Unbelievable

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_3041327,00.html

The source is Harry Redknapp!!! What more do you want Damn, you're quick!

That's the question indeed. Hope it's the second option..

That would be excellent!

I'm in denial about this, so NO..

Not impressed by him as a person, but Van Gaal fits that profile pretty much..

So is this official yet?

Much as I'm underwhelmed I really can't understand that attitude. Get behind him I say. Rather he was forced out before he spends our pennies to be honest. You've no idea who the board have considered for the role. If they have considered some big names, sounded them out and they dont want to come then your attitude is not just daft its dangerous for the club. They could have sounded the big names out before sacking Sam surely?

Bloody hell, what´s Sounness doing in that list at 100:1 ?!!!!

I didn't want us to get rid of Big Sam as I believed his long term vision at least would help us improve over time. However, there are better managers out there, and this new development is also quite exciting as it seems our new owner and chairman will have to show us their hand. I have been cautious at the start of their reign and have been impressed by them since then, so I hope we will not be disappointed. The only logical reason I can think of for this sacking is they want to move much faster than we are currently doing and didn´t entirely trust Allardyce with their money, so have decided to hire somebody they have full confidence in will make this club successful (and their investment sound). If they were more patient and were willing to take a little gamble at a much lower financial risk they would have stuck with Allardyce, as I don´t think there´s many people better at building a club up with limited means. Very interestingly the pressure on Allardyce had risen slightly in the past period, but wasn´t anywhere near a breaking point, which makes it look like they were possibly looking for an excuse to sack the manager they never appointed and drive through their own plans. So I guess all in all that makes me slightly worried but mostly very anxious to know who they will bring in to replace Allardyce. I am however positive (which will surprise our janitor) because I jut cannot see the logic in this sacking if it isn´t to make a significant step forward..

Good shout. How´s he been since relegating out of the Prem? I wouldn´t mind us making a move for him.

Signed for Arsenal apparently. according to the Daily Mail± http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/sport/football.html?in_article_id=506330&in_page_id=1779.

Arsenal do it all the time and come back stronger every time. People need to realise it is now years and years ago Owen could justifiably be classed as 'world class'. He is not worth the wages we pay him and he will be another undroppable player when fit, so we'd better hope he starts firing on all cylinders or he will hold us back until his contract expires or some other club takes him off our hands. I fear he's too much of a risk for me, although I appreciate he is easily our best player when at his prime. For all sorts of reasons I don't think he will ever reach that prime with us unfortunately..

Spot on. Owen is simply a reputation & hype. He's a name, not a brilliant player. And the thing is he did have chances, again, today- but hes simply not this finisher he's hyped up to be. People really need to realise what he actually is and not be sucked into the rubbish Owen hype. He's not the worst player ever obviosuly. But 'lethal finisher', 'world class striker' 'give him a chance and he'll put it away striker'? Its hype, and hype only & not the truth. Get rid asap. Is there something you're basing this on? His two and a half seasons with Newcastle being a complete waste of everybody's time perhaps?

I will judge him where his manager plays him thank you very much. By now it is pretty clear Sam thinks of him as a versatile player and is perfectly happy to play him as a defensive midfielder. He is our captain, if that position doesn't suit him or doesn''t benefit the team he should be voicing his opinion about it. Souness saw Craig Bellamy as a wide player [well, he didn't really, but he was just looking for an excuse to cause a situation to kick him out of the club]. Bellamy was criticised by numerous people for voicing his opinion, for the good of the team in his view. Smith is playing where the manager wants him to play, for the good of the club, in the way he sees it. Different scenarios, but both those players had the best interests of the club at heart. But did you judge Bellamy as a wide player or a support striker ? Fact is, Smith is playing where he is because we are short of midfield players and getting on with it. Nobody is saying he's particularly good there, because we can see that he isn't. The danger is, does the manager see him there long term. Only the manager can answer that. The rest of us are going to have to wait and see. That may have been the case tonight NE5, and I agree Allardyce didn't really have a choice, but I don't need to remind you that Smith has been picked before Barton and more importantly and frequently Emre before, do I? Also, Sam must have banked on Smith as a midfield player, or he would have replaced Dyer and Solano with a proper midfield player. I have expressed my opinion on Smith before: I don't think he is good enough for us, even in his best position. He is a striker who can't score, create or shoot and to make matters worse our 6 million acquisition is not benched for constant underperformance, he is made the captain and put in the engine room of our team, with detrimental effects as is clear to see. I can't see where people who say I can't judge him in a position where he is being played and for which he was brought in are coming from, I really can't. I'm not saying myself that Smith is a midfield player. I realise he is different to Emre, but Emre is a homer, so there is a case for preferring Smith in some away games. At the end of the day, I don't think either is good enough in midfield, not for what I want either. If Allardyce has brought him to play in midfield, especially alongside another defensive player, then he is wrong. I've always said this. In that case it seems we do agree after all. It's just people who say we can't judge a player after such a shower of piss by said player do my head in.. Not being funny about it, but do you even support Newcastle? I don't think you do, which is why I don't particularly give a toss what you think. Everybody on here has stopped caring what you think long ago mate. Is supporting Newcastle and judging one of the players on our books is crap somehow incompatible?

