afar

I think Grant proved that, with Chelsea's resources it's not easy to fail. The guy was limited and a strange choice but he still did pretty well. I expect Scolari to have Chelsea fighting for the PL and CL too, as they do every year.

He's got to be careful, there aren't too many examples in England of a top pro coming back to manage a big club, after taking a break away from the game with no experience. KK is an exception of course, but even then we were a low 2nd division club at the time.

Is KK at the game ? Or is he watching it from his sun lounger in Barbados ?

Being at work, not able to see the game, so is he as good as youtube says ?

Well I think if the scores are still level at full time, we wheel on Titus Bramble, get him to drop his pants and bend down on all fours, blindfold both captains, give them a piece of string with a drawing pin on the end, spin them around 3 times until they are dizzy and award the 3 points to the captain who can get the closest to pinning the tail on the donkey !!

And won the league cup !!

if they bid anything over 5 mill, i'd snatch their hands off.

TBH, to say such a thing, shows a distinct lack of understanding about the georgraphy and demographic of the North East. Having lived away from the area for large portions of my life I can see how much different it is to other places. Geordies and Northumbrians generally feel a sense of pride for their part of the world, most people do, but not to the same degree we do. It's probably rooted in our history and where we got the name Geordie from or the fact the area is so isolated from other urban areas in England. Mackems once felt part of that "Geordie nation" as it were, but now seem to have adopted their own sense of bellonging under the "Mackem" banner. They have an inforority complex but all that's done is breed more pride in them for being a native of Sunderland. Anyway both cities have a banner to fly under and since neither city has it's own army or is currently warring with anyone, football is the vehicle they use to show their pride. We see this throughout the country, where whole towns and villages get behind their team. But not on the scale of Newcastle and Sunderland, they are both one club cities and their populated are largely loyal to that club. I've mentioned this before but the catchment area, certianly for Newcastle is abosuletly huge, Sunderland too have a big sleeping fanbase that just needs a little nudge of success to wake it up. It's easy for people who don't come from the area or don't live in the area to think it's no different to other parts of the country. Take one look at the success and dismiss both clubs are no more than also rans in the "big club" debate. But that really is too simplistic, the area is different, unlike any other part of England. It's not the people that do turn up for the matches that make both clubs huge clubs it's those that are dormant, those that would believe if you gave them something to believe in. Clubs like Liverpool and ManUre have built their "Bigness" on the success they have had, while Newcastle and Sunderland's "Bigness" is in spite of the lack of success.

Turan is 21. 19 No hes 21. just spilt the difference and call it quits Is this a Martins-esq age debate or does anyone have any hard evidence of how old this kid is ?

That's actually pretty good. Like it. Not particuarilly, one fundamental flaw. If they've got any sense, both managers will get together and let each other score, so after about 2 mins, each game would be 1-1. The only bonus point system that has any mileage in it is the one you mentioned early scoring 3 goals (but only in victory as there may be some corruption if you awarded it in defeat too) or alternatively winning by a 3 goal margin. Not likely, considering that this would be considered match-fixing to an extent. Once somebody scores first then what exactly is their motivation to let the other team equalis? Given that neither manager would be stupid enough to agree to such an arangement on paper or on tape, there's no proof such an agreement was ever in place, and if there is then both managers are in deep s***. It's extremely hard to prove (managers are hardly likely to send each other an email and cc the FA into it are they ? A nudge and a wink is enough, and easy to manufacture. The problem is it would also open up the field for every un forced error or bad piece of defending to be scrutinised, to determine if it was a set up or not. Why bother ? Just gives those who are determined to prove there is corruption in the game more ammunition to do it.

That's actually pretty good. Like it. Not particuarilly, one fundamental flaw. If they've got any sense, both managers will get together and let each other score, so after about 2 mins, each game would be 1-1. The only bonus point system that has any mileage in it is the one you mentioned early scoring 3 goals (but only in victory as there may be some corruption if you awarded it in defeat too) or alternatively winning by a 3 goal margin.

