TRon

Exactly how I feel. He's not shit, his legs have just gone imo. In all fairness, his legs were failing when he got released by Man U centuries ago. Fergie's probably built and dismantled two league champion sides since then while we continue to con ourselves that we have a team full of international players when most of them are shells of the players they used to be.

He didn't pull up any trees at a lower level either when he went out on loan. I just don't see him scoring goals.

I was thinking of next season, as I expect Owen to leave and it looks like Given wants away as well. If we are losing our better senior players I don't see much point in holding on to the worse ones. Owen and Given are quality but the likes of Given in particular are held up as examples of great Newcastle pros. If their heart isn't in it any more I feel we should sell them on and try and get younger players in who are eager to prove themselves here.

sadly that's probably not far from the truth.

Of all the players soon to be out of contract you just know Butt will be the one who will sign a new one.

Bullard's probably already been lured by the likes of Spurs.

Turning into an absolute diamond.

He's got no goal instinct from what I've seen, much like Shola. Neither player shoots or heads enough in the penalty area which at the end of the day what they are supposed to be about.

On the plus side, he's a big lad. If he doesn't make it as a footballer he could always take up brick-laying.

At least we're still in the draw.

Jonas is doing everything apart from get on the end of his own crosses here like.

In a nutshell.

Unfortunately we haven't got a forward able to get on the end of anything today.

Has Carroll had a shot on goal yet?

We look like we are ready to cave in. We'll probably hang on for dear life now.

I have the same attitude towards every player who wants to leave, whether it's Shay Given, N'Zogbia or Michael "Captain Courageous" Owen. Please fuck off and don't let the door hit your arse on the way out. But no one should be allowed to leave for less than they are worth so if Arsenal want Zog then either cough up big money or kindly fuck off.

We often hear how important these guys are in the dressing room, Kinnear is constantly bigging up the likes of Butt, Owen and Given. Then there is Duff, Geremi and Beye who you could consider serious pros. Every club needs it's senior players but at what point does their presence become a hindrance not a help? Owen leaves by example, and Shay Given is making noises to the same effect. Duff, and Butt don't have a bad attitude but while they are here they are automatic starters for the most part which isn't good enough. No one can hold it against Owen or Given if they take the opportunity to better their careers if they get the chance, but would we be better off with younger, hungrier players who want to play for Newcastle in any case?

Rather him than Kinnear... Seconded. I hope the £6m transfer kitty is untrue because Mike Ashley isn't going to get the fans back onside if it is.

Go Mourinho tell it like it is

If I were Shay Given, I'd sack my solicitor. Nice to see JK taking a leaf out of Keegans book and protecting his employers 24 hours before a major cup game. Not that we believe everything we see on TV or in the press, unless you are the type to believe what you want to believe. I doubt Shay will do that as there is no way that his solicitor would be saying all that without Given having some idea about it. Shay's solicitor will stay very much employed with a nudge and a wink from the right places

Shay should be sold and Harper given a new contract, with a view to either Krul or Forster being the two in line to becoming the club no 1 keeper. I salute Given for his service. I also offer a two finger salute to send him on his way to whichever team he signs for. We should also withdraw the contract offer made to Butt. With all the old guard jumping ship we don't need to be left with the worst one on our books. Out with the old and in with the new. It's a new era of shiteness in all likelihood, but just possibly of hope.

We can't basically. When we've had most of our squad available we've picked up results but we are now back to the decimated team Hughton had to work with. JK said there were players on the pitch against Liverpool who were half fit and they certainly played like it. I think we are in for a couple more weeks of results and performances that will test the patience so I'm not damping down my expectations (even further).

A source close to Given has suggested that he loves it here and has no intention of leaving so that's good enough for me assuming it's true. It's important to have as many good players on board as possible and it's even more important that they are happy and comitted.

Both Owen and Given are already very well paid at Newcastle and very highly regarded as senior pros. Owen has been offered a new contract which he has declined to accept. Shay is committed to Newcastle (on paper) for another couple of years. If either of them feel like jumping ship they should be encouraged to fuck off ASAP as far as I'm concerned. Don't want to stay guys? FUCK...RIGHT...OFF.