Kitman

I'm guessing he has slightly more sources than you. Still you're entitled to your opinion

I think there's a good chance he wasn't consulted at all about Xisco and Gonzalez. And I think he's being largely ignored over who he'd like to stay, who he'd like to sign, and who he wants to give new contracts to. Keegan wants to shape his own squad. Wise and co think it's none of his business. That's what this showdown is all about, and this transfer window has brought it all to a head. based on ? I think that was Henry Winter's take on it, and it makes sense to me. What else do you think this is about other than who calls the shots over transfers? So no concrete facts or proof then? Christ, I hope that none of you lot get called up for jury duty... I hope you're being ironic. Otherwise nobody's entitled to an opinion i like opinion to be based on something. It is based on what Henry Winter wrote. have the last couple of days taught you nothing ? Henry Winter is actually a class journalist, I wouldn't tar them all with the same brush

I think there's a good chance he wasn't consulted at all about Xisco and Gonzalez. And I think he's being largely ignored over who he'd like to stay, who he'd like to sign, and who he wants to give new contracts to. Keegan wants to shape his own squad. Wise and co think it's none of his business. That's what this showdown is all about, and this transfer window has brought it all to a head. based on ? I think that was Henry Winter's take on it, and it makes sense to me. What else do you think this is about other than who calls the shots over transfers? So no concrete facts or proof then? Christ, I hope that none of you lot get called up for jury duty... I hope you're being ironic. Otherwise nobody's entitled to an opinion

I think there's a good chance he wasn't consulted at all about Xisco and Gonzalez. And I think he's being largely ignored over who he'd like to stay, who he'd like to sign, and who he wants to give new contracts to. Keegan wants to shape his own squad. Wise and co think it's none of his business. That's what this showdown is all about, and this transfer window has brought it all to a head. based on ? I think that was Henry Winter's take on it, and it makes sense to me. What else do you think this is about other than who calls the shots over transfers?

I think there's a good chance he wasn't consulted at all about Xisco and Gonzalez. And I think he's being largely ignored over who he'd like to stay, who he'd like to sign, and who he wants to give new contracts to. Keegan wants to shape his own squad. Wise and co think it's none of his business. That's what this showdown is all about, and this transfer window has brought it all to a head.

i've been told i come across as a horrible little t*** as well. but i guarantee you, once you get to know me, you'll see i'm just a regular nice guy I'll take your word for it

Depends if Keegan was hired as a coach or a manager. If it's the latter, he's every right to throw his toys out of the pram. If Keegan being 'manager' means keeping the likes of Smith and Milner out of some misplaced loyalty then I'd rather he stuck to coaching...which he's done very well I should add. Keegan's judgement on players has usually been pretty good. I doubt he'd be that attached to average players like Smith and Milner if the squad had sufficient depth, but it doesn't. It's up to Keegan to build a team, how can he be expected to do that if he has little say in transfers?

Depends if Keegan was hired as a coach or a manager. If it's the latter, he's every right to throw his toys out of the pram.

Regardless of what it is that he actually does for the club, he's always come across as a horrible little twat

If Keegan is going because he has been undermined continually by Wise and co on transfers, it doesn't make the job very attractive. I wonder who's going to want to manage a mid lower table side with a small squad, injury problems and apparently little say in transfers? Hardly attractive is it? And for all the brave new world stuff on here, what do we really know about Ashley seeing as he won't communicate to any great extent with the fans since Mort has gone? My impression is that City investors think his Sports Direct empire is hardly a rip roaring success. And what's the big deal about having no debt if we can afford to carry some and get some decent players in? I don't believe we couldn't have attracted a couple more quality players. I can't say I'm happy with this turn of events at all. I'd rather they backed Keegan when he said he needed 4 players including a specialist left back, the need for which is obvious imo. I'm also suspicious about Wise and Jiminez's competence.

If Smith and Ameobi went it would actually improve the squad. I'd love to see Keegan say "Best of luck to Alan Smith. Since I've been here his attitude and work rate have been fantastic and he's a great pro to have around the dressing room. So it's shame that he's a terrible footballer and a useless striker and I can't do a thing with him. Still we wish him well and we look forward to playing against him."

