Raconteur

I have to say I've got a very different perspective than most people here - and in my opinion anyone objecting to Oba playing for Nigeria should speak to Sepp Blatter, not the Nigerian FA. You see, I also come from a minnow nation with very few international class players. Australia can field maybe 6-8 players worthy of the name, and those players are under intense pressure to wriggle out of international commitments. David O' Bleary was a master of it, using the press to intimidate Viduka and Kewell into relinquishing their duty. Indeed, my pathological hatred of Kewell began when he regularly pulled the "broken nail" routine to avoid playing for his nation. Similarly, Nigeria have few star players, so when they play they want every single one available. It's a friendly, so what? As a predominantly European board, you guys have a fundamentally different view on the importance of international friendlies. Lets not forget that the Nigerian FA has already compromised by playing the match in London (as do Australia), so as to minimise travel time and ensure that better facilities, pitches and access to medical treatment is available. Under the current system, FIFA mandates that players must be available - don't criticise the member nations for following this edict. Complain to Sepp!

Was just wondering if someone could explain to a non-local some of the background about this reporter and his publication... I know enoguh to recognise the "most trusted reporter" as the much-despised Anal Oliver - does this Neil Farrington character write for a published paper or is icNewcastle an online-only thing? (I notice LoveItIfWeBeatU mentioned his match report that someone reproduced after the match, which was cutting to say the least) What I'm wondering is whether this sort of article will have any impact on the mandarins of St James' Park? I don't know enough to point fingers directly, but to paraphrase the Bard "something is rotten on the River Tyne"

I can appreciate that - but so Roeder said many times that there would be signings in the winter transfer window, and Shepherd said that we wouldn't believe who wanted the NUFC job. In other words talk is cheap, and I don't believe him for one second. From the two quotes I have provided it doesn't sound very likely that coming back home is his priority

What's the weather like in Fantasy Land? Shall we also have cheerleaders, sirens sounding when goals are scored and stop the game for advertisements?

Just thought I'd provide an update.. It seems everyone on this board except me is convinced Moore is going back to Australia - I'm equally convinced he is not coming back (even if he doesn't stay at NUFC) From today's Courier Mail - media whore/Queensland coach Frank Farina's column: I'm of the opinion that Moore is hanging out for another contract with NUFC, and if that doesn't happen I reckon he's more likely to end up in one of the "retirement leagues" of the Middle East hoping for one last payday. Coming back home to Australia, contrary to what he may have said earlier in the season, is his last choice in my opinion...

So Belgravia and Polygon were local businesses?... Portsmouth and Villa are massive clubs too

I'm not saying that we've had a good transfer window, but there's no shame in being beaten to a signing by Monaco - one of the biggest clubs in France. For all we know he might have wanted to stay in France, or avoided paying taxes on his income, or any number of other reasons - to call missing out on him to Monaco a "massive screwup" on our part without knowing anything of the details is frankly ridiculous. It's not like we lost out to an inferior club...

Shades of August 31st, surprise surprise.... Hands up those who believe Roeder will cock up again.....can't see the arms for the forest of hands...... I would be surpised if we even managed a panic signing at the moment! Quoted for sad truth...

Didn't Bellamy win Young Player of the Year in his first season with us? (Not that winning that award means much - after all, Jenas won it the year after...) Anyone got a link to a bookies to see what odds Oba is paying to win this year - and please no cracks about his age, it's so 2006... And frankly I think anyone who would swap Bellamy for Oba needs professional help!

Quality journalism that - the headline might say "Saints reject bid" but there's no confirmation of it in the actual story! Yes, the Spuds and Man Yoo bids were rejected, and Burley "insisting" Bale will stay... but no mention of the 10m bid being rejected...

Not for the first time either - he trained with the squad for the Australia v Ghana match in November... It's something Hiddink introduced and Arnold has continued - bringing in young fringe players to train with the senior squad to have a look at them, get them used to the players and so on. He's miles from actually playing in the squad, but so were the likes of Neil Kilkenny and Kristian Sarkies who trained with the senior squad before the World Cup and ended up getting capped in warm-up matches...

