Raconteur

They've said nothing of the sort! What they do is consistently tell less knowledgable fans that once upon a time things were truly horrible, on a level that we as newer fans simply can't relate to. They are happy to admit that the board has made significant mistakes especially the appointment of Souness. And similarly, what they both do is remind people that Shepherd is not the embodiement of Satan himself, that despite all his media gaffes and poor appointments, he has still managed to do some good. And as HTL says - they acknowledge he can do better. Now, I don't particularly wish to defend NE5 and HTL, but you are talking shite - they do not say Shepherd is doing a superb job.

Can I ask why you're so dead against Hughes? I don't think we're a snowball's chance in hell of getting him, but would be delighted if we could - I'm curious about the case against him...?

Absolutely - surely Freddy won't take such a huge gamble at this point?

I remember suggesting Hughes some months ago - and was told he'd not come because he's biding his time at Blackburn until the Old Trafford seat becomes available, which struck me as solid logic. With Ferguson saying today he's going to stay around for a few more years, I began to wonder if Sparky was a realistic option? But then I remembered he has built up a solid team at Blackburn, and what's more it's still a work-in-progress, which makes me think that him moving to St James' Park would be a sideways step at best. I'd be more than happy for Big Sam to take over - I have faith that he can make us into a tough-to-beat team, moving in the same direction... He might not be in the Ancelotti or Ferguson mould, but he's possibly our best option at this juncture

I have to say I was one of those people... not happy when Roeder was appointed, but satisfied - I guess I was taken in by the positive results of last season, the fact he knew the club and would always strive for the best for this club. What I wasn't aware of at the time was that West Ham wasn't an anomoly - he really does struggle to bring the best out of the players at his disposal, and for all his selflessness and wanting the best for the club, he was little more than a populist who said what needed to be said, and failed to take the actions necessary to back those words up. My faith took it's first serious knocks in August - I had faith in his transfer manouverings right up until the last week of the window, all that pole-position bollocks and the desperate signings of Sibierski, Bernard and Rossi. His team played shite football, struggling even in pre-season to overcome mediocre Intertoto opponents, and soon enough they were getting poor results in the league... Then came Birmingham and AZ - probably our biggest crunch matches of the season, and were tactical failures on an astonishing level. Subsequent bawling out of players, and their reactions on the pitch meant it was a matter of time before Freddy pulled the trigger. Out of this whole farce we can only hope that the next appointment has us moving onwards and upwards - I want Big Sam but what I want doesn't mean shite. What I don't want is a managerial search that goes through until August and sees us appointing Coleman or Bruce...

Big Sam, no doubt. I feel Sven is over-rated and would prefer Allardyce's no-nonsense approach to both players and board. Can't see Sven telling Freddy what's what...

Soccernet seem to be jumping on the Allardyce for the Toon bandwagon too: http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=426923&root=england&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab1pos1&cc=3436

I can't agree - I think the four players I mentioned are living off reputation rather than talent. - Duff had two or three good seasons three years ago - Parker one good season four years ago (and was a diamond amongst dross last year, thanks to our shite play necessitating a crunching tackler in midfield, his only attribute) - Emre (who I quite like when he's "on") is astonishingly inconsistent, a homer and a soft touch - Dyer is easy on the eye but contributes nothing

Well, I was thinking of the players with the biggest disparity between reputation and contribution Seriously, no one thinks Babayaro, Ramage, Onyewu, Moore, Bramble, Carr, Sibierski and Ameobi are top five material. Martins, well, I like the little fella so I can't slate him gratuitously... We had this debate the other day - who amongst our players would make a top 4 squad - I didn't contribute but I would say Given, Owen and Milner and that's about it EDIT: Which leaves Butt, Taylor and Martins. Six players of sufficient quality to mount a charge to break into the UEFA Cup slots...

Really............. Maybe I'm talking nonsense then! Maybe the picture is alot gloomier than I realise. I am only commenting on what I can see from the outside all the way down here in Berkshire and based on what Newcastle have done before. But past actions may not be a good measure of future actions. I do think that you already have a playing staff that is well capable of finishing 5th though whether you spend money or not. Reading are 1 point off fifth and we've spent very little money in comparison. You only need a new manager from what I can tell. you just need to shore up your back line and I think you'll be flying. You're gonna get Sidwell on a free as well so that will help squad depth. Newcastle have plenty of talented players. Sheppard doesn't really need to spend much on the playing team to get it going again. Your current team should be 5th. The fact that you are not means Roeder is the one underperforming. Get rid of him and then get a manager in who will get you to 5th with the current team. If he manages to do that then back him in the transfer market to break into the top 4. That would be my strategy. Don't keep wasting money on idiot managers who don't know what they are doing. You need Big Sam at the helm as fast as possible. Give him £5million for next season. That will be enough for Big Sam with the current players you got to get to 5th. If Sam achieves that back him the following summer. If he can't get your current side to 5th then find another manager. The current Geordie team has got to be the 5th best in the Prem. Only the top 4 have better playing squads than Newcastle and the Yids squad is of similar ability. On paper we might have a good squad, unfortunately football isn't played on paper. Players like Emre, Dyer, Duff, Parker (which is conceivably our strongest midfield for some!) - they might be internationals and have some talent but actually contribute very little. I'm not going to go off the deep end and say they're shite, but they aren't top quality. Fat paycheques? Yes. Big reputations? Yes. Consistently good performers? No...

