sempuki

Arguably our best defender but doesn't have the pace to compete with the faster forwards - without fouling them that is.

If we signed the goofy beanpole it's a banker he'd be on his Villa form not the form he's shown at Southampton and Liverpool.

Henry also said some supporters made him "ashamed for my sport" and there was further disgusting evidence of this when Roeder was abused as "tumour boy". When Newcastle scored, a junior member of the visitors' staff gestured in the general direction of the abuse. These suddenly sensitive Arsenal fans were so outraged they reported him to stewards. Pathetic. Roeder was dismissive. "All managers get abuse. If a supporter is critical of a brain tumour I had three and a half years ago I wouldn't respect him anyway." Pretty pathetic once again.

Looks like Moore's done his hamstring - what do you call "bare bones" that are even barer?

We were really lucky at times and they had over 20 shots. Still it was a gutsy performance and an away point at Arsenal is excellent for any team and especially us considering. Are we out of the bottom 3?

A question for O.N. I notice Roeder is down to 29% in your approval ratings. How low did the unmentionable one go?

At a talk-in in Hebburn last night.

Shamelessly taken from another site: Snippets from The Clark / Oliver Talk-In from last night -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Souness – Oliver said he was the man “who got him the sack” and that Souness refers to him as the “wanker form The Chronicle” – maybe we do have something in common with Souness after all! Oliver labelled Souness and his backroom staff as “fraudsters”. Luque – He took a hammering off both Oliver and Clark, surprisingly. Oliver says that Roeder has been extremely patient with him and has given him chances to prove his worth. When pointed out that Luque scored the winner at Palermola and was then subsequently dropped, Oliver came back with the remark that he was the worst player on the pitch that night! Oliver was also adamant that we paid £12 million for him, rather than the reported £9.5 million (so where did the £2.5 million go?). Bernard – Clark said he has been woeful for the reserves and on his form is nowhere near good enough for the 1st team squad. Terry Mac – According to Oliver, Terry Mac would be the 1st to admit that he is not a coach (Jesus!) and is there to simply "gee up the troops". He apparently proved his worth at Watford when he wound up Boothroyd on the touchline (Oliver then had a few stupid digs at Boothroyd's coaching ability). New signings – Oliver says we have deals virtually done for a left back and a 6 foot 4 Centre Half who currently plays in The Premiership – both will go through in Janaury. Clark blamed Chelsea for our failure to sign Bridge in August, stating that Kenyon called us at 11.10pm on Deadline Day to say the Cole deal had gone through and we could have Bridge. We had apparently agreed personal terms but could net get him up here in time for the medical (great planning as ever!). Nobby – Oliver reckons that he refused to travel to Boro when Roeder told him he was a Sub. Clarky – He is Officially reserve team manager but sometimes allowed to work with 1st team players due to having such a small squad. He said that Liverpool agreed a fee with us in 1997 but he was never told about and then went to the mackems. He also reckons that we agreed a fee of £3.5 million to bring him back in 2000 but Sir Bobby changed his mind and instead opted for Bassedas. Clark also had a dig at the young’uns coming through, saying most lacked hunger due to the money they earned. Not forgetting Oliver's quote of the night - "You don't want foreigners in charge of our club man", in response to me telling him that my managerial preference in the summer was Hitzfeld.

Another reason to sign a left back in January. He's injured suspiciously often.

The Belgravia Group has revealed discussions are continuing with Newcastle United about a possible takeover of the Premiership club. The club confirmed they had been in talks with the Jersey-based firm but as yet had not received a formal proposal. "Talks are continuing with Newcastle United and we are keen to do a deal," a spokesman for Belgravia told BBC Sport. Reports at the weekend suggested that Magpies chairman Freddy Shepherd wants to assume sole control of the club. Shepherd already owns 28% of the club, while former chairman Sir John Hall has a 29% share and his son Douglas owns a 12% stake. The Newcastle chief has been under pressure to leave his post with fans blaming him for the club's current predicament. The Magpies, led by manager Glenn Roeder, lie third from bottom in the Premiership having won just two league games this season.

Certainly did.

