Rich

Aye. Felt sorry for him at times today again as he seemed to be the only one doing any running/hassling and showing any heart at times - although Owen and Butt from the front six deserve credit for doing the same. However, it must also be noted that he does a lot of simple stuff badly at times, which will hopefully improve with confidence. I just think he's showing the strain of literally being our only creative force. He gets no support from his central midfielders, Enrique is getting better at helping him out but still appears a frustrating team-mate to have (very lax at times, shows odd decision making as well) and he still gets kicked to fuck by most teams we play. He's not as brilliant as was made out when we got him and he had that debut against Man United, but he's still about the best we can offer out wide and is still a good player. Can't fault his application/attitude either, which is something you couldn't really say about 75% of the rest of the squad.

Don't usually agree with Parky, but with him 100% on this. The bloke needs a break.

Utterly average footballers, as it was clear from the off. Can surely only get better though?

In Hertfordshire visiting family (as with every summer) and heard the announcement on the radio coming back from a thrilling day of shopping. I distinctly remember turning to my Spurs-supporting cousin and shouting in her face "JUST TRY AND STOP US NOW!" before being told-off by my Mam Was only 9 like, so that was the first I'd heard of it. Would have loved to have been at SJP.

The 8 games is an insurance thing - he might not want to manage us if we go down. If we stay up he's sticking around unless something drastic happens. I think it's going to be used firstly as a means to keep us up and secondly to see if Shearer enjoys the job and can work with Ashley/Llambias. A trial period. They're not as daft as to think he could keep us up, then express interest in the job, and then bring Kinnear back. It works both ways though... he might not fancy it. Personally I can see him getting "the bug" for management, keeping us up, and then keeping the job.

Click here to see the in-car interviews with Bassong, Beye, Enrique and Edgar on Alan Shearer's appointment I promise that Mr. Astley won't hijack your browser.

I am erect at the prospect of this atmosphere tomorrow.

Hull have a worse run-in than us, after doing that BBC predictor. They are an awful, awful team too. Don't really want them to go down but if it's between them and us, then fuck them. Looking at their fixtures has given me some hope. We survive by 1 point based on my predictions. I have us winning 3 games and drawing 1. Hull could win 2 and lose the rest in that instance and go down on goal difference.

Actually, late fitness test for him according to a Chelsea website... bugger.

Aye, Anelka is definitely ninja'd.

It would do, aye, if it's right. Let's hope so. Bosingwa will be a big, big miss too.

He'll make some substitution that the huckle masses get up in arms about. And aye, it'll probably involved Martins coming off...

Didn't Allardyce try to impose a bit of discipline, and the squad turned on him? Start of the end, like. Stunning comparison.

Caulkin is a quality writer like, love reading his stuff and he does seem to have a royal soft spot for the Toon. Love the bits about Xisco, Enrique and Jonas in particular. Amazing the difference one man, one decision, can make.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/newcastle/article6024794.ece

People need to learn how to use the hyperlink function like!!

you get the best out of Nicky Butt by getting him as far away from the first team as possible I can see Shearer using the likes of Owen, Butt and Harper as his blue chip boys. The 'steady-eddies' if you like... With Shearer in charge I think we can safely say that providing we survive, Butt will not be anywhere near the team next season He'll have a massive part to play in our run-in though, much like he did last season.

KK has managed these players. He got them playing fantastically well for a period. Surely he's Shearer's most valuable resource for that reason alone? I would hope he's willing to help Al with advice as much as possible. There's nobody more qualified to do so.

Glad he'll be speaking to KK like. Really glad. Can hopefully get some tips on how to get the best out of the likes of Nicky Butt and the forwards. Hell, might even convince him to play 4-3-3 again...

Like I constantly stated when Keegan was here (even when he was bringing Oba off instead of Owen and getting dog's abuse from people sat around me - ended up winning that game from what I recall), all we can do is trust Shearer's judgement. At the end of the day we're the punters, he's the bloke in there every day seeing training, seeing how players are and making the decisions, along with Dowie (who sounds a sensible bloke, it must be said). Like Keegan, he deserves the chance to do it his way with as little criticism as possible. Our job is to get behind him and the team. I wouldn't usually advocate blind faith, but it's about all we've got left now.

Ashley's got it wrong again, by the looks of it. Should have rang you up on Saturday.

Speaking of SSN, this brunette presenter lass who is on now =

At the end of the day, Owen is the marquee player in the squad, he's the club captain, he's the most proven player we've got in terms of quality. People are quick to forget how good/important he was under Keegan when fit and confident last season and you'd hope to see more of the same across these 8 games. He's been a waste of a shirt at times apart from then, though, but surely a fully-fit, confident and on-form Michael Owen is the biggest asset this football club has on the playing side. I appreciate how much Oba brings to the team (at times) as well though and would put him right up near to Owen with the same parameters applied (fit, confident, on-form), so I hope he's been told the same by Al and will partner Mickey... or we just go 4-3-3 again... Not wanting to dampen anything - and pure speculation - but it'll be interesting to see how Al rates Oba. To me it seemed like he never fancied playing alongside Lua Lua, the player who I'd consider most like Martins from Al's time as a player here - too unpredictable, not as much of a team player, etc.

Aye, howay man. No chance. Think they're trying to keep the pressure off Al as much as possible. If Shearer keeps us up does anybody really think he'll walk away/be sacked off for Kinnear? Bollocks man.

Also, I would like to state for the record that there's only one Alan Shearer... one Alan Shearer... and that I'm walking along, singing a song, walking in a Shearer wonderland.