merlin

Was that the one where the scoreboard read OOOPS? That was a long way out and the ball bounced over keepers head into Gallowgate net. the manager (Arthur Cox iirc) wasnt amused. Think it was actually in the Lee/Dinnis era, circa 1977..

The injury/unfit-for-selection problems at SJP have been a total disgrace for years - think back to the fiascos involving Marcelino, Dyer, Bobby's famous signing from Wimbledon(7m, SO famous I can't even remember his name..!!)etc etc. The difference in available hours between ours and Bolton's players tell you that Sam's backroom MUST have been doing something right, although I strongly suspect that some of the players mentioned were swinging the lead. It is a huge relief to see the Club being dragged into the 21st Century in that aspect of the game, and we must hope that the unprofessionalism that has dogged the club for years is swept from every corner of it - the fans deserve nothing less.

This is the SECOND time he's done this - your acceptance of this sort of behaviour by NUFC players is exactly why this club has achieved so little over the past 40 years - too much tolerance of second-best and UNPROFESSIONALISM...

Waste of space - get rid now. We can do better(and deserve better) than this overrated little twerp - the way he tries to control a ball reminds you of someone trapping the proverbial medicine ball..! Ashley & Allardyce will demand far more committment than that demonstrated by Martins - hopefully, all similar wasters like Dyer will also be getting their marching orders - Reality shock awaiting some of the most overpaid/overrated players in the Prem....Thank heaven.

Simply a sign of McClaren's desperation - Beckham has been a spent force for England for nearly 3 years - his performance in the 2004 Euros was a disgrace, esp as he was Capt. Eriksson didn't have the balls to drop him, or face a battle with the shirt sponsors by doing so. Compare this with Big Phil & Portugal - didn't hesitate to pull off Figo when he felt it necessary.. Never felt Beckham was a GREAT player at all, and certainly NOT a great England Captain - over-hyped,one-trick pony, darling of the media who worship tat & trivia. George Best had it right;'Apart from the fact that he can't dribble, beat a man with pace, use his left foot, or head the ball, he's not a bad player..!!' Definitely a retrograde step to select him again.

It wasn't his debut, but fairly early in his Newcastle career, John Bird had a 'blinder' against Man U at SJP - was never the best of defenders(despite Bobby Charlton resigning from Preston in protest t his transfer to us..!), but this beat everything - he put in an Own Goal from around 20 yards which would have been a credit to one of Shearer's best rocket shots.. We came back from 3-2 down to 3-3, but lost 3-4 to another shocking error(from him too, I think).

I think not even getting in touch with Shepherd was the worst thing about it. The Hall family and Shepherd (no matter what you think of them) have worked together at the Toon for years. Although, it is canny funny in a way as well. Sir John Hall bent over backwards to work together with Freddie on takeovers, but in the end he despaired of getting his co-operation, and realised that he had no choice but to go it alone. First of all, Shepherd claimed that the potential buyers were 'time wasters', and then he admitted that regardless of the offer,he wouldn't sell. He even had the nerve to claim that the Halls wouldn't sell either, which of course he wasn't entitled to do. The guy deserves no sympathy at all. Totally agree - he deserves all he has got(or rather, NOT got !!!).

Wanted Gudjohnsen when he was at Bolton - would be a fantastic signing for us, great attitude too. We have a realistic chance, but only if he is persuaded to leave Barca - Big Sam might just be the tipping point. Would give us at least 3 good years and be a great partner for Owen..

There' is NO chance of YOU suffering from insomnia - if Shepherd had got control, I wouldn't have been able to sleep ANY night.! Heaven has at least preserved us from THAT fate..!!

Must also add Terry McDermott to the list - signed from Bury for 25,000, straight in against Liverpool in 72. Just about played them on his own in midfield, and his box-to-box running was a revelation for those days. We won 2-1, but didn't really deserve it. No wonder they signed him a couple of years later - he was the only player to perform against them in the FA Cup final in 74..

I take it you mean Supermacs home debut vs Liverpool, hat trick then knocked out and carried off going for the fourth Absolutely agree - unbelieveable day ! L/Pool about to embark on an era of fantastic success, with one KK making his away debut for them - S/Mac had already played his first league game at Spurs(it was a 0-0), but none of us expected what was to happen at SJP that August day - first was a pen, then a fantastic, net-bursting strike at the Gallowgate end from wide on the left of the penalty area ; the ball crashed into the roof of Clemence's net and he had no chance with it. They got back to 2-1(I think KK scored),then, just after half-time, a great left-foot pass from Terry Hibbitt(we were to see many of those over the next 4 years)was nodded down by Tudor just outside the area & Supermac belted it in, across Clemence..We all were going beserk by this time, and shortly afterwards, he intercepted a bad goal-kick by Clemence and , as the ball ballooned into the air, set off after it.Clemence raced out & collided with him, knocking Super out cold.He lost a couple of teeth, and, in the Dressing room afterwards, couldn't even remember scoring the hat-trick ! What a day..will always remember it....!! Nail-biting finish as the scousers pulled back to 3-2, but we hung on.

