Given the sudden nature of Allardyce getting binned, I think someone's already in the frame. Not sure who it is but I've got a stupid feeling it's someone you don't say 'no' to.