Rich

I thought his contract was expiring in the summer?

The way it's written, formatted, scructured... I know it's from the Sunday Sun, and I shouldn't be expecting anything brilliant, but it's utterly average and not at all easy to read. Barely scratches the surface on most points, as well.

Agree strongly with all of the bits in bold and I've been saying similar for a while now, and it was plainly obvious when Speed left who the real leader was. If I remember correctly, Speedo used to get absolutely mountains of abuse at the time as well for his "inability to pass" and a host of other things, I was probably one of the ones who didn't rate him much at the time as well. But then, you don't really think of what players offer to the team outside of their obvious football ability, do you? Especially when you don't know much better. If this sounds like some sort of veiled Parker defence, it's not, as I would also prefer us to have someone else captaining the team (although as I've already said I see no obvious candidates in the current crop). Like I've said, though, we're going to have to buy leaders this summer if we want them. We need a leading centre-half (or 2, if possibly) like nobody's business, we need Given to keep up being as loud as he was today, we need Michael Owen back in the team on a regular basis and we need Parker to come good. Because quite simply, Roeder won't sell him, drop him or remove the captaincy from him unless something untoward happens or he gets a bad injury. There isn't a captain in the entire squad, though, the vast majority wouldn't say "boo" to a goose.

Not sure it's a done deal yet, is it? But I'm sure I remember "2 years" being mentioned...

Don't know how you'd know that seeing as we've never bothered with them roeder is a tactician Has to be a windup surely.. I'm yet to see Newcastle use any 'tactics' We have the long ball to Sibierski, the long ball to Milner, I've seen the wingers swap sides before and against AZ we tried that nifty free-kick with Dyer/Solano (funnily enough on the SECOND free-kick we got, for some reason). If those aren't tactics, then I don't know what are! All of that in over a year, as well, just think how far we'll progress by next March!

3 goals in 11 starts in the PL, plus 11 substitute appearances. Urgh. Has been a revelation in Europe, but is not suited to being the target man when played against defenders who are generally a lot bigger and stronger than he is, unsurprisingly. Don't think he should have started today.

You cheeky goat. Chez was spot-on about the issue needing resolving, though, hence why I'm one of 3 people to vote for a certain option in the poll (I was the first, you know?). The club is like a big rudderless tanker at the minute, at least with Shepherd in complete control we'll have some kind of identity. I genuinely think we'll be better off for it, as well, as the bloke isn't daft enough to take 100% control and then not back his investment, is he? I honestly don't believe that he'll see us relegated. Really. What the feck are our other options, exactly!?

Personally, I'm looking for any excuse under the fucking sun to avoid Man City (h) like the plague.

Ah sense, how I love you.

Wind up statement, but can't resist- sorry: It's easy not to give the ball away when you turn around so much you wind up disappearing up your own arse with it End of wind up Every post you've made in this thread has been a wind-up, man! Cracking way of getting out some tension by replying to them, though. I knew my term on basic crowd physcology would come in usefull - as i wrote in my final year - "left to fester without any release, negative frustrations can manifest themselves into a destructive force" Glad I could help Heh. Exactly mate, exactly. Everyone needs to release something, rather than just bottle it up and right now there's nowt more that riles me personally than attacks on our Wonderful Capitan. Or El Capitan, as I shall call him from now on.

I have to say I'm starting to agree with the sentiments in the opening post of this thread. The most frustrating thing about the last few seasons is that me, as nowt more than a fan, can do fuck all about it... except for the time when I caught the ball at the match, I've had no direct influence on anything to do with Newcastle United (), which is a right fucking ripper when it affects my mood so much on a matchday. How hard would it really be to get something (anything) rolling?

Erm... I have a confession to make...

Play him. Will at least mean less criticism for the members of our team who do actually give a toss when things inevitably go balls-up.

Wind up statement, but can't resist- sorry: It's easy not to give the ball away when you turn around so much you wind up disappearing up your own arse with it End of wind up Every post you've made in this thread has been a wind-up, man! Cracking way of getting out some tension by replying to them, though.

Oh aye, which is why I've said in a previous thread on here that "at least he accepts the responsibility". I honestly can't see a viable alternative though in the current squad, we are going to have to buy a captain to take the armband off him, if that's even possible to do.

Who does, though? Who in our entire squad seems to do this "talking" that people speak of? Something to 'work on' perhaps? Roeder's already said we're going to be buying loads of these "talkers", though. Let's hope that for once he comes through. He does seem to realise it's a problem and I'm sure he is working on it, as you say

Saying that, Given seemed to be screaming in his uber-high squeal far more than usual today, from what the microphones picked up at least. The whole squad is devoid of inspiration from what I can see. Parker seems to be one of the few options in an extremely bad bunch. I don't particularly like the bloke, really, but the flak he takes is unreal. At least the bloke has the bollocks to accept responsibility the majority of the time. He wasn't even as bad as he normally is today, I thought. Cannot believe another thread has cropped up like this when his performance was a lot better than it has been recently. Am I the only one who doesn't see him giving the ball away "all of the time"? I generally tend to think he's one of our only players capable of retaining posession.

Who does, though? Who in our entire squad seems to do this "talking" that people speak of?

Strangely enough, I'm exactly the same. Thats apathy setting in. Im pretty much the same, im very close to beyond giving a fuck anymore. "Apathy"? What's that???

Yip, and last weeks, and last months - he still isn't good enough - why not give the armband to Nicky Butt, a player with experience, maturity and an ability to play the game AND lead the team Nothing against Parker as a person (and I have met him on a few occassions) just he is not good enough to command the most important position in the team AND be captain as well, maybe he will play better without the blood supply in his arm being restricted ! This has got to be a wind-up, surely. Yes, let's make Nicky Butt the captain. He has always shown passion and drive for the cause, especially that one day in Cardiff and for that season where we had to ship him out to Birmingham on loan. Yes, that man who is so full of maturity that he gets involved in countless scraps (AZ being the latest), yes that player who is twice the football player that Scott Parker is. Brilliant idea, mate. I'm all for it. Nicky Butt, the saviour of Newcastle United F.C.

Yeah thats parker.....get a clue MATE Aye, like that time he almost passed-out on the pitch against Arsenal and lost teeth along with it IIRC. He doesn't give a toss, man. Criticise him for his poor play at times but to say he doesn't care for the cause is utter rubbish.

Christ almighty KP, did you SEE the game today? I suppose it makes sense, though. We know Shepherd isn't going anywhere, we know Roeder isn't going anywhere... who's the next logical step in the hierarchy of blame? Of course, Scott Parker. The wheels on the bandwagon go round and round, round and round, round and round...

Good. It's rather nice to see some supporters frustrions reflected in the local rags once in a while, and for that alone Farrington is far from a 'useless bastard'. Shite writing, though, innit? The Journal, IMO, have done a far better job summing up events this week and the lads who write for that aren't even Geordies.

Strangely enough, I'm exactly the same.

Muahahaha. Cheered me up a bit after another 90 minutes of dross. I'll go and watch the Arsenal.