Benwell Lad

I dont think he's mental, he's just clearly an alcoholic. He'll be both (and violent too) when their latest "star" player decides he can't hack being at Sunderland and fucks off to play in the Abu Dhabi Sunday league instead.

An indictment of how bad things are at Sunderland when their internet fans are happily reminiscing about the 5-1 derby defeat (yes the FIVE ONE DERBY DEFEAT) because they chased a couple of Geordies and roughed up a gay bar. Sad tw@ts.

Moved to Newcastle and did well ?

He's absolute class. Quotes from him in today's sunderland Echo “It takes a deflection, you win 1-0 and all of a sudden we’re up near the top 10 and the feel-good factor starts to flow back. “We’ll have to wait another week and look to beat Wigan and move on. “But I do feel that the season is just about to start. “I know we’ve played a dozen games now, but we’ve now got something like 11 games before the turn of the year, and that will define things. Maybe you mean you're waiting for 2011 to start Steve? Anyway the season started in August mate and you began it with a very expensive squad of players you bought and a full close season working with them. And by the way, teams you manage tend get worse in the second half of a season.

12.02.1972 So aye, ages. In classic Newcastle style it was the week after we got beaten by non-League Hereford in the FA cup. Apparently some geezer called Radford scored a flukey long range shot for them but I've never actually seen it.

Is Saint Niall completely out of the picture now or is he still in charge of paper clips ? Not much improvement since they got shot of him mind. Anyone know where the magic carpet is being stored at the moment ?

Yep. Had to end sometime and so it has. Has to add pressure when it's mentioned in every single press report.

saw thier seat counter predicting around 40k. 37 not bad for relegation fodder tbf mmmm............. receipts might be a more telling figure. At least four free ticket schemes on the go today, Nissan employees, tax office workers, schools, online bookmakers and probably others too. Even against Fulham, for a Saturday 3pm kick off with all those freebies, it's pretty poor. Mind they must be sick of Bruce's lousy spending, never winning at home, star player facking off to Arabia etc, so probably not too surprising.

Takes the sad in SMB to a new low level. Thread on rtg about the game which is still at top of board but has now evolved into a 40 page ramble of internet hardmen boasting about how they roughed up a gay bar in Newcastle. They are quite frankly, the saddest fans in football.

We might get beat, and maybe quite badly, but it won't be because we're scared or we don't work hard. I would say the general mood amongst fans is more upbeat than it was prior to the Stoke game.

Top,top professionals. And we're lucky to have quite a few others in the club too.

Virgin Money is somewhat lacking in brand image, they've made a major investment in acquiring NR and have made a commitment to continue investing in the region. In marketing Geordie voices and the city of Newcastle are perceived as positive and trustworthy images. Further linking their brand to the city may seem like a good idea to them. Could be way wide of the mark but using NUFC and SJP may make sense for Virgin Money.

Open top bus parade starting at Seaburn tomorrow afternoon apparently.

It is something which sets us apart and a reason why we're always at the top of favourite away days. I guess we may sometimes take it for granted until we visit any of the characterless, remote, identikit stadia that clubs like Derby, Reading, Sunderland, Southampton, Bolton, Middlesbrough, Hull, Stoke, Leicester etc etc have moved to.

Best we can do Ian is just keep calling it Saint James', which is what it will always be to those who really matter.

Decent article from one who is often wide of the mark where we're concerned. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/article-2061901/Martin-Samuel-Alan-Pardews-coronation-wait.html

Has Bruce got a special post-match song selected for the tannoy in case they beat our rather depleted reserve team tomorrow night ? It may be his best/last chance.

It's an exclusive innit. For what it's worth, there isn't much he's said that strikes me as likely far from the mark and gives a pretty interesting insight (if true). Obviously not the best policy to get a bit bladdered and give it the billy big bollocks in earshot of some sad sacks tape player mind. As long as he never said nowt bad about Wor Demba who cares ? What Llambias has said doesn't affect me or anyone at the club (not that Shepherds digs against Shearer or Owen or even Bellamy I suspect really had much of an effect despite them still being in his employ), just harms him personally with those he's taken p*ssed pot shots at, while giving the rest of us an unexpected window on why they've taken some of the decisions they have. The guy, while doing a decent job, does come across as a massive dick more often than not, but this supposed overheard conversation doesn't really bother me at all in all honesty. I know you realise that what I said there was tongue in cheek and yes, sure, the guy comes across as a dick and should know better than to rant to anyone he meets in a bar. I also can't stand MacNally - an awful journalist who hates Newcastle.

There's not much money anywhere in European football right now with almost all clubs trying to rationalise on spending and reduce operating budgets, so with a few artificial exceptions we're not badly placed financially despite our frugal appearance. Apart from that we may struggle if in direct competition with successful clubs who are European regulars, but outside of those the city of Newcastle and the (still) charisma of Newcastle United will be a pull for many. The percieved contentment of those who've arrived recently and the blooming relationship with French media will also help us in that country.

It's an exclusive innit. For what it's worth, there isn't much he's said that strikes me as likely far from the mark and gives a pretty interesting insight (if true). Obviously not the best policy to get a bit bladdered and give it the billy big bollocks in earshot of some sad sacks tape player mind. As long as he never said nowt bad about Wor Demba who cares ?

I got a mental picture of that and laughed out loud After he crashed that is.

Well thought out post Ashley is a package deal - there are advantages to having him as our owner and there is also a very crap aspect to it. At the risk of being boringly repetitive I think Llambias is a major hindrance with his day to day running of the club, and Ashley could find a better person to do that job. So a bit like "Shola in the boardroom" then

Sorry, you may have mis-understood me. Sure the renaming has happened but I thought the posts I replied to alluded to it not being sold on to an "external" organisation. That of course may or may not happen and my point was best wait and see before we decide whether they're making money out of it or not. FWIW I'm doubtful that they will sell it externally in the present climate and with the stadium already being so well known by it's correct name, but some Sunday's reported otherwise so I guess we'll see ??

Precisely. We're not even making money out of this whole fiasco. Cronky's post would have a lot more credibility if this move was actually generating cash for us. If we get Samsung on the phone and the masterplan comes off (and doesn't just represent another way for Ashley to get his brand name out there), i'll consider applauding their forward-thinking. But i still probably won't because a name-change isn't necessary, even in today's footballing/financial climate. I think it would be wise to give them a little time to find a buyer as once again much of the criticism and teeth gnashing is about something that hasn't happened yet. If post-Northern Rock there is no sponsor in place the criticism will be a valid one. If the worst case scenario arrives and it is SD, I'd imagine there will be a cost from the club to SD which will be on the books and included in the financial fair play reckoning, although I'd admit to not knowing a great deal about how it works or about the financial fair play rules in general. Is there a thread already on here or do we have someone who is financial fair play savvy who can enlighten us ?

Good post, Cronky. I'd been thinking of making some of the same observations myself. Yep. Cronky seems to have an ability to bring a balanced perspective to some of the more emotive topics on here. I'd echo much of what he says, adding that I haven't heard one person in favour of name change but many who just disregard it as it will ALWAYS be St.James' whoever pays for the naming rights.