macca888

Wilky It is far to easy to make inferences such as yours in this day and age. SBR was close to achieving success. Even SAF admitted this saying if we hadnt lost Bellamy in 2003 throuigh injury, we would have won the league. Suffice to say, the game has changed so much in the past 5 years since Abramovich bought Chelsea. Now, major money dictates who wins trophies. Back in the 90s, it wasnt as closed shop as that and Keegan got more than his fair share of finances to buy the best. Rememeber, we paid a world record fee for Shearer at the time. What did he win? As for Moyes, yes, he is a good manager but his club falls into the category of second class citizens in the EPL due to the financial backing given to the top 4 and the likes of Spurs, Man City and to a lesser degree, Aston Villa.

NG I thought it was popular knowledge over there at the time that Ashley took notice of the fans wishes but noone seriously thought he would come back after 3 years out of the game. At least, that is what I have been told by many friends over there.

Merlin Yes, you are a lot luckier than we are in the east but I was happy at the telecast time, being 11pm here especially as I had monday off work. To be honest, I am pleasantly surpised at the coverage of the CCC here and I have seen WBA, Leicester and Cardiff live already. So, I suppose, it was totally unexpected to get so much coverage. Do you get down to see Perth Glory at all? I watched the game yesterday and thought you guys were robbed. How the ref didnt give you a free kick in the last minute mystified mme.

NG When I first commented on this thread, I said that all parties involved were responsible for the situation we find ourselves in, not just KK. I have never rated the bloke as a manager and that has been proven time and time again at whatever club/national team he has been involved in. As endearing he may have been to the supporters, KK has never lasted the distance long enough to win anything. Granted, in the 90s, NUFC played some beautiful football but remember, KK was backed to the hilt financially. Come the time when he wasnt, out came the dummies. I dont expect my views on him to be popular but there again, I measure success on the number of trophies won rather than the level of entertainment produced. I am sure SAF and AW and the likes would have similar viewpoints too. Therefore, KK has been the ulimate failure in that respect. The biggest failure all along was Ashley listening to the fans and bringing him back. I said it at the time and was castigated on here for it. I see many have changed their views since. By the way, are you another one of these people who believe KK has earned his pay ouit, if he wins his case for so called constructive dismissal?

HTL Tripe is something they eat in Lancashire, isnt it? Not a bees dick from your Yorkshire roots mate. Regarding your comment about me saying YOU SUPPORTERS, you seem to have replied out of context. I was referring to the money the fans pay in ticket sales, mechandise etc, which quite clearly, I am unable to do due to my location. I would have thought even you would have been intelligent enough to work that one out....................then again, Maybe not I think it is pretty obvious from many on here that the divine god KK is no longer thought that way by the masses. Or, are you happy that he is trying to take 10 million for a few months work out of our financially crippled club which quite probably is the paramount reason any takeover cannot be completed? Your reply will be noted with interest

Actually, I thought it was the other way around

On the subject of strikers, Robbie Fowler is playing for a new team called North Queensland Fury out of Townsville here in Australia. So far, and the season is young, he has contributed several really quality goals and whilst I know many of you will be saying it is only the Australian A League, the quality of his strikes shown by deft first touches, awareness of keepers and defenders and calm finishing are far and away superior to anything else we have here. Considering he is only on a million dollars a year (half a million pounds or 10K per week), he would have been an extremeley useful addition to our forward line at SJP in the CCC. Pity it is too late as he is really committed to NQF this season.

I agree about the Nicky Butt bashing on here. It is childish and unneccessary and those who partake presumably have the football knowledge of an ameoba. Butt will replace Smith in the holding role and do well. My concern is this game coming so quickly for Ranger. The lad looked stuffed playing up front on his own and I hope that either Carroll is fit to come in or Hughton playes Lovenkrands up front alongside the kid. Anyway, Blackpool on a nice summer wednesday evening, should be a nice setting for another close victory or at the very least, a decent away draw.

