Doug

Bearing in mind he took over in his words 'to have fun'. There are banners abusing him, face book sites with abusers in their hundreds, and now an abusively edited Wikepedia entry of him. We had better hope there is someone waiting in the wings to buy us because I predict he wont stick around too much longer. No Keegan or Ashley could be the new scenario.

Not sure I would agree with KK if that was his request. Although I agree that he should have the final say on transfers and contract negotiation, I think Wise and Jiminez has done a canny job with Jonas, Coloccini, Bassong and Guthrie (assuming those were all their recommendations). Think KK should be given more power but not to the extend of sacking Wise and Jimenez. I can,t believe there are still people among us who give enough credence to the ramblings of the Sun to allow its drivel to be regurgitated on here.

I firmly believe that if Ashley had not taken over and sacked Allardyce that we would be starting this season in the championship. Stats like the only team to lose to Derby and 0-3 down at home after 11 mins (pompey) belonged to a team heading for relegation. With all the debt that the old regime had saddled the club with too, it would have been a long way back. Look at Leeds, Forest, Wednesday, etc to see how hard it is to recover. The fools coming onto national radio and tv ought to bear this in mind before giving the reporters the insulting soundbites they are keen to generate against the clubs hierarchy.

This club has been mismanaged and squandering its potential for decades. It looks to me as if the headlong rush to 'do a Leeds' has been halted by the new owner. The last regime would have had us out of the premiership and skint.

Listen to the ITK Spurs fans and you wouldnt pay anything for him.

:haha: Its all about opinions. In mine, Barry has had a fortunate run in the England squad recently but is one of the most over hyped and over rated footballers around. I find your belief in the 18m rated Barry equally hilarious.

Tapped up for definite but they cant ethically bid for him unless he asks to leave. After the Barry to Liverpool debacle we would be stupid to ask for any less than 12 million for him. He was their player of the year 2 years ago and IMO is better than Barry (18M !) anyway. Lets call their bluff, 12million or he stays, like Barry.

Could be because it was his first full game but he didnt impose himself enough to warrant comparison with the top centre backs mentioned in this thread. Enrique and Collocini greatly impressed at the back last night, Guterez all over, and Milner outstanding up front. I will definitely reserve judgment on Bassong for now.

The Sun once again will have made that story up. I dont think the money on offer will be such an issue with him myself. I think that once he sees we are going to be a force again he will be happy to sign a new contract, If we look as though we are having another season of struggle like last year he wont and I wouldnt blame him. He doesnt have to rush, he can walk out at the end for free cant he if the latter scenario pans out. We, the fans, are the only ones stuck at the club with no option to leave.

A leading question trying to get a reaction, but KK was not having any of it. That is because there is nothing to react to. We have a good manager and a good professional team of executives backing him. He knows it we know it, that is all that matters, let them keep spinning their nonsense, they will have to write something positive eventually if we carry on like today.

I saw that, it was very fleeting but encouraging nonetheless. Starting to look more like a Keegan team, Zoggy Duff, Jonas, Milner all happy to run at people and go past them. we'll be ok if they keep that up.

Why oh why couldnt it be Ebola

Superb thread, Hoew about this for an analogy. The Press agenda is like a punch, the way they put it into print is shiit, as in the old adage, "You might as well shiit in your hand and punch it" Some of it sticks to us but most of it goes over themselves.

Good thread title. I agree. Fleet St. would not though

Barton for England!! Newcastle fans should want Joey Barton to succeed just as he was starting to do for us towards the end of last season before the trial came up. Why? because the Daily Mirror dont want it to happen, thats enough reason for me alone. Come on Joey get stuck in and play well and we'll be right behind you, Fcuk the Mirror.

There was a Sunderland fan on also saying how the fans would not renew because of Wise and I thought how damaging it was as he was on a good five minutes coming just after a Newcastle fan saying the same thing as though he was a spokesman for the whole fanbase. To be fair Townshend was trying to put it in perspective but it came over really badly and The mischevious Parry is only too happy to make mountains out of molehills. These few minutes airtime can wreak havoc by claiming to be representative of the mainstream opinions. The Sunderland fan will be pleased with his contribution I bet.

He is the epitomy of the foreign mercenary. The worst thing in modern football along with their agents The great shame is that as well as being ludicrously rewarded they are also idolised by fans who are the only ones who show any loyalty in the affair.

Not funny or clever.

Great that everyone is seeing straight through this sort of purile press speculation nowadays. Long may it continue

That's not far from the total we'll end up paying him once his contract is up What kind of idiot gives a 27 year old a 5 year contract on £65,000 a week? Especially for a player who's flopped at his previous club and clearly wasn't quite the player he used to be. What a monumental waste of money. As you can tell I'm worried we may not be able to get rid of Mr Duff.. Just how badly has this club been run. The mind boggles. At least Risdale at Leeds had them at the top for a while. I think Shepherd was hell bent on doing a financial Leeds type meltdown on us for sure if Ashley hadnt come along.

D Hes finished man

I think he survives by hardly ever getting a game. If he played regularly he would get smashed up by premiership centre halves and spend the best part of his time injured. Leave well alone I say.

A prime example of made up, malicious shit stirring. Daft to give it airtime on here. Even dafter to believe it IMO

Very well put into perspective. It shows how desperate the media can get at times.

Half of the people on here have got it weighed up and dismiss the shit stirring, the other half are biting like sharks and believing it.