Owen may not be the same player - we don't know yet and is very injury-prone as everyone knows. When he's out like he is now we don't score goals so I think we need another potent option. Shola has a lot to do to convince me he's the answer and we don't know how Martins will fare. In January I'm hoping for 5 new players but I doubt it's going to happen. I'd like to see: RB: Volz - only 22 and in the final year of his contract. Vastly superior to the fat Irishman. LB: Bridge - contract running out, guaranteed a start with us. CB: Distin - contract running out. Not great but would be better than we've already got and with a minimal fee. CF: John - Fulham have got some good players if you think about it and his contract also doesn't have that long left. CF: Bent - costly but it may be necessary as if we don't score goals we go down. If Bayern want Emre for 8/9m they can have him and we'll have no option but to cut our losses on Luque. The first 4 shouldn't be all that expensive but good goalscorers usually are. Does anyone agree?

A good question but being the greedy so-in-so that I am I would hope for someone more longer term. Darren Bent would be fantastic although I doubt we have the cash unless we flog someone.

I won't pack my bags yetNov 12 2006 By Neil Farrington, The Sunday Sun Freddy Shepherd has vowed the fans calling for his head will not deter him from his mission as Newcastle United chairman... To step down only when the Magpies finally win a major trophy. With United languishing in the league, supporters have vented their fury on the man at the top at St James's Park. And with the Jersey-based Belgravia Group linked with a takeover bid for the club, many question why Shepherd would want to stand his corner for much longer. But the man himself insists his motivation for staying put is the desire to deliver on an ageing promise to bring silverware to Tyneside. He remains confident that Glenn Roeder - the manager he is backing to the hilt - can yet fulfil that dream this season. And he has fired a broadside at the Belgravia Group and others who have made noises about buying United without putting an offer on the table. "I took over as chairman with a mission to win a trophy - and I'm not going to be knocked off that," Shepherd told the Sunday Sun. "It's more than 50 years since we won a major domestic trophy and 37 years since we won our only European honour, and if I can end that dreadful run then that will be the time for me to walk away. "And we are still involved in three cup competitions, so I would like to think that we could win something this season. Shepherd admitted: "It has proved a more difficult, elusive task to win a trophy than I thought it would be when I first joined the board 14 years ago. "But you have to remember that when I joined the board, nothing had been won for 23 years and nothing had been done to the ground or the training facilities. "I've invested a lot of my time working for the club over the last nine years, and I am satisfied with what I have achieved off the pitch. If nothing else I have helped create one of the finest stadiums in Europe and a top-class training ground. That is my legacy." And on the pitch, Shepherd claims he retains all faith in Roeder to steer Newcastle out of relegation trouble - and will prove it by financing a January swoop for a top new striker and defender. "We have got to give Glenn time to turn it around, of course we have, and I think he can," he said. "I am not giving him a timeframe to do so, because I see the quality in Glenn to turn the situation around. "The players admit that they didn't play well against Sheffield United last week, but generally the performances haven't been bad. "We have good players here. Look at our team sheet. Christ, these are good players, and they have to sort it out. "But I would rather the fans have a go at me rather than the team or the manager." Shepherd added: "Stock Exchange rules mean we cannot say exactly what we are going to do in the January transfer window - but look at our past record. "And I know a forward and a defender are a priority." Meanwhile, while Shepherd admits that he and United's Plc board have a duty to all shareholders to listen to any reasonable offer that is made for the club, he is not holding his breath. "Anyone can make an offer for the company," he said. "As chairman I then have to do what is best for the Plc and for the shareholders. "But while there are lots of good talkers and people saying they are going to do this, that and the other, I don't see anyone coming here and saying: `Right, we'll buy the club and do this and that'. "So I am going to see this job through, and I believe I will turn this situation around. "My bags aren't packed."

If it happened, he wouldn't, would he? Newcastle's Owen linked with cut-price Liverpool return Liverpool are being linked with Newcastle United striker Michael Owen. The News of the World says Owen is still fighting to overcome a knee injury that required two ops and is unlikely to play a competitive game this term. With the Geordies stuck in a survival battle near the foot of the Premiership, the prospect of them losing their ?16m striker, 26, is looming. That could open the way for the England star to make an emotional return to his old club Liverpool. If relegated, Newcastle would be unable to keep Owen because of the player's £120,000-a-week wages. They might be forced to accept a knockdown price of around £6m - which will alert the Kop and other clubs. Of course he would.

