Benwell Lad

In respect of his business model, seeing that other clubs were having to cut wages and spending less on transfer fees in the same way as we are. Continuing to acquire really good players for reasonable fees. Obviously the business side can't be separated from the football side, and that's where the crunch comes. As the Arsenal chief exec said in that great BBC interview recently, the objective of Arsenal FC is to spend every penny they make. Just not spend too much more. In football terms, it'll be difficult to say when Ashley has been vindicated, if it's even possible. I suspect it will never happen unless he delivers a trophy or something else totally unprecedented... his bridges are well and truly burnt with some people. Say we have another 3 or 4 seasons of steady progress, with us maybe qualifying for Europe once or twice, then I would say that we would be as good a position as when he arrived. Depending on how much importance you give to finances, you could argue a better position. Then it also can't be separated from where the club was heading before Ashley. I know you don't agree that our existence was in danger, and you're probably right. Banks are going to be reluctant to force a Premier League club out of business. But I think we can agree that our debt position was unsustainable and something needed to change. We couldn't go on buying Owens and Luques and Duffs - players who weren't up to it for superstar salaries. The way I see it, the only better alternative to Ashley's way is the Man City model - and that's also wrong really. Good respones. Financial stability and a rosier future would be vindication for some, but it's probably going to take a cup or at least European qualification for others. Some just have their mind made up and there will never be vindication. I like your last comment - a bit like saying "I'm not going to bother working too hard or progressing my career, I'll just wait for a lottery win to come along"

In our pantomine the FCB is playing the baddie and the messiah is Cinderella. The audience is split down the middle.

George Dalton It was Pompey Magpie99, October 2nd 1963 which means you started suffering about 3 months before I did when I first went in January 1964. I make your second match nearly a year later, 5-2 versus PNE on Sept 26th 1964 but the goals were scored by Ron McGarry (2) ,Bobby Cummings,Dave Hilley and an OG. nufc.com has season by season stats which may evoke a few memories ! Would Clarky have played LB with George Dalton RB ? Amazing to think how long Clarky played for us and he was almost as unpopular as Enrique is popular today Mind Clarky did go on to bigger things after he left, winning a couple of European Cups after being booted out. P.S. Been reading your posts in another thread and I think you're spot on. Maybe just the wisdom and cynicism that comes with age

At the time of the club's flotation Keegan felt he deserved a bonus of around £1M for his role in taking the club forward which would have been a figure similar to Freddie Fletcher et al. Few would say he didn't deserve it for his part in making the club worth what it was. He didn't get it and he left. It seems he fared much better second time round. http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-resignation-rocks-planned-flotation-1282372.html

Surprised how level headed, intelligent and humourous this thread is. Would have thought a couple of anti-Anti Ashley words from our erstwhile messiah would have been enough to bring on a post-Carroll type meltdown.

They seem to stumble along and keep a team together, but they really have bought a lot of overpriced duffers during the the Quinn/Keane/Bruce era. I know to attract players to Wearside they're always going to have to pay through the nose, but for the huge investment they've put into transfers and salaries I'd be expecting a bit more progress and consistency by now.

A great player and very likeable lad certainly, but you make a valid point in that LB is not a key position and finding a replacement is normally easier that a top CB or playmaker. I'm not certain he will go, he may do, but I'm not sure he'd walk into any team in Europe as some seem to think. Marauding forward and in defensive situations where pace and power is required to retrieve or shield the ball he ticks the boxes, however defensively in possession he's prone to lapses and often gets caught out. I really hope he stays, but if he does go I 'll understand. Often players need a new challenge to freshen them up and after 4 years at one club he may feel a change is needed to improve. If he does go he may in time regret it and wish he'd stayed at Newcastle with a team and fans who adore him.

To replace Kevin Nolan would cost a lot of money.

I'll prepare the straight jackets.

What 'recent attitude'? The one that had him run seventy yards past about five players and putting a pinpoint cross in. c***. That run was like something from "Roy of the Rovers". Amazing.

He was extremely friendly yesterday and spent a lot of time with fans being very patient for autographs and photos etc. Quite a humble lad, with absolutely no superstar arrogance. Looked very happy. Can't wait to see him in black and white again.