When you have as much money as Ashley & the other tycoons who have bought into Football clubs, they don't necessarily WANT a big financial return - its a plaything, for goodness' sake. Look at Ashley - billionaire at 43, what else can he achieve in business that is going to massively-dwarf what he has done already? NUFC will give him another purpose in life - resurrecting the eternally-sleeping giant, challenging the established 'big boys'(he likes doing that..!!). Who knows, he may really start to enjoy it all, MUCH more fun than everyday business.

Shepherd couldn't afford it or he would have sold up to him without hesitation. If things were so bad, then why as the major shareholder didn't he do something about it and force a change of chairman? No he wouldn't - have you the proof otherwise..?? Also, if you hadn't noticed, he HAS forced a change of Chairman - do you think Shepherd will still be there in a few weeks time..

Simply cannot agree with that comment - the team we had on the pitch, irrespective of whether or not it should have been strengthened, should certainly have been sufficient to beat Partizan Belgrade. One theory is that Shepherd waited for the result of that match before committing funds to the strengthening of the squad, and it is a position with some merit. It's the only sensible way to operate. You can't spend 15m you don't have and expect to get away with it. We bought Alonso and Kuyt with the CL money, once we'd qualified for the group stage. Is this why the Chairman was right to spend 17m on Owen, but also right NOT to support his manager prior to a CL Qualifying campaign....!!?? Owen was to be Shearer's replacement. and as said, the team we had at the time should have been more than adequate to get through the qualifiers. Owen NOTHING like Shearer - purely a chance taker, would never be able to hold the ball as Al did. The story that he was Shearer's replacement is nonsense - Shearer's Replacement should have been Ashton, with a player like Owen playing off him. Also, saying the existing squad was good enough for Qualifiers is just arrogance - it WASN'T - FACT. You can never take anything for granted in Football - we lost on Pens at HOME - enough said.

On a day like this , we are talking about READING ?? FFS....

I said a few months back that anyone with the right amount of cash will blow Shepherd out of the water, and in both assets & temperament, Ashley looks just the man ;'Likes parking his Tanks on people's lawns' said one Banker about him(witness his spat with Whelan over shirt-pricing..!), and one Frederick Shepherd is about to wake up & smell the coffee - any messing with Ashley will be very stupid.Ashley is almost certain to get the 51% he needs to start disempowering the Fat One, and he can cut off all his income from NUFC - NO Dividends(and NO salary, because he will be voted off as Chairman). The essence of every successful business person is knowing when to sell/quit, and this is now the time for Frederick Shepherd to do just that - oh, sorry, I forgot - successful, did I say..!! He either takes the loot & runs, or gets gradually steam-rollered and marginalised, plus given a dog's life by the majority of Tynesiders every time he shows his face if he continues to obstruct the new Board.. How delighted I am to see this day - whatever lies ahead cannot be as bad as the corrupt-looking set up(reputedly!!!) currently at SJP..!!

I cannot believe some of this stuff isn't a wind-up - NOBODY - NOBODY was prepared to lift a finger to get NUFC out of the decline it was in back in the 80s. Yes, I DO know SJH, not as bosom buddies, but well enough to know that he did want the best for the Club and the North East generally. He HAS made a great deal of money from the sale of his shares, but good luck to him - we may not have even been in the Prem for the last 14 years if he hadn't taken over in 92 - look at clubs like Sheffield Weds & Wolves, once equally as famous as NUFC.... Has it not crossed anyone's mind that maybe he could have sold to Shepherd, and REALLY dropped us in it..?? I have heard that he bitterly regrets the way the club has been run for the past few years. Also, for those saying he was in it for the money, remember this - in 1990, he forced McKeag & Co to offer a Share Issue to fans ; what happened ? There were not enough takers to get the thing off the ground, so fans only have themselves to blame that he took the club over 2 years later, and why?.. because if he hadn't , the club was going bust.. We stand on the brink of we hope is a great new era for the club, something we have all prayed for over the past year or so - just give credit where its due(we ALL know where it isn't.!!), and be glad that SJH did his bit and sold to a guy who is able to put the club right up there with any in the UK. I have not felt as optimistic for the club's future since the Magpie Group took over & brought KK in in Feb 92....Good luck to Ashley and all his team, and heartfelt thanks for at least giving us a realistic hope of the club being run the way it should be. Exciting days lie ahead, but maybe not for a few months..

