Dokko

Manu would take £3m for Silvestre, he simply has no future at Manu. Too scared to come here, knows he'll get lamped off Barton for shite performances in training.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/sport/football.html?in_article_id=471478&in_page_id=1779&ct=5 EXCLUSIVE By BOB CASS Last updated at 19:07pm on 28th July 2007 Freddy Shepherd, ousted last week as chairman of Newcastle United, has claimed that his former close friends and boardroom colleagues Sir John and Douglas Hall sold their shareholdings to new owner Mike Ashley without telling him of their intentions. Shepherd says he first heard of the deal as he lay in a hospital bed, fighting pneumonia and a collapsed lung. http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2007/07_03/shepperd2MOS280707_468x518.jpg "I was lying there with tubes, drains and all sorts sticking out all over when my brother, Bruce, came in and told me that John had arranged to sell his 40 per cent shareholding," said Shepherd in an exclusive interview. "From where I saw it, the whole thing had been done behind my back.Neither John nor Douglas had been in touch to inform me of their intentions. I was not aware of Ashley's interest in the club. His name had never been mentioned. "There had been a few people expressing an interest in the club but he was never on my radar. "I felt disappointed by what had happened, especially remembering our past relationship." Shepherd, who later sold his own 29 per cent shareholding to Ashley for £38 million, insists that he would have put up a greater fight to retain control of the club had he been fit enough. "I was too ill to put up a fight," he said. "Had I not been in the state I was, if I hadn't have been in hospital, things might have been different. "I believe I could have found enough backing to make a counter-bid but it was more or less a fait accompli. "If I had been fit I might have taken up the challenge but I was lying on my back without the strength to do anything. "My main priority was to get well again. I was told later that my condition was very serious and potentially fatal. They took four and a half litres of fluid off my lungs and I lost two and a half stone in weight." Shepherd revealed his disappointment at the circumstances of the club's sale as we spoke in the boardroom at the headquarters of the family business, Shepherd Offshore. Overlooking the Tyne, it somehow lacked the opulence of the boardroom at St James' Park — a 20-minute drive away — where Shepherd had spent the previous 15 years as vice-chairman and then chairman. HIS decision to sell his shareholding to Ashley prompted criticism from some in the city but Shepherd said: "I had no other option but to follow suit and sell my shares." He insists much was achieved in his time at the club. "We have a ground that would cost the thick end of £300m to build today, one of the best training establishments in the country and a brand new academy. "We also have some top-quality players. There is no doubt we'd have finished a lot higher in the table last season but for what everybody acknowledges was a horrendous run of injuries.You have to accept criticism, although a lot of it was personal. But I just wonder what the supporters wanted from me. "None of the managers who were at the club while I was chairman could say they didn't get 100 per cent backing in the transfer market. "Looking back, I probably went too far to try to please the managers and the supporters." He accepts that the downward trend during the managerial reign of Graeme Souness and his successor, Glenn Roeder, began with the departure of Sir Bobby Robson. Shepherd says he regrets the circumstances surrounding the sacking of the former England manager. "Bobby and I remain firm friends. He knows what happened and doesn't hold anything against me," said Shepherd. He also insisted that, contrary to speculation fanned by recent police raids in Newcastle, he had a clear conscience when it came to investigations into Premier League transfer dealings. Although Shepherd was one of two football personalities questioned in their homes by City of London police investigating corruption in football, he said: "I've co-operated fully with the investigations by Quest and anybody else. I have absolutely nothing to hide. "Lord Stevens has said all of the clubs are in the clear, so that should be the end of it all as far as I am concerned." He believes he has left Newcastle in good managerial hands, saying: "At least I feel my last appointment could turn out to be the right one. "Sam Allardyce will be successful as manager if he receives the kind of backing that I gave the people who were in the job before him. He's exactly the right type for Newcastle — tall in stature; strong willed; an out-and-out football man. That's what the club needs right now." Shepherd accepts he was on borrowed time at the club once Ashley assumed complete control. But he warned the new owner that Newcastle need daily, hands-on treatment to be successful. "Once the club was de-listed, my situation was redundant," he said. "Mike Ashley now owns the club lock, stock and barrel and is solely responsible for their future welfare. I wouldn't presume to tell him how to run things but all I will say is that I don't believe it can be done by proxy. "We may live in an age of communication but I believe Newcastle are a club who need dedicated day-to-day handling. "The competition for success in the Premier League is fearsome. It doesn't begin to resemble what the situation was like when we first moved into St James' Park. Those who supported the club before then seem to forget the bad old days. "I supported the club, starting from my days as a kid standing on the terraces at the Gallowgate End before I moved into the boardroom, and I'll still be supporting the club now that I've left it. "And I'm proud of what has been achieved during my time there. I've made mistakes but show me somebody who hasn't. On the whole, I think I've done a good job. "I want Newcastle to be successful and I hope Mike Ashley can do what, regrettably, I could not — that is, bring some major silverware into the trophy room."

