Benwell Lad

Nope, and I do recall someone, possibly Hughton (or may have just been some journo spouting knowing my memory), saying there was a certain amount of flexibility in the wage packages they were able to offer. More of a guideline rather than a hard and fast rule imho. That being the case with the Carroll transfer money etc and a club in overall decent financial shape we should be able to compete with almost anyone outside the oligarchy/sheikhdom when it comes to signing/retaining players. Panic over lads !

He's gonna f*** up, just like Colo,Taylor, Woodgate before them and every centre back who's ever played football will f*** up at some time. It's a very punishing position in which to make a mistake. What is more important is that the f*** ups are few and far between and that he's strong enough to bounce back after them.

I'm pretty sure that if it hadn't been for the oligarchy and sheikhdom that entered the game wages at the top level would have contracted in the last couple of years. I know that a salary cap at Newcastle is often mentioned and figures are quoted but has the club ever made an official statement regarding what that figure is ? I know there has been a statement made expressing an intention for the club to be self sufficient but I don't recall seeing a specific maximum salary mentioned ? I would think quite a few of our players are relatively high earners and even recent signings like Sol Campbell and HBA would not come cheap. I'd be surprised if even under Ashleyism they wouldn't be prepared to compete if the right player becomes available.

ManU, Arse, City, Tham, Lpool, Sland, Castle, Burn, Bham, Villa, Bpool, Brom, Bham, Wham. I guess you're pissed off now?? Your wasting valuable time and key strokes Sland should just be known as SMB.

Was that really 42 years ago......just seems like yesterday

Don't think many have had a go although one or two have been unkind in their replies and taken it a bit too literally. I think it's a good OP posing an interesting question and yes I think we have a lot of short termism in the form of knee jerk and bi-polar reactions to the club, team and individual players. I said earlier I find opinions at the match and in the boozer different to on here and certainly more level headed, maybe you do too ?

In general and in particular the last two games they've been excellent.

Top class that, Tooj lad.

Rod Liddle writing about football? FWIW Joey should sue the little s***... calling someone a lunatic in a serious paper is crossing the line. And he's clearly only mildly deranged now, he hasn't done anything lunatic for at least a few months. I read that and the Eye's piece was itself written like the gutter press articles it so despises and trys to ridicule. Sad. Not a big deal, but I'm all for people with deep pockets going after irresponsible journalism. The rampant spread of "Murdochism" means that nowadays the press think they can print anything they want, and of course even listen into private conversations if they fancy. does anyone have a link for these articles? in full: This being January, Newcastle United are on the search for lunatics Rod Liddle wrote in his Sunday Times column last month. They already have one of course, Joey Barton, but what if Barton is injured or undergoing ECT one week? The answer is let's sign Stephen Ireland. He's totally bonkers Mild stuff by Liddle's standards? Not according to his London lawyers, Messrs Clintons, who want an apology and damages. The article, they claim, has caused the sensitive sportsman considerable pain and embarrassment being clearly defamatory and likely to bring our client into disrepute. So how, er, sensitive is Joey Barton? Well, he stubbed out a lit cigar in a youth's eye at a Christmas party in 2004, was sent home from a Far East tournament the next summer for beating up a 15 year old. In May 2007 he thumped a team mate so violently he detached a retina, and in May 2008 he was given six moths in jail after punching a man unconscious and beating up a teenager. Barton's lawyers insist that his problems are behind him and that, since jail, he is now a role model for young people. Really? In may 20098, Newcastle suspended him for what manager Alan Shearer called a coward's tackle that saw him sent off. Last November he punched a Blackburn player in the chest, and just before Christmas he made lewd gestures at Liverpool's Fernando Torres and called him a f***ing poof. Oddly enough the Sunday Times seems disinclined to grovel to the Clintons' letter." ------ It seems like the Eye is making a fair point. What is Barton going to argue, that these bursts of rage are the product of calculated rationality rather than luncay? edit: Can't find the original Liddle bit, probably behind The Times' paywall, but he has a history of going after Barton. The second one sums it up for me. All that "higher calling" stuff is a symptom of something: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/columnists/rod_liddle/article6968305.ece or http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/columnists/rod_liddle/article4449472.ece thanks. this all coming from a man who assaulted his pregnant 2nd wife And is a racist Millwall fan. Not that I'm suggesting there's anything wrong with supporting Millwall..........