There are loads of empty seats - although we can't say much. Boro should be winning really.

As I type the results are going for us - now Charlton 2-0 down at Wigan.

Ditto.

Sadly yes. As we can't even score we have to rely on others for help.

We are out of the bottom 3 if Chelsea score 2 more and the other results stay the same!

Poll denies City in Toon stalemate Graham Poll found himself back in the headlines again after disallowing a Georgios Samaras goal in Manchester City's 0-0 draw with Newcastle. The World Cup official, already in the spotlight following the high-profile dismissals of John Terry and James McFadden in the past seven days, cut City's celebrations short when he spotted Bernardo Corradi pulling Stephen Carr inside the Magpies box midway through the second half. It appeared a debatable call and proved to be crucial given Samaras turned the ball home after Richard Dunne had nodded Joey Barton's corner goalwards and left City cursing more bad luck. The hosts, who are still unbeaten and yet to concede a goal at home, should have wrapped up the points anyway but Barton and Corradi wasted good chances. However, they might also be thankful a late Newcastle rally did not see the Magpies fly off with the points as Kieron Dyer and Antoine Sibierski both went close before James Milner was left waiting in vain for a pass in the final second when completely unmarked in the middle of the City area. The result does little to ease the pressure on Newcastle boss Glenn Roeder, whose side have now gone eight games without a win and look set for a long winter battle to pull themselves clear of trouble. As neither side could claim to have set the world alight in any sense this season, a spectacular contest was not expected. Nevertheless, the sheer awfulness of the opening period still came as a shock. It did not take much but undoubtedly, City were the better side. In Barton they had virtually the only player on the pitch capable of lifting himself above mediocre. Once again overlooked for an England call, Barton set about getting the better of Scott Parker, who has been handed a place in Steve McClaren's massive squad, and largely succeeded. The only disappointment for the City man was he did not get his name on the scoresheet. Barton did force one good save out of Harper when he nicked the ball past Parker then let fly with a volley that was heading in until the Magpies keeper turned it away. However, it was the chance that came his way even earlier in the contest Barton probably had more cause to regret. Hatem Trabelsi cushioned an excellent header into his path after City keeper Nicky Weaver had launched a huge punt forward, Barton controlled with his chest, drove into the box but then stroked a shot beyond the far post when far better could have been expected. Roeder had opted to give Shola Ameobi one more opportunity before he heads for hip surgery but the forward barely broke out of a walk and on the one occasion he did find himself one-on-one with Sylvain Distin he meekly surrendered possession to the former Newcastle defender. Newcastle's only opportunity of note fell to young defender Peter Ramage, who hooked a volley over after new England squad man Micah Richards' clearing header had bounced into his path. The second period continued in the same manner as the first, with Harper again the hero when Barton split the Newcastle offside trap and found Paul Dickov inside the Magpies box, only for the Scotland international to see his side-footed effort turned away. Dickov is yet to find the net in his second spell with the Blues but must have thought his drought was over as he sent a side-footed shot towards the far corner, only for Harper to make a fine low stop. Like Dickov, Bernardo Corradi is goalless this season and he even better chance to score with his first touch after replacing Reyna on the hour mark. Inexplicably left completely unmarked deep inside the Newcastle box, Corradi met Barton's free-kick with a firm diving header which disappointingly failed to test Harper. It was the start of a lively period for the Italian, who nodded just wide before Harper got in the way of his close-range flick when Vassell had crossed. Corradi's next involvement dragged Poll into the spotlight again. Given the furore he has created in the past week, no-one could accuse Poll of a lack of bravery as he ruled out Samaras' header. It proved to be a major decision for as much as City controlled the contest never really looked like scoring again, while not even the arrival of Dyer could get the Magpies airborne.

Are you a fan because you don't seem to grasp what's actually going on here. Are you playing "devils advocate" because if you are you're doing a pretty bad job of it.

That was pretty hilarious like. 1 win in 11, no goals in 6 of our last 8 games and Arsenal away next. At least we got a point away from home but aside from the last 5 minutes we were poor.

4 midfielders on the bench!

Shola starts, Rossi isn't in the 16.