James

He said that? if yes. Aye. Line before that went something like: "Some people will be surprised at my choice of club, its not an Arsenal or a Chelsea, but i like the manager as i know he will play me" Then the line above came out. Glad we missed out.

He said that? if yes.

Is Butt definitely out?

Keegan speaks: http://www.nufc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10278~1217510,00.html

Coleman was negative, but tactically good at the back was he not?

One thing clear with the return of Keegan last night was that it brought a sort of momentum to the crowd of which I had forgotten it had existed. The momentum passed on to the players as well. Do you think that players only pick up the momentum when they are on the ball? I don't. The players are going to feel the level of encouragement from the crowd regardless of whether or not they are on the ball. We can learn from this. Lets stop becoming apathetic when the likes of Smith or Rozehnal touch the ball, because ten seconds later, N'Zogbia might be on the ball, and by keeping the momentum going, we can egg all our exciting players on so that they are flying before they have even made their first touch.

http://www.football365.com/mailbox/story/0,17033,8744_3054826,00.html

It's all down to the Lucozade and Duracel batteries.

I need a Keegan fix today. Don't think I can wait as long as Friday afternoon.

There are some other quotes in Owen's autobiography that justify Keegan's actions if you consider the state of England in 2000. Basically, Owen says that Keegan wanted Owen to play deeper and link midfield and attack. Keegan spent hours in training with Owen working on this, working on his flick-ons etc. However, Owen was never fully comfortable with his new role, and Keegan shatterred his confidence by telling him that he wouldn't get into other teams. You could argue though that Owen's link up play improved after this time, and that Owen was one of the better players at Euro 2000. Keegan and England weren't right. He couldn't get the best out of his best players, because he couldn't bring in individuals that could unlock the attacking talents of others. Owen and Shearer couldn't combine, but their talents could be used if England pressed up the pitch and bombarded the opposition, but without a left winger, and Beckham preferring to play deep, that never happenned, so England needed Owen to drop deep just so that Scholes, Beckham and whoever was on the left wing and cutting inside were able to join the attacks. What I'm trying to say is that Keegan had to be very tactically astute if he was to find balance in the England attacks, as he had to make do with a group of completely unbalanced individuals, and couldn't bring anyone in from the outside like he would have done at a club. Owen and Keegan at club level is a different prospect. Keegan will identify Owen's important goal threat, and try and get the individuals into the team that are able to unlock his ability, preventing Keegan from becoming too tactical and getting Owen to work hard in other areas to compensate for the shortcomings of others.

Would disagree with that. We already have a good Academy Head with good experience and pedigree.

The African quartet are going to touch down in Newcastle and think that they have landed in a different city.

Tony Cascarino in the Times says: Sami Hyypia Steve Sidwell Steve Finnan Peter Crouch Dave Kitson Kevin Doyle

How old was he? 19/20? I'm sure some adolescent angst can be brushed aside. Owen was a lot more motivated today than he ever was under Sam.

Due to us not really having many central midfielders, and Viduka not having the legs to keep up with our best passages of play today, I'd go for the following team: Given Carr Taylor Cacapa Enrique Rozehnal Milner LuaLua N'Zogbia Duff Owen

Next season or this? Impossible to say. If we spend £100m next summer we'll get top 6. Next season. Thats why i typed "next season". If we spend £100m, and a few others spend nothing, you MAY be right. We're some way off those teams NOW, though, so we'll need a fair whack just to get us level with them. Squad wise we are not that far off the likes of Man City, Villa and Everton but in terms of cohesion, communication and teamwork we are miles off. However KK will improve all that. Our first team is well below them, never mind our squads. We haven't even got a good enough fist XI. Carte Blanche Northern Monkey. Some players can find new life under new management. Give them all a chance. Including Smith and Barton, as well as a defender who has managed to appear worse than Boumsong, Rosenhal? You just have to see how they do. I remember a time when Richard Dunne was crapness personified.

To be honest, when we get the trio of Duff N'Zogbia and Milner roaming, we look outstanding, especially on the counter.

Charged studs in on players leg.

Next season or this? Impossible to say. If we spend £100m next summer we'll get top 6. Next season. Thats why i typed "next season". If we spend £100m, and a few others spend nothing, you MAY be right. We're some way off those teams NOW, though, so we'll need a fair whack just to get us level with them. Squad wise we are not that far off the likes of Man City, Villa and Everton but in terms of cohesion, communication and teamwork we are miles off. However KK will improve all that. Our first team is well below them, never mind our squads. We haven't even got a good enough fist XI. Carte Blanche Northern Monkey. Some players can find new life under new management. Give them all a chance.

Everyone 7 except Duff and N'Zogbia on 8.

Is that really necessary? I'm sorry, could you repeat that, I can't hear you over me shouting.

KEVIN KEEGAN KEVIN KEEGAN KEVIN KEEGAN KEVIN KEEGAN KEVIN KEEGAN KEVIN KEEGAN KEVIN KEEGAN KEVIN KEEGAN

Ah well.

YES!

Viduka off for Carroll.