Benwell Lad

On BBC Breakfast this morning Stuart Maconie, who has written a book about "the north" which dispels some of the stereotypical views and confirms others, said that it is now a widely held belief that Newcastle is "the best looking city in England". And that from a Manc (I think he is ?) Nowt to do with football, but UP YOURS all you southern, provincial and macum journalists who love to have a cowardly pop at us from behind the safety of your desk. Whats more despite the present goings on, with Messrs Ashley, Keegan etc commited to the cause we WILL have a football team to match the city.

A really old expression from the days when the river was not dredged and navigable as today. At low tide it was possible (allegedly) to plodge from one side to the other. That apart it is very noticeable how clustered all 20 outfield players are at goal kicks nowadays.

They can't help that they are successful. They felt pain when the Munich disaster happened. Alot of their away support is 'proper' support not prawn sarnie eating tourists and businessmen. Manchester City hate Manchester United more than us, yet they could put football rivalry aside for 10minutes, so why can't we when it is something we all want? Away games are all about going for a fun drink, song and dance. Standing up is part of matchday tradition, and more of the 'working class' attend away games, as well as young'uns. If you go to an away game and don't want to stand just don't go, only morons sit at away games. So you are speaking for all AWAY fans are you ? If I wish to sit I'm a moron. A bit fascist that mate. Read what I wrote. Standing is great in standing areas. Sit in seated areas. Get yourself a campaign going for standing areas not for standing in seated areas - you may be more successful. ManU was a completely different club 50 years ago, now they are a successful world corporate brand supported by people who like to be assciated with successful things but have no real allegiance. But they do have SOME real fans I concede. Their away support is probably one of the best in the country. Our campaign is for safe standing sections, not standing in seated areas. What's the point in going to an away game to sit? You might as well remain on the coach/train/plane or in the comfort of your armchair. If you had dodgy knees from playing football you may have a different opinion. I find your assertion that more of the "working class" attend away games a bit strange. Are there statistics to show that a particular socio-economic group is more likely to attend away games than home ones ? More dedicated fans probably, drunk more and louder certainly, but the costs involved in travelling and in some cases the price of tickets may actually mean the true "working class" fan doesn't get to travel as much as he or she would like. Thanks for clearing up that your campaign is for safe standing areas. Then I definitely support you. I just couldn't bring myself to walk alongside those plastic fans who taunted us mercilessly at Old Trafford recently. If they were Wigan or Hartlepool fans I'd probably consider it.

They can't help that they are successful. They felt pain when the Munich disaster happened. Alot of their away support is 'proper' support not prawn sarnie eating tourists and businessmen. Manchester City hate Manchester United more than us, yet they could put football rivalry aside for 10minutes, so why can't we when it is something we all want? Away games are all about going for a fun drink, song and dance. Standing up is part of matchday tradition, and more of the 'working class' attend away games, as well as young'uns. If you go to an away game and don't want to stand just don't go, only morons sit at away games. So you are speaking for all AWAY fans are you ? If I wish to sit I'm a moron. A bit fascist that mate. Read what I wrote. Standing is great in standing areas. Sit in seated areas. Get yourself a campaign going for standing areas not for standing in seated areas - you may be more successful. ManU was a completely different club 50 years ago, now they are a successful world corporate brand supported by people who like to be assciated with successful things but have no real allegiance. But they do have SOME real fans I concede.

A concerted campaign should be made for standing areas to be returned to our stadiums. As well as letting those who wish to stand do so it will no doubt help the atmosphere. Until there are standing areas fans should SIT in seated areas. A lot of those standing at away games don't actually want to stand but have no option when some stand up. A protest with ManU fans ? No way. Most of them aren't even real football fans they just attach themselves to a winning team, never having to feel pain like real fans do.

Thought Given was badly to blame for the first goal whatever the circumstances. I thought, however, that the 2nd goal said a lot more about him generally. The way he was bullied by Harewood and made no attempt whatsoever to dominate his area as the corner came in - terrible goalkeeping. He's had a bad season and I don't think he'll ever get back to where he was. Great guy, great keeper. Time to move on.