Can't agree there - I remember long long ago I was dating a quite petite lass who would wear my old Toon top with the blue star and nothing else... Ah, fond memories

After the Chelsea match I said: Apart from that, Sibierski's performance was like one big advertisement for everyone who advocates buying a striker who can hold the ball up as first priority (a view I don't necessarily subscribe to but can see the point). For the whole first half the ball bounced off Le Sib and straight back at us, putting us under lots of unnecessary pressure

I'd love to see some quotes about Moore saying he wants to return to Australia because I've never seen any but it seems everyone believes it. I certainly don't - I've posted quotes from Australian managers who are sounding him out that are more hopeful than anything... He'll turn up in the Middle East for one last pay day before coming home, I'd put money on it http://icnewcastle.icnetwork.co.uk/newcastleunited/news/tm_method=full%26objectid=16924145%26siteid=50081-name_page.html Fair enough. Thanks for that - like I said, I've never seen any quotes, just assumptions. I don't believe it though. For a couple of reasons. Those quotes are over a year old for starters. There's only one team in Brisbane (or within 500 miles of Brisbane) and their coach has said since then he holds little hope of signing him. We'll see...

True that! And special bonus points to Reading Fan for not mentioning the Yids

I'd love to see some quotes about Moore saying he wants to return to Australia because I've never seen any but it seems everyone believes it. I certainly don't - I've posted quotes from Australian managers who are sounding him out that are more hopeful than anything... He'll turn up in the Middle East for one last pay day before coming home, I'd put money on it

May as well have said "Come and get me"

Nearly as bad as Kuyt. Worse IMO. I think we avoided a mistake by losing out on Kuyt though. He hasn't impressed me at all since going to Liverpool. Maybe we should add that to the case for the defence in the trial of Glenn Roeder - "stepping aside" so 'Pool could sign Kuyt

Disgraceful. A picture tells a thousand words... That picture sums up the state of NUFC in a nutshell. Symptomatic of the malaise we're in due to the fucking wanker on the left. He looks like an extra from Laurel & Hardy. Anyone got Freddy's email address? If we send him that pic it might have the same effect as three players crashing into each other against Man City

For Abramovich, it is a failure, and one that will cost Mourinho his job, I have little doubt about that. I must say I'm looking forward to Mourinho's backhanded swipes as he's pushed out the door, moaning and whingeing all the way. We might even find out if it was Mourinho or Abramovich who bought Shevchenko

Tough one for me - I like Inter in Italy (not support, like ) but I hate Man U more than I hate Milan, and besides the thought of an all-English final makes me sick... Disturbing that football seems to bring only negative emotions these days - which team I hate more, how shite we are... If only I could forget which clubs were playing, it would probably be a very good game to watch!

My memory of the goal was that moments before Nobby was very far forward because we didn't have a right midfielder in the second half and he was pushing forward to support the attack. I only remember because in my mind I was screaming at Dyer wondering what the hell he was doing playing so far infield... (this being before the Sibierski substitution and the abortion that was 4-3-3) Yes, Nobby may well have been out of position, but only because he was trying to support the attack - and I thought his old legs carried him well to get back as close as he did!

They do change their mind quite quickly at the Sun. Yesterday it was £2m, but I recall reading £500k somewhere aswell... No chance they'd get that, mutual termination of the contract has been stated by both sides, they'd be lucky to get anything, and they'd only get that if they can prove Sam had already taken another job, which if its us is certainly not the case. Just a thought, but if it was a mutual parting of ways then I'd imagine it might be inserted into the terms of the agreement that compensation be due if he takes up a job within a certain period of time... The only problem with that scenario is what leverage Gartside has on Allardyce to force such a concession...?

Can see a pizzling happening too - Blackburn carved up a Charlton side we took one point off. Superior side, far superior manager, head full of steam etc Whereas we have a squad who can't be arsed and who quit as soon as the first goal goes in

I want a playmaker that considers going into his own half beneath him, it hacks me off when Dyer/emere/parker are picking the ball off the CB's toes on the 18yard box. None of these lads have the skill to whizz round 2+ of the oppo then drop the ball at Oba or Owens feet. Or hit a 90 yard ball into space for one of O's to run onto....................they should leave this to Bramble :'( Pirlo? Carrick?

Roeder will never, ever walk. Not under any circumstances. Firstly, he knows full well his reputation as a manager (let alone a premiership manager) is in the toilet after screweing up yet another job. And secondly the man is far too proud and is never wrong. If he had any honour (or inclination to walk) he would have done so after AZ