TRon

Selling Given may not be a popular move but it might be an option we have to consider if it's the only way to release funds. It's similar to the N'Zogbia situation in that it's a position that we can cover and the player wants away. If it means we can strengthen in positions where we are weak then it makes sense IF the money is re-invested.

According to the Journal we are expected to sign a defender this week, no names mentioned though.

A straight swop for Darren Bent might be worth considering. They offered him to Sunderland so he must be available.

I've read the rumour several times in the media. Redknapp doesn't rate him if you believe what you read. He is even lazier with less ability Santos is shit. He plays on the right and is totally left-footed so he cuts in all the time. He's a poor man's Peter Lovenkrands.

I just saw the second half and I didn't see him make a single tackle, he just mostly jogged alongside the player he was tracking. His passing looked ok FWIW.

It could be that he's being taken for a ride, or we could end up making a couple of crucial signings which is why Kinnear is flying to France to take in the Rennes game. It might all be bullshit of course, we'll find out soon enough, when the transfer window closes at the end of the month.

I would agree that Sheherd was more ambitious than Ashley but it wasn't doing us much good by the time he left. I don't see how he could have funded the spending required to keep up with the big boys without putting us into further debt. If he had that sort of money he'd be in for the club when it was up for sale rather than chasing after some second rate Spanish club for 10 or 20 million. The truth is when Hall and Sheperd floated the club on the stock market they were signalling their intention to cash in at some point which is what they did. They cashed in their chips for lots of loot and left for Spain and sunshine.

Is it just me or does anyone else find it strange that after bidding £5m for M'bia Joe's suddenly jumped to talking about putting in a £10m offer? I know Kinnear doesn't live on the same planet as most of us but still...

Like I said earlier in the thread the big difference this transfer window is MAN CITY. The recognised 'Big 4' have had 11 years to come in for him but haven't bothered. Now he's the wrong side of 30 what makes folk think they'll come now? I'd not be surprised at all if City have made their intentions clear to Givens representatives already. Given might already have played his last game for us. If we can screw City for a decent fee then I personally could live with it. Goalkeeper isn't the weakest position we have by a long walk. It makes securing Harper all the more important though. My fear is giving Kinnear any monies raised - the bloke is a useless twat. Like I said earlier in the thread the big difference this transfer window is MAN CITY. The recognised 'Big 4' have had 11 years to come in for him but haven't bothered. Now he's the wrong side of 30 what makes folk think they'll come now? I'd not be surprised at all if City have made their intentions clear to Givens representatives already. Given might already have played his last game for us. If we can screw City for a decent fee then I personally could live with it. Goalkeeper isn't the weakest position we have by a long walk. It makes securing Harper all the more important though. My fear is giving Kinnear any monies raised - the bloke is a useless twat. Yes i agree if given wants to leave we are pretty well covered. We should definitely sell for a decent fee.

There's a difference between "leaping to his defence" and "thinking he's doing a good job". What you mean is there are people who don't solely blame Ashley for absolutely everything that has gone wrong. I doubt anyone thinks he is doing a good job. Why would anyone leap to his defence though? Does he really deserve Newcastle fans fighting his corner for him? Look at the fucking state of the club. The extended contract to Joe Kinnear, a man under whose stewardship we are racing towards relegation is a disgrace and tells you everything you need to know about the future under Ashley. Forget about Keegan and just look at what's going on right now. This is Mike Ashley's Newcastle United and it's a fucking mess. Thanks for the diagnosis Dr Mash Potatoes. Now what's the solution?

Nah it's bollocks. I am local and I don't fall into a downward spiral of depression when we lose. Half my mates aren't even Newcastle fans. Also, while living in London and Italy I got equally as pissed off when we lost. The 'local thing' is just used by those who want to make their opinions seem more valid than the people they disagree with. Its not bollocks. Those who don't go or don't even live here can't possibly share what those who do are feeling on a daily basis where NUFC is concerned, much less question those feelings whatever they are and how they are expressed, be it via demonstrations, booing, boycotting or ranting and raving on here. You make it sound as if everyone in Newcastle shares the same opinion. This is just sanctimonious BS in my view. I've sat to some right plebs at St James who IMO don't have a clue about football. Just because they have bought a ticket doesn't automatically make them more passionate or knowledgeable. Some of them sit through a game like they were at church tbh.

