TRon

I mentioned this before, but we are relying too much on the strikers for goals. If this continues, we might have to go back to 4-3-3 for me. I know we have got two ok results but we aren't going to keep clean sheets every week. I don't think any of the midfielders are looking to get in the box, although Zog might do that if he gets a few games. We couldn't half do with a Lampard or Gerrard to steal in and grab a few.

I think that is going to be a very hard game for Colo and Bassong, as the one question mark is in the air. Other than that they look a natural partnership, not forgetting the part played by Beye and Enrique of course.

Those two seem to have a very good understanding, although they will be tested by Stoke next match.

Let you off then. I did warn you

two clean sheets in a row but no goals scored either.

Guthrie is starting to come into the game a bit more last 10 mins or so.

Martins smashes one off the crossbar!

Owen and Martins are pulling the defenders out of position, we are crying out for a midfielder to arrive in the box.

Even Bernie Slaven has grudgingly admitted he's been impressed by Bassong

Alistair Brownlie the boro commentator talking about the pace threat from the boro wingers... Jonas and the Zog right back at'cha fatso

Sounds about right.

Shearer was never going to come in as no 2 to Kinnear, JFK just used the offer to get the heat off himself. Not that i blame him, he's got a point that there is no way Shearer could be manager under the restrtictions Kinnear's working under. Shearer is waiting for new owners if and when it happens.

I'm not sure a survey by the Journal is fully representative mind. It's quite a well written paper, a lot of the charvas who hate Ashley probably don't read it.

If it's true, that's a fair price. If we are struggling to find buyers for that amount, you have to wonder what sort of people are in for the club and how much liquid assets they have at their disposal. While the value of most other businesses are are dropping by millions, billions or going to the wall, wor Mike thinks he should be able to re-coup his outlay & some. If he wants out as quick as made out in his heart felt memo then he need to realize what he paid for Newcastle was during a peak time & he is selling in a lull. He needs to treat the club like a England football top & whack the 70% off sticker on the club. If only Mike read the Financial Times instead of The News Of Screws. I'm sure my house has dropped in value, but I'd rather not run out and sell it at a loss. I can't really blame Ashley if he feels the same way. Have you stuck a 70% off sign on yours yet?

There is also the possibility that some of Keegan's transfer targets were totally the opposite the Ashley blueprint of buying young risiing stars who would appreciate in value and those are the ones that the board vetoed. I would imagine Kinnear will toe the line in this regard even if he does source his own players.

If it's true, that's a fair price. If we are struggling to find buyers for that amount, you have to wonder what sort of people are in for the club and how much liquid assets they have at their disposal.

That's fine, but then he should get on with running the club properly and make quality signings in January that will match his ambitions of bringing CL football to Newcastle. That was his aim at the start of the season after all. You're sure going to learn the hard way It isn't about who was right and who might be wrong, it's about Ashley taking a course of action and then perservering with it. His system I could buy into if he really believes in it and is committed to it. Selling the club I can buy into, as it allows someone else to pick up the slack once he's had enough. The only thing I can't buy into is keeping the club without being interested in progressing it. As it stands the club is in limbo which is the worst case scenario, that is the one situation I find unforgiveable. Either sell up or commit properly. I'm talking about your comment "running the club properly and making quality signings".......this is a choice of the owner, board, whoever owns and runs the club. He's chosen the opposite path to the last owners, who I suspect you took the path they chose, for granted. Hopefully it won't take one or two more owners for the point to sink in. I'm convinced that he never had any other ambition other than to keep the club in the premiership for as small and amount of expenditure on players as possible. He has turned the club into 2nd raters. This is your problem NE5, you are more interested in saying "I told you so" whether it applies or not. The truth of the matter is I don't think any different of the last board now than when they left. I had my say on them and it holds, my views aren't going to change with hindsight because Ashley's ownership has gone sour. What Shepherd did well he got credit for and what he did wrong he got stick for. I think you gave him too much credit and not enough stick but that's your choice. Same applies here with Ashley, and if you think you deserve a gold star for being right about the new board go ahead and give yourself a gold star, on that you probably got it right.

