Mowen

Exactly. You wouldn't see Wise & Poyet walking into the Chelsea job. Pre-Abramovich it wouldn't have surprised me too much.

What SWP did at Man City was so far superior to anything Lennon's done it's ridiculous. Don't believe it myself, but if true and Spurs didn't bite their hands off, I'd be astounded.

five's coverage is bang on. Not only do they have the funniest commentry team known to man (two senile old blokes having a nice chat about the game yet managing to include the phrases "small tug", "big balls" and "fisted") but Murry said the phrase "big guns" at least 4 times tonight. I lost count of the times I was pissing myself directly due to something one of the 5 team had said. World Class.

Parker and Dyer wwould be my first choice centre mid partnership, Butt is a more natural defensive player but I think Parker is better than him in terms of workrate, pace and stamina. Drop Emre if anyone.

Luque: 3 starts - 3 goals Which 3 starts are these? Couldn't be arsed to read the topic in full, but iirc his only goals for us are against Lillestrom, Palermo and S*nd*rl*nd (didn't start?). If anyone is counting his goal against Celtic in the testimonial then that's hilarious. Hopefully this is the start of something special, I won't be holding my breath though. I would genuinely love him to be a great player for us, and tonight was an improvement on what I've seen before, but I'm just not sure I can ever see him justifying his price tag.

I agree with this. MOTM, and an awesome debut, but I'm surprised people are biging up his kicking, which seemed to be his major weakness. Banged it out to Palermo players along the ground a couple of times. On the other hand, what a man.

Right, I'll give this a go. NE5, I think it's fair to say that there will be few who disagree with your assertion that we are under the best board for many a year. We have done very well of late, and I guess that has spoilt us as fans, to a certain extent. However, where I feel your argument falls down a little is when you look at managers. I believe (although I may be wrong) that you were one of those who wanted Bobby to leave earlier than he did. (Apologies if not true). Bobby was, as few can argue against, an excellent manager who took us forward and did a number of good things for the club. However, the reason people wanted him out was because he was starting to take them backwards again, and he was no longer what was best for NUFC. Whilst I understand that chairmen and managers are not the same, do you not think it is conceivable that people could be thinking the same about Freddy? Great things have happened over the past 13 or so years, but do you not think that the appointments of Roeder and Souness could possibly be pointing to the fact that he's taken us as far as he can? I'm not really sure which side I'm on at the moment - there seems to be solid arguments for each side - although when one side is proven to be better over the next ten years no doubt I'll be claiming that I was saying that all along :winking:

Agree with you, he really worked his socks off yesterday, and although his goal came from some shocking defending it epitomised his play, as he was constantly closing down and harrying defenders, giving them no time on the ball. His passing and vision has impressed me a lot as well, even during a few brief moments in the Tallinn game - there was one incident I seem to remember where he put Parker through with an excellent ball. However, lets hope he can keep improving, he's not the finished article yet, but judging by how many times his name was sung yesterday he's certainly won a lot of fans.

Just got some money on Spurs to beat Fulham at 8/13. Seemed like a fairly safe bet to me.

I think I might start using Stevie as my tipster - he seems to know his stuff! Put the same on as him except Spurs to beat Fulham at 8/13 instead of the Hull match. £1 on, £9.75 returns. Last of the big spenders....

Correct. And whoever else the West Hammers throw at us. He's a beast.

Beside the point. I think everyone expects they will do well, but are questioning why they are rated quite so highly. I read on a number of occassions that Liverpool could push Chelsea all the way this season, and I think it's more than valid to argue with that.

One thing I've learnt this season. Stop putting Newcastle in accumulators :wullie: Would have won £50 had they held on to a win.

I agree with the sentiment, but did Bellamy ever really chance his arm from distance? Emre is another who can give us this threat, had a couple of decent digs last night.

Yes. You also should get it refunded if Nobby had come on, but wasn't on the pitch when the first goal was scored. EDIT: That may be slightly misleading, if someone hadn't come on when the first goal was scored (ie had played no part yet) it would be refunded, but if they start, get subbed off and then the first goal comes then it wouldn't be refunded.

