sempuki

Isn't his contract running out? If so we should be able to get him on the cheap - not that I'm advocating that mind.

I still rate him as a player but he's 32 next birthday and no doubt Milner's 4m move to Villa would only cover his wages for a season. I thought Roeder wanted to lower the age of the squad although you can be guaranteed FF would be behind it to restore his flagging popularity.

I was shocked to hear my Mam (who goes crazy when we get a throw-in) or my Dad who has been going for nigh-on 50 years, week-in week-out are not going tomorrow night. Indicative of the malaise.

Shock horror! This one was very predictable.

I'd say we'll struggle to get over 20,000.

Shepherd the bad guy in Geordie soap opera By Henry Winter Nativity plays in Tyneside schools this year will surely feature boisterous audience outbursts of "Shepherd Out". As Newcastle United writhe in another bout of introspection, the piercing search-light should be focused not on the short-term leadership from the dug-out but the long-term direction from the board-room. Chairman Freddy Shepherd is the problem, not manager Glenn Roeder. Musical chairman: Shepherd discards managers too easily Life at Newcastle is often depicted as a soap opera, a sort of North-eastenders with repeating plot-lines of aspiration unfulfilled, yet it is also real life laced with deepening sadness. Away from the chairman's office and certain incompetent corners of the dressing-room, this is a club teeming with proper people, supporters of unbelievable patience and passion, and employees who view the world solely in black and white. When Lee Bowyer and Kieron Dyer were dragged to the press room to explain their infamous on-field spat, a heart-broken club servant turned the photograph of Jackie Milburn to the wall so that the late, great Geordie No 9 would not see the shame brought on the club he represented so sportingly and selflessly. In Shepherd's defence, a middle-aged suit sitting up in the stands can hardly be held responsible for two midfielders scrapping down below. Not all of Newcastle's ills can be laid at Shepherd's door; the thoroughbred Michael Owen, a Shepherd transfer coup, went lame in England's colours. Shepherd has consistently provided funds for excellent recruits such as Scott Parker. He even allowed Roeder to gamble £10 million on Obafemi Martins, the infuriatingly inconsistent Nigerian striker. advertisementSympathy for Shepherd disappears the moment his salary is examined. According to the latest available accounts (year ending July 31 2005), Newcastle's chairman was paid £502,954. Good money for indifferent work. Shepherd is no benefactor in the mould of Middlesbrough's Steve Gibson, the benchmark for "a fit and proper person" to lead a football club. Developments 200 miles to the south also embarrass Shepherd, down at Aston Villa, where Martin O'Neill has again been playing the sleeves-rolled up alchemist. O'Neill is the manager Shepherd should have wooed and appointed this summer, and Newcastle fans understandably gaze enviously at events off Spaghetti Junction. Roeder is an admirable person, a terrific coach, and outstanding Academy director, but he will never be the Pied Piper of Toon Army dreams as O'Neill would have been. Talk swirls around fans' chat-rooms and City circles about a putative take-over, by the Belgravia Group, yet would Shepherd sell? Yesterday, one enraged supporter despatched a missive to Shepherd, pleading with him to leave, arguing that the chairman had wasted the legacy built up by his distinguished predecessor, Sir John Hall. "When you took over the club you were handed the second-best team in the Premiership, a club that was looking like it was destined for greatness and you've destroyed all of that through your utter contempt for the fans and your lust for power and money," wrote Michael Foster. "You've totally failed in everything a chairman is responsible for." Such Newcastle fans deserve better. Those of us neutrals who travel the English football circuit, mixing with fans of all club colours, and gauging the depth of their fervour, readily admit respect for Newcastle's following, home and away. Battered at Manchester United, Newcastle fans never stopped singing. St James' itself is a special place, an arena that makes the pulse quicken when the teams walk out and that extraordinary roar erupts from countless Gallowgate throats. Attending Alan Shearer's testimonial last season was uplifting because of the outpouring of love for a local hero while also painfully poignant. The absence of Shearer's name from the cast-list rips away much of the lingering class clinging to the club. A die-hard Newcastle disciple of this observer's acquaintance is convinced the club will be transformed only when supporters show their dissatisfaction at serial mismanagement by voting with their feet. Empty seats. No queues in the megastores. Might focus a few minds in the board-room. It will never happen. Following Newcastle is a birthright, a religion, a warm-up before the knees-up of a night out. On the Geordie check-list of must-do activities, watching the Toon ranks alongside breathing. Such loyalty merits better leadership. Shepherd Out.

He'll be under unbearable pressure if we lose against Portsmouth (that's a hard game in the current circumstances) and against Charlton.

It's becoming too realistic.

