Benwell Lad

W1 D1 L0 You could stick Leeds in there now too. ......... who the fuckin hell's Leeds......

I think if we win and actually deserve to win then everyone will be happy no? I'm sure all Newcastle fans would be delighted with that outcome.

So is it fair to say that the first 12 post match pages will be along the lines of :- If we lose - Pardew is an even bigger cunt than he was yesterday. If we win - Fulham were shite anyway. If we draw - a combination of both those things.

Has Crumpy announced the team yet ?

Excellently written article, with some brilliant lines.

Looks pretty happy too. Good to see key players like Remy and Willo in full training as well.

Sales for Fulham suggest its starting... How many sold? Under 40k according to Wallsendmag. Often seems to be our lowest, not surprising given their following and unfashionable status. Still be 45K + though.

What you gonna say if we do ?

Now there's a cue for two weeks of endless going round in circles debate if ever I saw one

Good old Harry. Love him. Fountain of wisdom.

I think, as proven time and time again in football and business in general, that everything has it's price and will be sold. As a club I definitely think that any player is for sale if they meet Ashley's valuation. However we're also known as hard dealers nowadays and only "Carrollesque" type bids will be accepted for our top players, which in fairness probably deters most clubs from trying.

That's a fair point about reducing the wage bill by unloading those who were overpaid. I would think any club would want a "cost effective" squad. Although again I would have to say that I am really not convinced that he has much of say on transfer dealings or ever has had. Don't cloud the issue. Having a say in transfers (Golfmag explicitly told us that this part of Pardew's contract was unusual in that it spelled out that he absolutely did not have a say) is a totally different matter to inviting bids for our players via the press at the owner's demand. Forgive my ignorance of how transfer deals are conducted but, if there's an ounce of truth in this conspiracy theory, wouldn't it just be easier to send an email to Everton along the lines of "do you wanna buy Ben Arfa".

That's a fair point about reducing the wage bill by unloading those who were overpaid. I would think any club would want a "cost effective" squad. Although again I would have to say that I am really not convinced that he has much of say on transfer dealings or ever has had. Agreed. He will be part of a "committee" which includes Carr, Charnley etc but will have no final say. I also think that, contrary to what some think, that's the way it is at most clubs nowadays and that we will eventually evolve to the European model of a "manager" who handles transfers and commercial matters and a "coach" who works with the players and picks the team.

If balance is allowed here, and I realise it probably isn't, the remarks relating to part of Pardew's remit being to reduce or rationalise the wage bill must be taken in the context of what it was at the time he was appointed and who the highest earners were. Against a backdrop of years of being a benevolent pension fund for aging has-beens it seems like a perfectly reasonable challenge to set the new manager. Any fair minded soul would probably say he (they) have been reasonably successful in that aspect of the job. That said his remark about HBA was just plain stupid.

I'm assuming we won't let him go unless Gomis comes in. That's even if we can find an clinically insane buyer. Nowt wrong with getting angry about things that might happen.

The irony is that year after year Spurs look like they are stealing a march on their rivals but Arsenal pip them in the end. It is really getting to some Spurs fans I know that no matter what they do they can never finish above Arsenal. Only a matter of time though, surely. You'd think so, but they just never seem to be able to do it despite often looking like they will, and that's what drives the Spurs fans nuts.

The irony is that year after year Spurs look like they are stealing a march on their rivals but Arsenal pip them in the end. It is really getting to some Spurs fans I know that no matter what they do they can never finish above Arsenal.

Perfect summing up of the situation to date.

Does anyone have a clue what the fascist loony is rambling on about in his interviews ? Must be a bit of a joke in the dressing room.

Good to hear, I know he was the leader at Montpelier, but seems to be much quieter/reserved on the pitch from my view on television. I think he'll be fine once he keeps playing consistently, especially next to Colo. More movement while he's on the ball would help too, there were several times he looked up and had nothing which resulted in turnovers. Still young, very promising. Think he'll be very good, but he seems to have lapses in concentration when he turns it over. I agree though, get a partnership going with he and Colo, and we'll look 10 times better at the back than we did last season.

