OzzieMandias

Would seem a highly decent choice.

If we've got a "development squad", and I'm glad we're looking at the reserves that way rather than as a kind of bin for players who don't quite make it, I definitely want to see them being developed. These League Cup games are the only opportunity to give our young bucks a run-out in a game that actually means something. And playing against Arsenal's second string gives them something to measure themselves against. Be mad, though, if we play our inexperienced developers, and Arsenal come out with all guns blazing.

All 11 players were contributing at the end of the game, changing the team around could have caused more problems than it solved as it often takes players time to get up to pace. I thought that he was spot on leaving the starting 11 alone for the full game. Agreed. It's not as if at any point in the second half they looked like they were running into trouble. On the other hand, our lead wasn't so unassailable that it would have been a good time to give someone a run-out.

They've actually done well with the ratings: They were by some fan, apparently the author of this book: http://www.learntoloveandbelovedinreturn.com/

Sounds like a different match in the Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/oct/23/west-ham-newcastle-premier-league

Well, I only saw the second half but that was fucking excellent. Should have had another couple, really, and it was a completely dominant performance. Tioté is godlike sometimes. I love those sneaky little turns he does to get clear of someone and move the ball forward. Didn't see anyone put in a bad shift though and that was a real team performance.

Is Nolan smoking a tab there?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2010/oct/20/wayne-rooney-glazers-manchester-united

No footballer is worth 200k a week, f*** me man, the game will seriously suffer if this is the s*** thats happening with players an agents. The clubs, the owners of the clubs, the players/ players union/TV all have a collective responsibility to keep the league competitive. Paying greedy one track minded footballers 200k a week is not one of the ways to do this. Whats going to happen when UEFA enforce the new rules? How will Man City and other funded clubs like themselves resolve rediculous wage structures? Dont just sit and think "this is great its man citys turn now". It not great for the league as a whole, it will turn fans away. Who is to say the next TV deal with Sky wont be less ?? We have massive cuts and peopel losing jobs coming up. f***ing thinking about it for a second man. I have 'f***ing' thought about it. What I don't understand is your view that players shouldn't be paid what they are worth in the market. Wages are, like it or not, affected by whatever clubs are willing to pay. If clubs don't think Rooney is worth 200k a week - they won't pay him 200k a week and Rooney will have to be happy with whatever Man United are willing to offer him. I also still don't understand why you think football should any different from certain other entertainment industries? Football is an entertainment industry. When people think football costs too much, people will stop going and then revenues will fall. Then there will be a realignment of wages etc etc. It is the nature of most, if not all, economic cycles. And quite why players should have any sense of moral obligation not to be paid as much as they want is beyond me. The players don't owe the fans any sense of moral obligation. They are employees of the club and perfectly entitled to negotiate a contract in any fashion they wish. For the sake of a competitive league a grip on wages is the best thing, Rooney or any other footballer is not worth 200k a week. Stop kidding yourself. This stupid wage is down to crazy billionaires breaking the transfer market and pay over the odds for average players. Milner, howay man. Man City are paying way way above market value for these players in transfers and paying them in wages way way way above the market value. This then has a masive knock on effect to other players then thinking its the norm to earn a massive wage. Man City are paying for transfers and salaries way over the market value to take a short cut to the top. I don't think you quite get the concept of "market value".

Do you think Rooney would be what he is today had he came to us in 2004? Sulky, money-grabbing, playing without any heart? Hmm...

It's all about negotiation, though, isn't it? You're "worth" whatever you are able to negotiate for yourself. Rooney's got an extremely good hand, and now he's playing it to cash in on others' willingness and ability to pay up. The sums are ludicrous. But really they've been ludicrous in football for a long time now. The behaviour is mercenary and ruthless, but clubs are every bit as capable of that as players and their agents.

Good summary of where Rooney and Stretford are coming from: http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/rooneys-refusal-to-sign-new-deal-comes-down-to-one-thing-cash-2110323.html

As long as his brother isn't supplying the ladders. He'll be organizing the photo.

i do and i agree with most of what he says about this. I haven't read back through the thread but all I've seen him contribute is rubbish one-liners. Don't blame me because you've got no sense of humour.

Yeah, when I can, though I don't get back to Newcastle that often these days. And when I was first in the Gallowgate, you had to stand and there was no roof. There was no pitchside advertising and no sponsor's logo or sportswear branding on the shirt. Things, like, change.

Do they sell them at Sports Direct, like?

You have no soul mate, no soul. It's been ripped out by Mike Ashley.

To cause a national stir, there would need to be some kind of imaginative, headline-grabbing protest action. Gimp should organize a crack team to climb up there in the dead of night and replace the evil logo with a giant picture of Kevin Keegan's knob.

Nonsense, man. It is the complete and utter destruction of everything the club stands for, and an unforgivable affront to all Geordie helicopter pilots.

The truth is The Fat Cockney b****** is pissing all over the clubs history. how ? We have a good modern stadium which has been on the same site for generations. It means something to people its a real landmark for the city and to have it turned into a glorified advertising hoarding for Ashleys cheap and tacky supplier to the charva nation is pissing on the clubs history. You are totally overreacting ! Takes one to know one.

The truth hysterical overreaction is The Fat Cockney Bastard is pissing all over the clubs history. FYP.

I once sat in the press box at the Estadio da Luz. Thought I'd call my dad before the game, tell him where I was (used to love calling him from surprising places – "Hey, fatha, I'm in the Sahara Desert!"), and all the journos started shouting at me because the call was fucking with their equipment.

Mine rings, with no caller ID. And when I answer there's no human there, just a hollow sound like a vast emptiness -- a void in which I can sense a Presence... watching, waiting...