8 goals, 7 points and 6 defeats already from 9 games tells it's own worrying story. 2 points above the relegation zone but although I punched my couch several times after they scored I somehow feel less angry than last week's shambles so I presume apathy is setting in.

I'm starting to feel ambivalent after our Gullit-esque start to the season. We didn't play that badly but with our powder puff attack we've got no chance of even getting in the top half.

United set to offload Bramble Oct 22 2006 By Neil Farrington, The Sunday Sun Newcastle are aiming to offload Titus Bramble in January - and take up to a 90 per cent loss on the error-prone defender. Bramble's latest horror show, in last Sunday's Premiership defeat to Bolton, was the last straw for United's top brass. And with the 25-year-old out of contract next summer, United may sell him for as little as £500,000 in the new year - one-tenth of what they paid Ipswich for him in 2002. Even then, Newcastle know they may not be overwhelmed by interest in Bramble, although a move back to Portman Road is a possibility. United boss Glenn Roeder hopes to sign THREE defenders in January - after admitting it was "frustrating" not to sign Jonathan Woodgate ahead of today's opponents Middlesbrough in the summer. But despite United's poor start to the domestic season, Roeder insists he doesn't feel under undue pressure. And amid mounting discontent on the terraces, has vowed not to ditch his calm and composed image. "It was frustrating not to get him," Roeder said of Newcastle old boy Woodgate, who chose to join Boro on loan from Real Madrid. "But there were two considerations. "One was his medical record, which suggested it would be tough for him to play lots of games. The other was his desire to play for his hometown team. "The thing with Jonathan is, because of his injuries, you never know how long you will get before he breaks down again." Robert Huth was a stronger target still for Roeder, but the former Chelsea centre-back also chose Boro and may partner Woodgate today. "I saw a lot of Huth when I was in London, and I got glowing reports about him from players I am close to at Chelsea," added Roeder, tracking Macedonia centre-half Alex Vasoski according to new reports in Europe. "Why did we not get Huth? There are reasons that are difficult for me to elaborate on, but he decided to join Middlesbrough."

Of us going for Beckham as a trophy signing rather than the defenders and forward(s) we need in January?: Becks reveals Real frustration By Alex Livie - Created on 22 Oct 2006 David Beckham has spoken of his frustration at being relegated to the bench at Real Madrid. The former England captain has been a cornerstone of the Real team for three seasons, but he has slipped down the pecking order this term under new coach Fabio Capello. He started last week's loss to Getafe, but was once again on the bench for the UEFA Champions League win over Steaua Bucharest and the 31-year-old is unhappy with his lot in the Spanish capital. "Every day I feel sad and very frustrated as a footballer because I am not playing for my country or for my club," Beckham told the Mail on Sunday. Beckham is in talks over a new deal with Real, but he may well wait to consider his options before committing his future to the club. "Two more years on the bench would be very difficult," he declared. "At the moment it is very difficult for me not playing. "I am not even thinking about retiring. When my heart and legs give in then that will be the time, but that is not the case now." Real take on Barcelona on Sunday, live on Sky Sports, and Beckham will be hoping for the chance to impress at El Santiago Bernabeu.

John Gibson makes some very good points in the Chronicle tonight on the video section and basically echoes everyone's concerns on here.

I'm still too depressed from yesterday to drum up any optimism but I'm starting to fear the worst.

Good chairmen (like Moores at Liverpool, Steve Gibson) don't interfere with the manager's decisions. I can't imagine many chairmen buying players for the team (that were probably recommended by his son or Willie McKay). He loves power too much and his over-inflated ego won't allow him to take a back seat and not to meddle. There's no doubt he's a fan but he can't seem to detach himself from it and it seems to me like he thinks he's playing a real version of football manager.

Roeder does seem very "hands-on" and is probably running the whole sorry show. It's hard not to feel a bit sorry for him when FF prefers to blow all his budget on substandard attackers and totally ignores the whole infrastructure.

Waddle is a mackem! I'm not sure what kind of reception he'd get either. He is totally unproven in the Premiership and was terrible at Burnley.

bring back Keegan Keegan wouldn't come without pots of cash - something I seriously doubt we have. I can't imagine his relationship with Shepherd is very good either. Besides he's now up in Scotland with his soccer schools project.

Denilson is on a free and training with Portsmouth. He may not be the force he was but I'd prefer him over Sibierski.

After what I was expecting this has to be the most underwhelming transfer for a long time. There's no way even Oliver can put a positive spin on this one.

With the Milner farce and no defenders it's a debacle alright. Why don't we ever invest in the defence? The last time we bought defenders was January 2005 and they were Boumsong and Babayaro!

Tough away game today against a side fighting for their lives - I think it will still be enough for Roeder to get manager of the month but probably not enough for Europe. As everyone says even if we finish 8th or whatever our transformation under Roeder has been amazing.