Bad Mongo

Now, now, CaliMag, think of what a player Carr could be if put on a proper diet.

Taylor only dives to block ... with his hand.

I think we should bring in a specialist from China. The English have only been into tea for - what? - a few centuries at most, and the tea quality has suffered a noticeable decline along with the empire. At the same time, the Chinese economy is expanding, and to stay on the forefront, we need to tap into their vast experience. Especially when it comes to green teas. Replacing the tea lady is a necessary first step into the 21st century, and we should not be too sentimental about it.

If only we had a team of James Milners ... then we'd win the league. Well, maybe not, but I do hope we get rid of some of the less professional players at the club.

We've been playing cautious and defensive football. That's why we don't score goals. It's also why we haven't conceded more. Also, we've probably been playing cautious and defensive football because our defence is shit and can't be left unprotected.

According to the BBC, both Nicky Butt and Solano have been replaced by Oguchi Onyewu.

Nice to see Dyer getting his act together.

Nah, it'd be better if he just fucked off to Tottenham. When it comes to Dyer, class is only temporary.

i think that bit refers to when he's talking about the agent

The problem is that it clearly doesn't, neither in the text (it comes directly after he's quoted on saying that he'd "carry Michael Owen back"), nor in the video (it says "At first Shepherd's tone sounds serious", but at first he's obviously joking).

According to the same Guardian article:

the release yesterday morning of a video clip on the YouTube internet site of Shepherd caught on a Liverpool fan's camera declaring to Liverpool fans stalking him that he would "carry Michael Owen back [to Liverpool] for £9m" was not ideal. At first Shepherd's tone sounds serious. But he relents instantly, referring to Owen as "a good lad," and "a decent lad", and then mutters in uncomplimentary fashion about the striker's agent.

Does anyone actually think he sounds serious on that clip? He's even smiling, a phenomenon rarely seen outside of lunch, supper, dinner, and in-between-meals snacks. Looks like The Guardian is trying hard to misconstrue something here.

Tbf, the only reason the journalists have for believing there is such a clause is because they read it in the newspapers.

No, but Mourinho didn't have the chance to join Chelsea when he joined Porto, did he? We would be a perfect fit for an ambitious manager on his way up, but less so for a hugely merited manager who has worked at several top clubs. Ideally, we should go for young talent, not for celebrity. Unfortunately, that's both a huge risk and something totally alien to both FFS and most of the supporters.

Also, it would take several years to get Gateshead up to the Premier League, never mind the top four.

Of course not. But you won't be sacked for only winning the league cup with Newcastle.

We should be able to attract plenty of good and ambitious managers. The reward for success with Newcastle is much bigger than with Madrid, where it's expected.

I know he's a Norwegian manager (I have a Norwegian player, and a Swedish referee, in my avatar), but I remember him speaking at a press conference once, I believe it was when he took over Olympiacos, and his accent was fairly thick. Considering that a few Newcastle players lack a professional attitude, I think this might be a problem.

Even if this is only just another "New Manager- lolwtfbbq?" thread among the many. I have to say I do support the idea of a foreign manager rather than Big Sam. My favourite would have been Trond Sollied, as he practically never changes his view on playing attacking football. And I would love an attacking Newcastle side rather than a Newcastle focusing on long passes, hoping that the ball ends with a player in black and white.

This is the second time I've seen Sollied mentioned here, and while I like his football and think he's a great coach, I'm not so sure he speaks English fluently. Do you think Kieron Dyer will respect someone who speaks with a thick accent? Also, he's a strict 4-3-3 guy.

Isn't he pretty much a check book manager? I don't think he would succeed here.

Well, depends what you're comparing him too. Very much average compared to Gerrard and co, and can in no way be considered a great player, but he's better than Sidwell, Phil Chuckle, Parker and co IMO - by the virtue of knowing where the net is and having the legs to get up there even in a turgid ultra defensive team like ours.

Knowing where the net is? So he's a strictly defensive midfielder, then?

Good read. Considering the blame he puts on the players: apart from Butt, Milner, Given and Owen, do we really have good players with professional attitudes? It seems to me like both Bobby Robson's and Roeder's reign coincided with Kieron Dyer intentionally under-performing.

Its not Allardyce's fault that he has shit players

 

With is he will have a fantastic strike force, Midfielders, all he needs to do is do what he does best, fix our damn defence..

Actually, Bolton have conceded more goals than we have this season.

Thanks.

He doesn't deserve the shit he's been given on here. He's not Souness. He didn't destroy an already decent team. I wish him a happy and healthy life away from the first team.

Agree. He did an excellent job as a caretaker, and got another chance. He did his best, which sadly wasn't good enough. I hope he can return to the academy.

Edgar David? Never heard of him.

It's unlikely to be any worse than this, isn't it?

I would react to it as just one more pointless negative thread. Which is all there is to it, tbh.