Rod Liddle writing about football? FWIW Joey should sue the little s***... calling someone a lunatic in a serious paper is crossing the line. And he's clearly only mildly deranged now, he hasn't done anything lunatic for at least a few months. I read that and the Eye's piece was itself written like the gutter press articles it so despises and trys to ridicule. Sad. Not a big deal, but I'm all for people with deep pockets going after irresponsible journalism. The rampant spread of "Murdochism" means that nowadays the press think they can print anything they want, and of course even listen into private conversations if they fancy. does anyone have a link for these articles? It's on their "Street of Shame" page. Their site has selected extracts on it at times but you may have to lash out £1.50 - available at all good newsagents.........................

Rod Liddle writing about football? FWIW Joey should sue the little s***... calling someone a lunatic in a serious paper is crossing the line. And he's clearly only mildly deranged now, he hasn't done anything lunatic for at least a few months. I read that and the Eye's piece was itself written like the gutter press articles it so despises and trys to ridicule. Sad. Not a big deal, but I'm all for people with deep pockets going after irresponsible journalism. The rampant spread of "Murdochism" means that nowadays the press think they can print anything they want, and of course even listen into private conversations if they fancy.

Always, Bale is basically a LW now. Spurs would love Enrique. My personal vendetta nonwithstanding, Ekotto has always been pretty s***. Straight swap for Bale and VdV and they can have him.

You got it anyway.

also you'll always find message boards are more knee jerky than ther majority of fans. I find attitudes and opinions on here quite different to those at the match and in the pub afterwards. May be because a lot of forum posters don't go to the match, but also that I'm watching/drinking mainly with long time fans who've seen it all before and supported the club through real bad times as well as the good years.

Standing is not allowed at all though, obviously it happens but it isnt supposed to. Turning a blind eye to standing is not really a solution to anything. It would be good to see supporter groups and indeed the club lobbying parliament for permanent safe standing areas in our stadiums.

Sounds like the same person I spoke to around Christmas when I needed some extra tickets. Howver her apart I've always found them to be excellent and very helpful.

Much as I am for a singing end I hope the campaigners and petitions etc recognise the needs of ALL fans. I'm convinced the back of the Gallowgate would be the best option for many reasons, not least the accoustics.

Amazing thread ! So many memories. Thanks all.

Sorry to butt in but I've played a lot up front and his first against WHU - I was sitting directly in line - came to him at a very arkward height and was taken very well. His skill surprised me at the time ! That said, I still find his movement quite "lumbering" but his record of 5 goals, a good one disallowed, hitting the underside of the bar and winning a vital penalty in just 7 games would say he has done well for the team so far. We are not at a level where we can expect top performers to sit patiently on the bench waiting for an opportunity, in that context Best will be a good player to have in our squad, because realistically thats what he is - a squad player. If he gives 100% and chips in with a few goals in that capacity when needed then I'm happy with him.

He has a nice side parting. Agreed. And it pissed off the blue scousers when we nicked him...... seconded...

Without going into a counting game I agree with your sentiment. I'm wrestling with the thought that Boumsong was bought for 8 times the price of Williamson. Pretty perfect perspective.

He has a nice side parting. Agreed.

We don't have to convince him that we'll be in the Champions Leauge in a seasons time, we need to convince him and the other good players that we have ambition. If they are happy here and think we're going places then they'll stop rather than risking going somewhere where they might be happy. i'd doubt he'd stay if the ambition was to reach the europa, it has to be champs league and i'm not sure how we can realistically convince him of that. we could convince him we are headed in a better direction by making good signings in the summer. I am fairly confident if we showed that we were going to spend the Carroll money on quality players and we mean to have a serious assault on Europe next season, most of our players including Enrique would want to be part of it. At risk of being called a "delusional Newcastle fan" we're only a bit of bad luck and a few injuries away from achieving that in our first season back in the big league. Money well spent and strong management could see us getting there next season.

He's done very well since he arrived at our club and particulary well in the last two very difficult away games when we needed height against route one teams. Can't we just love him, Colo, Taylor, Sol and everyone else just as long as they give their best and they're wearing black and white ?

I wasn't sure but the Arsenal game seems to prove it.