Very dignified interview I thought. Still praising the fans after taking stick from them and took the responsibility for Enrique coming back too early this game. Showed more balls than most of the players that's for sure. To me he seems more distraught than dignified. You certainly sense that he's lost a bit of the energy he had when he first took the post. I think he knows that things are going to hell and he's not entirely sure what to do with it. Hell, I think we might even see him walk. I doubt it. Kinnear has wound me up a lot at times this season, but I don't think he lacks bottle. Some of the players do, that's the problem.

Very dignified interview I thought. Still praising the fans after taking stick from them and took the responsibility for Enrique coming back too early this game. Showed more balls than most of the players that's for sure.

Joe Kinnear would undoubtedly be getting better results if he was backed by his board/manager. Does that makes sense to you or not ? Do you think Joe Kinnear would get what you deem as "the results we deserve" if he was backed by an "ambitious" board? All of this, of course, is meaningless. The question we should be asking is whether he's the right person for us here and now. Is he going to save us from relegation under the s*** board we currently have? Do you think so? Is anybody else going to save us under the s*** board here and now? Is it guaranteed? I refuse to believe that there is no one who would come here. There are plenty of managers, both employed and unemployed, who would jump through hoops to manage a Premiership team, even a shit one like us. Are they guaranteed successes? Of course not. But Kinnear at the moment looks like guaranteed failure. Sometimes you need to roll the hard six. The only thing that is going to improve the results is a couple of signings to fill the glaring gaps in the squad. Without that being addressed you can bring Brian Clough back from the dead and we still won't win games.

Joe Kinnear would undoubtedly be getting better results if he was backed by his board/manager. Does that makes sense to you or not ? Do you think Joe Kinnear would get what you deem as "the results we deserve" if he was backed by an "ambitious" board? All of this, of course, is meaningless. The question we should be asking is whether he's the right person for us here and now. Is he going to save us from relegation under the shit board we currently have? Do you think so? Is anybody else going to save us under the shit board here and now? Is it guaranteed?

It's very east to side with Barton because he shows passion and has some fight in him which are great attributes for a captain, but I think he'd end up wrecking the team spirit. He started with Enrique today, and it brings too many uncomfortable memories of the D'abo business at City. Most of their squad had their fill of him by the time he left. He's a good player but I'm disappointed it looks like he's incapable of growing up.

Did he slyly unscrew a stud from owen's right boot making him mis-hit all his shots then?

Let's bring him back, I agree. Someone pick up the phone...what's his number?

If nothing is done by the time the window closes then fair enough. Just wait another two weeks if that's possible.

It will be ignored by everyone but that's the truth. You don't win games if you don't score goals and not enough players in our side do.

Make him put the price down, make him lose his money. add Make the club get relegated to the list.

reminds me of the old days. Give the manager no chance, then call for his head. One or two people will remember those days with great affection, before they were "embarrassed". What exactly are your views on Kinnear? Do you think he should be given till the end of the season? Do you think he'll work out for us long term? I meant what I have just said. Give the manager no chance of succeeding, then call for his head. Think about it ? Well, that took a while. I'm just asking you a straight question. How long do you think will be sufficient time to figure out if Kinnear is good enough or not? How long of a chance does he need? it doesn't matter. If you don't give the manager a chance , he's got no chance or very little chance. If you don't understand this, then there is nothing else can be said. What difference will it make to appoint another manager and not back him either ? I agree with this. I don't think this result is down to the manager, I just don't think we have enough goals in our team. I don't see how any other manager is going to change that without new signings. He could start by not losing the dressing room and therefore having his 17m goalscorer actually giving a shit about the team. If he's lost the dressing room I'm surprised we outplayed them for the first hour. I thought we lost because no one wanted to score for us personally, same as last week.

He must enjoy the bad headlines. It's not going to do the team spirit any good that's for sure.

Depends if we get a right back by then, and if Martins is fit. Without our best players we look powder puff and there's too many missing at the moment.

We need to demand someone buys out Ashley. Let's charter a plane for 200 fans to Abu Dhabi and insist Sheikh Yahmunnymaker buys the club.