Benwell Lad

I don't believe in pissing contest in general but when it comes to football, people who put time, effort and money into actually supporting the team deserve credit for that - I have no problem with anyone anywhere calling themselves a fan and supporting the team in spirit but to pretend they are the same level of fan as those who go to games is ridiculous imo. Nowhere near as ridiculous as calling someone an "enemy of the club" because they disagree with you. It wasn't primarily because you disagreed with me - it was because you implied that the banner could be used by "enemies" which I think is bollocks and leading on from that I think people who support Ashley as fully as I get the impression you do are in my opinion just as much enemies of the club as nebulous media or fans of other clubs. How anyone can be labeled an enemy of the club because they support the present owner is strange to say the least. He may have upset Keegan he may have appointed Wise but he also probably saved the club from the financial Armageddon it was heading towards. Ashley may not be right for Newcastle (personally I think he could be given a chance) But if he is not who is ? While everyone carps on about how bad Ashley is, no one comes up with any tangible, realistic or specific alternative, just the usual abstract slavver - "someone who'll spend big" - "someone who'll back the manager" - "someone who we'll all love" etc etc. Who is this person ? Do we want Freddy and Doug back ? Can we name the Russian oligarch, Saudi prince or Texan oil man who we want to head up NUFC ? Or do we just continue to harp on about what went before and pile abuse on the only person who right now can ACTUALLY do something about NUFC.

I thank Joe for his bottle and honesty in taking on a horrible job which no one else would touch after Keegan's walkout, and subsequently returning some stability and even turning us into a team which could defend away from home for the first time in years. Also he had the balls to tell the parasites in the press what someone in the club should have told them years ago and I admire him for that. But no, longer term we need another guy at the helm and I'm pretty sure he will be replaced in the summer.

Louise took a predictably similar tack in the Grauniad. She is one bitter bitch. Obviously the macum slag didn't get her vibrator for Christmas after all.

To be honest, I'm surprised we're doing as well as we are after those departures. I'm not getting too carried away though as we face a pretty tough January with 3 games against Sevilla (2 cup), away trips to both Barca and Real Madrid and a home game against Villarreal on that last weekend. (Plus another 2 games against Valencia in the cup if we get past Sevilla) Guardado and Lafita have both done brilliantly so far this year, which probably means they'll be sold soon The trouble with selling to English clubs (from our perspective) is that even if we could buy back for around the same money, we couldn't really afford the wages which seem to multiply once a player sets foot in a Premiership club. As much as I'd like to see Xisco back at Depor, I really can't see it happening as the debts at our club have forced us into a selling club. I'd be surprised if Xisco would go to a Segunda club and even more surprised if they could afford him. I reckon if you do sell him, it would be to a midtable Spanish club and as a Mallorcan, he might fancy a move back there if Freddy Shepherd pulls his finger out and buys the island club. How do you know about Estrella Galicia, Benwell Lad??? You have somewhere in Newcastle that sells it? Talking of beers, you need to I haven't seen it in Newcastle, although you can buy just about every other beer on the planet nowadays. I have drank it during visits to Galicia, ( mainly Vigo :-[ ) and enjoyed the food too. A beautiful part of the world, but I laugh when people say "will Spanish players cope with the English climate ?" - your weather is nearly as bad as ours ! i think they might have it in tilley's... i asked for a an estrella there (meaning estrella damn barcelona in bottle) and the fella at the bar asked which estrella i wanted bottle or from tap, and i pointed to the bottles to what i wanted, but for the one on tap he might have meant estrella galicia, not sure cos i was canny wankered at the time but it's worth asking if you're in there Cheers mate, if it's the real stuff and not brewed under licence in Milton Keynes it'll be worth asking for.

That has to be the best and most level headed synopsis of what is happening to our club for a long long time.

What a daft old fucker. Love the reply. I couldn't have put it better myself. It really sums up the intellect of NUSC when confronted with an opinion which doesn't fit their dogmatic narrow agenda. Not quite as funny as the leaflet distributor outside SJP who, when I declined a leaflet, said "so you're not a Newcastle fan are you ?" Keep 'em coming.

To be honest, I'm surprised we're doing as well as we are after those departures. I'm not getting too carried away though as we face a pretty tough January with 3 games against Sevilla (2 cup), away trips to both Barca and Real Madrid and a home game against Villarreal on that last weekend. (Plus another 2 games against Valencia in the cup if we get past Sevilla) Guardado and Lafita have both done brilliantly so far this year, which probably means they'll be sold soon The trouble with selling to English clubs (from our perspective) is that even if we could buy back for around the same money, we couldn't really afford the wages which seem to multiply once a player sets foot in a Premiership club. As much as I'd like to see Xisco back at Depor, I really can't see it happening as the debts at our club have forced us into a selling club. I'd be surprised if Xisco would go to a Segunda club and even more surprised if they could afford him. I reckon if you do sell him, it would be to a midtable Spanish club and as a Mallorcan, he might fancy a move back there if Freddy Shepherd pulls his finger out and buys the island club. How do you know about Estrella Galicia, Benwell Lad??? You have somewhere in Newcastle that sells it? Talking of beers, you need to I haven't seen it in Newcastle, although you can buy just about every other beer on the planet nowadays. I have drank it during visits to Galicia, ( mainly Vigo :-[ ) and enjoyed the food too. A beautiful part of the world, but I laugh when people say "will Spanish players cope with the English climate ?" - your weather is nearly as bad as ours !

