TRon

I thought Hughes looked like a good prospect as a manager but when he was linked with us I had doubts about the style of football Blackburn played at the time. It looks as if he's like Allardyce, a one trick pony. I see Fat Sam's happier than a pig in shit inheriting a team designed to play route 1 football.

Quality quote from Wenger in that article:

good post mate. I said quite early on that Kinnear was restoring some morale, no mean feat, having seen this sort of scenario before my early thoughts were that we would have only a slim chance of pulling through, but he came in and did what was needed. Fair do's in fact very well done. Very well done indeed to him. Just goes to show, you don't always have to be the big name, he's an old style tracksuit manager prepared to get his hands dirty and and appears to understand that players are different and need treating differently, no mean feat especially when you compare him to the likes of the fuckwit Souness. In fact, a lad I worked with at that time, who has now retired, said to me a few times that he thought Kinnear was a decent manager and he wouldn't mind him at the club at all. He's restoring stability at the club like Arthur Cox did. Whether he is long term, I don't know. A good manager has to do what he is doing, and also the biggest part of all, which is to spend money well and persuade the best players that the club is a progressive one. As for Owen, I share these sentiments. Everything comes from results, a winning club is a happy club, and allied to a manager who players respect and relate to, there is a chance that Owen might see us as his best bet for the next few years. It might be optimistic but if we make a couple of decent signings to beef up the squad and can get some form going, we might end up looking at Europe or pretty close. That's our one big chance of keeping Owen here for me, if we look like a team going places. But for that to happen it is over to Mr Ashley.

Fulham are decent at home and better teams than us have lost there this season, the players went to sleep for the Wigan equaliser, not sure how the manager can be blamed for that. On the basis that we played the best football of the season in the first half against Stoke, not sure how you conclude so easily he is a poor manager? I get the feeling a lot of younger fans don't really know much about Kinnear, they might be surprised he was voted Manager of the year during his time at Wimbledon. He might not be a big name, but he has been around and has probably forgotten more stuff than Ince and Roy Keane know put together. That doesn't mean he's a fantastic manager, but considering our state of limbo at the time he was a good choice. Who's to say once he's gone the next big name manager won't turn out like Ramos?

As if! Been saying it for several seasons its been our downfall. We've need players every single winter window that comes round, and we have nothing in place each time. Hopefully JFK has his targets and negotiations are underway and players are even in for the Hull game. That's how its done properly, would be a massive show that the club has finally progressed if we do. There's a good chance we will make some signings this winter though. Ashley must be desperate to get back in the fans good books and we should have money from Milner's sale still available.

It's a tough one because I think we will miss Martins away from home but I'm hoping our defence with it's new mean streak will get us a point.

They weren't looking too clever when he first came in. Aye, why was that again? Im sure something canny big had just happened. Not the point. These good players were looking totally lost and lacked confidence, he's whipped them into shape and we look like a premiership football team again. Credit him for that. Too right, I agree. Just like Roeder did. Some caretakers have done well, most don't, but its no reason to make a judgement either way. Every case is different. My original point was that were doing well primarily because we have some very good players and Kinnears given them their confidence back imo, which he should be applauded for. Same as Roeder did in the short term and was applauded for. Long term I think tactics are going to have to come into it when our confidence is down and I dont think Kinnear has what it takes, again like Roeder. But like you say every case is different and time will tell. Roeder + Shearer got results. Roeder on his jack, didn't. It was obvious he lost the dressing room. Has Kinnear lost the dressing room? The players seem to be responding well from what we've seen. Even the shit players. The two aren't even remotely comparable other than the fact they were both appointed on temporary contracts initially. Completely shoehorned argument trying to make out that they're one and same. I don't disagree with what firetotheworks says, but I certainly agree with the bit in bold. I thought at the time that shearer looked completely at ease when he stood next to Roeder in that dugout. Doesn't mean he will be a good manager though, good managers need to spend money well, but he certainly appeared to have a big influence. the problem with roeder was he didn't get any money shepherd bought him duff for 5 million when malbranque was the one roeder wanted and we had to buy martins as we didn't have any other strikers It wouldn't have made any difference how much money Roeder was given, he carried no authority in the dressing room and by trying to act tough with younger squad players while kissing arse of the big boys he lost all respect. One of the reasons I think Shearer might make a good manager is because he has the what Roeder lacked...a spine.

