OzzieMandias

Indeed, doing marginally better than both clubs, though doing marginally worse than the mackems and Bolton.

I post less than I used to for a variety of reasons, and I'm actually well happy that Leazes is no longer around. Meanwhle, I find the rampant negativity boring, and can't be arsed to engage very often with those who delight in making the most pessimistic predictions they can come up with. As this thread was meant to point out, things aren't actually so bad. Glorious hypocrisy from somebody who signed up solely to whinge about Freddy Shepherd. And I remain completely convinced that club would be in a much better state now if Shepherd had gone about three years before he did. Meanwhile, at the beginning of last season, I remember many on here -- can't honestly recall if you were one of them, Wullie, but I'd be surprised if you weren't -- confidently predicting that we'd be in League One by now. How fucking wrong you can be? I see no hypocrisy, therefore, in pointing out that, despite all the grandstanding miserablism from moaning ninnies such as yourself, right now, both on and off the pitch, we're in a better state than we were when Ashley bought the club. Thanks for contributing to the bright-side thread!

I post less than I used to for a variety of reasons, and I'm actually well happy that Leazes is no longer around. Meanwhle, I find the rampant negativity boring, and can't be arsed to engage very often with those who delight in making the most pessimistic predictions they can come up with. As this thread was meant to point out, things aren't actually so bad.

You're deteriorating as a poster, Dave. So boringly bitter. It's sad to see.

No, people were saying that Caroll wasn't worth a SECOND pay increase in one season, having just signed a new contract in September. I believe they offered to renegotiate in the summer, which seemed fair enough to me. Or a better deal to protect the asset. I am surprised people still think we sold because of a transfer request & a pay rise WE sold because of a £35 million bid. we sold because of all 3., if not there was no need for the request. Do you honestly think if he did not put a transfer request in he would still be here? That only came about because of the messing around. Yep.

Tioté signing an improved, extended contrast is surely excellent news. Even the forum's hardcore misery-mongers are struggling to put a negative gloss on that one.

No, people were saying that Caroll wasn't worth a SECOND pay increase in one season, having just signed a new contract in September. I believe they offered to renegotiate in the summer, which seemed fair enough to me.

If they mean fuck all, then why does it matter whether he gets offered one now or in the summer? By the time summer comes, the likes of Man City and Chelsea won't give a fuck that he signed a contract in February, as we saw with Carroll/Liverpool. At least if it was offered May/June it would have signalled that he was not available under any circumstances during that window. On the other hand maybe they thought it wise to quell the speculation early, and get our best player concentrated on the job while the season still holds some promise. Obviously, quelling your kind of speculation is impossible.

We're the same age Ozzie but I got to the match a couple of years before you - posted earlier. The season we began against Soton 3-0 was the first season I saw every home game - I made it a mission and had a scrapbook with reports of every game. I guess I might have gone earlier had my dad, who eventually started taking me and my brother to matches, not been a Liverpool supporter. I went to a few other games that season, but the only one I can really remember is the 3-4 against Man City, which was a brilliant game, even though we lost. (Looking at the stats for that season, we had a home crowd of 59,679 against Sunderland and, incredibly, another of 59,569 for an FA Cup 3rd round tie against Carlisle.)

August 1967, first league game of the season, at home to Southampton. I was 11 years old. Stood in the Gallowgate. We won 3–0. Only thing I can really remember from the match is Gordon Marshall saving a penalty at the Leazes End with a dive to his right.

Having some local lads gives a team character, but is not essential to success. The only thing essential to success these days is money.

He was attacked by the Driscoll brothers. They never touch the face but knock hell out of the body. Nice Only Fools reference. What's he holding in the top picture?

Don't confuse the poor fellow with facts.

Nonsense, man. Half the of the fans are currently moaning about something that may or may not happen months and months from now.

His agent's seen the Carroll money and thought, "we'll have some of that, and if not I can probably get him a better deal somewhere else." The interview puts him in the shop window and, conducted in Spain, allows the player some plausible deniability.

My favourite Newcastle manager ever. True character, genuine gentleman, class manager.

and we can comment on how he likes to spend it extravagantly in public but be a tight b****** when it comes to Newcastle. he's a tight b****** cos he hasn't spent as much as you'd like him to ? He's spent plenty where his priorities lay. Or where he couldn't give a s*** like the odd casino here or there. That's all I'm saying. right i give in you win, he shouldn't have any life, he should just throw all his cash into nufc, if he doesn't he's tight b******. That's just it...he isn't a tight b******. Except when it comes to NUFC. yet the club owes him over 100million pounds ? No one forced him to hand over the money to Shepherd and Hall. that was around 80mill, since than he's put in around another 100million. Another £136.5 million as of the last published accounts.

Maybe Insomnia doesn't want to come back here.

Try looking at Everton and the sale of Rooney. Maybe that'll help you figure it out.

One "it ain't so bad" thread is obviously one too many for the rampant forces of negativity to stomach.

Though he's not the greatest footballer, his mental attitude seems to be spot on. He doesn't get deterred. He hangs in there. He's determined to take his chance and make the most of what he's got. Got to give him a thumbs-up for that, and it suits the atmosphere of the current squad.

Agree completely. It's probably the main reason that we weathered the transition from Hughton to Pardew so well (though Pardew himself must take some of the credit), and then the transition from Carroll to non-Carroll. Nolan and Barton seem to be at the heart of this good spirit. Funny to think of Joey the Scally being a force for stability.

Pretty much agree with this. Impossible to tell if Pards is an 'upgrade' on Hughton. Looks like one to me.