I've known in my lifetime about 20-30 Scots, and i've found one who i can tolerate. I might have just been unlucky, but my opinion is formed, there all tarred with the same for me, i know i shouldn't but its hard not too. Actually just thinking make that 2, theres an old bloke i have a few pints with and he's hilariously serious, its comical. One hand a pint of the cheapest beer, the other a daily record.

Most don't want independence, by the way, just need to point that out. However, that same most probably still hate us all the same. Don't let facts like that get in the way of a good rant man!

don't get me started, half the Scottish football players down here are the same. I remember Denis Law saying he was playing golf when England won the World Cup, and almost puked up when he was told. Something like that. It was on telly, the audience laughed, they thought he was funny. They should have told him to piss off back to Scotland and leave his English money behind. If you ever want to get a Scotsman or at least a Scottish football supporter as mad as hell you only need to mention two words to them.... Alan Hansen. Wow, its like telling the Braveheart is just a film.

Really, whatever you reckon mate. Have you heard the average Scotsman lately? Still bitter, still hold England in utter hatred over shit that happened hundreds of years ago, still the same Scottish shite we've put up with for years. Just like to add the cuntish Celtic fans on forums are blaming us for the trouble. > I really hope its the last time these utter bastards get invited to our city, we dont need the utter trash the sorry football club called Celtic brings with it.

They want their independence, their sports stars class themselves as 'Scottish' instead of British, but they want to play in our league as we've got more money? I really hate the Scots. Fuking hypocritical cunts.

And Man City's new owner is what exactly? A slightly dodgy character ? I thought you meant poor as in rubbish or something wrong, poor as in skint simply doesn't make any sense.

Seriously for a swap? Defoe. They clearly don't want him anymore and its only a matter of time before he moves on. Ok so we don't really need him, but Viduka next season will be near enough finished bar a season at best, Martins could be off as Owen & all that's if he lasts the season. Martins will be away for AN at some point and could miss up to 7 games or something stupid and on top of that Owen could decide to leave in the winter window especially with his low release clause and the fact we haven't any Europe so CL teams will be gagging for him if he's on form.

And Man City's new owner is what exactly?

I really do want to end up with Sol.

Thanks mate, he's the best, not sure where he gets his good lucks from, it certainly isn't her! Getting ready for his party as we speak, its at her mothers, which should be fun since her entire family hate me! But its his day, am sure were all adult enough to put it all behind us for a few hours, i'm not drinking!

Cheers bud! PS: Am just angry not hard.

Its crazy. Chelsea over spending pushed the prices up, and TBF to them, it needed doing at the time. Football was dying, especially at lower level due to the ITV collapse in the Country, and Chelsea came in, started spending big, and that eventually filtered into all levels brining the game back round. But now they've stopped spending at WHU and the likes of have come in and with extra TV money and its gone crazy again. But it means the average to good are well over priced as thats what these teams are looking at, while the worldclass and expectational are cheaper since the likes of Chelsea are not spending huge amounts at the moment. Shown by the moves of Bent and Henry.

Poor Spuds. Really intruiged to see how his wages work out. A cut? The wage cap was bollocks? Or we stump up half of it? 3rd one sounds about us like.

Typical cuntish behaviour from them as usual. Always do, they are pathetic. Come here thinking its a battle of Britain throwing themselves into challenges like they're extras in braveheart. So fuking glad they've lost, 4-1 as well, what a joke. But their fans are bad enough when they've won, no doubt there will be a few cocks looking for a scrap before they go home, but by their usual brave and heroic standard they'll trash a kebab shop and find a lad walking home by himself to jump on. Always after trouble when they come here. All want to challenge the Geordie rep, bunch of fuking cunts. Hope they rot in their shitty league.

