macca888

Ronaldo Moncur could never be classified as a coward on the park. He was immense, possibly the best captain the club has had since the days of Joe Harvey. He was also captain of a reasonably good Scotland International team.

A vivid memory of 1975, I think. We got drawn away to Walsall in the FA Cup and it had been chucking it down for a week prior to the game. We rocked up at the Central Station at 8:00 with rumours the game had been called off as the rain contnued. Anyway, got on the train and remember they turfed us all off underneath some bloody motorway and we had to walk a couple of miles along this bloody river bank, feezing cold, pissing down before coming to this bridge. On the other side of the bridge was Walsalls ground and we all got herded in through one turnstile, walked along behind one of the goals and down the side under this old corrugated iron stand that seemed to sway in the wind. The pitch was a glueport, not a blade of grass on it and the amount of water on the surface would have filled the derwent reservoir. Needless to say, Supermac and the lads never got going and we lost 1-0. I still dont know where or how we got the train home except some of the lads getting kicked off at Derby on the way back., Yep, happy bloody days.

Sorry lads.................however, I do wish I was sampling the atmosphere live for the first time since Villa home in 2003 (1-1 and Nobby's free kick) no matter how cold it is. Looks like I will have to wait until next christmas for that. Enjoy the game, lads.

Hate to say this guys but hot and sunny here in Melbourne.......30 degrees centigrade. Getting up at 4:20 in the morning to watch the game live on Foxsports BBQ breakfast and all

If Ashley and Co. object to this loan fee, it will only show how hypocritical they are considering the fact they charged Stoke City a substantial loan fee for Ameobi a couple of years back. Like some others on here, I would send Harewood back regardless because if Ranger is to get the experience needed to operate in the PL, he will need to get as much game time as possible during the remainder of this CC campaign as his learning period.

There has to be a high degree of sympathy for Gazza and to be honest, the fact that he does not appear to have the strength of mind to beat alcoholism and drug dependency only emphasises the point that people need to gather around and help him more. Gazza has never been the same since his injury in the FA Cup final against Forest and ultimately, his inability to handle the above problems plus his personal relationships has destroyed him as a person. Furthermore, the fact that after he quit playing, there was little or no involvement in football has only plunged him further into the depths of despair. What a crying shame for what was Englands greatest talent and for a human being. I sincerely hope the club and Beardsley, do not cast him away. If they do, I can only foresee a quick and senseless end for him.

Has to be Elena Marcelino. My wife is called Elena, but unlike Marcelino, she is canny and from Russia, not Spain

When I come back to the UK from Oz, I normally fly Emirates directly to London or Glasgow where I have family. However, next christmas, we are flying directly into Newcastle. I lioke Emirates. The stewardesses are drop dead gorgeous and it is always good to have a stop over in Dubai.

Their main players are the two lads on loan from Arsenal and Man Utd. Shut them down and we win the game easily. I wouldnt change the team other than bring in Carroll for Lovenkrands and the new lad on the right for Guthrie. Get the wingers running at their full backs and getting crosses in to the two big lads up front. Nolan in behind, 3 up by half time again and this time rub their noses in it and up the goal difference 5-0.

OK, This one is really old, going back to the fairs cup in 69 or thereabouts. My father was a sergeant in the police at Gateshead when the police station was just off old west street behind the old town hall. In amongst the back lanes around there, the police had their scial club. My father was the secretary of the social club and whenever they organised dinner dances, social nights, charity events etc, Dad always managed to get representatives from NUFC and subsequently formed a long standing friendship with Willie McFaul. One year, I think it was ariound the 69 period, the police had an indoor games night against NUFC and Dad took me along. Imagine my delight to see all my heroes there. Wyn Davies playing a very concentrated game dominoes, Pop Robson, a demon with the darts and Bobby Moncur, an ace of the billiards table. The players were brilliant and I sat next to big Wyn for what seems like hours. He was terrific to me. I still keep in contact with Willie McFaul and his wife Eileen. Up until last year, he was coaching in NI but Roeder brought him to Norwich as a scout for the midlands and the south. They are living in Essex with his son, Stephen, looking for a house of their own. By the way, McFaul is a top bloke, a really nice man and did so much for under priveledged familiies in the NE for so many years.

Kilgallon to Hull? The daily star report ios exactly word for word a report in the NOTW. Say no more.

The cross Jonas put in at Crystal Palace for Nolan's goal after only two minutes was a blinder. Also, if I remember correctly, he also set up Ryan Taylor for the second in that game too.

Yeah, I was calling myself Lovenkrands last night. I was repeatedly attacking the wife's box all night

tmonkey Possibly from the point of view that from our central midfielders: Smith - Defensive Butt - Defensive and on his way out Geremi - Defensive and on his way out Nolan - Attacking but non creative Guthrie - Attacking, sometimes creative but inconsistent Barton - Injury prone with attitude problem Clear lack of creativity within our central areas. Koumas would certainly fit the bill, in the short term at least.

