Benwell Lad

Can we write "BOYCOUTT" on ALL the banners and not "BOYCOTT". That way the watching world will probably think it's some kind of Geordie/Norse/Gaelic dialect and not that we're just some illiterate fuckwits.

Last paragraph could have been written for Hughton 15 months ago the way some people reacted to his appointment. He got there in the end. True, though I took to Hughton immediately, just went about things logically and talked sense. Still have no idea about Pardew and am not in the mood to watch videos of him yet. We'll see... if he comes accross as as much of a prick as people say, then he'll have an even greater task than Hughton ever did for me. Hughton had more class in his little finger than most people in football management have in total. It's hard to understand why he was so hated initially. P.S. Never has your sig been more apt than this week.

It will be like no other previous contract. Theres no way Ashley will have left himself open in case of an early dismissal.

Last paragraph could have been written for Hughton 15 months ago the way some people reacted to his appointment. He got there in the end.

I don't think he has a problem with Argentians or anyone else for that matter, he just didn't like the way the 2 argies were thrust upon him without his knowledge - a la Keegan.

Potential assistant manager ?

;D And sadly about as effective as some of the other forms of protest presently being suggested.

Gordon McKeag was ineffective and limited but the complete opposite of Ashley i.e. old school gentleman. Talking of owners though, irony is you get a club like Middlesbrough who have a universally respected and popular owner, who's local and undoubtedly loves his club and look where they are !

if he'd been replacing allardyce i'd be f***ing ecstatic. i have no idea what pardew will be like, it's a horrible and unnecessary situation to be in though. the situation wasn't broken and didn't need fixing. Exactly what most people think. Very strange that Sir John Hall and especially Freddie Shepherd (who does have a big axe to grind against the current regime) have both come out publicly and said they'd have done exactly the same

No way. It's the first laugh I've had for 2 days. Classic Shakespeare - a moment of dramatic relief amidst the ensuing tragedy.

LAX? Yeah probably, so it's not a lie after all he was at the airport.

Just seen him in the Bacchus supping a pint of Erdinger.....

Madness ! We're never going to attract managers of the calibre of Souness and Allardyce or players like Owen and Boumsong on those terms. Seriously, it sounds like a huge risk, but on the present information (club source etc) it shouldn't be taken too literally - a bit like the hysterical reaction to the "no capital outlay" leaks which didn't really mean we would never sign anyone again as some feared. It would be nice to know what the specifics of the package are, I'd guess it will be an average manager's salary geared to be very rewarding depending on potential future success. Very 21st century. Sounds fine in principle but right now much more likely to attract a Pardew than a Mourinho.

It is a truly mystifying decision even by Ashley's standards. It cannot be about results after a record breaking season last season and being on target to achieve the supposed objective of staying up this season. There was no pressure from fans and a seemingly united dressing room. Like you say there has to be some other issue.

Like me, you keep drifting into a world where sanity prevails. Then the shuddering cold reality that Ashley is making the decisions returns.

So he got on a ferry instead of getting on one of the 20 or something planes to and from Amsterdam we have every day? Needed the 13 hours or whatever the crossing takes to make his mind up Have this image in my head of a mob of angry hacks and cameramen fighting each other for taxis at the airport to get down to the ferry terminal asap.

Ugh ? Surely even Ashley couldn't have pulled this stunt without having someone lined up. I assume, and hope, he meant in time for the match. I'm sure Beardsley and Stone will be in the dug out Saturday whether theres a new manager or not, it was the word "find" instead of "appoint" which threw me.

I don't think it's a contradiction. Ashley appointed Hughton because he was the cheap option, which people didn't approve of. But Ashley got lucky in that he accidentally appointed someone with some competence and dignity who the fans have ultimately taken to. Eaxctly, nobody knew whether Hughton was the right man, but luckily it turned out he was. I'm inclined to agree with your point, Ashley did get lucky. Similar could be said of the appointments of Shankly, Ferguson, Moyes etc etc. My point is there was an overwhelming and OTT negative outcry about Hughton's initial appointment by many of the people now crying about his departure. It may not stink of hypocricy but there's certainly a faint whiff.

Ugh ? Surely even Ashley couldn't have pulled this stunt without having someone lined up.

So, once again in typical Ashley style the fat man rocks the world of Newcastle United and makes a hugely unpopular decision to remove a well liked, dignified and successful manager. As always no expanded explanation to the fans or media just a curt club statement with the standard thanks and all the best message. Cue media scrambles outside SJP, drag in the usual suspects - ex players, fanzine writers etc for the predictable and meaningless soundbites. Usually interesting and intelligent web forums descend into a kind of RTG (sunderland's premier forum) rabid frenzy, where lynch mobs spring up and revolution is advocated by some as the way forward. Unsurprisingly many of the voices going apeshit about the sacking are the same voices who went apeshit about the same man's appointment, claiming he was Ashley's puppet, poodle or similar. Conspiracy theories come to the fore about how Ashley has removed his manager because he opposed the big plan of selling all the best players etc etc etc. "He was never backed by the board and had no budget" some scream. He was. Promising youngsters were tied down and deals like Campbell, Gosling and even the HBA loan did not come cheap and no players were sold against the manager's wishes. It may not have been spending at a Real Madrid, Man City or Newcastle of old level, but for a club heavily in debt whose primary stated objective was to balance the books it was reasonable and probably above the average. Boycott and protests are once again urged by some. Don't bother lads it won't work. Many of you are the same people who thought giving £10 or your pension to a group headed by fanzine editors, allegedly backed by significant local business people, would remove Ashley. It didn't, it won't. Ashley will go when Ashley is ready and on his terms, not when the mob call for his head. The good news is he will go, and I for one think yesterday's events take us a step closer to that happening. The sacking of Hughton could backfire spectacularly on Ashley, and there isn't any apparent logic to it. Hughton broke club records last season and was on target to achieve this season's objective of survival. His dismissal was certainly nothing to do with results. In that case it was either a spectacular bust up with the board (unlikely) or it is just a part of something much bigger, i.e. an obstacle to the sale removed. I am bitterly disappointed that we have lost Hughton, he acquired legendary status in his short time at the club, but sadly it seems that his removal has been part of a bigger deal to come.

Reminds me of Richard Dinnis qualified for Europe after that relegation I believe Funnily enough I was relating the Richard Dinnis story to someone much younger yesterday. Not that I see a direct parallel as I think Hughton had a lot more substance than him, but had the popular Dinnis been removed sooner things might have been a lot different. Aahh for the wisdom of hidsight.

Where were all the Hughton devotees when he was appointed ? Seems like a lot who were calling him Ashley's puppet, a weak man etc are now the same people wanting to protest about his departure.

Very well put.

Very strange decision as Hughton was apparently on target to achieve what he was asked to do. A certain irony however in seeing many of the same people who criticised his appointment as a cop out, Ashley's poodle etc are now threatening revolt etc because of his removal.

Bruce wouldn't leave the Mackems to come here. You're probably right. Although trust me if he was asked and he could, he would. Wish I hadn't written it now, as even with the words "totally insane level" included it looks like it's been picked up on. Wasn't meant to be serious lads. Honest. Cheer up Stevie Bruce..............................