Big Geordie

Yup - If McCarthy is looking to move, then he'd surely go for quite a big fee, given all of the goals he's scored during his time there ? It's more silly season bo11ocks.

To a tee. We only bought Bowyer that summer, and that was on a Bosman. We paid the price for not strengthening. I think Shepherd argued that he bought Woodgate that year, but that was back in the bloody January. Another boardroom balls-up That said, the way the likes of Dyer, Jenas, etc treat SBR was very wrong. I was surprised to see Dyer say on Football Focus the other week that he still speaks to SBR everyday on the phone.

Without a doubt, as gifted a winger as I've ever seen. He could win a match on his own with one flash of brilliance. However, he was always an enigma, but aren't most great players ? I remember when we had him and Solano in tandem down either wing - I think we had the best pair of wingers in Europe at that particular time. Not sure if I'd have him back now - we aren't short of left-sided players.

Didn't see the show last night, but have just caught the interview. Superb, yet I was a wee bit upset with how frail he looks now. I hope is health is on the way up. I agree that the club should do something for him - be it a benefit game to say 'thanks', or some sort of PR role with the club. He turned us around after the damage what Guillit did and yet ended up being very shabbily treated by the club and some of the bigger name players. Legend - simple as that.

Been chatting to an old Uni buddy of mine who whilst being a Stoke fan, is also a copper with the local force down there. Apparently the talk of the town is that there's gonna be more bother, after what happened at the LC tie in 1995. Could be something of bloodbath, so if anyone is going down - take care of yourselves ! I'm sure our resident nutters will be travelling down looking for a scrap.

I was too young what that happened, but didn't they threaten to go on strike if Richard Dinnis wasn't given the job after Gordon Lee buggered off to Everton ?

It's a tough one to call. I'm in no doubt that we have players in the squad who have lived in a comfort zone for too long, which needs addressing. However if some are concerned about tactics, etc are they not right to speak their mind ? What the manager has been trying to do has confused even the most seasoned Newcastle supporters, so christ knows how it's affecting some of the players. Once again however our dirty laundry is being aired in public - which is never a good thing. We'll see how the players respond in the next few games and if they want to play for the current manager.....

We are in a poor run of form - not many expect us to get anything other than a hiding from Arsenal on Weds, which makes the Birmingham game crucial. Crucial as in stopping the rot, because once you get stuck in a rut, it's hard to get out of. We are struggling to score goals, leaking them at the back and still beset by injury problems. He should be given until the end of the season, but the question is - how long do you let the poor form continue, before making a change ? I don't want to see us sucked into a relegation scrap, for the sake of giving him time to experiment. Shearer won't come here anytime soon - he's wise enough to know that it would be the wrong time and he'd be setting himself up for a fall if we are still struggling.

Sounds like a much improved performance by us (attacking wise) . Disappointing to be losing, but at least we have had a go.

I'd suggest that he needs to start elsewhere and see if he can make his mark. Time is on his side though, so he should be able to wait for the right opportunity. Taking the wrong job just because he's pressurised into it could damage his reputation.

Post match thoughts from .com; Red mists descending... Newcastle 0 Liverpool 3 An awful performance at St. James' Park saw us completely outclassed and lucky to escape a more severe beating by Rafa Benitez's Liverpool on Saturday lunchtime. Sections of the home support were in open revolt against Sam Allardyce and his feckless charges who surrendered alarmingly to a side that arrived on Tyneside in fifth place in the table. Steven Gerrard became the latest in a long list of booed players to put in a match winning performance, opening the scoring with a thumping drive from 30 yards. Only an Alan Smith shot at the end of the first half threatened to keep us in the contest but within seconds of the restart Dirk Kuyt bundled in a corner. A dispirited bunch of players dragged themselves out for the second half but our defence was apparently still in the dressing room as Kuyt had the six yard box to himself. The third following in the 66th minute as Gerrard and Ryan Babel exchanged passes and substitute Babel beat Shay Given with ease. Our substitutions - Joey Barton for Emre and James Milner for Charles N'Zogbia - were greeted with howls of derision from Newcastle fans, not for any of those four in particular but for Allardyce's decision to leave on players like Geremi. Chants of "You don't know what you're doing" and "Allardyce for England" echoed around the ground as our season went from bad to worse. A measure of the dissatisfaction was that Reds substitute Peter Crouch got a better reception than Stephen Carr, bizarrely coming on at left back for Jose Enrique. How we survived without conceding at least three more was something of a minor miracle and Mark Viduka could and should have had a couple at the other end but drifted offside twice like a Sunday morning player. Two successive home defeats by three-goal margins is something that must snap Allardyce out of his "best start in 11 years" complacency. This side is heading for oblivion as things stand and not even Graeme Souness or Glenn Roeder managed that after just 13 league games.... -------------------- Pretty spot on, IMO.

End of the season for me - he has to be given until then.

We started off with a 3-5-2, but Liverpool surprised us by pusing Kewell on to make a 4-3-3. We failed to respond to then change, which is why Geremi was left isolated and unsure of what job he was actually doing.

Yup - was a good day that. I was in the scoreboard that day. Was bedlam when McGhee scored the winner. Oh and the Pompey game when David Kelly scored in 92. Never celebrated a goal like it before or since.

I think I remember seeing some lads relieving themselves at the back of the Scoreboard on occasion, but thankfully it didn't seem to be the norm. I also remember 'The Surges' which could get quite boisterous on a big matchday. Used to get plenty of that in The Corner.

Yup - I remember the Red Indian caller as well - been missing from the ground for a long time. The bogs in the Gallowgate End were a disgrace - I still remember that the pots had no seat and that folk could watch you having a slash if they peered over the top of the Gallowgate !

I was a Corner regular during 89-90 and then graduated to the Scoreboard after that. I remember one lad called 'Norman' in the Corner. Big bloke with a skinhead and wore dungarees from what I remember ! He used to get up on the barrier and start the singing off. Scoreboard was miles better than the Corner though. No contest.

Christ - it's getting ridiculous now. Marcelino MKII.

Will take a point today, but we were a clear 2nd best. Looks like we went for the draw and through a bit of luck it's what we got. Our passing was disjointed, we again lacked width and the constant tinkering of the side from the manager is a bit of a concern. Doesn't allow us to get a settled side at all. Thought Barton was poor today and his kick out at Etuhu was asking for trouble. Had the ref seen that, he'd have been off. Still, we showed a bit of character to pull level, so that's something at least.

I think Jamie McClen is now playing for Gateshead. He's had spells at both Blyth and Bedlington Terriers. David Robinson - a striker from the late 80's/early 90's who scored against Reading in the FA Cup. Now a copper in the East End, who works alongside a mate of mine there.

Trelford Mills was the ref for that game. He was abysmal.

Well, after today and then if we lose to the mackems next week, the heat is really gonna be on him. He hasn't helped himself with his tactics/team selections. Mid-table beckons again this season, and I concur with what was said earlier. As he's not Ashley's man, we could be looking for a new boss next summer. Full Time.

Martins coming on for Enrique. Charlie to LB ? What a waste if so.

Pompey just need to see this out. I'm not sure we have enough in us (character) to come back into this. Fat Sam needs to take a long hard look at his tactics after today. Whatever he's trying clearly isn't working.

Yup - Fat Sam has got it very wrong today - not for the first time this season.