Paully

EH?!?!?!?!?!??!?! Is this a wind up?!

I take it he was off his tits when he conducted it? http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2...190225,00.html OBAFEMI MARTINS insists Newcastle will be shock challengers for the title next season — once all their strikers are fit. The Nigerian star reckons Toon will be unstoppable when crocked hitmen Michael Owen and Shola Ameobi both return. Newcastle have languished in the bottom half all year, relying on 17-goal top scorer Martins to do all the donkey work up front on his own. But Owen is close to a comeback following his year-long recovery from a knee injury while Ameobi could start for the first time since November at Reading on Monday night. Martins, 22, said: “Where can Newcastle aim to be next season? Fight for the league title, play for a Champions League place and also target the FA and Carling Cups. “We have the players, manager and fans to make it happen and I really think we can do it. Losing Owen and Shola was a terrible setback. "But their return couldn’t come at a better time. I think we’ll form a great team. “Shola was doing well before he went for surgery. I was getting used to playing with him but he will bring a lot to the squad. “More interesting for me is the return of Michael Owen. I really would love to play alongside him as soon as possible.” Former Inter star Martins, who sealed a £10million move to St James’ Park last summer, insists he is is not satisfied with his form and vowed to give more. He said: “It’s been very, very frustrating for me but what else can I do? "I was left with Antoine Sibierski to carry the scoring responsibilities. It was so massive but we gave it our all. “I still feel like we needed to do more up front — the fans deserve more than the number of goals we’ve scored so far. “We are in a disappointing mid-table position and need to fight hard to rescue what we can from the remaining games.” Eight-goal strike partner Sibierski is ready to sign a new one-year deal with Newcastle. The Frenchman, 32, has impressed boss Glenn Roeder since arriving on a free transfer from Manchester City last summer. He said: “We have agreed a new contract. I am confident I’m going to sign in the next week or so for another year.”

Get rid asap.

For those mad enough! http://www.true-faith.co.uk/html/Matches/Reports/ReportSheffutd_a.htm

Exactly mate. How do you think Mr Shepherd would react in that situation?! The only equivalent thing I can think of is when he did something for the handful of fans that went to one of our difficult-to-get-to European games (and I can't even remember what it was that he did). The most damning thing is that I don't think it would even occur to him to do something like Quinn did. I mean I literally don't think it would enter his mind that he has a responsibility to help the fans. The best you could hope for is a PR friendly story on the website two days later - "Shepherd condemns flight operators". Absolutely spot on mate.

Exactly mate. How do you think Mr Shepherd would react in that situation?!

What would our knacker have done? http://www.readytogo.net/smb/showthread.php?t=213994

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premiership/newcastle/article1572767.ece He has loomed over Newcastle United’s recent history in much the same manner as St James’ Park dominates the Tyneside skyline, but Alan Shearer is regarded as an ally by Glenn Roeder, the manager, not a threat. As the club conclude a difficult campaign engaged in navel-gazing, the name of their record goalscorer figures prominently, but Roeder is embracing his position as a “long-term” project. There is something irresistible about Shearer returning to manage his home-town side. Since his retirement as a player last summer, he has combined television punditry for the BBC with the process of acquiring his coaching qualifications, but while he has spoken enthusiastically about the prospect of life in the dugout, the timing, as yet, does not seem comfortable. As striker, captain and talisman, Shearer effectively enjoyed a power base at Newcastle to rival most managerial incumbents he worked alongside. Ruud Gullit tendered his resignation after banishing Shearer to the substitutes’ bench for a game against Sunderland, while the odd bout of tension in his relationship with Sir Bobby Robson was interpreted as destabilising. Theoretically, something similar could apply to Roeder, who is working on a one-year rolling contract, but the Londoner takes an opposing stance. “It never crosses my mind,” he said. “Alan texts me before every single game, wishing me all the best and he has been very supportive. I don’t think I’m just keeping the seat warm for Alan; I see myself here long-term, very much so. “I see him as my friend. He understands the problems we have had. He has endorsed that during the season, saying how difficult the job has been. I don’t believe anyone could have done better.” Roeder is not only coping with heightened expectation — albeit doused by a crippling injury list — but also a cult of disappointment. Without a domestic trophy since 1955, hope and disillusion have long been married, from Newcastle’s implosion under Kevin Keegan to tame performances in recent cup competitions. The trend continued in their listless departure from the Uefa Cup, when AZ Alkmaar were allowed to recover from a two-goal deficit to reach the quarter-finals. “Nobody wants to win more than me,” Roeder said. “Nobody wants to change Newcastle more than me. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to change the culture of Newcastle United. That result against Alkmaar is Newcastle. “It’s not just about this season or last season, it’s the Newcastle which threw away a 12-point lead at the top of the Premiership, which you would have thought was impossible. It’s engrained in that badge.” At such a tempestuous club, managers can rarely afford to look beyond the immediate, but Roeder took a calculated risk when he found his leading transfer targets unavailable last January and refused to sign inferior alternatives. “There are managers out there whose philosophy is to keep surviving for the next six months, but what do they achieve for their clubs?” he said. “Not a lot. “I’ve been prepared to gamble on my job here for the good of Newcastle, so that in the summer I can hopefully get the signings I want. There is no reason to think at this particular time that we won’t. We can go into next season with a better squad. The mould will be broken and what will break it is the squad of players we have. “I will be judged on the quality of player I will get into this club. That is why anyone who comes in here will be my signing. I will be judged on that player. I’m happy to be judged on [Obafemi] Martins, [Antoine] Sibierski and [Damien] Duff, but three signings is not my squad.”

