Raconteur

I'm sorry, but that's fairyland bullshit. This is 2009 and romance in football died years ago. "Loyalty", "unfair" and "wanted" have no place in professional football. Given was owed nothing but the renumeration specified in his contract - by the same token he owed us nothing, but the manner in which he engineered his exit makes him a fucking dog... And I marvel at those who say he was such a loyal servant when every time Harper was played Given whinged, to the point of submitting a transfer request - something he refused to do when he really did want to leave...

<----- This guy I remember him as a teenager playing for Melbourne Knights - he was miles ahead of anyone else in the league and really should have been Australia's greatest player of all time (it's an indictment of our minnow nation that he might still be considered so, but that's by the bye) He was barnstorming in Australia, Croatia and Scotland, and I was itching for him to strut his stuff in a "real" league. But when he came to England it all went pear-shaped, attitude and fitness problems meant a talent that could have put him on a level with the likes of Shearer or Ibrahimovic instead became just another striker with "good technique for a big man". Which is why all the griping about the Fat Aussie Bastard brings a tear to my eyes - because it's (somewhat) true, and makes me think of what might have been...

From a nufc.com match report (waffle) from 11/09/2002 Nearly SEVEN YEARS later (and exactly how man new contracts), and the fact is he is still not close to good enough. Re-read some of the key points - not good enough, lacking tenacity, poor positional sense, won't score the goals we've come to rely on Shearer for - these are exactly the same arguments we're making after yet another disgraceful performance. (PS Sorry if I've posted that before - I saved it at the time because it seemed prophetic, and for damned sure it was!!!)

I'm with you - Viduka and Martins were rightly placed on the bench as this match came too soon for both. Yes, Dukes played ten minutes last time around, but even I'll admit his fitness levels are way below what is required to start a Premier League match. And Martins must be our most important player in our fight to avoid the drop and simply must be nursed back into the starting line-up... The only contentious decision for me was Jonas - but Duff and Raylor worked well against WBA, and was a conservative choice rather than a cowardly one. As dover said though, Duff plays perhaps two decent games a season, so next time around we are much more likely to see Jonas restored to the starting line-up

For large portions of the match, particularly the first half, the neutral observer might have thought that Saylor was indeed playing in midfield with Raylor behind him. And while it might not be G. Neville-Beckham in it's skill and creativity, it has the potential to be a complimentary and solid partnership. And with the Enrique-Guitierrez partnership on the left, it offers considerable protection against teams that use wingers... However, it also lacks flair and especially potency. Good for away games perhaps, but without creativity in the middle or on the flanks we aren't going to score a whole lot. Especially if the fucking donkey ever plays again. After 30-odd pages, Slugsy summed it up pretty much perfectly for mine:

Mike Ashley choosing not to do due diligence...

I don't believe for a second he'll be playing for the Melbourne Knights in the Victorian State League - much more likely to be the Melbourne Victory in the national A-League... Disappointed it never really happened for the V-bomber on Tyneside - "waste" is a word often used to describe his talent, and he probably wasted most of his best years in Scotland. Still, as he showed against Tottenham, he has something no one else at our club has - genuine class. Too bad he doesn't have the fitness to go with it

Surely the person who has the most influence on whether JFK comes back is Mrs Kinnear? * Even if the doctors give him the green light, Joe is keen and Llambias still wants him, all it would take is for Mrs JFK to say "No way Joe, I'm not going to let that club make me a widow"...? * i suggest this not even knowing if JFK has a missus!

Wow. Just wow. I'll give you the respect Dilema demands (!) and ask a few pointed questions: Do you have any theories as to the identity of these Agents Provocateurs? For instance, the (currently) 12-page "BOYCOTT the protest rally" thread, where the vast majority of posters condemn the planned demonstration by NUSC, is this full of St James' Park moles? Because there is an awful lot of condemnation there... Where you a member of this board before Mike Ashley's involvement; in other words, are you aware of the tremendous hostility (not merely the "negativity" you decry here) towards Freddy Shepherd?* (NOTE: This is NOT a comment on whether such hostility is justified) Are you genuinely "bamboozled by the amount of people who are so willing to... give him the benefit of the doubt"? That is to say are you so inflexible, bereft of hope and faith that you will not allow your fellow (black and white clad) man to believe? Trust me, we are all finding the board very depressing - results have been poor, personell issues are still far from resolved, and the forum is populated by fanatically passionate people. Not to mention most of our information is based of tabloid bullshit and Chinese ITK whispers... Wow.