I had the misfortune of reading the "Fail on Sunday" at the weekend and it carried 3 separate aticles written by 3 different writers all vitriolic in their attacks on NUFC. Yes there is an agenda. However I'm sure wise men like Mike Ashley, Chris Mort and KK himself are probably aware that when one of the world's leading PR specialists was asked by a client "Is this bad publicity ?" he replied "DON'T READ YOUR PRESS COVERAGE - WEIGH IT"

So what's he trying to say here then?: "I wouldn't swap him for any of them (any other PL striker)." Please enlighten us stupid people who think Keane talks complete bollocks.. Well by saying that Kenwyne Jones feels wanted, and will have his spirits lifted, rather than if Keane said "Yeah I'd swap Kenwyne for X player etc". It's called Psychology, mate. "I was going to get one right, wasn't I? "By the law of averages, you are going to get one right out of 15 or 20." Roy Keane, Master of Psychology, motivating his other signings there. Suppose it's a change from his usual motivational routine of punching things and kicking chairs.

Last week? She's been on their front page practically every day since about 1980. And I wouldn't really class Diana as a "big" princess.

See he's made another signing. He seems to like players who have failed at his old clubs.

Anyone is entitled to make comment about Newcastle and constructive criticism is accepted. We have to accept that fans of other teams will take a pop at us just as we may take a pop at them. The type of bitterness and chip on shoulder attitude towards NUFC which comes through in most of her articles can only emanate from one type of person. SHE is a mackem.

Sad thing for them is no one cares what they say, no one buys papers any more they're just given away free all over the place. Curry wasn't exactly made for TV either was he ? Can't understand Sky giving the fat cnut airtime really.

I think the "big four" has become the "big three" and I can't see Liverpool breaking into the big 3.

Ok, it's Louise Taylor. And I'm already convinced that she's pretty clueless because she noted--in a previous column-- that the Keegan should acquire Chimbonda because the club was lacking a dynamic RB-- I can only assume that she has not seen Beye play. Moreover, her list of targets did not include a single creative CM. So, when was Keegan chiding Enrique? After the game? Or perhaps, to Keegan's urging him to push forward and support Duff? She knows nothing, NOTHING about football.

Top post. Very well put. The ridiculous assertion in some articles that Mike Ashley wants to buy popularity are laughable. Like a guy who builds a business empire worth billions by the age of 40 would be short of people to socialise with What they can't stand is that while he is doing so much for Newcastle United he displays very little ego. While some other "big clubs" have been bought purely for ego reasons or in order to finance other business deals - he just wants to have fun supporting Newcastle. They hate it. Anyway if Mike Ashley needs company I'll take him out for a couple of pints and I'll even pay ! P.S. Henry Winter excluded. He would have been a top man even when there were a lot of good football journalists around.

On the pitch - his first goal against QPR - I can recall no atmosphere better than that day. Off it I once had the privelege of being (briefly) in his company after a match. Even in a couple of minutes conversation this was no superstar just someone who made you feel good and even important. No wonder every ex player raves about him.

That is the sort of money it seems Sundlund would have to fork out to get anyone decent to come near the place Wasn't his prescence supposed to attract players to the SOS, well so far his two main transfer targets have preferred the options of playing for Derby County and Bolton rather than play for Beano. Once the word was out about his kicking & punching antics no self respecting pro would go near the place.

Come on Joey ! We should support anyone on the pitch in a B&W shirt and let those paid to manage decide what to do about their futures.

You're perfectly entitled to support Newcastle, Michael. Where you live is not important. I know that Newcastle have a lot of supporters in Denmark and through Scandinavia (especially Norway) and they are normally very loyal and knowledgeable.

Didn't Newcastle sign Alan Shoulder from Blyth Spartans? Yes and he ended up our top scorer that season too. I don't think that could ever happen in today's game.

Posted this in the Stoke post match thread. BTW has anyone ever seen a side down to 10 men for so long play such good adventurous football. Sometimes 10 men hang on and grind a result but I thought last night was exceptional. Much of this was down to Zogbia playing the role he prefers in CM. It's a long time since we've had anyone who justified the title "playmaker" but he certainly looks like one.

Attended first game 44 years ago today - January 18th 1964 - Newcastle 4 Grimsby 0 (Thomas2, Anderson2), but really supported Newcastle since birth seven years earlier, as I came from a family where there was no option - football was in the blood and that continues today. Second game I saw in the same season we got beat 0-4 by Bury so it's been ups and downs the whole way.

Newcastle should sue some media after last night. Sky and others were reporting the game "sold out" at about 6 PM - there were cash turnstiles with no queus and I've heard from a few people who were gonna pay at the gate and decided not to go when they heard this.

Well said.

Thank f*** for that! Experience in the lower leagues is vital for him at the moment, and not a job back here where he can rest on his laurels being a Geordie anarl Totally agree.