Spence I am not a kid, mate and therefore have better things to do in my life than play kids games like FM whatever it is. If Driver etc is injured, then obviously signing him is not on. However, if he is recovering, he is just the type of quality wide man we need. He is quick and has a great left foot plus, he can cross an accurate ball and scores goals. Would link up well with Enrique and Jonas can be moved to the right. Koumas would be a stop gap only. His quality in passing is what we need but once up to the PL, we would be looking for better players, if money was available. Whether Leeds received bids for Beckford or not last summer, is matterless. He is still there, his contract is running down and he is free to sign a pre contract agreement for anyone on January 1. Leeds do still have money problems and I believe they will get promoted regardless of whether they let Beckford go or not. They have a lot of quality but they know he is basically gone. Common sense says accept what they can get for him. Your comments about Campbell were both niave and disrespectful. The majority on here would love to see him at the club on a short term playing contract .

Leeds still need money and there is no evidence at all that they turned down any bids for Beckford during the summer. That is heresay. Furthermore, at that level with his contract running down and the player expressing the desire to leave, then they may not have an optioin in the end run. Player power exists, as we well know to our own cost. Noone has tested the water for Driver. We will not know if we dont try plus Hearts are in a similar position to Leeds where any revenue would be gratefully accepted. A deal of a loan fee in january with a permanent transfer in the summer may be the way to go here. My view on Campbell was more a way of supplementing his playing salary by giving him the opportunity to coach our young defenders. Who better to learn from than a former England international with 80 odd caps behind him. The added bonus of having his experience and leadership qualities in this inferior league can only be a bonus to the club in achieing promotion. As I said regarding Koumas, he has the experience of getting out of this division and is the creative midfield player we are craving. Guthrie does not have that consistent attribute although a fully fit Barton, playing in the centre might.

taylor has ccreated a few, most memorable was the cross for Colo's header at Cardiff. He also weighed in with 3 league goals, if you count the deflection against Sheffield United. I think Guthrie has only the one league goal against Leicester at home.

Big Geordie Yep, so was I. On the subject of Frank Clark, he was allowed to leave because we had Alan Kennedy coming through.

On the subject of WHY: Leeds know they will lose Beckford in the summer. He wants to play premiership football and will be unable to do that at Leeds next season. They are scoring goals for fun at present and Beckford is only one of many regular scorers in their team. His head could be turned by the fsct we are top of the championship, a big club and much bigger than the alleged current PL teams looking at him, ie Bolton and Wigan. Same applies to Driver. We are a much bigger attraction than Hearts in a mickey mouse league. Campbell could be invaluable as a leader on and off the park in coaching the younger players such as Kadar and Taylor as a defensive coach plus there is already the Spurs connection with Hughton and Calderwood. Koumas is a creative midfielder who can dribble, pass and acrore goals from midfield. We are not exactly over loaded with creative midfielders and I am still not convinced of the quality of Guthrie who I feel is too inconsistent and gives the ball away too much. Koumas also has a lot of experience in this league having helped WBA get promoted and whenever I have seen him play, he has always been a socal point of the midfield, continually wanting the ball and probing for gaps.

Ronaldo You do not know that. It is an assumption which can only be proven if the lad is given a chance. I doubt anyone at Fulham originally thought Malcolm MacDonald would become an England centre forward when he was playing left back at the time as well as numerous cases of lower league players making it big over the years.

Beckford is a possibility but not at the prices Leeds are quoting. I expect us to make a bid of 1.5 million for Beckford and the same for Kilgallon in January, possibly upping bids as far as 2 million and no more. Hughton has said that talks with Ashley yestersday revealed backing for new signings and noone to leave. I think Taylor will definitely stay until the end of the season depending on whether we get promoted or not. If we go up, he will stay. If we dont, he is gone. Expect Moyes to come in with a bid of 6 million in January only to be told to double it.

With lack of funds available, I would go for: Andy Driver - Hearts - on loan Sol Campbell - Free Agent? - offer him a player/coach role Beckford - 3 million Koumas - Wigan - on loan Send Khiz and Harewood back to Villa and Blackburn

At this stage of the season, it is wise to try and tie up someone like him in readiness for January because he is certainly a better player than Khiz who will be returning to Blackburn anyway because his loan period is up. I would like us to sign Simpson permanently as well. Send Harewood back and get Beckford in. Once we are promoted, we can then look to buying better quality players to estab lish ourselves back in the PL. The likes of Kilgallon and Beckford will be good back up players in the PL.

I remember those old concrete lean too around the ground. I remember going to see us play Leicester one new years day after an all night bender. It ended 2-2 but I fell asleep leaning up against one of those barriers at 1-1 and missed two goals. I remember the Hereford cup match in 1971, I think. It had postpioned about 12 times before eventually played on a freezing tuesday night and we couldnt believe it when Colin Addison put them ahead after about 20 seconds. Within 10 minutes, Supermac and Tudor had us 2-1 up and we all thought we would murder them after that. It ended 2-2 and the rest was history. I remember going down to Ayresome Park one year and we were 3-1 down with 3 minutes to go so we bolted for the exits top get away and heard a couple of roars as we left. Got back to the car, switched the radio on and couldnt believe it when we heard it ended 3-3 with late goals from Kennedy and Nattrass. I think one of their goals was a classic Glen Keeley headed own goal.

Anybody remember the golden goals tickets? I used to be a seller of those. It was great because I would stand in the main car park, selling my tickets whilst watching the players all turn up in their cars (remember the parking bays all numbered 1 to 22). I even tried to sell Supermac a ticket but he just smiled and asked me what time I wanted him to score. I really only took the job because of two reasons, getting into the match for free and because the girl who ran the tickets was tidy and I wanted to shag her. Unfortunately, Terry McDerrmott got there before me.........Bastard.