Rich

Same here, a taxi driver told me that Cho said something about "arse" and "rocket".

Also, more comments in 2 hours than any article since early September, 270 votes in the same timeframe and the fact it's already in NewsNow's "top stories" supports the fact that it was probably a good call, from a certain perspective at least. I understand that my capitalist side is shining through here again, mind.

Aye, exactly, the bias thing is key. It's not like the article attempts to lead the readership either way and in the comments section there are good points being made from both sides of the wall.

It's what the site is for though isn't it, for fans to give their views? Given that this is by far the biggest issue at our club right now, it's got to be touched upon. It's my view that SA is under immense pressure right now and the tabloids are starting to go after him, I don't think we need to add to that scenario right at this moment. Just my opinion. Agree, Mr P. blueyes.gif Why give them ammunition? I do agree as well, to be perfectly honest and I was hesitant about posting it (in fairness it's the first time we've done something like this after a lot of support for the "new" NUFC). But we can't shy away from the issues, at the end of the day, I can't help but feel it's unfair if we run the website with such a bias. Especially when 62% of the readership (at the moment) clearly want him gone. At the end of the day it's a poll on a website that will get about 1,500 votes if left to run for a while, it's not exactly highly-credible and unfortunately we're probably not as important as Parky likes to think/Steveintoon has been told.

Think he's mistaken about Essien, but the rest are definitely out. His suspension doesn't start til next Wed.

Shearer obviously doesn't rate him.

Apologies, haven't been on here since Boxing Day night, so completely missed that! I'll merge.

Also, while Sam Allardyce (and previous managers) probably work ridiculous hours and get barely any sleep, while getting paid less than the arseholes they manage (and who make or break them, most of the time) these players have to train perhaps once a day for a couple of hours (fucking run about and play football!) and then fill their hours with golf/shagging/shopping/playing consoles/doing recreational activities... You can see the toll managing takes on the face of every man who has done the job in the Premiership for as long as I remember, it ages people to fuck because it's non-stop, high-pressure... I'm probably just bitter, but it absolutely winds the fuck out of me.

Started this because while Allardyce does deserve a lot of stick, the blame does need to be shared around some of the underperforming and oft-overpaid players that we have and have had on the books here at NUFC. I can't remember the last time I saw one of our players "give their bollocks" for the shirt - well actually, Scott Parker against Arsenal under Souness was probably the last shining example - and although I do understand that good application and attitude only gets you so far we don't get it enough from our players. They showed against Arsenal that they CAN harry and hassle opposing teams for 90 minutes without exhausting themselves, but why the fuck should we, as fans, only get that a few times a season? Surely giving 100% for this club is the minimum ask of our players and I feel personally let-down by the majority of them, who I feel usually couldn't give two shits. Anyone else feel the same?

As fans, our sights seem constantly trained on managers and chairman, while the majority of the playing staff seem to get a fairly easy ride (and bigger wages than managers, for the most part). All I'm asking is for people to expand their vision a bit in order to find out whether we believe that, on the whole, we get value for money out of our playing squad. Do people agree that players get away with murder most times, when compared to managers? Do people believe that the players have to take their share of blame for the events of the past few seasons (and even under Robson)? Who are the main culprits? Who doesn't deserve to be lumped in to this? Is it fair for a player to give less than their best if they don't like training/tactics/the manager?

For what's is worth, I voted "yes" in the poll... simply because I think he's already too far gone. Don't necessarily agree with it mind.

Think some people just try to look for the best in everything. Not saying either way is right or wrong, but there's usually method to the madness. It's not always about being "right" for everyone.

I'm quite chuffed that without reading the quoted book, I'd managed to suss out Alan Shearer's perspective on football management, re: wingers providing bullets, etc. And yes, this post was intended to be James-ish, while truthful.

Well he should know as he offered him the job. My view on things these days an' all

If anyone wants to make their views known on the main page, there's a poll/comments section just been posted up asking this question. www.newcastle-online.com 140+ votes already, only been up for an hour.

Don't really like/respect any of the current mob these days, which is a real shame.

Believe most are basing their opinion on displays for the Croatian national team who's matches ( albeit limited) are televised (Sky Sports, Eurosports etc). And Football Manager, of course, where he's been very handy for the last few versions...

Surely there are any number of managers clearly better than Fat Sam. Do the rules of your game specify that this manager has to be without a job? Its just that two of our 3 last managers were at other clubs, so is all you want a list of managers who are better than Allardyce? Only Souness came from another club, didn't he? I include all managers back to Keegan in that, an' all. sorry, current and one before last. Cos lets not pretend Allardyce was randomly out of work. Oh, you old cynic you. I genuinely think he was, actually, Shepherd saw the opening and took it. The funny thing is - hold on, it's not fucking funny at all actually - that even Souness was on the verge of being sacked before we PAID Blackburn for his "services"...

Surely there are any number of managers clearly better than Fat Sam. Do the rules of your game specify that this manager has to be without a job? Its just that two of our 3 last managers were at other clubs, so is all you want a list of managers who are better than Allardyce? Only Souness came from another club, didn't he? I include all managers back to Keegan in that, an' all.

Also, I firmly believe he'll play wide, direct, attacking football and build the team around a "Shearer-lite" sort of player... much in the same way Keegan and Robson worked (post Andy Cole, at least.) Two good wingers and at least one target man... I personally wouldn't complain, but some would.

I genuinely think he's the only man the moronic majority will give their patience to, so I suppose that's me supporting his potential appointment. If Allardyce is the best British manager we could have got (which most people still stand by) then our only option next time is to look abroad and get a foreign manager with good pedigree, who would again probably require a decent bedding-in period. Do people genuinely have faith in our support to give someone like that their backing? I'd personally be aghast if we brought in an O'Leary sort to replace Allardyce - so Shearer is the only genuine option from these shores. The fairytale appointment for the soap opera club. Big Al wouldn't take the job unless given a hefty warchest and full backing of the board, which would obviously be a good thing if it was Ashley's own money put into it and not done in a way which could harm the club, and he wouldn't have a far stretch to go in order to play better football than we are now, which would instantly buy him more time. He would command respect of the players and could probably attract a higher standard of player than Allardyce, simply because of his legend and like robster and others have said, even if he failed it would eliminate the shadow that he still casts over St. James'. He's the one with everything to lose, not us (unless we were relegated, of course.)

Think we've missed the boat there, personally.

Amazingly, we've got the same points as we had in 03/04 under Robson after Boxing Day, this has been our best return points wise for 5 seasons. What that doesn't tell you is that we need to play the top four 6 times in our remaining 17 matches and that the football has been atrocious for the most part, though.

He looks miserable as fuck to me, even when compared with last season. Wouldn't be surprised to see both him and Harper exit the club in the near future.

Serious question, you little runt