You'll be getting that refunded I would imagine, I thought he wasn't fit?

I like the derby matches myself. I've said this before, but the best scenario for the mackems in my view would be for them to be in the PL so that we get the tension of the derby games. I'd like them to make a couple of signings every summer to get them excited and to think they're going places, only for reality to kick in during the first month of the season that it's another struggle. I'd like them to survive every season by virtue of a single goal or something, so that they spend the entire season watching shite and in fear of the drop. Fair enough, they'd be relieved at avoiding it in the end, but then for every season to be the same, season after season of struggle but we still get to beat them in the derby games. blueyes.gif Perfect scenario in my book. Although I'm not sure enjoy is the right word for derby matches....I enjoy the result if we win, obviously, and I enjoy us scoring, but for the most park I'm a bag of nerves during a derby, almost too nervous to enjoy it.

Amazed that anyone could have the time to do that......

I've got a pound a point on with a pompey fan over the season, but they get a six point headstart - also a pint a goal during the matches which we will hopefully be able to watch in the pub! Also got a pound a point on with a Blackburn fan. Last season had a tenner on with a mate that we'd finish above Bolton, halfway through the season he was calling me an idiot etc., etc. - very sweet when Bramble bagged against Chelsea!

Was that not the treble that liverpool did a few years ago?

Absolutley. I don't want to get involved with this thread, as they all seem to go in circles, but this seems to sum it up perfectly. They are an improvement on the past - obviously. They're not perfect, and some people won't accept that. There is some interesting debate in these threads, but they just seem to get so bogged down in petty argument. Well, I don't think the board are perfect, and have never said so. All I have done is put the last decade into its context, and point out how much better off we are than we were for over 30 years pre-1992, and in doing so point out the reality of the fact that replacing them with better people would be a very difficult task and certainly not an automatic improvement, like some appear to think, although they don't refute the facts that are posted up to back up my own comments. At the moment, I would like Mick to respond, but I'm sure in a mature forum, he will. Sorry, just realised I posted in an ambiguous way. What I meant by saying "They're not perfect, and some people won't accept that." is that some people seem unwilling to accept a board that isn't perfect, looking back could have been phrased much better! Will edit.

Absolutley. I don't want to get involved with this thread, as they all seem to go in circles, but this seems to sum it up perfectly. They are an improvement on the past - obviously. They're not perfect, and some people seem not to want to accept a board that isn't. There is some interesting debate in these threads, but they just seem to get so bogged down in petty argument.

Why? Because someone felt that the best course of action would be to stick with someone who would cost about £3m to pay off rather then sack him immediatly, they're not allowed to express an opinion on who they want next? No, because anyone who thought that we wouldn't lose more than £3m by keeping on an incompetent, lying coward was a complete fucking cretin. You missed out the "imo". I agree, anyone who was wrong in the past shouldn't be allowed to express an opinion about the future

Quite frankly, I think that is a ridiculous argument. Spurs haven't beaten Liverpool, manure or Chelsea either, does that mean Martin Jol can't give Spurs a chance of competing with the best? Of course it doesn't, nor can that argument be levelled at Glenn Roeder either. What makes you think he hasn't got the attributes to get Newcastle to the CL? He got the spanners to 7th in the premiership with practically no transfer money at all. One thing is for certain. If he doesn't get the top job, there will be plenty of clubs who have seen what he can do and will. I don't think you will see Roeder back in the Academy, time for something better, either at Newcastle or elsewhere. He also took the same, very talented, team down the next season. Speaking to my WHam mate recently I commented on what a good job Roeder has done for us - he said the same thing of their first non-full season with him. The next season, according to him, they were dreadful. I believe Roeder has done exceptionally well for us as caretaker manager, but that's all it should be in my opinion.

Why? Because someone felt that the best course of action would be to stick with someone who would cost about £3m to pay off rather then sack him immediatly, they're not allowed to express an opinion on who they want next?