Really! That's bad if we're in a minority of one. However we must have some amazing negotiators in our hierarchy if we picked up all those players in January at a fraction of their market value. Happy days.

IF it did happen it will be < 1% of the crowd, but audible and will then provide a story. Not to be taken seriously.

Never understood the levels of criticism Gosling receives. He's OK, quite neat and tidy, gets the ball and gives it, does a bit defensively and pops up in the box occasionally. No world beater but a decent squad player.

you don't honestly think that do you? We were absolutely horrific and should have been two down at half time Think what? Professional manner: We kept our heads when they were trying to make us lose ours. Minimal fuss: Was never really a point where you're thinking we are going out here. Minimal damage: Nobody came out the game injured or lacking fitness. Target achieved: Get through to next round Nice home tie: Opposition is Leeds Yeah I think all that actually..... Professional in the manner they dominated us for most of the game? Minimum fuss in that most of the game it felt we might go out we didn't score until the 87 minute? Did they f***, man. I'm sure this will become fact by the end of the week, but it just didn't happen. First half, yes, they were much better than us. But that was more down to their physicality and desire, than us being outplayed. Second half, they barely threatened. We were comprehensively outplayed for the first half. That's simply how it is. So from most of the game to the first half? That was in direct response to Inochis post about the first half. We didn't get anything like a grip on the game until half way through the 2nd half. That's most of the game. Cheers though. Thought second half we were much better from the off with Shola's intro. Have a go at the lads and pardew all you like, but end of the day they got through, accept it and move on to Fulham. I have accepted it but that doesn't mean we can't discuss it, or what would be the point of message board Who do you really support Sanny ? I know we are are a self critical bunch and some are even serial whingers but there's something about the way you post that just doesn't add up, despite your attempts to pretend you're just another "critical supporter". Dear god man, can I not be f***ing fed up with the state of my club without being accused of not being a fan? This RTG. I support newcastle, I was born there, I went toy first game when I was five years old. Want a pic of my shirts? Got a pic of me celebrating against west brom, you need to see that? mmmm.... cracking under interrogation..... You got me. PDC Marra, 0-3, 92ers, 9-1 FTM "King Kev" was enough for me like.

you don't honestly think that do you? We were absolutely horrific and should have been two down at half time Think what? Professional manner: We kept our heads when they were trying to make us lose ours. Minimal fuss: Was never really a point where you're thinking we are going out here. Minimal damage: Nobody came out the game injured or lacking fitness. Target achieved: Get through to next round Nice home tie: Opposition is Leeds Yeah I think all that actually..... Professional in the manner they dominated us for most of the game? Minimum fuss in that most of the game it felt we might go out we didn't score until the 87 minute? Did they f***, man. I'm sure this will become fact by the end of the week, but it just didn't happen. First half, yes, they were much better than us. But that was more down to their physicality and desire, than us being outplayed. Second half, they barely threatened. We were comprehensively outplayed for the first half. That's simply how it is. So from most of the game to the first half? That was in direct response to Inochis post about the first half. We didn't get anything like a grip on the game until half way through the 2nd half. That's most of the game. Cheers though. Thought second half we were much better from the off with Shola's intro. Have a go at the lads and pardew all you like, but end of the day they got through, accept it and move on to Fulham. I have accepted it but that doesn't mean we can't discuss it, or what would be the point of message board Who do you really support Sanny ? I know we are are a self critical bunch and some are even serial whingers but there's something about the way you post that just doesn't add up, despite your attempts to pretend you're just another "critical supporter". Dear god man, can I not be fucking fed up with the state of my club without being accused of not being a fan? This RTG. I support newcastle, I was born there, I went toy first game when I was five years old. Want a pic of my shirts? Got a pic of me celebrating against west brom, you need to see that? mmmm.... cracking under interrogation.....