Rich

I'm willing this bloke to deliver for us, I really am. I think and hope he has a big part to play here under Keegan and I wouldn't be averse to seeing a Barton/Emre midfield given a proper run, despite some misgivings about defensive solidity and all that. But for fuck's sake, we've had Nicky Butt and Alan Smith in there for most of the season, so can it really be much worse? Good luck to the pair of them and I hope they both start tomorrow. Fuck knows, we might see some passes getting played if they do. For all that people will be on the "that central midfield lacks strength/can't tackle" bandwagon (seriously, all it takes is one or two people to make a comment and it's soon a stock phrase on here) do we really have that much to lose by dropping the likes of Nicky Butt from the starting XI? If we had a bulldozer in there like a Diop or an Essien who was charging around and bullying people then I'd understand it, but we don't and we haven't had since the might of Amdy Faye. "Breaking up play", "winning the midfield battle" and "spreading it around" are hardly phrases we've seen anywhere when referring to our football this season, so what changes? I hope Keegan stays true to his philosophy and gives them a whirl.

That is well worth a watch by the way, I would do a transcript of the best bits, but I can't be arsed. Some very important comments on Wise/Jimenez/Vetere, he knew about it all, bar who the DOF would actually be, we tried to hijack the Woodgate deal but were too late, he would have picked Beckham, he realises that we are playing with fear and not trying anything risky on the field which is stifling our creativity, he goes into a lot more detail on Joey Barton, explaining how he has always had to fight for everything and he really thinks prison has gave him a reality check... Final question was this: Garth Crooks - "Given the right resources, I feel there is no doubt that Kevin Keegan can bring success to this club. The question is, has Mike Ashley promised you the resources to do this job?" Kevin Keegan - "It's definitely there for us, I mean don't be fooled by this transfer window. That was my choice not to bring in - we could have brought in 4 or 5 players and spent some money." He didn't feel the players available or that he was offered were good enough, though, and I should really add that he goes onto say that when the summer comes he'll have a better handle on the squad and will bring in players who will take us to the next level (top six).

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/football_focus/default.stm The whole interview is available there, it's much more than what was on Football Focus on BBC1 earlier. Some very interesting bits.

Sunday 1.30pm is a poor time for a football match.

2-0! Get in there. Speccy's sumgness will have been dealt another blow. Good times

I'll hoy my team prediction in before I bugger off for the train back: Given Carr Taylor Cacapa N'Zogbia Milner Butt Emre Duff Owen Viduka SUBS: Harper, Edgar, Barton, Smith, Ameobi. Not as easy to call as usual, but I think the major decision is between Barton and Emre in the middle of the park alongside Butt, personally, I'm pretty confident on the rest of the line-up being so.

Both from Craig Hope at NUFC.co.uk, basically just reporting what Wise said in his video interview on the site...

The Journal only says that Beye and Faye COULD be back on Sunday, not that they WILL, which tells us nowt really. They also have an entire article on the 4 new younsters we've signed... totally missing Soderberg... SUPERLOON talking tosh again unfortunately.

What are you trying to say!?!

SUPERTOON was far, far worse.

You sad man

Chimbonda not going anywhere apparently.

Think he'll be very good for you, like.

>

That bloke has his own ITK thread, so there might be some substance to it. He has reignited the fire inside of me.

Brummie has started lashing out, this window has turned him from genial visiting fan into Virgin Media baiter. Distressing.

Not coincidental our plummet seemed to coincide with him leaving We weren't exactly flying high when he was here, were we? Neither were we in the mess we are in now, though eh ? Erm, we had 1 less point 2 years ago at this stage of the season mate. Souness was still here. Short memory.

He's playing well for Villareal in La Liga (they're 3rd), got 11 goals in 23 appearances for them this season (hasn't completed many games). Cost them £6-7M.

I'd love to know SSN's viewership on days like this, and how much they make off the adverts for it. I had it on when I got up as background noise and haven't had it on since. They have a few good segments and are usually among the first to break the news, but it's fucking woeful viewing the rest of the time.

Like people have said though, we could have probably had Barnes/Kalouda if we'd gone for it a bit more, Woodgate might have even been viable if we'd been quicker off the mark. I think people would have been pretty satisfied with those three coming in, personally, and there'd be a lot more optimism around the place. I think that's what has frustrated people more than anything, the fact that we probably could have got players that we were definitely in for. Being an eternal optimist, I'm not giving up the ghost just yet, because this place is in dire need of a boost again... it's all a smokescreen... Yea but you dont know for a fact that those players would of came here, Who said it has been Newcastle's fault? Perhaps Derby were asking for to much and didnt KK say the Woodgate deal was 90% by the time Newcastle had a chance to put a bid in. It seems like people are making up senario's in their heads and then believing them, then coming on here and ripping into Newcastle. Some are talking shite as always, aye, but others are voicing valid concerns. It's unfair to lump everyone into the same bracket. It's difficult without knowing all of the facts, as always, but you have to admit that a lot of our activity in the window has left a lot of people underwhelmed for genuine reasons. 91 minutes left for something magical to happen...

Like people have said though, we could have probably had Barnes/Kalouda if we'd gone for it a bit more, Woodgate might have even been viable if we'd been quicker off the mark. I think people would have been pretty satisfied with those three coming in, personally, and there'd be a lot more optimism around the place. I think that's what has frustrated people more than anything, the fact that we probably could have got players that we were definitely in for. Being an eternal optimist, I'm not giving up the ghost just yet, because this place is in dire need of a boost again... it's all a smokescreen...

Failed his medical but signed him anyway... it'll all end in tears (and fits of laughter from me). Don't think he actually failed the medical, or if he did then Spurs have got him cheaper. For once the Spurs ITK's got this one right, as MJ was on here much earlier today saying the deal would still go through but at a reduced price. They had Hertha by the short and curlies apparently.

Gilberto signs for Spurs, Gardner on loan to Everton.

Hes a big Newcastle fan IRL, or was when young. Certainly remember some comentators saying it a few times in Dutch league games. Aye, I didn't think it was a mistake but it was just funny seeing this South African kid playing for Ajax/Dortmund who supported us, amongst the obvious ones like Shearer, Clark, Watson, Beardsley, etc.

Always liked him and a bit sad it's ended like this. One of those players you have to persevere with. I'm sure he'll do fine at Lazio and putting all the hysterical good-riddance stuff aside, it is only fair to remember he was thrown in to a completely new def around him in a new league yada yada..Look at Dawson ffs..He really is a blunder a game merchant. Aye. It'd be acceptable if the rest of the team had been great, but there aren't (m)any who can take much pride from their performances overall this season. Think some of the bile about him is way over the top and disgusting, in some cases, to be blunt about it. Aye he was weak, but he had decent pace, could use both feet, could play a bit... he wasn't exactly shite. Didn't work out for him for whatever reason and it's a shame because a lot had high hopes for him after some of his early performances. People love their scapegoats, mind, it'll be interesting to see whose next.