I thought the proverb went "You can change your woman, your politics and your religion, but never your football team" That said - someone who chooses to support Newcastle at the moment needs to be commended... or committed

Craig Moore's reputation in Australia is as a no-nonsense defender... and drinker! The farce in Moenchengladbach coupled with the drunken antics last time he was home for the Socceroos has tarnished his on-field reputation, which was pretty solid... I went to my first A-League match last night - and my God is it shite, even more shite than it appears on TV. Watching "returning heroes" like David Zdrillic and Damien Mori , and "young guns" like David Carney and Alex Brosque bumble around the pitch made me despair for the game in this country. So it's going to take more than Craig Moore coming back home to lift the standard!!!

The following article is from Brisbane's Courier-Mail - no link as I copied it out What must be kept in mind is that Queensland "coach" Frank Farina is a media whore, and also that while utterly incompetent, the former national team mentor has strong ties with his former charges... Sounds to me that far from choosing to come home to Australia Moore is deemed surplus to requirements and will be allowed to leave on a free. And to think they gave Bumble a new contract :roll:

If this is true, then that should end our interest! Why because he is unhappy that he hasn't played single game this season? I'd be unhappy if I was a pro footballer and I didn't get a single game until after Christmas. Imagine the ruckus on this forum if a certain Spaniard pulled a similar caper when trying to force a loan deal

Sven rejects the story - http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=399210&cc=3436

I have to say I have a soft spot for Marseille too - but if there's one club (apart from the Toon ) that has "poison chalice" written all over it then it is OM... Make or break for Sven - either he gets it right now or his days of managing top-tier clubs is over...

This BTW - Moe-Ali, I'm curious to know why you're so much against Ben-Haim? Was suggested as an excellent option in the summer - and rumoured to be on Mourinho's shopping list: http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=398649&cc=3436

Especially this particular line: Outrageous!

there is only one south american that springs to mind that havent been a failure! Fumaca?

And that's why you won the "2006 Best non-NUFC poster" award - balanced, insightful, fair... and mentioning the one and only Steve Howey

Pissweak response really I addressed why Pav was playing instead of Krul - see point three. Don't bite back because you make foolish assumptions about a player's fitness... I also argued that keepers are not necessarily "past it" once they reached a certain age, and provided examples - see point one I further provided an example of where another club - one bigger than us even, spent money on an experienced back-up keeper - and then Towlie provided another example where, again, a bigger club than us have done something similar... And I clearly haven't had a sense of humour bypass, because I found your attempt to pass of a weak argument as "light-hearted opinion" most amusing. Hold whatever opinion you like, but it would be nice if you could respond to my argument instead of merely reiterating yours and then trying to take a lame dig at me

I have to say I disagree with the bit in bold - only because if Given had been playing in that exact situation he wouldn't have come at all, therefore he would still have been on his line and Ramage's ill-advised header might have dropped safely into Given's arms... I used to play with a keeper so rooted to his line that we used to joke "You'd never know if he's gay - he never comes out"... The same might apply to Given* * That's not to deny he is an outstanding keeper, but racing off his line has never been a strength of Given's...

You thought this argument was so significant you started your own thread about it - and yet it it is hopelessly flawed! 1) Obviously you studied hyperbole at school today - 38 is very different from 50! Point your browser at Mr Google and see what the likes of Shilton, Seaman, Yashin and Zoff did at that age... 2) Hasn't played at the top level for more than a decade, eh? So using that argument, the last two seasons in Toon, two at Sheffield Wednesday, first two (of three) at Brescia - all but his last year at NUFC as first choice don't count for anything? 3) Young talent Krul is expected to come back from surgery straight into the first team, is he? Hell, why not just expect Shay or Harper to make miraculous recoveries while you are at it? 4) If no other clubs put themselves in such a position, then why did Ferguson pay money for a 37 year old Andy Goram? I'm not saying Pav is a top keeper anymore - nor am I saying I would name him in the team except in desperate circumstances, but the fact is that he was fourth choice for Christ's sake! That means when the three better keepers are unavailable, then Pav steps in. Can you even name the fourth choice keeper of any other club? Yes, claims of cronyism and "jobs for the boys" can be levelled at the club from time to time, and certainly Pav might be one of those instances, but as has been stated before - look at Chelsea's third choice keeper, and then imagine who might be behind him! Methinks some perspective wouldn't go astray...

The transfer system has been declared illegal in Australia (for domestic transfers) for nearly a decade for employment law reasons...