I don't see how his substitutions were excellent when our two ineffective forwards came back out for the 2nd half. Lovenkrands was possibly ineffective but I thought Best's all round game was excellent first half.

Apart from scoring a very good goal, making 3 last ditch defensive tackles - one of which almost certainly prevented Bolton going 2-1 up and working very hard in a numerically disadvantaged midfield, Nolan did nowt yesterday.

As Bruce has signed an extension to his contract and will be taking tens of millions out of Sundeland will he now be laying down some roots on Wearside or will he continue commuting from north Newcastle ? PS looking at that recent photo in the Sun is he a good bet health wise for a 3 year deal ?

Impartial An impartial mackem - and a bitter one at that Anyway fwiw I agree with you it must look quite odd to give a contract that long to a player just just 6 months after arriving at the club. It says a lot about how those who work with him on a day to day basis rate his importance to the club's progress ! Carroll fund ? There will be a salary and transfer structure but it is not subdivided into categories, Carroll's fee and salary will be part of the overall budget. Also btw I think you'll still be above us at 5 o' clock this afternoon. Hope I'm wrong though

Forest cup replay early-mid seventies? nope. 1990 Was gonna say Rangers first but 1990 must be macums play off game. Some class photos there CP40.

I make you 3rd Bob, with meself 2nd (64) and Wil first (61), think Ozzie is 4th so far. Theres got to be someone from the 50s out there ?

Why? Because Colo is never happy with what Mike Ashely does. Putting a negative spin on one of our best players signing a new extended contract takes a bit of doing, but it is seemingly possible. Ah well we'll just have to wait for a £35M bid to come in now........

From nufc.com In 13 home games so far this season, SJP attendees have seen a grand total of 49 goals scored (30 for, 19 against). That's entertainment. I think this has been a great season so far on the pitch, generally very positive and entertaining despite the injuries,bad decisions etc. It's hard to remember a season which contained more epic games as well (Villa,mackems,Chelsea,Arsenal h&a, West Ham) andalso good to see a team playing with such pride in the shirt after some of the heartless displays we have endured in the last decade or so. So yes, things look bright, the short term progress over the last 2 years has been excellent, greater stability off the pitch could see this continue onwards. I'm now sure the doom mongers will never see anything positive as they put a negative spin on anything that happens so the club is basically damned if they do and damned if the don't in their eyes, but I think a lot of other "big" clubs would love to be in our present position.

According to the doom mongers and wrist slitters he was nailed on to go in the summer because we sell all our best players, just like we we certs for relegation just 24 days ago. Great news and perhaps a timely statement of intent - but bloody hell a new contract after just six months at the club - that says a lot about his importance to the team.

We're the same age Ozzie but I got to the match a couple of years before you - posted earlier. The season we began against Soton 3-0 was the first season I saw every home game - I made it a mission and had a scrapbook with reports of every game. I guess I might have gone earlier had my dad, who eventually started taking me and my brother to matches, not been a Liverpool supporter. I went to a few other games that season, but the only one I can really remember is the 3-4 against Man City, which was a brilliant game, even though we lost. Aye me fatha took me a few times prior to that season. One season he took me and brother to Sunderland away - dropped us off at the Roker End (non segregated days) with B&W scarfs etc while he went to another part of the ground and met us after the match - can you imagine that nowadays ? They beat us 3-0 both home and away that season - imagine how they'd react if they ever did that again, bearing in mind how they celebrate draws against us now ?

Get in !!! Someone earlier than me Nice story !

We're the same age Ozzie but I got to the match a couple of years before you - posted earlier. The season we began against Soton 3-0 was the first season I saw every home game - I made it a mission and had a scrapbook with reports of every game.

This is embarrassing but it's been done before. Grimsby Town January 1964 won 4-0 Second game was Bury at home, we got beat 4-0. When you've seen Newcastle get beat 4-0 at home in the league by Bury, the last few seasons don't seem that bad. Please someone come up with a game before this. Thanks.

I think the terraces are out of bounds, never to return. However I quite like how he disregarded the protocol of directors boxes especially when he upset Nile Quinn by wearing his B&W top. Would be good to see him enjoying a night in town after we win, it would do the economy of Tyneside no harm for him and a few cronies to be blowing their money in the pubs and clubs.