Has anybody given Kinnear the job long term? No. He got the job on a 4 week contract to start wiith. That was extended to an 8 week contract. Now he's got a contract to the end of the season, so what the fuck is your problem?

If we don't sell any of the back four and concentrate only on adding quality to the squad I think we might have found a defence which will rank alongside any we have had in the last 15 years. There are going to be a few tricky spells because some of them are new to English football, but if we can show confidence and stick with these players they will come through.

That's because once Kinnear's contract is up and we get a proper manager he's GUARANTEED to be successful obviously. Good spot OK, I conceed, give JFK the job full time. See where that'll get us. Or how about just let him get on with it till the season's up? FWIW I don't think he's the long term answer but he's done a good job in the circumstances. We are pretty well organised, the spirit is good, I just don't think it's fair to be sniping at this point. This. He came in when no one else would touch the job, steadied the ship, made us hard to beat, and is now starting to get results. We couldn't have asked for much more so far, really, even though he's obviously benefitting from low expectations. But there's plenty of the season left before making decisions about whether he should have the job in the longer term. His position, as ever, will probably depend on whether or to whom the club gets sold, but it's hardly surprising if Ashley feels grateful enough right now to stand by his man. And today of all days we should not be slagging him off. Some people have short memories, at the time we couldn't buy a result and we were being described as a "broken club". Not having a go at HTT btw, at least he's big enough to give credit where it's been earned. Incidentally, it was the battle of the Brit manager dinosaurs today, and Joe punched not-so-'appy 'arry's lights out

That's because once Kinnear's contract is up and we get a proper manager he's GUARANTEED to be successful obviously. Good spot OK, I conceed, give JFK the job full time. See where that'll get us. Or how about just let him get on with it till the season's up? FWIW I don't think he's the long term answer but he's done a good job in the circumstances. We are pretty well organised, the spirit is good, I just don't think it's fair to be sniping at this point.

Elano flits in and out of games, he doesn't dominate the midfield. What you would call a luxury player. I see Spurs are being heavily linked with Bullard in the media. Not sure if that's because Spurs actually want him, or if it's just wishful thinking by London journos wanting him to join their team.

That's because once Kinnear's contract is up and we get a proper manager he's GUARANTEED to be successful obviously. Good spot

Are we still going to be pining over Keegan like a bunch of girls this time next year? Let it go and move on FFS.

I did, the reason it isn't more obvious is he only really uses it defensively when a winger is taking him on. There's been a few times in his Newcastle career players have got the wrong side of him and he slips into overdrive and catches them before they know what's happened. The lad's an unpolished gem IMO.

Merry Christmas everyone and FUCK YOU 'arry :banana:

The only person who played a major part in bringing down Sir Bobby was Fat Fred. Dyer was still here long after SBR was sacked.

you're not going down the "hope they fail" route I hope ? At my age now, I've seen far worse than this, and even the suggestion of it is pretty sad. Sorry but that is true and how I see it. For the record, I'll say what I've always said. The more "trophy players" the club sign ie just like the other trophy winners do, the better. If Owen DOES sign, is it a sign of a change or direction or Ashley trying to paper over the cracks and get deluded people on his side ? Do you think it would be a sign of him realising he has been wrong and is prepared to attempt to match the european qualifications of his predecessors ? What do you think ? I doubt very much that Ashley is going to spend big for a few reasons: firstly, the club is still up for sale. Secondly he hasn't got the money to compete with the top 4, only City have tbh. The other option would be to borrow money against the club and spend big like Liverpool, Manu and Villa. I don't think he was ever going to do that in the first place and definitely not now the clubs for sale. He's probably going to carry on trying to buy value players and build the squad gradually on players who won't go downhill quickly. So far as I'm aware, the vast majority of players we brought to the club by the last owners fell into that category and I can quite easily list a lot of them if you wish ? If your list is going to include players bought under Sir John Hall's time as Chairman then don't bother. If you can make a list of value players bought under Shepherd's reign as chairman then by all means go ahead as that's the period we are generally considered to have spent badly in the transfer market. there are plenty of players under the chairmanship of both, but as nobody at any time had a controlling interest in the club and neither at any time was ever in a position to run the club single handed without the other, there is no point seperating them. I understand that you want to find a way to slate Shepherd here, but sadly for you, it has little basis for the reasons I've just given. You can, in the meantime, ignore the fact that Woodgate was also a record transfer at the time, and the acid test is that Ashley is unlikely to match the Champions League and european qualifications, [which is what REALLY matters], if he ever was at all. You are obviously ignoring the fact that Milner was sold to essentially finance the transfer of Colocinni while failing to back their appointed manager while making a profit in the transfer window, something that didn't happen under the Halls and shepherd, or the Halls OR Shepherd if you are determined to try and seperate the regimes. You can defend Ashley until you are blue in the face, but the penny pinching manner in which the club has been run since he came, will never match what the club has done in the last 15 years even if you live until you are 200. To get back on topic, buying players who's value is hoped to rise, is nothing new, and you're spouting rubbish if you say or imply that it is. oh and here is your list, not including the time of Dalglish and Gullit either, which adds shay given, Nobby Solano, Andy Griffin, Domi, Pistone, Goma, Glass, Hamman, Speed and Ferguson to the list, without even thinking. http://www.newcastle-online.org/nufcforum/index.php/topic,57178.msg1598810.html#msg1598810 Those were all players bought by managers hired and fired by Shepherd, without even mentioning players bought by Souness who blew most of the money made available by Freddie on players like Boumsong, Luque, Carr and Bowyer. In fact SBR was over-ruled on buying Miguel so we could buy Carr for £3m less. Freddie sure showed his ambition with that decision