Hell No !! Having a father and family on the island and having lived there when I was a young whipper snapper. Naturally Mallorca are my Spanish team. Please no Freddie leave them alone.

I'm sorry but this bit really pisses me off. How long has had been on holiday for godness sake !! And it's still no where near over.

The Mackems have a bigger and better support than Villa and Spuds? I'm genuinely a bit lost. Are you being sarcastic or for real? Mmmmm how so do they have a bigger and better support? NE5 thinks that a bigger stadium = more supporters nation-/world-wide, regardless of the fact that some bigger/better supported teams merely have smaller (but always full) stadia than teams who are definitely 'smaller' clubs. Hence he thinks that NUFC are a bigger club than Liverpool ("only Man Utd are bigger than us", or some such bunk), and that the M*ck*ms have a bigger support than Spurs and Villa. No, they just have a big stadium (of s****), you nit! and you, son, are talking absolute garbage. If your view of things is restricted to the last 10 or even 20 years, its your problem. Give the mackems a sniff of success and they would piss all over the likes of Villa, Spurs and Leeds. Just like we did, which we didn't for years, just like them. Come back when you learn the difference between "bigger" and "more successful" Leaving aside the debate concerning what concerns a big club (success, fanbase, history etc) [btw, a debate I never brought up and am not interested in discussing], in PURELY FANBASE TERMS (I've put it in caps so you don't think I'm talking about trophies/other stuff), if you think that there are more Sunderland (or even *potential* Sunderland) fans in the UK (or the world, for that matter) than there are Tottenham/Villa/Leeds fans/potential fans, then you're out of your tree. The fact that they can get more in through the doors does not mean they have a bigger fanbase than any of those clubs; it just means that the other club have many thousands more fans OUTSIDE the stadium on matchdays than Sunderland. Likewise, suggesting that Newcastle has a bigger fanbase than, say, Liverpool is ridiculous. Yes, we have a great fanbase and get great attendances at SJP, but if Liverpool had a bigger stadium than us they would get more fans through the turnstiles every week, and still have more 'in reserve' than we do. to repeat. The mackems with a whiff of success would piss all over the likes of Leeds, Spurs and Villa. The only reason they have had the occasional better crowd is BECAUSE they have won a trophy or trophies. I don't agree that if Liverpool and ourselves had similar success then they would still get bigger support, because they would not. They don't have supporters locked out of the ground for every game, I have no idea what hat you've pulled that observation from. And they have had less crowds ie an unfilled 44,000 stadium on occasions, than us despite their huge success. There will no doubt be games they will fill if they build a bigger ground [in spite of the debt it would bring and as such must be a decision made by a s*** board if they do incur such a debt] but so would we, and more. A large section of Liverpools supporters are only attached to the club through their success, give us even 5 years of what they have had and you wouldn't be disagreeing with this either. Your proof is the first time Keegan was manager. Never mind your 50,000 or even 60,000 stadiums, with people from North Wales and Ireland travelling to watch the team, which Liverpool would get. Half of Tyneside wanted to get into that ground. I don't know where you get this idea of worldwide support for Villa and Spurs especially, because there sure as hell aren't too many of them come to watch their team play when they play at Newcastle or sunderland. Or Teeside for that matter. How often is Villa Park full ? The mackems are a lot bigger than you and others think, just because they have been s*** in your time [like we were too before when we also were run like a corner shop] doesn't change that. You know what, if anyone cares, I agree with NE5 However both Newcastle and Sunderland support is potentially based, until either or both have the same level of success as the other teams that were mentioned it's hard to prove. But I think NE5 is right that both have the potential to be huge clubs clubs, if they were run coreectly and had a little bit of sustaned success.

Something is fishy about this story, sounds to me like a bit of propaganda for the Mamic brothers. There's probably some truth in it but I doubt it's a 100% commentary of want went on. The story is actually extremely dull.

