sempuki

4 minutes......

Jonas didn't look happy.....

Can't complain with that but have a feeling of impending doom.

Shearer's first reward for equalling Jackie Milburn's record was free car insurance for life from Alan Beenshill, chief executive of Collingwood Insurance Company, who sponsored Saturday's match. They have met before for what it's worth.

From the Sunday People: I'LL GET YOU SHEARER EXCLUSIVE Geordie tycoon's offer to Ashley By James Courage Newcastle owner Mike Ashley has been told by a north-east businessman: "I can take the heat off you...by signing Alan Shearer as manager." The Tyneside tycoon, believed to be Alan Beenshill, wants to become Toon's new chairman and claims Shearer is willing to work with him. That would leave Ashley still in control of the club but no longer a hated figure among Toon fans, who are desperate for Shearer to return to St James' Park as manager. Advertisement Click Here! A source close to the negotiations said last night: "The businessman involved has built up a very successful company and is a shrewd guy. If anybody can deliver Alan Shearer, he can." But the local link comes just as a Chinese consortium are believed to have stepped up their bid to buy Ashley out. The billionaire owner wants £350million to sell up - and the Far East group, who made known their interest 10 days ago, are ready to play ball. But Toon fans have heard talk of foreign investment before - it's Geordie involvement, plus the prospect of Shearer's return, that will most excite them. North East rather than Far East. Though it seemed certain a month ago that Ashley, hugely unpopular on Tyneside, would sell up, there is now talk he longs to return to the directors' box at St James' Park. Hostility towards him has eased and he is keen to take his family back to the ground. That means he will be sorely tempted by the Geordie businessman's offer. Beenshill, who is known to be close to Shearer and who has been a major Newcastle sponsor for the last 10 years, said last night: "I remain a massive fan of the club. But I have no comment to make at this stage." Beenshill is chief executive of the Collingwood Insurance Company, which is now based in Gibraltar, although he flies back to England for Newcastle's games. Collingwood are the third-biggest backers of United, spending at least £1million a year over the past decade. It is believed that Shearer is aware talks have started and has indicated he would be willing to work as manager with the would-be chairman. Our source said: "We are talking about a devoted supporter who is ready to invest in the club and is keen on a hands-on role. "If Mike Ashley is adamant he wants £350m for the whole club he won't get it from this man, but he will see a return on some of his investment and retain a major stake. "The new chairman would want to see Mike back at St James' Park for games. "The sight of Mike Ashley in the directors' box would have been unthinkable a few weeks ago, but this offers him a route back." Meanwhile, interim Toon boss Joe Kinnear is a shock candidate for the manager's job at Watford. Kinnear grew up in the town after moving from Dublin and the 61-year-old's family home is close to the club's training ground.

Comical Oli - he knows about as much as us on here. Wouldn't he put people off their Sunday breakfast/brunch/dinner?

Grom the ever reliable NOTW: YOU'LL CHANGE TOON OVER KEV Wait until you hear the full story, warns Kinnear MY LIPS ARE SEALED: Joe Kinnear won't spill the beans over Toon secrets By MARTIN HARDY, 01/11/2008 JOE KINNEAR has warned Newcastle fans that Kevin Keegan’s lofty status with them may be undermined when the truth of his departure is told. And the interim boss believes owner Mike Ashley may not be finished with the Toon. The club is still in disarray, with Keegan embroiled in a legal battle over compensation after his exit in September. On Keegan’s exit, Kinnear said: “I could tell you lots of things about that. You will have to wait and see. “You might be pleasantly surprised. “You are making an assumption — like most of the journalists up here — and 75 per cent of you are wrong. “Wait until you see the statements, that is all I am saying. All will be revealed. “Maybe Mike Ashley will be accepted. Maybe he will come back and won’t sell the place. Maybe he will invest in the club. Who knows? “It only needs the team to go on a small run and people will easily forget. I am saying forget, but I don’t know what the man has done. “It is difficult. He has put £240million into the club and he can’t come and watch the team. Crack “But he could make his peace with the fans. It isn’t all of them. He hasn’t been given a fair crack of the whip by the Press. “He is a down to earth fellah who loves his football. His kids love it. I don’t know what mistakes he has made because I haven’t been here to look at them.” Ashley is struggling to find anyone to pay the £280m he wants for the club. Sources close to investment banker Keith Harris, who is trying to broker the sale, have said there were no developments last week. A South African group who had shown interest could be about to return to the picture with fresh backing. The uncertainty means Newcastle are likely to again be bit-part players in the transfer market in January, to the despair of their supporters. Kinnear is on a month-to-month arrangement with Toon — but has been a hit with fans and is getting twitchy over his future. Chase If he is still there in the New Year, he will dispense with £5.7m Xisco and Ignacio Gonzalez, who is on loan from Valencia. Both only arrived at the club in the summer. Andy Carroll could also go out on loan, with Derby and Norwich leading the chase for his signature. Kinnear called on the Newcastle board to open negotiations with Michael Owen, who can agree a pre-contract deal with another club in January, which would allow him to leave for nothing in the summer. He added: “The club has to keep Michael Owen and players like him. This is a big club and Michael is a big player. “It will cost a lot of money to replace him. I would keep him here. I feel the same way about him as Kevin Keegan.”

Hate football as well. My Japanese team is odds on for the drop and now we lose to the mackems. Inconsolable.

Depressing stuff now.

This season.....haven't enough bad things happened...but losing to the Mackems?

Phuck!

Can see Barton coming on and hopefully Jonas.

"astound the world" - nowt like a bit of over-exaggerating. Then again we probably astound the world every week!

F-words: 36, C-words: 4, B-words: 6. Total: 46

I actually enjoyed that - certainly more than the football this season.

Nile Ranger is on the bench.

Edgar out for Cacapa.

Apparently Kinnear has a touchline ban which he still has to serve at Everton!

Deserves support for having the balls to take the job. Somehow I think he doesn't know what he's let himself in for.

I was there that night as the Goblin and Gabbiadini did us in. Nasty memories but I actually think this is worse. We've fallen so far whereas last time we were nowhere near as big as we are now. Though I fear we won't be in the Premiership from much longer the way things are going.

Always in tandem with Mick "the mackem" Harford. Bizarre but also tragic what is happening to us.

Chris Hughton as caretaker manager of NUFC. a truly disturbing reality. Hughton although admittedly out of his death is not as odious as the poisoned rodent. Fans should have a decent relationship with the manager of their club - won't happen if Wise is in charge.

Dennis Wise as manager of NUFC. Truly a disturbing thought.

Could be bottom tomorrow if Spurs win. Misery.

3-0. Shafted in every sense. Relegation even at this stage looks odds-on the way things are going. Could be a high score.