I will judge him where his manager plays him thank you very much. By now it is pretty clear Sam thinks of him as a versatile player and is perfectly happy to play him as a defensive midfielder. He is our captain, if that position doesn't suit him or doesn''t benefit the team he should be voicing his opinion about it. Souness saw Craig Bellamy as a wide player [well, he didn't really, but he was just looking for an excuse to cause a situation to kick him out of the club]. Bellamy was criticised by numerous people for voicing his opinion, for the good of the team in his view. Smith is playing where the manager wants him to play, for the good of the club, in the way he sees it. Different scenarios, but both those players had the best interests of the club at heart. But did you judge Bellamy as a wide player or a support striker ? Fact is, Smith is playing where he is because we are short of midfield players and getting on with it. Nobody is saying he's particularly good there, because we can see that he isn't. The danger is, does the manager see him there long term. Only the manager can answer that. The rest of us are going to have to wait and see. That may have been the case tonight NE5, and I agree Allardyce didn't really have a choice, but I don't need to remind you that Smith has been picked before Barton and more importantly and frequently Emre before, do I? Also, Sam must have banked on Smith as a midfield player, or he would have replaced Dyer and Solano with a proper midfield player. I have expressed my opinion on Smith before: I don't think he is good enough for us, even in his best position. He is a striker who can't score, create or shoot and to make matters worse our 6 million acquisition is not benched for constant underperformance, he is made the captain and put in the engine room of our team, with detrimental effects as is clear to see. I can't see where people who say I can't judge him in a position where he is being played and for which he was brought in are coming from, I really can't. I'm not saying myself that Smith is a midfield player. I realise he is different to Emre, but Emre is a homer, so there is a case for preferring Smith in some away games. At the end of the day, I don't think either is good enough in midfield, not for what I want either. If Allardyce has brought him to play in midfield, especially alongside another defensive player, then he is wrong. I've always said this. In that case it seems we do agree after all. It's just people who say we can't judge a player after such a shower of piss by said player do my head in..

I will judge him where his manager plays him thank you very much. By now it is pretty clear Sam thinks of him as a versatile player and is perfectly happy to play him as a defensive midfielder. He is our captain, if that position doesn't suit him or doesn''t benefit the team he should be voicing his opinion about it. Souness saw Craig Bellamy as a wide player [well, he didn't really, but he was just looking for an excuse to cause a situation to kick him out of the club]. Bellamy was criticised by numerous people for voicing his opinion, for the good of the team in his view. Smith is playing where the manager wants him to play, for the good of the club, in the way he sees it. Different scenarios, but both those players had the best interests of the club at heart. But did you judge Bellamy as a wide player or a support striker ? Fact is, Smith is playing where he is because we are short of midfield players and getting on with it. Nobody is saying he's particularly good there, because we can see that he isn't. The danger is, does the manager see him there long term. Only the manager can answer that. The rest of us are going to have to wait and see. That may have been the case tonight NE5, and I agree Allardyce didn't really have a choice, but I don't need to remind you that Smith has been picked before Barton and more importantly and frequently Emre before, do I? Also, Sam must have banked on Smith as a midfield player, or he would have replaced Dyer and Solano with a proper midfield player. I have expressed my opinion on Smith before: I don't think he is good enough for us, even in his best position. He is a striker who can't score, create or shoot and to make matters worse our 6 million acquisition is not benched for constant underperformance, he is made the captain and put in the engine room of our team, with detrimental effects as is clear to see. I can't see where people who say I can't judge him in a position where he is being played and for which he was brought in are coming from, I really can't.

I will judge him where his manager plays him thank you very much. By now it is pretty clear Sam thinks of him as a versatile player and is perfectly happy to play him as a defensive midfielder. He is our captain, if that position doesn't suit him or doesn''t benefit the team he should be voicing his opinion about it.

Everybody seems to have forgotten he did exactly the same as Roz did vs Derby, letting the forward in by being halfhearted..

Given 6 Roz 4 Taylor 6 Faye 7 Enrique 6 Duff 6 Butt 6 Smith 2 Zog 6 Viduka 5 Owen 4 LuaLua 6 Carroll 6

FT Rubbish

Carroll man ffs..

Butt, honestly.

Why is Zog on the right?

Stoke almost scored. What was Smith doing there except making it harder for Given to see the ball?