That's fine, but then he should get on with running the club properly and make quality signings in January that will match his ambitions of bringing CL football to Newcastle. That was his aim at the start of the season after all. You're sure going to learn the hard way It isn't about who was right and who might be wrong, it's about Ashley taking a course of action and then perservering with it. His system I could buy into if he really believes in it and is committed to it. Selling the club I can buy into, as it allows someone else to pick up the slack once he's had enough. The only thing I can't buy into is keeping the club without being interested in progressing it. As it stands the club is in limbo which is the worst case scenario, that is the one situation I find unforgiveable. Either sell up or commit properly.

That's fine, but then he should get on with running the club properly and make quality signings in January that will match his ambitions of bringing CL football to Newcastle. That was his aim at the start of the season after all.

Well they appeared to be backing KK as well to all intents and purposes. If Joe thinks he has been brought here on an interim basis and is suddenly going to have the final say on transfers he's in for a rude awakening. I have to say I'm glad about that as well. I think the transfer business has been one of the plus points of the Ashley era, other than the fact we didn't spend enough. Kind of go hand-in-hand though don't you think? I know what you're getting at btw and to some extent I agree. The signings have been generally decent squad fillers but there wasn't enough of them obviously. I can't say I trust Kinnear in the transfer market which is why I am glad he won't have a free hand tbh. I have a feeling that any players coming in will be ones we have targeted previously like Skjelbred or Larsson, possibly Warnock. If JK comes up with a decent shout I'm sure it'll be considered.

Well they appeared to be backing KK as well to all intents and purposes. If Joe thinks he has been brought here on an interim basis and is suddenly going to have the final say on transfers he's in for a rude awakening. I have to say I'm glad about that as well. I think the transfer business has been one of the plus points of the Ashley era, other than the fact we didn't spend enough.

It doesn't matter how much is offered, it'll alway be that he's asking too much. If any sale doesn't go through, then yes. He says he's desperate to get away. How desperate? If he's desperate to sell he'll cover his losses or make a small profit and get the deal done. If he wants to keep the club he needs to start running it like a proper club and invest money. On the other hand if he wants to keep the club and NOT invest, he is just bleeding the club dry and putting it's future at stake. That's really all there is to it.

Whiteside, McGrath and Bryan Robson made up Man U's midfield when Fergie first took over at Man U, and they were similar to some of the midfields we've had to watch such as Butt, Geremi and Barton. All quality players in their own right but collectively turgid and slow. As for Arsenal I was talking pre-Vierra. In fact with that one signing Arsene Wenger went a long way to transforming Arsenal from an ordinairy side into a different team altogether. It just shows how one crucial signing in the centre of the pitch can have a massive impact on a side. I would love us to sign a Viera to replace Butt, someone who bosses the midfield from box to box rather than just win the odd flash sliding tackle. In fact having watched Joey Barton since he came back in the side, I think he could play that role. He tends to sit deep these days and doesn't get up and down the pitch. But from a deep lying role he could dictate the game IMO. He could influence it far more than Butt ever will.

That I agree with, my worry is we have been phasing him out for the last 4 years and he's still here! I thought we'd finally got shot when he went to Birmingham but no, they welched on the deal! I know what you are saying Rich and in fact, I would agree that he's had a few decent games this season. But he's one of the players who is seriously affecting the way we play. Sooner or later we are going to have to be brave and followFergie and Wenger's lead...get rid of the rusty, slow veterans clogging up the midfield and get some youth and movement where it matters...in the engine room. Think Alex Ferguson when he moved on Norman Whiteside and Paul MacGrath to clear the decks for the new guard. That's what i'm talking about.

He's being ordered to sell players especially cunts like Chimbonda (what a surprise that didn't work out). All that money spent on mercenaries and they are still fighting relegation. What a disastrous job he's done.