Simply cannot agree with that comment - the team we had on the pitch, irrespective of whether or not it should have been strengthened, should certainly have been sufficient to beat Partizan Belgrade. One theory is that Shepherd waited for the result of that match before committing funds to the strengthening of the squad, and it is a position with some merit. It's the only sensible way to operate. You can't spend 15m you don't have and expect to get away with it. We bought Alonso and Kuyt with the CL money, once we'd qualified for the group stage. Is this why the Chairman was right to spend 17m on Owen, but also right NOT to support his manager prior to a CL Qualifying campaign....!!??

Simply cannot agree with that comment - the team we had on the pitch, irrespective of whether or not it should have been strengthened, should certainly have been sufficient to beat Partizan Belgrade. One theory is that Shepherd waited for the result of that match before committing funds to the strengthening of the squad, and it is a position with some merit. The team were complacent because they knew what was happening, i.e., no more competition for places due to the lack of transfer activity - yes, they SHOULD have been able to beat PB, but the mental attitude was wrong - they knew SBR had been undermined.

Great to see some professionalism creeping in at last - wonder if it will spread right throughout the club....!!?? We need at least 5 years of this type of approach from Academy upwards if we are to set up a proper Club like Liverpool were in the 80's - continuity is everything provided its the right sort of continuity....

Samuel's article pinpoints the growing(and sad)reality of English(AND European)Football - the power is becoming concentrated among a select gruop of clubs, reflecting the situation Scotland has had for years. Money talks in these situations, and although many do not like foreigners taking over English clubs, it is the only way any club with genuine ambition can realistically hope to break into the Top 4(or make it Top 6 again). Agents & the Bosman ruling have altered the game forever, and not for the better - the players have far too much power to manipulate a move if they so want one, and that is likely to be to one of the clubs perceived as successful. NUFC had a unique situation with Shearer, and one that is unlikely to arise again(unless the player concerned was an Academy product and happy to remain in the area). Whether you like him or not, Shepherd's stance on refusing to sell his shares under ANY circumstances will cost the club the necessary investment it needs to compete with the most successful clubs - he cannot compete financially with some of the huge money coming into the game(takeovers at L/Pool, West Ham, Villa already done, City & Spurs looking next targets - and who is to say Dein won't re-emerge at Arsenal, complete with another affort to dislodge Hill-Wood & Co?). There is now huge competition for the best players, and the old maxim applies - Big fish eat little fish, and Bigger fish eat them..... Clubs like NUFC need a really good academy production-line now if they are to remain a genuine long-term challenger to the Top 4 - the really sought-after Foreign players(like Huntelaar, for example) will always choose Man U, L/pool, Arsenal or Chelsea over us in a straight-choice contest - only long-term success will alter that. The situation with Spurs is slightly different - as a London club, they DO have a geographical advantage over us, but that is all.

Note that the report about Juve states that these players are 'thought' to be on the wanted list - Huntelaar is 'thought' to be on NUFC's wanted list(as well as that of every other decent club in Europe!), but we haven't a cat in hell's chance of signing him - if Ajax were prepared to do a deal with us of Huntelaar in exchange for Martins PLUS 5m quid, I'd snap their hands off - wouldn't you ? No comparison between the two as far as potential effectiveness over a tough season is concerned - I'd take Huntelaar every time, and to think we could have signed him for about 3m a few years ago when he starred for Herenveen against us......!

Said a few months ago that this kid could make it into the first-team squad next season - he is certainly making the right progress, and if Sam likes his style, I expect that he WILL make a couple of first-team appearances at some stage next year, AND save the club some money...

More expectation than for any of the previous 3 - SBR did better than I thought he would, as he was manager longer than I expected him to be. Allardyce has a good 5-10 years to make NUFC a real CLUB, not a collection of overpaid misfits. His record of doing the same at Bolton is beyond question - the only thing he hasn't done there is to have a big budget, or be expected to sign top-quality players. Nevertheless, this is going to be a long haul - we MIGHT get a pleasant surprise, and see the club qualifying for the CL within 3 years, but its a big ask. There is a huge amount of damage to repair, both on the field, and with fans/players' morale so miracles can not be expected. If we finish in the top 6 and get a decent Cup run next year(NOT a humiliating exit like the 2005 Semi with Man ure..),then Sam will have done fantastically well. Top 10 would be acceptable, anything less a cause for concern, but no-one should underestimate the size of his task, and how long it will take to get everyone at the Club pulling in the same direction. I just hope Shepherd has learnt his lesson - any interference in transfers etc would be catastrophic - heaven help the Club if Allardyce walks out, as there would be nowhere else to turn...... I wish him every success in one of the most difficult jobs in the game, but one that COULD make his name for all time if he succeeds.