TRon

Things are panning out pretty much how I thought other than the Bolton game. I think it was a clever move to sack Allardyce so swiftly and decisively. This now gives Keegan a good window in which to assess the squad and make the big moves in the summer which will see us launch a serious assault for a Eoropen place for the first time since SBR was last here. That much I am confident we will achieve, and that's not to be sniffed at for starters.

I wouldn't argue with that much like. I think logically most managers would pick Butt and Emre/Barton but in some games you just have to say bollocks to protectiong the back four. If we want to score goals we need to create chances and we wont create chances until we have players like Emre and Barton on the pitch. Normally i wouldn't advise it but lets double our chances by playing two players in the middle who know how to run a game of football. If we have to, we can play one of them a little deeper. However, i fully expect to see Butt and Emre start the match and i'm by no means against that. It goes against conventional wisdom, but Keegan is one manager who in the past has picked a midfield with no defensive midfielder. During our title-charge season we went 12 points clear with mostly Lee Clark in a holding role, Batty was brought in during the run in. Whether you could do that these days I'm not sure, but I'd far rather see that approach than the twin defensive midfielder approach used by Souness and Allardyce. Ideally I'd like to see Faye and Emre given a crack together. Faye's physical presence would dovetail nicely with Emre's flair in theory at least.

Watching the Arse mauling City should put our poor games against them in perspective. Should be a big confidence booster for our lads.

He'll have wound the doom merchants and sceptics up again with his focused and determined resolve to take Newcastle back towards the top 4. Crooks: "it'll be much harder this time, the game has changed according to Alex Ferguson" Keegan: "that's what they'd like you to think..."

He hasn't done a lot wrong, but he could have done a hell of a lot more. He could have bust a gut making it clear he'd love to be no 2 effectively being the next boss of Newcastle. Or alternatively he could say he doesn't want the job yet as he's happy at the beeb.

I think it was clear some time back that Shearer wasn't going to take a minor role. The no 2 job was the best option but if he didn't want that, why would he want anything less?

Looks like Keegan is starting to twig

I see he's been dropped from the England squad as predicted. He3'll do well to ever get back in it imo.

Well, he hasn't played most games this season and our midfield has looked more shite than ever before. If he's bad it doesn't say much for those in posession of the shirt right now.

What makes you wonder even more is, if he was such a bargain at £3m why no one else has stepped in when we pulled out?

There are plenty of local kids who have snubbed us for other clubs for one reason or another. Alan Shearer, Michael Carrick, Gazza, Matt Jansen, to name a few.

Giles Barnes was a strange one. If he wasn't worth £3m he wasn't worth bidding for in the first place. I'm starting to wonder whether we didn't follow through because Derby made our verbal bid public knowledge in order to hike the price up by starting an auction.

sums up how I feel. We are the better team, but the timing is bad. They are on a good run, we have important players missing because of the ANC. If the players, especially lazy cunts like Viduka can respond to the crowd than I think we might just edge it.

The lads who have the best attitudes also tend to be the most ordinairy players. Butt, Milner, Geremi, Taylor Smith etc. The one's with ability like Emre, Zog and Viduka are the one's who are hit and miss. Not that they are fantastic players either it should be said.

True, but when the players with stickability (Smith and Viduka) have played we have looked turgid and immobile. My reasoning would be that with Owen and Martins you would look to pass and move and play them in on goal. Viduka and Martins would be a decent option but I don't see him being fit for many games.

We need goals so for me that means it has to be two from Viduka, Martins and Owen. Viduka and Owen sounds good but means very limited mobility and easy to mark out of a game. I think Owen and Martins will get goals, because Martins will stretch teams for all his faults which hopefully would create the space for Owen to strike.

I still think there is a half decent player there who might get better once he's come to terms with the Premier. There aagain he could be another Boumsong which seems more likely.

oh no...I'm wringing my hands in despair at the thought of losing such a commanding centre back

True, but ti's also Keegan's choice like it or not

I've a sneaking feeling we might see a lot more of Owen/Martins unless Viduka can remain fit for more than one match in three. Keegan won't be too bothered about the lack of height if he thinks he can get us playing to feet.

Milner has some talent, but is a bottler who lacks the killer instinct hence his lack of goals despite having a decent shot on him. Best suited to a club with lower ambitions like 'boro maybe if he wants regular first team football. Otherwise a decent squad player.

Aye man, f*** building for the future. No being serious! lets just watch the youth side, instead of the shower of s**** we've watched all season This is how Arsenal have signed players like Fabregas, Anelka, Vierra etc. in the past btw. Worth pondering.

If we really think he's good enough for our squad - and we must do otherwise why make a bid - we'll pay £3m. Nowt wrong with trying to get him cheaper though which would explain the take it or leave it attitude.

No but N'zogbia is a better player than Duff is NOW. Duff has not went past a winger crossed and created a goal in his 18 months with us. Try and palm Duff off to them he is finished and on massive wages. Very true. I've been disappointed by Duff, he looks off the pace and has no bad intent as an attacking player should have.