Luque has been one thing since he came here, a talking point, and he hasn't disappointed again. The man should go down as a NUFC legend for that simple reason.

Are you some sort of footballing fountain of knowledge then, and going to games makes you so? How long have you been going to games? You should ask SSN's for a job, you sound far too clued up about the game to be on here. In fact when SA doesn't deliver our heightened expectations, I'll personally send a letter to Mr Mort to come ask you for advice first before appointing, if you are THAT great you might even walk away with the job. Didnt say i was great first game when i was 6 then ive went to all home games 4years onwards, and 10-20 away matches the past 3seasons why? all i was trying to say was i dont want people trying to take the piss out of me and telling me everything about what i say about nufc because they dont even go to the games So you are 13 years old? Impressive tbf to you. You will grow up to be a fine supporter one day. What about people who've done all that, but just don't attend anymore, is their knowledge classed as used and yours as better? I know being 13 you know absolutely everything there is to know about the world, but some of these guys you are calling 1st attended games before you were born, try showing them some respect eh? Im 14 im not taking the mick or anything just i dont like people taking the mick out of me oviously alot of people on here have attended more games than me because im 14 ive got respect for people who go to alot of games for however long before i was born I've read the threads, you throwing about 'i go to games' comments just doesn't wash around here. This time of year we have a huge problem of kids signing up, coming on, not reading the rules, full of testosterone, desperate to show their support, give their opinions, and slag anything off (including the way the forum is ran) they don't like. They either fuk off and get bored, school starts again and the don't come back, they get banned for either being a cock or breaking too many rules, or they settle in, grow up and become decent posters. Now i'm hoping the last of that applies to you, but the soopafan thing doesn't go down too well on here. Its a forum for starters, some of the older members signed up in the 1st place due to the lack of ability to get to games, geographically, financially or morally (many people were so unhappy with FS's regime they didn't attend, including me) so show their support elsewhere, and keep up to date with the club through this place. At the moment its quite easy for you to attend games no? I doubt you are paying for it? You've got a great parent there who's giving you some excellent memories but unfortunately for some thats not possible, and friendlies come bottom of the list when choosing what you can afford to do. So not only are your comments poor in context, they are also badly timed with it coming out after a friendly game. Next time argue an opinion you don't like with the knowledge you've gained from going to matches, but don't use the 'i go to matches' line, as soon as you do, you've lost. Read into my comments what you like, you might think i'm coming across a tad patronising, and you'd probably be right. But out of the recent spate of teenage posters we've had sign up, my hope pins on you being one of the good ones when you settle down.

Hopefully thats the old era of the club, maybe we can set our sights a little higher than some team who play in a pointless league.

Are you some sort of footballing fountain of knowledge then, and going to games makes you so? How long have you been going to games? You should ask SSN's for a job, you sound far too clued up about the game to be on here. In fact when SA doesn't deliver our heightened expectations, I'll personally send a letter to Mr Mort to come ask you for advice first before appointing, if you are THAT great you might even walk away with the job. Didnt say i was great first game when i was 6 then ive went to all home games 4years onwards, and 10-20 away matches the past 3seasons why? all i was trying to say was i dont want people trying to take the piss out of me and telling me everything about what i say about nufc because they dont even go to the games So you are 13 years old? Impressive tbf to you. You will grow up to be a fine supporter one day. What about people who've done all that, but just don't attend anymore, is their knowledge classed as used and yours as better? I know being 13 you know absolutely everything there is to know about the world, but some of these guys you are calling 1st attended games before you were born, try showing them some respect eh?

Are you some sort of footballing fountain of knowledge then, and going to games makes you so? How long have you been going to games? You should ask SSN's for a job, you sound far too clued up about the game to be on here. In fact when SA doesn't deliver our heightened expectations, I'll personally send a letter to Mr Mort to come ask you for advice first before appointing, if you are THAT great you might even walk away with the job.

You also get a lot of drunken teenage charvas attending, most which have come back to post on here to tell us what s*** fans we are for not going. mackems.gif hopefully that wasnt towards me because im not a charver! im far from a one i dont drink/smoke! Why would i think that? Been coming on here telling people how shit they are for not going?

I like the idea of us going for Barnes, but SA probably think talent and youth isn't waht we want and will probably go looking to sign Okocha.

You also get a lot of drunken teenage charvas attending, most which have come back to post on here to tell us what shit fans we are for not going. mackems.gif