The thing about Woodgate was that he seemed to bring out the best in players who played with him because he could make up for the others mistakes and they seemed more confident, even O'Brien looked good when in the same team as Woodgate. I think Coloccini has done the same job as Woodgate this season and others have responded, next year should be even better once he's had a season to gain more experience in this league. Exactly. Woodgate covered up for others mistakes which made them look less shit than they actually were. At the moment we have a back four still adapting to Premier football but defensively each one is competent on the deck and in the air. They have done well, but they can only get better. That is the good news and we need to give them the chance to develop on a very promising start.

I was actually surprised that anyone would offer him a position, but then even as I was opening the thread Lee Clark becoming a manager went through my mind. Terry's done well out of the old pals act, just as well he's got lots of pals

We might pay 40k a week though, that should clinch it.

JFK was ready to flog Enrique last week and he's probably having second thoughts - or at least I hope he is. I agree though, that Xisco isn't going to feature much this season, but when Viduka leaves he might move up the pecking order.

Would he not fancy a move to a club like Newcastle then? I always had the impression that the Jimmy Bullards in football would jump at the chance to join a famous club after spending most of their careers playing for low profile teams.

you're not going down the "hope they fail" route I hope ? At my age now, I've seen far worse than this, and even the suggestion of it is pretty sad. Sorry but that is true and how I see it. For the record, I'll say what I've always said. The more "trophy players" the club sign ie just like the other trophy winners do, the better. If Owen DOES sign, is it a sign of a change or direction or Ashley trying to paper over the cracks and get deluded people on his side ? Do you think it would be a sign of him realising he has been wrong and is prepared to attempt to match the european qualifications of his predecessors ? What do you think ? I doubt very much that Ashley is going to spend big for a few reasons: firstly, the club is still up for sale. Secondly he hasn't got the money to compete with the top 4, only City have tbh. The other option would be to borrow money against the club and spend big like Liverpool, Manu and Villa. I don't think he was ever going to do that in the first place and definitely not now the clubs for sale. He's probably going to carry on trying to buy value players and build the squad gradually on players who won't go downhill quickly. So far as I'm aware, the vast majority of players we brought to the club by the last owners fell into that category and I can quite easily list a lot of them if you wish ? If your list is going to include players bought under Sir John Hall's time as Chairman then don't bother. If you can make a list of value players bought under Shepherd's reign as chairman then by all means go ahead as that's the period we are generally considered to have spent badly in the transfer market.

we do the same for local players sometimes as well for that matter. Who? Steven Taylor? Chopra? Huntigdon? Matty P? Ramage? Taylor for one, Lee Clark was rated higher here than he was elsewhere for that matter. This is a total myth imo. Maybe when he first came into the team as a promising 18-year-old, but since then, i seriously disagree. He's come under more flak than most other squad players this year for sure. He comes in for flak from some elements, he gets over-rated by others, same as the foreign players who get 'a free ride' according to the poster. The point I am making is that it's daft to use where someone is from as either an excuse or a pedestal or pretend that some get it easier than others because of it.