James

Can you delete that photo, as this site is not allowed to take photos direct from nufc.co.uk

Missing a couple of key facts in my opinion: Martins was linked up with Shola when he joined, who knows the city's Nigerian contingent. Also, there was a period when Speed had left that senior French/African Amady Faye had taken Zoggy under his wing. So there have been periods when there have been players to llok after theyoungsters, but youare right in saying that it is not too great at the moment.

I do go to (some) matches

OK, no problem, it was fun writing it anyway, others should have a go, just for the forum.

I'll do it.

They wouldn't dare! Its a PFA entitlement I believe. You get one after ten full seasons, although you can get it negotiated to an earlier date with contracts etc.

I hear the Dyer testimonial money is going to go to a really good cause though if he has one - COLDE Counsellors for the Owners of Lost Diamond Earrings

Just to consign all that Mackem rubbish to the scrapheap once and for all: Lee Clark has played more games for Sunderland than Sam Allardyce.

Allardyce is one of the few managers who I can see finding a way to effectively accomodate Dyer. It is therefore upto Dyer to buck his ideas up and produce the goods.

So absolutely nothing is different from this morning then ?? T27 said it was confirmed on the BBC then it wasnt. Apparently. Several people can back me up on that.

I'm having that.

A blind, deaf WOMAN could have appointed Allardyce. Fucking hell, no credit whatsoever. He's the best man for the job, and he's free and available, he's hardly moved Shepherd man. Thing is though is that assumming that he stays in the background and backs the manager and Allardyce does reasonably well, we can't blame Freddy Shepherd. Likewise, if Shepherd does the same, and Allardyce doesn't do well, then it would be silly to blame Shepherd. Until the next managerial appointment, Shepherd has effectively bought himself a clean slate.

The BBC have just significantly downgraded the certainty of the Allardyce appointment.

SHIT! The BBC have downgraded it from "Sam Allardyce to be appointed the BBC understands" to "Sam Allardyce tipped to be appointed" with quotes from Ladbrokes.

I know it is being reported in more strong terms on BBC television and radio, but the only two internet sources describing it as definite are www.bbc.co.uk and www.newcastle-online.com Hope I haven't just caused a massive cock-up.

.com will be really unhappy about this, judging by their article from earlier this week.

That was one of the best posts I have ever seen on this forum.

Allardyce was definitely the biggest name at Bolton. Hopefully, he can make the step up and be the biggest name at Newcastle.

Can we have a better thread title please?

Freddy Shepherd has done excellently over the past 48 hours. Magnificent work. Although there are a few better candidates, we don't know for sure that they would be willing to join, and there is no guarantee of success. Even if Allardyce fails, people wont be able to hold this appointment against Freddy Shepherd.

Pleased.

It hasn't.

It makes sense to me, the manager should be the most important person at the club. And if he is the most important, he should be paid the most.

Just to enforce this cult of personality, I would have the new manager as the highest paid person at the club.