afar

Could have been a decent weapon in the championship, oh well.

I've got a feeling he'll be the man in charge come the start of the season. He's got experience of winning promotion before but I'm not convinced about him. Just think Shearer will look at it and say, he doesn't really fancy the job under the current circumstances and suggests Dowie as the best candidate.

Yeah I can see Strachan to the Mackems coming off. I dunno though, could work out for them.

Yeah Butt's not gonna leave, he'll play a major role next season, whoever's in charge.

He looked close to bubbling on Sky like. That interview was extremely awkward. Actually cheered me up a notch after our horror show at how unprofessional it was. Unfortunately IF Sunderland get this appointment right (and Sbragia had to go) then they could really push on. Good youth set-up, plenty of saleable assets, fresh investment forthcoming, fairly decent squad, big support... urgh. A quality manager in there and they could kick-on big style. Let's hope they f*** it up again... can't see it though myself. :-[ I'm not convinced about the saleable assets bit, but hoped they would have stuck with Sbrigia. As the north east priemer team now, Sunderland will have more focus on them than they have had in the past, they've got to get the appointment right, unfortunately I have a sneaky feeling they will

Colo's getting a lot of votes but I just can't see it being an easy sale for us. Who's going to be able to match his wages in Spain ? Are we brave enough to take a huge loss on him ?

Although that is a fine philosophy, we have to be practicle too, we've got a hell of a lot of other deadwood to clear first and we will be severly short on numbers if we get rid of them all. Keeping young players with talent on contracts that have a few years on them should be our priority for now, of course if we get a ridiculously silly offer like 10 million, snap their hands off.

Funny though in his brief cameo he showed way more desire and got involved a hell of a lot more than Owen did yesterday, despite Owen coming on first.

That's because the poll says "First players SOLD this close season", the likes of Owen and Viduka are a given to go when their contracts expire.

I've got a feeling it'll be Barton, it's been clear for a while that he was going and I think the destination will be Bolton for some strange reason.

So who's gonna be out the door first ?

I'd be amazed if those responsible for drawing up the contracts have not got relegation clauses built in to them. It's ludicrously bad management if they haven't, it's not going to stop anyone signing that 60k a week deal, as they didn't think it was remotely possible. No one knows for sure in the media, so not taking their word for it. Although this is Newcastle United so utterly stupid things like not including relegation clauses is entirely possible I guess.

I have been out all afternoon with the family, beautiful day here, after having time to reflect the one thing that keeps getting to me is the performance the lads put in today. The first 20 mins or so were ok but after that there was nothing, no fight no drive, no desperation to stay in the premier league. The players once again showed us what type of characters they are. If just one player from that first team squad is with the club next season, it'll be one too many.

What a fucking retarded thread tch

Well in canada here Setanta still show championship games so I guess I'll keep my subscription.

We have never in our history bounced straight back up.

Wow that didn't take long. Let the rebuilding begin, no time for mourning.

I've been prepared for it but I'm feeling fucking awful right now. The supporters though did us proud, that's about the only thing we can take from the game today, the players were pathetic, is it so much to expect of this lot to at least give it a go.

which one? Bit crap tbh

FUCK OFF OWEN you cunt

We just didn't show enough toty tosave ourselves

I feel sick right now.

Well we kind of expected it but that doesn't make it any easier to take. Awful season, coming to an end, fuck you Ashley, lets hope we can rise again soon.

Barry shot was going well wide, thanks Damien Duff, you've been just as bad a signing for this club than a certain little striker we bought from Real Madrid.

We need the ball, we need to be playing in their bloody half, show some fucking desire.