Yes, Chopra was very active but other than one ball from the byeline to Rae, who shot over the bar and the penalty appeal, I thought he was largely ineffective and as we say here in Australia, ran around the park like "a chook with no head". Maybe he was just too desperate to score but I was never really worried by him. As for someone else supporting young Ranger, I can think of far better options than Chopra. As for Ranger, the kid did well, particularly in the first half and it was a quality far post leap that contributed to the goal although I must admit, I thought the ref would blow for a free kick before Taylor played it back in. The lack of support was tough on him and there will be times when he will look dangerous especially at home. However, he has a long way to go in his education and hopefully, he will be nurtured rather than thrown to the lions, as our only current option.

I agree that too many people on here have looked upon Keegan as a God for too long, based purely on his 5 years period in the 90s when he spent just as much, if not more, than other managers around at the time. That was all history when he came back. Whether Ashley has gone back on promises to KK or not, is immaterial in this discussion. As some once else pointed out earlier in this thread, how many other managers would have spat the dummy because he couldnt get the owner to buy him a left back? I would say, virtually none. I dont buy the argument from KK about Denis Wise involvement either. As far as I recall, KK admitted he knew Wise was going to be appointed before he came back. I have no doubts at all that Keegan's ego mplayed a huge part in this whole saga and the biggest mistake Ashley made was appointing a so called fans favourite who would ultimately use his popularity with the fans to try and gain the ascendancy in the club. Lets be honest here, whereever Keegan has gone in the past, he has not been able to operate without substantial funds and it has been clear for long enough now that the financial state of the club, even before Keegan came back, has been horrendous and needed to be addressed without any further financial deterioration. Keegan wanted his slice, the club could not afford it, Keegan spat his usual dummy and now, we are paying for the consequences. I hope Ashley wins his case againast Keegan, because KK neither deserves or warrants any financial compensation for his role in this whole saga. He should be ashamed of himself. a real bloody con man, if ever I saw one. AND YOU SUPPORTERS MAY HAVE TO PAY FOR IT.

Merlin A fair assessment of the game and quite right about the penalty decision. If I was Cardiff, I would have been miffed to say the least, although it wasnt exactly deliberate, Chopra's shot could have beaten Harper. I felt a bit sorry for Barton, in a way. He was too many times, hemmed in on the byeline with no movement from Ranger, Nolan or Enrique to give possession too. Therefore, he ultimately lost possession because of this. The defence handled most things well and the tactic of playing Smith just in front of the back four to handle the Bothroyd effect worked well. I was amazed at the commentators who seemed to go into ecstacy everytime Chopra got the ball. I thought that it was clear that they really wanted to see us shot down in flames by him. Suffice to say, it was an excellent result and with new loan signings coming in soon hopefully, players coming back (Guti, Ameobi, Carroll), we will be all the better for it. Nice to know also that we have already got two very tough away trips out of the way in Cardiff and WBA with a good points return.

Agreed. We need wingers when we play weaker opposition especially at home where we are really going for goals. However, against teams like Cardiff, Boro, WBA, Sheffield Utd etc away, the ability to keep possession in midfield or get players back behind the ball and hit the opposition on the break is more paramount than the use of wingers in an attacking sense. Our main problem yesterday was the substitutions. I would not have taken off either Guthrie or Taylor because I thought they were contributing more to the team than the likes of Nolan and to a lesser extent, Barton. Barton was isolated on the left much of the time but his ability to hold on to the ball and try and play little intricate passes was there to be seen although the likles of Nolan failed to support him. I would much prefer to see Barton through the middle than out on the wing but under yesterdays conditions, I thought he did OK.

Wake up and smell the roses, guys. Those on here who want this club to win in style every week need to understand that it is impossible in this league, in the condition our club is in. Hughton,s tactics yesterday were spot on. We got the early goal and away from home aganst reasonable tough opposition, we got men behind the ball and frustrated them. Our lack of depth up front ensured we had to defend. I didnt think Cardiff looked particularly dangerous at all. Chopra never really threatened and their only real chance fell to Rae in the first half and that was defended well. It was an excellent "ugly" win and a few more of those away from home until we can strengthen the squad, will not go amiss.

Frazzle Not negative at all. We have no strike force, but the best defensive record. They have the league top scorer and we are away. Got 0-0 written all over it.

