chicago_shearer

It might have to do with our squad having very little character or leadership. We play to the level of our opponents because we allow them to dictate the way the game is played. It's probably not a question of our players consciously raising their level of performance, but always being the in the mode of responding to the situation as oppose to having their own style & tempo and imposing that on the match.

Was on Setanta wasn't it?

I agree. I think Alex will leave if Man Utd win the title. Mourinho could leave regardless, and Wenger might walk out if Arsenal's American takeover goes through. What a mad summer it would be if all three of those jobs were going.

So long as we allow him to move on at the end of the season.

Anyone see Robson & Shepherd sitting together? Is that a usual occurance?

Because? He's shit.

Had the chance to take all 3 points. Good performance - but it may have the unexpectedly poor result of Man U winning the title and Bramble getting a new contract.

Sounds possible. We are overdue one of those results where we give the appearence of being a half-decent side, that gives people something to point to as evidence that wholesale changes aren't necessary.

Well if Man Utd drop 2 points here then it gives Chelsea even more incentive to pick up 3 tomorrow as that will essentially put them in the driver's seat for the title. Not good for us (even if I would LUV to see Man Utd blow a 9 point lead.)

Southampton 1 Leeds 0 Looks like they are going down.

I'd become a general supporter....probably watching the 'big' matches (El Clasico, Milan Derby, Man Utd/Liverpool, Champions League, Cup finals etc.) but not really caring who won or lost ant just enjoying the sport. I imagine it would be a very rewarding experience actually. No ruined weekends and no frustration.

Outside the top 4 then I take it? 1. Allardyce. Complete bastard but gets the results. 2. O'Neill. Villa are shit, but I still rate him as a decent manager. 3. Redknapp. Does well in the transfer market.

It doesn't matter. A top manager demands success and clubs don't become successful by getting the best out of poor players. Maybe Luque would perform better under someone else, but we've seen very little evidence that any of the others are even capable of improvement. A top manager recognizes that fact, a poor one doesn't.

Someone posted it in the new kit thread - the back of the kit is solid black and the lettering is white.

That's where the analogy falls flat. Man United are Premiership rivals...if we sell them Owen at cut price they will benefit, he will certainly score a hat trick at SJP, and we will be left with whatever Boumsong or Luque or Viana or Maric we can get for 12 million. No way this will benefit us. Given our transfer history, what on earth do you think is going to happen to that 12 million? Does cashing in on Woodgate still look like a good idea given the absolute s**** we have playing in defence? Here's a novel idea....why don't we do what other clubs seem to manage and sell our shit players while buying decent replacements instead of the other way around? We found someone to buy Amady Faye and Jermaine Jenas FFS....if we do need to sell before we can buy then let's get a few million for Luque, Carr, Babayaro, Bramble etc.

Golf?? Surely Greg Norman is a relative or close friend? Last time I cried over football was after England went out of France '98. Mostly tears of drunken frustration at wanting to punch that bastard Roa in the face.

If we sold Owen, it would leave us with a terrible squad minus the one truly class player on our books and 12 million in the pocket of our greedy, manipulative chairman and his useless, struggling manager that has already proven his incompetence in the transfer market. How does that improve the team? You think that money will then be spent on quality defenders and a partner for the good (but somewhat overrated) Oba? What club have you been supporting? A fat f****** chance. It will go to the ground expansion project and new contracts for existing players. Even if there is re-investment, is Glenn Roeder the man you want spending it? In short, a monumentally stupid idea from the s*** stirring tabloids that want to see Owen out of Newcastle.

If fat fred cannot stop him... just get rid of him... i guess Yeah, lets get rid of our best player eh? I'm sure due to our status in the game we can attract someone better. Best player my arse... when it happen? The attitude towards Owen on this forum is beyond ridiculous. He had a very serious injury, it wasn't his fault. We all watched it happen. So he makes all the right noises during his injury comeback about how much he wants to be at the club (and gets mocked for it on here), he looks happy enough in training, and there is no real indication that he wants to leave. So why the hate? He gets paid lots of money? He wants to play for his country? Is this club so blatantly insecure that we can't have a world class player in the squad without questioning his motive for wanting to be here? This article is blantantly tabloid shit stirring, don't play along FFS.

I'd have him just for his website.

I agree with that - I'd make him the first choice target. Would cost far less than Baines or Bale.

It would be a way of getting around a straight sacking, but it would be difficult to do without publically undermining Roeder. It's one of those things that sounds a good idea (the embarassment and inevitable disappointment of finding yet another manager) but it probably wouldn't work because the question "Whose in charge?" would never go away.

Think he'll be on the bench this Saturday?

Ferguson's head might actually explode if that happened. Whatever happens, I think this will be his last season. Not many people have mentioned it yet, but I can't see him staying on if they win either the Champions League or the league.

It would either be a stunning success or a fantastic failure. This is a strange club. You could definitely say goodbye to sentimental wasters like Lee Clark, Ramage, etc, but I don't know whether his style would work in the Premiership.

When I clicked on this thread I was expecting TEAMTalk or some such nonsense. The fact that it's the Times is very worrying. Sven would be a massive gamble.