Kitman

Is there any reason why we should believe a word of this? They haven't got a clue what the situation is, any more than we have....

I expect SA's just hedging his bets and building him up in case he can't get a second choice LB. I think Baba is too lightweight for SA, notwithstanding his other obvious defects - shocking fitness record, poor attitude, lack of heart, poor positional sense etc. - and I reckon he'll be out the door regardless once his contract is up. Baba has only looked a good pick either when compared to the players we've played out of position at LB ie Paul Huntington. Or piss poor players like Ian Harte. Compare him with a half decent LB and it's fairly obvious there's no future for him, he's taken the piss for far too long imo, unless he has a miraculous conversion in terms of attitude, effort and ability. And even then he doesn't fit the SA mould imo.

:lol: Dyer = Lampard? What stupidity!

It's not Big Sam is it?

Luque, Carr and Babayaro arrive back for pre-season training accompanied by their agent http://www.capohedz.com/typebrighter/uploaded_images/The-Wizard-of-Oz-727647.jpg

Not putting it down MP, it's just that if you have the debate with rival fans (as I often have had), the Intercity Fairs (or UEFA as it now is) doesn't carry as much weight as say the FA cup. Maybe because no-one's really heard of the ICF cup. The European Champions League used to be called the European Cup. The UEFA Cup used to be called the European Fairs Cup (previously the Inter Cities Fairs Cup) The European Cup Winners Cup - doesnt even exist now. So, the names may change, but we have played in the Fairs Cup/UEFA Cup, a LOT of times (as well as the Champions League and Cup Winners Cup occasionally) - so I cannot believe that ANY real Newcastle United supporter of any age (or our equivalents from other clubs) does not know all about them!! Of course I know about them, I'm talking about non-Newcastle fans and the media. And 1969 is a long time ago in anyone's book. And are we as big as Sevilla anyway? But that's besides the point - playing in UEFA, even winning the UEFA cup and having a lot of fans doesn't put us on a par with the "big 4". That was my point.

Not putting it down MP, it's just that if you have the debate with rival fans (as I often have had), the Intercity Fairs (or UEFA as it now is) doesn't carry as much weight as say the FA cup. Maybe because no-one's really heard of the ICF cup.

I agree with ggggggg. Most people associate being a big club with winning things and, I'd add, playing in the CL year in year out. Hence the 'big 4'. We're competing to be best of the rest atm, not very well in the last couple of seasons, but hopefully with our new dawn we can now mount an assault on the top 4 in the coming seasons. However until we start to win major trophies and compete in the CL on a regular basis, any claim to be a big club - in the sense that Man Utd or Arsenal or Liverpool are big clubs - isn't taken seriously in the wider world. Our most recent successes are the Intertoto and Anglo-Italian cups. In terms of mid tier clubs, Everton, Spurs and Villa have all enjoyed major success in relatively recent times. Whereas we haven't won a major domestic trophy since the 50's. The only thing that's "big" about us these days apart from transfer fees and wages, and the occasional stellar signing, is the stadium and fan base, and even then I'd wonder whether our overseas fan base is any better than clubs like Everton. That's not an inferiority complex, it's just the way it is. imo

Exactly. Passengers in every sense of the word and liabilities on the pitch. You'd think we could find better with a whole transfer window and a decent wedge of money to spend on replacements......

Happy days! Piss off Fathead and Baba-can't-be-arsed! Piss off and don't come back. Even Keane's not stupid enough to sign Carr.....or is he?

ZANY! Give it a rest man, this was a decent thread an hour ago. He's contributing to the shitness by taking the mickey out of a respectable poster like Moe Ali who has valid opinions. Just got my goat a bit that's all.

Well they both scored just as many as Martins last season in the league so i dont know what you base that on. Don't know how he thinks Martins is on a par with Berbatov either. He doesn't share his attributes at all. A completely different sort of player. Maybe we've been whooshed. Nope, and nor do i. But i personally reckon that with some good coaching (which is available thanks to Sam and his cronies), he has the ability to become as good as someone like Berbatov. As good? he can be the best striker in the world with the right coaching. Definite wind-up. Don't diss da wide boi. You make me sick. Both of you. And maybe no-one else on this forum has enough balls to s*** on you. So let me be the first to tell you, you're a bunch of stuck up, arrogant faggots, with low paying jobs, and a stressful family life, so before you come on here and ruin peoples urge to share opinions during moment of excitement, realise, you're just some faggot, who is sick enough to be satisfied by ruining peoples fun. f*** you, have a nice day. Deary me, Moe-Ali hits the self destruct button

Exploded into shite is the correct phrase I believe

If Martins has a 13m sell on clause, it doesn't matter whether we think he deserves to stay or go........he'll be off to Arsenal if he wants to leave us. Personally I'm indifferent. People seem to talk about 2 different strikers - one lazy with poor movement who drifts out of games, the other a pacey cold eyed killer who can turn matches at a stroke. This being Newcastle I know which we'll end up with if he stays. tbh 13m for someone in his early thirties and approaching the twilight of his career is pretty good. His pace'll go soon then his legs. Anyone who honestly believes he's 22, just have a look at his old man's face....

Strange that he's not keeping Dougie Hall on, what with his extensive and hugely valuable knowledge of overseas markets and tax planning and all.

If Ashley needs expertise on running the club he can buy it in, hopefully from someone like Dein. If he kept FFS for that reason, he'd only do it on a short term basis whilst he gets his own man/men in, or perhaps FFS would be there in a figurehead type capacity (he's got the tits for it after all). It may be that Shepherd has negotiated himself the chairman's seat for a limited term as a prerequisite of selling his shares. However my guess is that Ashley wants to keep FFS (and Bruce Shepherd) on the board to help with the hotel and conference centre redevelopment and the ground expansion. I assume they are central to the planning applications and development plans and their knowledge and contacts would be lost if they walked away.

Does he mean the wifey at reception he asked before being told to leave? "Indeed I understand that reports that Alan Smith is heading to St James's Park are wide of the mark. A source close to the current heirarchy today told me........hey let go of my jacket you.......don't you know who I am.........you can't do this to me..........I'll have you for this I will.........argghhhh"

cheers man, i honestly don't know what it is but i'm still smirking at the glastonbury one now I think he should try that beardy look, it could save a lot of goals for Wigan

Good lawyer, going by the judges comment Judge Michael Cartlidge told him: “You are the most devious, deceitful, dishonest, greedy, selfish, ruthless person I have come across in a long time.” Please stop going off topic. There's already a thread about Souness

there could be a silent majority who find it all rip-roaringly funny to be fair.

Not one shred of evidence supporting the allegation that top toon players were given cocaine by 'the baron' I notice

Booooooo! Gerrofff! Boooooooo!

Whoever came up with that load of shite should be embarrassed

Another possibility is that the manager selects the player(s) to be bought, and the chairman negotiates the purchase, bungs and backhanders, salary and contract terms along with Cushing and his cronies. That's also consistent with what Souness says. Tbh I doubt many managers negotiate the details of their players' contracts

The Boumsong transfer is the one that needs explaining. No wonder they couldn't sign off on it. 8m for a free transfer from Auxerre, who played 23 games for Rangers, and who turned out to be crap. Souness and Murray are close friends. Willie McKay is the agent. Hmmmm. Maybe Souness has something to hide, and has decided to get his damage in early.