Surprisingly, I dont. Draw at best.

Robm Read the papers, mate. Court case his week where he is suing the Club for 8 million plus costs. I quite understand most of you who love KK living in the past but lets be honest here, he is a serial bottler, cry baby, who has walked out on NUFC three times that I can remember off the top of my head, leaving us in the lurch. Do you honestly think that is responsible? Is it fuck. Keegan has never completed a job he started, has walked at the slightest problem and mwhen it all boils down to it, What the fuck has he ever won as a manager? NOTHING. He is just as responsible for the positionj our club is in as Ashley, IMHO. Of course, I wonder what people would have thought of the KK transfer list he drew up and gave to Ashley 12 months or so ago,............Henry, Beckham, Ronaldinho etc etc .........pure fucking fantasy island stuff.

I remember in the eufa cup under Dalglish when we lost 1=0 at home to Monaco and were missing Shearer, Ferdinand and Asprilla for various reasons, we played 4 5 1 with Rob Lee as centre forward. Think a young Thierry Henry set up the winner that night too.

Still going and still losing money, by all accounts. Hence KKs desperate bid to extort 10 million quid from his so called beloved NUFC. Suffice to say, Keegan is an even bigger fucking con man then Ashley.

Frankston Pines is a football club in the Victorian Premier League here in Australia and along with the likes of Springvale City, have produced several quality players currently plying their trade in Europe, amongst them, Scott McDonald at Celtic and Vince Grella at Blackburn Rovers,. Your attempts at comedy were pretty pathetic, to be honest.

Rac I agree with your system. Unfortunately for Scotty, It would mean he would spend more time on the bench. In fact, many people think his failure to score is affecting his confidence when in actual fact, he has told me that he is finding it difficult to cpoe with the system Verbeek uses which is so alien to how he lays at Celtic. Still, he has a long way to go yet and I think he could, in time, be quite valuable. As for Viduka, there are inconsistent stories coming out about him, it would seem. Time will tell.

STU Yes, I am well able to read and understand the meaning of your post. Hence the tone of my reply.

Ronaldo, no, I didnt see the game but didnt he play at right back? Also, we had 4 untried kids out there as well against a resonably difficult team. my own opinion is that Chopra would be better handled by a more mobile defender and I fear neither Taylor nor Collicini has the pace or turning ability to counter Chopra's threat. Simpson did well against Leicester but I think for this game, we need someone more mobile at the back in the centre to counter their major threat.

Racouteur Yes, I read that article but having coached Scotty McDonald as a raw kid at Frankston Pines many years ago, we have kept up our friendship over the years. Word has it that Verbeek has left the door open for Viduka and he is keen to play in the WC, a last hurrah, so to speak. The fact that Viduka's agent was spouting his name around clubs on a pay as you play basis supports this theory. Also, Ernie Merrick is keen to get him playing as a replacement for Allsopp. Verbeeks options up front are extremely limited and we know that Scotty and Kennedy up front isnt the best options available. This is why a lot of national players have been on Viduka to come back because we are so lacking up front. With Cahill playing in behind Viduka, we are a lot more dangerous than other options in that area.

Aaah, Stu, another smart arse. Well, firstly, can you name me anyone else we could get a loan of who has certain qualities we need to get out of this division? secondly, are you saying you prefer us to give game time to a 19 year old reserve from Wolves who has had little game time? thirdly, I suppose you would think that our younger players like Ranger, Carroll, and Vuckic would learn oohhhh so much from Vokes? Fourthly, IMHO, Harewood may be no Shearer mor Viduka but he has the battling physical qualities that we need the youngsters to learn from to get out of this division. Finally, who do you suggest we sign on loan instead? I would be very interested to hear that. Oh, and no, I am not a football agent, as you well know, but I am a highly qualified and experienced coach so I do know what I am talking about

He was a capable player in the CCC but we need more experience and like him mor not, Harewood would be a good choice. He has shown in the past he can score goals at this level and will do so again. Add to his physical style, it will help the likes of Carroll and Ranger to come on and allow lovenkrands time to get fit. I would rather keep developing Ranger than using Vokes on a short term deal, just to assist Wolves.