We've needed an upgrade on Butt for ages. No point dwelling on this horror show, it's how we react that matters, we have a run of very winnable games now

And how fitting that she's saying "Boro piss" repeatedly

I think the medical will show conclusively that he is far too spotty for a 22 year old

Not quite the mood I was hoping to forment, but be that as it may The game has several structural problem that inhibit it's development, and some are permanent obstacles. League may be dying (hallelujah!) but that doesn't change the fact that there will never be enough money here to keep players, that there is an active media campaign to subvert football, that we are geographically isolated, mistrusted by our new Asian partners and despised by Oceania on whom we turned our backs. It's all very well to rally the fans to lead the movement towards a brighter future for Australian football, but the league needs to think very carefully about the future. Today's announcement of two new clubs is potentially great news, but talk of an Oceania team next is outrageous. Wellington is offensive enough* but an Island team ahead of any of three areas in Melbourne or a second WA team is simply not on. * Personal opinion but having a club from another nation, affiliated with a different association benefits our game in no way shape or form. Better for NZ to have their own serious league and include the island nations in some way. This not only dovetails nicely with NZ's "national outlook" of liberalism and fair go that we used to be known for while allowing them to take ownership of developing football in Oceania as a whole. There's zero chance of a Kiwi pro league. Not enough interest!

Average player imo, the main issue is replacing him with an upgrade this late in the window

Ex-Toon "star" Michael Bridges played for a few months last season on loan at Sydney FC - and scored a few goals too. So yeah, Championship at very best... David Carney left Sydney for Sheffield United which was unanimously considered a step up... Wellington are supposed to be a dark horse this season - do Kiwis generally care about them? Not really as far as I can tell. Rugby is all powerful here (union and league) but most sports are more popular than football. The Phoenix only get attendances of a few thousand I think and they're the only team in NZ. Dunno how many fans they have around the country - they used to be based in Auckland so I assume they've still got a fanbase here. Might be a bit more popular if Wellington were more successful but my sense is it's just not a part of Kiwi sporting DNA. NZ is too small a country in population terms to currently stage a credible football competition, which is why Wellington play in the A League ; Australia's population is bigger than Holland's, so there are enough fans to support the League ; Kiwis are antipathic to anything Australian, so they naturally have little interest in football played mainly there ; they are also. as everyone knows, best at Egg-chasing. Yes. I reckon The Phoenix could eventually go bust, it happened to their predecessors. Rugby's where it's at it here fo' sho'

Ex-Toon "star" Michael Bridges played for a few months last season on loan at Sydney FC - and scored a few goals too. So yeah, Championship at very best... David Carney left Sydney for Sheffield United which was unanimously considered a step up... Wellington are supposed to be a dark horse this season - do Kiwis generally care about them? Not really as far as I can tell. Rugby is all powerful here (union and league) but most sports are more popular than football. The Phoenix only get attendances of a few thousand I think and they're the only team in NZ. Dunno how many fans they have around the country - they used to be based in Auckland so I assume they've still got a fanbase here. Might be a bit more popular if Wellington were more successful but my sense is it's just not a part of Kiwi sporting DNA.

I've watched a bit of Aussie league footy on the telly since I moved to NZ. The standard isn't very good imo

As a matter of course, yes

Probably not the best advice to give a loose cannon like him! yes, he should keep his head down, stick his chest out and keep swinging

The thing is, if we'd sacked him the tabloids would have run the story "Run out of toon - Joey let down by callous Newcastle", complete with quotes from fans demanding his reinstatement and expressing disbelief at his treatment. These journos have papers to sell, there's an anti-toon bias in the media feeding anti-toon sentiment amongst other clubs' fans, the "moral outrage" comes as no surprise whatsoever. From the same people who crap on about the dangers of binge drinking and the evil of drugs and hookers, and no doubt use all of them in between pushing their infantile prose out of their hairy arses. Or something like that

The mackems' management aren't daft. They'll have taken these gormless players to the toon and told them it's Sunderland. "So this is Sunderland?" "Aye, aye, it's Sunlan, aye. Just a quick look round and off to the ground to sign the contract." "Is nice. But why so many Noocarsel fans here in Sunderland?" "Whey, Newcastle's a shithole man, they all come here for their shopping. Right let's get off then"

Quite an entertaining bunch of opinions, much of which seems pretty sensible to me (for a slavemaster)