sempuki

It would definitely generate excitement and I'm pretty certain they'd have everyone behind them from the start.

Sounds impressive.

For those interested in "doing a Reg Hollis": Man Utd 6 Newcastle 0 Jan 12 2008 by Lee Ryder at Old Trafford NEWCASTLE UNITED fans were forced to endure a gloomy trip home from Old Trafford tonight as Manchester United ran riot. The Magpies went in at the break on level terms but crumbled in the second half as Man United piled on the agony for the Toon Army. United caretaker boss Nigel Pearson recalled fit again Stephen Carr who started ahead of David Rozehnal while Mark Viduka was relegated to the bench with James Milner back after shaking off an illness. Former Man United man Alan Smith captained Newcastle as they looked for their first win at Old Trafford since 1972. The home side though were overwhelming favourites and Newcastle were under the cosh just three minutes in. However, Wayne Rooney wasted a good chance when he blazed over from 18 yards. With 11 minutes played Newcastle should have taken the lead when Damien Duff crossed from the right to pick out James Milner but his shot was blocked by Rio Ferdinand when he had time and space. And the black and whites had another opportunity when Michael Owen won the ball off Michael Carrick before Duff cracked a shot just over with his right foot from long range. Man U then had two penalty appeals waved away after both Ronaldo and then Ryan Giggs clashed with Steven Taylor and Alan Smith respectively but Newcastle reached the 30 minute mark unscathed. Newcastle did have the ball in the back of the net at the Stretford End when Carr slipped in Owen but even though he finished well he was ruled offside with TV replays later proving he was level. In the second half Man U started strongly again but both Rooney and Carlos Tevez were denied by an amazing double block by Taylor. But Newcastle could do nothing to stop Ronaldo on 50 minutes when the Portuguese star sent a low free-kick beyond Given and into the net after the Man U danger man had won a free-kick following some marginal contact from Smith. Four minutes later and it was 2-0 when Carlos Tevez lashed home from close range. In a comical moment Given cleared the ball from a poor Enrique backpass with the ball bouncing off Cacapa and into the path of Giggs who rolled it home for the South American to score. The Magpies attempted to rally and just before the hour when an N’Zogbia shot was parried by Edwin van der Sar with Owen unable to convert the rebound. Caretaker gaffer Pearson introduced Viduka with 26 minutes left as the Aussie replaced Milner. It was all over with 20 minutes left when Man U grabbed number three after Tevez slipped in Ronaldo before he casually controlled and finished inside the box to make it 3-0. Rio Ferdinand made it 4-0 after Rooney played him in with a neat pass before the England defender slotted home. With three minutes to go Ronaldo made it five Enrique’s poor clearance fell into the Portugal international’s path before he lashed it past Given. But the scoring wasn't over for the home side and Tevez sidefooted home an effort in off the bar to complete the rout. And to add to Newcastle's woes Alan Smith was sent off for arguing with ref Halsey in stoppage time. MAN UNITED: Van der Sar, Evra (Simpson 67), Ferdinand, Ronaldo, Anderson (Fletcher 72), Rooney, Giggs (Nani 72), Vidic, Carrick, O’Shea, Tevez. Subs: Park, Kuszczak. NEWCASTLE: Given, Carr, Enrique, Taylor, Cacapa, Duff, Milner (Viduka 64), N’Zogbia, Butt, Smith, Owen (Rozehnal 83). Subs: Emre, Harper, LuaLua. Crowd: 75,965 Ref: Mark Halsey.

They had 30 goal attempts with 21 on target!

Don't say that.

Given was f****** woeful. The first two goals (ignoring the fact that the first wasn't a free-kick, the goal itself) were purely down to him. He had a shocker - was all over the place and that 2nd goal.....

Hope you're right but we're Newcastle - we don't win trophies!

Any new manager will now to able to negotiate a much higher salary after that. Can't see anyone decent being tempted with the state we're in unless Ashley pays them a fortune.

That's scary.

Our worst defeat I think in my lifetime of this misery. All in the second half too - absolutely shocking.

About 6 new players and a good manager!

We've had lows in the past (talking Premiership here) but is this the lowest? Can it get any worse at this stage of the season? Getting seriously worried about staying up.

The only good news all day.

Tevez.

Smith sent off?

Didn't look over the line either.

Now that's embarrassing.

No excuses at all. They are a great team (pains me to write that) whereas we'll be doing well to stay up. In fact I think some of our lot should retire. 6!

Ronaldo's first ever hat trick - naturally against us.

5 second half goals.

Happy so far.

If we don't get someone in by next week I can't see how we'll have enough time to get the players we need in the transfer window.

He was wide of the mark there. Shoddy work as usual.

Smith says in the Chronicle tonight he'll celebrate if he scores. More chance Shay scoring than him.

Uncle Alan is now hinting at Martin Jol!: The man from Pompey - he says no! Jan 12 2008 by Alan Oliver, Evening Chronicle HARRY REDKNAPP stunned the football world today when he turned down the chance to manage Newcastle United to stay at Portsmouth. And it left United fans wondering just where the club will turn to next. But undoubtedly many of those fans will want Alan Shearer, boosted by unconfirmed reports that the United legend was ready to take over. Yet it did not appear as if Shearer was on owner Mike Ashley’s radar after he was not informed of Sam Allardyce’s sacking – and only heard about it when the news filtered through to his Barbados base from sources inside St James’s Park. I was one of the few journalists to speak to Redknapp yesterday, and when I put the phone down I was of the opinion that I had been talking to the next manager of Newcastle United. But his wife Sandra is his rock and his sons Mark and Jamie are always consulted in any major decision in the Redknapp household – and there was a family decision on the south coast last night. Yet Harry joked that his two bulldogs were his big concern. And I joked with him that Tynemouth beach was as good as any on the south coast. But after a family meeting last night Redknapp informed the media in Portsmouth that he was staying at Fratton Park. However, United fans are more concerned with who will now arrive in the hot seat at St James’s Park after the No 1 target has turned his back on the club. Shearer will be very much to the fore, even though some supporters feel that he lacks the experience to take over one of the biggest jobs in football. The impression I get from some of the fans I have talked to is that they don’t want Shearer to take over at this moment in time because they love him so much they don’t want him to fail. Funnily enough, the word Shearer and the rest of the former United contingent have been hearing across in Barbados is that Martin Jol has been very much in United’s thoughts. Indeed, last Friday night Jol’s No 2 at Spurs Chris Hughton was making inquiries about what life was like on Tyneside. But the ball is very much back in the court of Mike Ashley and his chairman Chris Mort.