Good of him to clarify exactly what Denis Wise does, considering it seems to be the biggest bugbear amongst the fans

What were we expecting other than a whitewash?

Who are we kidding - if Spuds finish in the bottom three, 'Appy 'Arry will talk the FA into changing the rules to avoid the drop. Fucking Spurs

mackems.gif Was thinking exactly this when he came on - I could just imagine Ashley storming into the triumphant changerooms after the game to tear strips off Hughton...

This really was the standout tactical flaw I noticed last night too (not to mention the mackems goal lest week) - it really seems as though the defenders aren't on the same page when it comes to the offside trap. It wasn't just Colo and Enrique either (though they were the worst offenders) - Taylor was guilty of it a few times as well. And when you consider that JFK and Hughton were both defenders, it beggars belief that our defenders can't operate a simple offside trap!

It shouldn't be too hard to find out who Bennett is talking about really - the match should be easily identified, and then a quick look at the cards from that game...? I can't believe NOTW laid on such an outrageously sensationalised article but didn't name the player(s)?!?

Yep, I reckon those ratings are about perfect - maybe generous to Duff over the whole match, but it was heartening to watch the first hour when he played very well indeed... For those who think Ameobi "wasn't that bad", I personally thought Viduka offered more in the 10 minutes he was on than Stoller did in the 80 that came before*. Ameobi is a donkey, thick as pigshit and unbelievably clumsy - even that tricky little run late in the game had more to do with luck than skill... * Not biased at all

Nail. On. Head. Oh, and what oldtype said...

Shola or Smith next to Carroll (assuming Oba doesn't make it? For me, I say Smith - both are disgraceful footballers, but after Stoller's strolling in the derby I'd be happy to have Smudger's "effort and determination". I'd prefer Lovenkrands, but that requires JFK to make a brave call, so the Dane will be on the bench...

If the fee was undisclosed, then why are we believing the speculative nonsense the tabloids come up with? We spend all of our time slating journalists and media bullshit, and yet we are prepared to believe someting that by definition is under wraps.

no mention of the 4 counts of actual bodily harm against jonas ? Do they do these types of pieces after Gerrard dives? It's hard to argue with one word of that article - but you make an excellent point about the cheating Pool talisman. Oh, and Mr Duff: Taylor went down easily, you dived. And shut the fuck up. Thank you.

Seriously, do they feed Shola benzo's before a game? It's like he runs, thinks, controls, shoots, lives in slow motion... A disgraceful footballer - yes he had the bottle to take that penalty, yes he played when unfit, but seriously, he's a fucking donkey of a footballer. Can someone ask Shay or Charlie what the inside skinny on Xisco is, because he can't possibly be worse than Shola

That's the team I hope to see too - still includes Butt, yet no space for Duff or Ameobi. Of course, we could sign Veloso...

Aren't we glad Freddy financed such internationals as Damien Duff? As I said in the match thread, he should be charged with fraud for calling himself a professional footballer. Surely there's someone at the club who can do a better job - what about Johnny Godsmark? He's supposed to be shit too, but I'm told he's quick, and at least he'll try Oh, and junkhead: email that post to Mike Ashley (and the Chronicle)

This - with David Healy and Dwight Yorke also on the bench, what made him think Rocky was the best option?!? Michael Chopra - Toon man of the match* *Of course, it was really Bassong, but hey, that wouldn't have the same effect

If you have a good marriage for 11 years, then you catch her blowing Gordon from down the road, i think you every right to throw abuse at her. She isn't blowing Gordon down the road though, she is getting fingered by the Managing Director she met on an internet forum. Ok he isn't the greatest bloke in the world but his prospects are still better than yours. No, she's getting fingered by Michael Carroll the chav lottery winner, and no doubt his druggaddled loser mates "Spikey" and "Gonzo" will be allowed a ride aswell. Slag. That's pretty close to the perfect anaolgy. Thanks for the good times Shay, but you've left a seriously bitter taste in the mouth with the manner of your departure. Here's hoping Shitty really do sign Cassillas or Buffon and he rots. At least he'll have his massive wedge, and substitutes get winners medals, don't they...?