TRon

Shearer wasn't just loved, he had far too much influence around the place. Very different from fans chanting Oba's name because he put in a good shift.

He was there against Brum on Monday. Shit, lets hope he doesn't get carried away by Nicky Butt's only half decent performance all season. Butt had a canny game on Monday, fair play to him. It would be great if he can produce it for a few more games and even better if he keeps his passes short and simple. But I digress...

You have to hate Owen if you love Oba. It's the law. When there was a poll for the strikers forum members would most like to see paired together, the leading vote was for Martins and Owen by a fair distance. So obviously not everyone thinks they have to be pitted against one another.

He was watching on Monday but he looked bored shitless. Still, he's getting paid for it, it's better than a kick up the arse.

He'll be in the England squad on Pearce's recommendation, Cappello will be having a look that's all. Shame for Taylor fans as he'll now think he's worth much more than he is, and we'll probably have to sell him.

This has the fingerprints of the Mob written all over it. Taylor's family must have connections and someone's calling in a favour.

I wonder how highly rated Deschamps is in Italy right now? I don't think Juventus were too sad to see him go.

Hold on a sec, Allardyce played pretty much the exact same formation and system with all three of those at home to Derby, and he got hammered for it. Keegan would have got hammered for it as well if he'd gone to Derby with a team cowering in fear of defeat. He didn't, he went to Birmingham to win and by the end Birmingham were hanging on for their lives with Martins having to be dragged off the pitch he so badly wanted to do them.

Great post Mick. Really well said.

Seriously, who were the better alternatives at the time? Deschamps? The guy who was going to turn us down because of a lack of French schools in Newcastle? Mark Hughes? His team are doing well lately aren't they? Shearer? Fuck off. Now that would have been a sentimental appointment...and the sentiment would have been only one way. We know with Keegan we'll get a team that will punch their weight eventually. and we know that if it doesn't work out he will walk rather than sit tight holding out for the money like that cunt Souness.

Birmingham away are pretty tough nuts, especially since McLeish took over. Fulham, Sunderland and Reading at home definitely looke the easier fixtures before last night. Mr Hindsight has entered the building I think.

We only need it to work against the worse sides though.

Good point. I thought Viduka should have been replaced, not Martins until the point was made that Viduka was buying us space by holding the ball up the field.

Considering the pressure he's been under I think he's held up really well. I know he looked happier yesterday but it's probably his first opportunity since he got here. A run of tough fixtures, good goals ruled out against 'boro, the Blackburn last minute choker, a freak goal which opened the floodgates at Liverpool..it would have plenty of younger managers reaching for the prozac. Then on top of that you have the press running headlines he's got two games to save his job and the rest of the bullshit printed every day. Yet he still takes it all on the chin and refuses to look for excuses. Even last week he was saying "blame me, don't blame the players". NE5 is right, I wouldn't back against him making all these vultures eat their words. You can bet your botton dollar that Keegan believes he will.

As soon as I saw that line up with three strikers, I thought this is the real Keegan. How many managers would have gone to Birmingham after they'd just tonked Spurs with only three midfielders so they could fit in another striker

Geremi's set pieces were poor last night and his play in general was rusty before the 2nd half. That said, he should still take the set pieces because he's usually good at it.

If we are going to play three strikers, Viduka is obviously going to be one of them. Even without mobility, his touch, hold up play and goal threat will put him ahead of Carroll at the moment.

I think we might do Spurs away as well.

I think that's the key. Foreign players are generally slow to adapt to the Premier, Spaniards especially.

I think after watching so many absolutely dire performances from so many Newcastle players, decent performances are lauded long and loud out of sheer relief.

He's two weeks away from training according to KK, so basically he might as well pack his bags. When did he say that because I seem to remember him saying he would be fit for the Fulham game. It's in today's Chronicle in the story about Shay Given jetting to America.

He's two weeks away from training according to KK, so basically he might as well pack his bags.

If we're going 4-3-3 then that's the team I'd pick. I would prefer 4-4-2 with Zog on the left, but if we can play like we did 2nd half yesterday, I don't mind 4-3-3 either. Especially as Fulham will sit back and defend for dear life.

Spot on there. Enrique looks like he's got some ability on the ball, with a decent midfielder in front of him we could see him turn out ok IMO.

It's another Setanta game which means having to watch McManamans facial contortions again. I swear his face moves in three different directions every time he opens his gob.