midds

I'd like us to win as many games as possible. Don't care how we win them. I'm not kidding myself, it'll take a few years to sort this club out but if he puts things in place - success in the League will follow. While we're waiting, a Cup win would be much appreciated. Would you rather us play pretty football, finishing 5th and winning nowt? Fuck that - want to celebrate something.

Would rather win something tbh. Don't really care about the type of football we'd play to win it either for the record.

For us, Chelsea or both?

I'd like to think that Shepherd wouldn't have even considered Allardyce if he'd be against the 'new-fangled stuff'. Surely it's a given that he'd revamp these areas of the club and Shepherd is ok with this? *crosses fingers*

Don't see too many people ready to throw themselves off the Tyne Bridge at him choosing Chelsea. Most of us are genuinely surprised that he turned down the chance of regular football to sit on the bench while his career passes him by. The team he rejected is fairly irrelevant - could have been Boro, Villa, Bolton etc and i think the reaction would have been the same tbh. He's gone there for the money - good luck to him. Think he'll regret it eventually like... Of course he's gone for the money. Football is a short career, he wouldn't have to move his wife and kids. He's no different to 99% of other players IMO. Why do you think Michael Owen is here? He wouldn't have came if he had to take a pay cut from Madrid would he? He'd have sat his ass on the bench until someone came in for him that would match/increase his dosh or leave on a free. So we agree on this one then? I've said virtually the same things...

The latter certainly could have out-weighed any doubts about the amount of first team opportunities he'll receive, and you can't really blame him for that. He's looking after himself financially and getting as much as he can, while he can. He'll never get another chance to sign for Chelsea and he'll earn a shitload whether he plays or not. I've honestly not got a problem with him signing for Chelsea for the £££'s but sacrificing a year or 2 of a short career to sit on a bench is a gamble. He's obviously happy to take the chance. Let him get on with it.

Once Sam gets the lads back from hospital after their spine implants this summer we'll wipe the floor with the fuckers. Bring it on.

Do you think Chelsea are going to pay him more than the £40k-a-week we reportedly were? Yes. And he may win a medal or 2 if there's an injury crisis. And he may not have to uproot his family 250 miles north.

Don't see too many people ready to throw themselves off the Tyne Bridge at him choosing Chelsea. Most of us are genuinely surprised that he turned down the chance of regular football to sit on the bench while his career passes him by. The team he rejected is fairly irrelevant - could have been Boro, Villa, Bolton etc and i think the reaction would have been the same tbh. He's gone there for the money - good luck to him. Think he'll regret it eventually like...

Snaking all over the road due to the drivers imbibing heavily on the Guinness no doubt.

Why are Seville playing Dukla Prague?

As I've already said - he'll be made available next summer. For the right price.

I think some people are seriously over-estimating our ability as a club to attract some of the names that are being bandied about. *Aimed at no-one in particular before someone kicks off*

i'm bookmarking this so in a couple of years i can return with "right fuck up" if it doesn't work out If it turns to shit I'll be the first to admit I got it wrong mate! As long as he's left alone to do the things he wants to - he'll turn us around. Believe brother, believe.

Bristol City? Haven't even looked tbf. Just guessing!

Agree with every word of the OP. Right man, right time, right place.

They'll sign him for nowt. Pay him about £50k a week for a year (£2.5m), then pedal him for about £5m next summer. Thus making £2.5m in the process. It's called 'parking'. I read that Real Madrid wanted to do something similar when they signed McManaman a few years back. Only problem was that he played that well, the fans kicked up a fuss when they tried to move him on and they had to keep paying him £ridiculousk a week for the rest of his contract! Parking a player only works when you manage to find someone thick enough to pay way over the odds for someone who was available on a free a few months earlier. (See Boumsong, J-A... )

The tower on the Everton badge was an old prison wasn't it?

a.k.a. Mackem steak.

Not sure what they ate but, given the size of the diners, I'm betting there was plenty of it.

Who exactly is deciding on contract renewals like this at the minute? Surely that's up to the manager? Or am I just being fucking thick?

The club should be starting to think about offering him a new contract now IF the new bloke (Allardyce) fancies him. We can't run the risk of him running his contract down and leaving for nothing in June 2009. Especially as he could leave to go back abroad in 12 months time as a result of this new ruling. If he doesn't sign an extension before Jan '08, I'd pedal him for as much as we can get.

Shouldn't it have 1986 on it?

Take a few snaps and hoy them up on here.

The type of player we need to pad our squad out with. Reasonably priced but solid when called upon.