Nice post, thanks for an informed opinion which sounds very positive. Sadly Newcastle fans are not noted for thinking things through and knee jerk reactions are a speciality up here. I'll have an ice cold Estrella Galicia

I'd agree Bob, but in the context of his arrival, the atmosphere that followed it and the patched up team he appeared in he didn't stand much of a chance. Scored a goal mind and certainly looked like a battler.

Good post young 'un.

You seem to have forgot to tell Keith that his banner was the lowest point of your time supporting this club, lower than relegation, worse than getting beat off the makems in play off. Worse than players fighting each other on the pitch. Worse even than anything during Westwood era. That post really sums up the constant "make as much trouble as possible" attitude of you and your cronies. No I didn't tell him that but thanks for doing it for me you sh*t stirring dick. None of the other embarrassments you've dragged up resulted in loyal Newcastle fans turning on each other, so yes it was one of the lowest points in a lifetime supporting the club.

Can I just say once again as some people seem to be getting a bit excited, that these stats are in no way intended to detract from Given's excellent record as our keeper. I've already said that I think he is a very good keeper - no arguments. What I kind of wanted to illustrate is that if Given chooses to leave as his agent/lawyer implies he wants to and someone is going to pay wacky money for him, then we do have another pretty good goalkeeper on our books and it may not actually be the end of the world.

Nothing more than a few stats for readers to judge as they wish, and the same as before, unlike your meandering rambling schizo views. Are you still supporting Newcastle today ?

Nice post Keith. I am the same age as you, but didn't manage to get to my first game until January 1964 (Grimsby Town). I too bleed black and white but for one reason or another my CV is nowhere near as good as yours (whose is ?) but I've put in a canny shift all the same. I'm also ashamed to have thrown punches before, but never at a fellow NUFC fan (yet ?) I have suffered as you have the miserable years of Westwood, McKeag etc, enjoyed the good years as the club moved forward under Keegan and SJH and then suffered again as we slipped under the sleaze and "fingers in the till" mentality of Freddy and Dougy and became very concerned as, like the worlds economy last year, we seemed to be heading for financial Armageddon. I really thought (still do) that a radical change of approach was needed to move forward again and that Ashley's idea of creating a management strategy with a plan and an international scouting team was better than what had gone before when huge amounts of borrowed money was squandered by a regime who were very cosy with the games leading agents. Dennis Wise was an obnoxious opposition player (we all sang the same songs), but as long as he does what he's paid to do nowadays his past is pretty irrelevant to me. Many NUFC fans were delighted with the ability and ATTITUDE of players brought in during the summer, although obviously we'd all have liked to have seen more. Sadly this has now degenerated into a very emotional and polarised issue, and many find that banner offensive and parochial. If there was a "Dennis Wise and Co are doing a great job" banner (stupid words I know) then many would find that offensive too and would want to confront those holding it. Right now it's about as likely to be resolved by waving rival banners as it would be by waving Catholic or Protestant banners in Northern Ireland or Israeli or Hamas banners in the Middle East. Your banner has had it's airing and based on what happened yesterday maybe it needs to be put away. You should get back to doing what you do best, that is being one of the team you love's greatest fans. Hope they are lenient with you and take previous good character into account. All the best.

So the macum slag didn't get her vibrator for Christmas after all. That is one bitter bitch.

we shouldn't have to sell Given to spend that sort of money We certainly shouldn't. Even in these more frugal days I don't think we have to, certainly no one from the club has said that, indeed they've pretty much said the opposite. Lets face it, it started with a statement made by Given's lawyer/agent and we all know where their interests lie.

Which is a fair point but Shay has been really good this year back to something near his best, which for me puts him way ahead of Harps. Which is your opinion and one shared by many other supporters. Fair do's. However now his agent (lawyer?) implies he wants to leave, as players at all clubs tend to from time to time, but because it's Newcastle it's because we have no ambition, and Freddie would never have allowed it to happen, and now we're back in the dark days of McKeag and Seymour, (Not necessarily your opinion). At least Man Utd fans said "stuff him " when Ronaldo or his agent decided he wanted move.

That has to be one of the most idiotic posts I've ever read on here. There were actually two other posts above the reply you've quoted, which you have conveniently edited it to make it look "idiotic" as a stand alone statement.

Please ammend as you see fit, I did it quickly on games they started , but if you want that incuded it means Harper conceded 1.28 goals per game and Given conceded 2.16 per game instead of 1.21 and 2.21 respectively. Is that OK ? P.S. The point of this was not to achieve a maths degree but to illustrate that if Given chooses to leave it won't be the end of the world as have quite a decent goalkeper in Harper.

