sempuki

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.

Smokescreen or is he buying the player for us!

Alan Oliver has spoken: Harry's game Jan 11 2008 by Alan Oliver, Evening Chronicle Harry Redknapp NEWCASTLE United were expected to make their move for Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp today. And the word coming out of the south coast today was that Portsmouth are almost resigned to losing their 61-year-old manager. United owner Mike Ashley is in Hong Kong today, but perhaps significantly chairman Chris Mort was not in his St James’s Park office Tyneside. Redknapp turned up at the Portsmouth training ground as usual today to prepare his side for Sunday’s game with Sunderland at the Stadium of Light. The majority of Pompey fans are distraught at losing Redknapp, but on the other hand he is experienced enough to know that he will have to win over some Newcastle supporters. And sources close to him told me today that he will do that by winning football matches. And those sources also told me Redknapp would turn down Mike Ashley’s offer of a private jet to fly him between Tyneside and his luxury home in Bournemouth from Southampton airport. An associate of Redknapp insisted: “If he does move to Newcastle, Harry will obviously keep his place in Bournemouth but buy a place in Newcastle and live there.” Understandably, Redknapp’s wife Sandra will be not keen to leave the south coast, but I believe the pull of managing Newcastle United will sway him. There is already talk that should he arrive at Newcastle he would bring Portsmouth central defender Sol Campbell with him and that Spurs right-back Pascal Chimbonda would be another target. Redknapp is still the bookies’ favourite to replace Sam Allardyce, with Blackburn boss Mark Hughes as second favourite. Blackburn used to be sponsored by one of Mike Ashley companies and he often turned up at games at Ewood Park. He met Hughes and has always been impressed by the job the former Manchester United, Chelsea and Welsh striker has done on limited funds with Blackburn. But Redknapp is still the man Mike Ashley wants. He was quick to reassure Everton supremo Bill Kenwright that he had no interest in his manager David Moyes in a phone call between Hong Kong and London late last night. Pompey yesterday evening warned they would not welcome any approach, but sources on Tyneside have suggested that Redknapp is ready to listen to what they have to say. Redknapp emerged as one of the favourites within hours of Allardyce’s departure on Wednesday evening as Alan Shearer receded in the betting following suggestions that the club was looking for an experienced manager. A hint that the man at the top of the list was currently in work did little to quell the speculation, and Redknapp and Blackburn’s Mark Hughes pulled clear at the head of the field amid an emotional groundswell for Kevin Keegan. Redknapp insisted he had not been contacted by anyone from Newcastle and that he was happy where he was. However he did not categorically rule himself out, something Pompey later attempted to do by issuing their own statement. It said: “The club has received no approaches for the services of our valued manager Harry Redknapp. He remains as committed as ever to this football club. “He recently signed a new improved four-year contract with Portsmouth. “The club has made significant investments over the last two years in both players and infrastructure and the results that are now being enjoyed are the fruits of those investments. “Last season, the club finished in its highest position for 52 years and this season we are on course to better that. We have recently won nine out of 10 away games, a club record. “We are in the middle of the busiest time of the season because of a heavy fixture list and the month-long transfer window and as such this speculation is unhelpful.” An approach for Redknapp now seems imminent, and while Portsmouth would have every right to reject it , they could then face a fight to hang on to a man who may find the lure of one more big job too much to resist. Newcastle certainly believe they can tempt Redknapp, who has worked wonders in his second spell at Fratton Park. Only the club’s recent indifferent home form has denied them a place in the Premier League’s top six.

I think Harry (who I like, incidentally) has a bit of a chip on his shoulder about not having been given a crack at a big job - witness his comments about the England position which kind of showed this. This is his chance. FWIW I also think he's gone as far as he can with Portsmouth. The only thing i was wondering is that he'll never leave his enormo-house at Sandbanks (and neither would I want to) but if MA is lending him his jet to commute and he is prepared to do it then that is that problem out of the way. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandbanks A bit better than Benwell! Why would he live in Benwell? Didn't say he would. Rhymes with "bit bitter" and Darras Hall just wouldn't work. Jeez.....

I think Harry (who I like, incidentally) has a bit of a chip on his shoulder about not having been given a crack at a big job - witness his comments about the England position which kind of showed this. This is his chance. FWIW I also think he's gone as far as he can with Portsmouth. The only thing i was wondering is that he'll never leave his enormo-house at Sandbanks (and neither would I want to) but if MA is lending him his jet to commute and he is prepared to do it then that is that problem out of the way. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandbanks A bit better than Benwell!

Looks like it could happen now.

I wonder how soon it will happen. Will be pretty soon I think as they know he'll need time to assess our motley crew before buying players in the transfer window.

I wouldn't be surprised if it turns out to be Hughes though a bit disappointed.

There's a video on the Mackem nightly newspaper and he doesn't look bothered at all.

The last time we were managerless and played them away we got stuffed 5-1. Hopefully that doesn't happen again.

source? New United signing Ben Tozer watched from the stands last night, as did Hungarian Under-19 international Tamas Kadar, who United were hoping to sign today by pushing through the necessary paperwork.

Season over in January. It's happened before although it seems more depressing than usual this time. We haven't lost yet of course but let's face it, it will take a miracle to get past Arsenal the way both teams are playing.