Benwell Lad

36K against Swansea wasn't it ? Piss poor for a Saturday 3 0'clock kick off when they were playing a team currently being hyped big and who probably brought a good following. There's only one club who can sell out the SOL nowadays and it isn't Sunderland.

No doubt they will once again be spouting about how many they'll beat us by before we turn them over once again. It's all got a bit boring and predictable in recent seasons. In fairness to them they've turned in some decent results lately, the players no doubt responding to having the jumpy jack eejit on the the touchline rather than the morose figure of Bruce staring at them, but I'm not sure that the performances have drastically improved, apart from displaying the extra energy a new managerial appointment inevitably brings. The bits I've seen of them against Blackburn,Man City and Wigan (first half) they didn't really impress, got some very dubious decisions and rode their luck. Apart from that it's been a couple of predictable away defeats and Swansea and Everton which I can't really comment on. Yeah they're probably harder to break down and defeat, they look like a dirty team and seem to be getting a lot of leniency shown to them at present - maybe their manager has learned how to sway referees effectively over the years - but they still lack quality and the honeymoon period is little different to other honeymoon periods they've had in years gone by only to end up despising their managers as time goes by. They seem to be enjoying O'Neil's blarney and animation right now, but it normally all ends in tears down there.

Garth Crooks said that him and Larsson should both have got red cards for nasty two footed tackles yesterday. Funny how the referee didn't do anything and MOTD chose not to highlight it. Seems like O'Niell has everyone on board.

The man has a way with words.

A tenth? You know this for a fact I suppose? He'd easily pull in £30kpw in Argentina (we'd realistically want him on £50k) on a free as well. Argentina in no matter what state manage to fit in special players, like Riquelme, you saying he doesn't get more than £10kpw? That the same Riquelme who waived his wages for a time just so he could go home? Assuming that story was right anyway. Assuming its correct, though i guess he'd have had to waive a lot of his wages to get the move, just like Colo would, and just like Colo would if he wants to stay here. Argies love going home. Will have a better shout at the NT as well. His kids are very settled at school in Newcastle and he has said many times that they enjoy the life they have here.

Unlikely, the offer already on the table has a modest pay increase. Would the club go on to increase a wage allready 40% over the wage cap? Might be estimated bonuses etc. that is, if he's on the reported 80/90k/week. Good news is that as we continue to progress the number of clubs more attractive than ourselves financially or in status diminishes. Regarding the much talked about wage cap - does anyone know if it really exists ? I'm not sure it does, I think we have a salary budget to work within but no fixed individual wage cap.

Is his girlfriend a Geordie? If so I hope she's the type who doesn't like to be too far away from her mam.

I'm not sure what makes you think he would offer Nolan and Barton each 5 year contracts. Doesn't really matter anyway as we don't know and never will but as I say, for me his a better manager. Good manager - yes. Nice guy - certainly. Better manager - no.

Always thought we should have a thread about where people watched the match, feedback on screens, beer, atmosphere etc could be really useful.

Even though we have some top quality players, most of us realise Colo is the cement that holds it together and those in charge know that too. Also, like you say he's a top bloke as well as a great player. He wants to stay but I think he needs to be convinced that we will be challenging top 6 level during the period of his next contract. What has happened this week must help the chances of a happy conclusion.

That is fkn gerld. A whole article based on some dodgy screen grab. "United fans have been lining up to congratulate the Toon owner for his dedication." Christ. Wanted to meself like, but shit man you just couldn't get near him, that queue must have been at least half a mile long.

SCB.

A lot of excellent points. The last 2 and a half years have been enjoyable and the financial/development structure being implemented should make continued progress sustainable rather than this being just a flash in the pan. However as we know there are no certainties in football and in particular Newcastle United, but right now from top to bottom the club looks to be in better shape than it has been for quite a while.

In essence isn't that what this thread is about, laughing at and taking the piss out of sunderland? No one really takes them seriously, it's just our duty or birthright to rip it out of them and they make it so easy for us.

just sing- 'get into our club, get into our clu-u-ub, you fit southern geezer get into our club.

That's the sort of goal lower league sides normally score against us in the cup.

Aye. Sensitivity and billionairedom seldom go together.

John Hartson for one.

I hope the various media reporting of yesterday's racist twitter rants, which probably prompted the OP, don't leave anyone even vaguely imagining this has anything to do with Newcastle fans. It must be made crystal clear that the vile remarks were made by a Sunderland fan from Sunderland.

Good old gooners.

As usual entirely unoriginal from you. Given how another member got a ban for calling you that i assume this now gives everyone free reign to abuse you too? Someone got a ban for calling Kolocho a kunt ?? How awful.

And then racists start to call other people "racists". Varying levels of political correctness have blurred the lines too and probably pushed some people towards what would be considered racist. I would say racism is more prevalent and indeed vicious in many other parts of the world than it is in the UK. On a global scale we're not bad, but at the same time shouldn't be complacent. Multi cultural society has improved Britain and the west end of Newcastle is a great example. Anyway this thread is getting a lot broader than it was probably intended originally, but I'm happy to say again I haven't heard any racist abuse inside SJP for years if not decades.

free beer in the stadium, a chauffeur driven Bentley to pick you up and take you to the match perhaps..........?

Just gone even further up in my estimation. He even boozes in great pubs! Where's the Tyne Bar? Ouseburn - used to be an old sailors knocking shop called "The Ship" - now a brilliant boozer with great range of real ales and lagers from all over the world. Often live music - had a good blues band on on Sunday after the match. Ah right, aye it was The Ship last time I was there. Will check it out again next time I'm back. (I didn't have sex with any sailors FWIW). Never mind better luck next time and if you still don't score you can console yourself with great beer and music

Sadly, remarks like that will be made by people from every part of the world. I was mildly amused when I was "racially insulted" in a foreign language, it's probably happened to almost everyone without them even knowing about it.