If he wasn't on the way back home to Turkey, I would bank on this one falling thru. But since he has, for some unknown reason, virtual superstar status back in Turkey, I doubt his latest injury will break the deal.

I'm sure after this result we'll get the so called "experts" saying Spain will win the whole thing. But something will go wrong, peaked too soon, bad refreeing, the oppostition gets lucky or something else. Bloody hell, I think I'm more pessimistic about Spain than I am about NUFC.

Holland have probably had better players than both teams and have never won the world cup. Not necessarily as a team however, I think the dutch have had some outstading individuals but they've also had some fillers in there too. while as England and Spain have had much more depth too their squads, which is unstandable considering the population of each nation. The Dutch have also won the Euros before and twice been in World cup finals. Spain, have won nowt, while England have won one world cup on home soil, with just 2 semi final appereances in major tournements. For two nations with such a footbal culture, those records are quite frankly pathetic.

At last a game I have some interest in at the Euros. and it sounds like it's going well so far. Why do I have this nagging doubt, though that something will appen once again to prevent Spain winning an international tournement. Honestly with both Spanish and English blood in my veins, I couldn't have picked two more underachiving nations to follow.

What worries me more about the thin squad is that we'll be less inclined to accept an offer for other deadwood now; ie Smith and Duff. Can't see us letting them go until we get some more bodies in

Wishful thinking, tbh. I doubt we'll get that many first teamers in - probably a bunch of fringe/reserve players and 3 quality signings. I think if I recall at the end of the season kk said he was only looking for 3 or 4, hopefully he was just referring to players who would be considered first teamers and not up and comming youngsters, otherwise we are looking very very thin. Not that we'll miss a great deal of productivity from those who have left.

So far then: Out Carr Triosi Ramage Rozy Emre (assumming he agrees terms) Ameobi (as above) In No one Nowt Zilch Nothing Debatable which list is better

I'd reckon he'd have most of the royalties and image rights sewn up, so really only ST sales and club merchandise would be the added income from him. His personal image rights, yes, of course they are but sponsors and advertisers would be much more inclined to invest in a club where Ronaldinho plays. The money his sigining (if it happens) would generate for Shitty would be hard to quantify but it would be huge and more than justify his salary cost, IMO. If they can keep the transfer fee reasonable, then they'll be laughing all the way to the bank. Your point about, whether his heart is in it anymore is very valid. It's probably the biggest question mark about him for me. I think he feels a little stale at Barca, strangely a move to a much less high profile club but in a more high profile league, may energize him once more. One thing I think for sure though, is that if they do sign him, we are going to have a hard time competing with them in the transfer market, which I guess was the original question being asked in this thread.

4 million these days is not too much of a gamble. I would take a punt at that price on Larsson.

I think 200k per week for Ronaldinho would pay for itself in no time. He's a marketing man's dream, as well as the additional shirt sales (not just for supporters of Man City) but also the amount of increased advertiseing revenue, TV money, corporate sales and of course ticket sales, he would bring in. Ronaldinho is a huge pull as well for prospective signings, raises a clubs profile way more than qualifying for the UEFA cup. There are only a few players in the world that can have this effect: Brand Beckham is way out in front of course. But Brand Ronaldinho is still very much 2nd in the world. Brands Kaka and C Ronaldo probably make up the top tier which I talk about. Brands Messi, Rooney, Henry and Sheva aren't far behind but wouldn't have the same impact on clubs like ManShitty. Could you imagine the Ronaldinho roadshow that would take place as I say a marketing man's dream, especially if he's a big fish in a small pond. Should we be interested? From a marketing point of view a no brainer. From a footballing point of view, as long as we could control the circus, and the hooplah doesn't become a distraction, then it could be an excellent signing. You don't go from the World's best player to a donkey over night, so I'm fairly convinced he would improve our team, he'll also help hugely in attracting others. The more I think about it the more I envy ManShitty, Ronaldinho would be a perfect fit for us, and in KK he may of had a great manager to play for.