The real facts Shay Given 11 years - No 1 Steve Harper 11 years - No 2 That should tell you all you need to know about the two. Also Shay is willing to uproot as he has high standards and ambitions, Harper is happy to play 100 games or so in over 10 years as second fiddle. I know who I prefer, both as a player and as a professional. A noble sentiment indeed - what a great guy. Spot the difference between that and the popular view of Owen keeping his options open. Given may or may not leave and I for one am not that bothered either way as he's a good keeper but hardly irreplaceable. If he left for, lets say Man City, it would prove it has nothing to do with ambition but solely the money. Just like Distin did (spot the difference). I very much doubt Man City's ambition starts and ends with their current state of play. Does ours, or Tottenhams, or anyone else's for that matter ? Except Hull of course.

Scary that you believe we have the quality of Given waiting in the wings The FACTS would tend to back me up. Last season's records league records. HARPER Played 19 Points gained 26 Goals for 26 Goals against 23. Average goals conceded per game 1.21 - record extrapolated over full season - 52 points - i.e 10th in league. GIVEN Played 19 Points gained 17 Goals for 19 Goals against 42. Average goals conceded per game 2,21 - record extrapolated over full season - 34 points - i.e 19th in league (relegation) That's a neat thing you're doing comparing Given's worst ever season (due to injury,) to what's probably Harper's best. Not really. There is no other season where a reasonable comparison could be made, but 19 games each gives a chance to do so. Whatever damned lies and statistics may portray those figures are pretty stark. To imply a Premiership team would play someone not fit while a decent and fit keeper sat on the bench is crazy. If that was the case then Keegan really did have it in for us ! No, Given's fitness would have been tested to the limits before any game he played in. You're typing s****. Stats can be manipulated in many ways to show pretty much what you want them to say. Do you think the 15 goals Given conceded in 3 games against Man United x2 and Villa last season would not have been conceded had Harper been playing? Those stats don't take into account the quality of opposition amongst other things. Sure, stats can be manipulated but that is a whole season split 19 games each so read into it what you will. Get away - you mean I haven't taken into account the quality of the opposition - then please do it yourself but if you'll find over a season they probably both played against the better and poorer sides equally. If you read the post you'll see it's league games so we didn't play Man Utd THREE times in the stats. Harpers games would have had us 10th Givens would have had us relegated, that's not really manipulation and even allowing for variable things it's still a pretty stark contrast.

Not to mention Sunderland. Ahem.

Scary that you believe we have the quality of Given waiting in the wings The FACTS would tend to back me up. Last season's records league records. HARPER Played 19 Points gained 26 Goals for 26 Goals against 23. Average goals conceded per game 1.21 - record extrapolated over full season - 52 points - i.e 10th in league. GIVEN Played 19 Points gained 17 Goals for 19 Goals against 42. Average goals conceded per game 2,21 - record extrapolated over full season - 34 points - i.e 19th in league (relegation) That's a neat thing you're doing comparing Given's worst ever season (due to injury,) to what's probably Harper's best. Not really. There is no other season where a reasonable comparison could be made, but 19 games each gives a chance to do so. Whatever damned lies and statistics may portray those figures are pretty stark. To imply a Premiership team would play someone not fit while a decent and fit keeper sat on the bench is crazy. If that was the case then Keegan really did have it in for us ! No, Given's fitness would have been tested to the limits before any game he played in.

people like you are going to have to get used to the idea that clubs like Spurs think bigger, act bigger than we do. This is why Gazza and Waddle went there for that reason, despite what other people that say they are long term supporters will tell you. The blip of the Halls and Shepherd, where we correctly punched our weight above clubs like this, is well and truly over. Gazza, Waddle, Jenas.... :colo: you're a fool if you seriously think the sale of Jeanarse and the circmstances of it compares to those of Waddle and Gazza. Jenas left here because he thought he'd "hit a ceiling" and wanted to move on because Spurs were on the way up. You can try and write it off and say he doesn't count but he clearly does. a player with no particular affinity or feeling for the club, moving on after a few years ? No. I don't think so. Look at your history books, and read about Gazza, Waddle and Beardsley going.......and Pop Robson before that. Similar reasons to Given, but I'm sure you know better than those who witnessed it. Bye. I've been around during all those debacles you quote from Pop Robson up to Given but the possible departure of Given has NOTHING in common with the others. Nice try though.

The real facts Shay Given 11 years - No 1 Steve Harper 11 years - No 2 That should tell you all you need to know about the two. Also Shay is willing to uproot as he has high standards and ambitions, Harper is happy to play 100 games or so in over 10 years as second fiddle. I know who I prefer, both as a player and as a professional. A noble sentiment indeed - what a great guy. Spot the difference between that and the popular view of Owen keeping his options open. Given may or may not leave and I for one am not that bothered either way as he's a good keeper but hardly irreplaceable. If he left for, lets say Man City, it would prove it has nothing to do with ambition but solely the money. Just like Distin did (spot the difference).