Tosser! The irony of him calling someone for wanting to play for their country By NEIL CUSTIS March 27, 2007 COMMENT ON THIS STORY ROY KEANE has launched a bizarre attack on Shay Given for playing in every game for Ireland. Sunderland boss Keane has accused Newcastle’s keeper of constantly picking up caps just to get “a pat on the back”. Former Republic skipper Keane says Given should not play in every friendly and give other keepers a chance. Given, 30, will equal Packie Bonner’s 80-cap record for an Ireland keeper when he captains the team in the Euro 2008 qualifier against Slovakia at Croke Park tomorrow night. But Keane said: “I think players have agendas — certain players come over all the time no matter what. “Maybe they want to get 50 or 100 caps and a pat on the back for it. “I think Shay’s one of these ones — he wants to get 200 caps. “He seems to have played every game, even friendlies. You have other keepers, who travel all the time. Then, when they do play, they’re taken off. “I’ve always thought, when it comes to the lads who travel all the time, ‘Give them a game’. “Qualifiers you have to win — but with friendly matches, give the lads who travel a game and don’t be changing them at half-time, give them a full game.” But ex-Celtic keeper Bonner has leapt to Given’s defence — and praised him for his desire to play every match for the Republic. He said: “Shay is a fantastic ambassador for his country. “He wants to play for his country and it’s got nothing to do with pats on the back. “He does not want to relinquish that No 1 shirt and I’m delighted he’s equalling my record.” Bonner, 46, trained with Given when he was the Ireland goalkeeping coach.

By lad - bitterness levels on Sunlun towards him would go off the richtor scale http://icnewcastle.icnetwork.co.uk/chroniclelive/eveningchronicle/tm_headline=arise--sir-al-%26method=full%26objectid=18798449%26siteid=50081-name_page.html

March 22 - The Journal - All contracts deals halted. March 22 - The Ronniegill - Huntingdon set to sign new deal. Ferk me man!

Reading away is now 8pm on the bastard Monday > > http://www.nufc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10278~1000268,00.html

Yawwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwn - Mr Bling sound-byte number 5489589489. Give the lad another pay rise Mr Shepherd

"wide of the mark" again I see

to be honest, they have been re-hashing the same stuff for months now. They also backed Martin O'Neill as our saviour, who is currently below us in the league and has been for quite a while too. That's who the editor wanted - I write (well, waffle nonsense!) for tf and I wanted Hitzfeld personally!

You can't help but like the fella! http://sport.independent.co.uk/football/comment/article2323417.ece

If only for the reason of the long blond haired stripper! Ohh, and "Fanny-Cam" :-)

He was on in Sam Jacks after we beat the Bin-Dippers! I think my lot are going to The Vault's pre match tomorra!

Cough, cough :-) http://www.rld-info.com/Alkmaar1.htm See ye roond there mate!!!!!!! I can tell someones been doing some very useful research. It looks like an expensive trip is on the cards. Some red and whiters I know went when they played them in a Friendly a few year back and passed on some useful info. :-) How are you getting over there? Are you gan with Billy Swift Airways? Nar flip - Ferry to The Dam from North Shields at 5.30pm on the Wednesda - MESSY! You?!

Cough, cough :-) http://www.rld-info.com/Alkmaar1.htm See ye roond there mate!!!!!!! I can tell someone’s been doing some very useful research. It looks like an expensive trip is on the cards. Some red and whiters I know went when they played them in a Friendly a few year back and passed on some useful info. :-)

Aye Frank Wiafe Danquah, Dutch i think. Think the last time he was mentioned, Mosley said he was a bit s***? Fantastic name! The 2 wingers have done wll for us; O' Brien and Lua Lua - the rest have been average at best. 30 gone - 2 down and they've hit the post and missed a sitter.

2-0, Mullins.

Cough, cough :-) http://www.rld-info.com/Alkmaar1.htm See ye roond there mate!!!!!!!

1 down - Michael Barnes slid the ball under Pav.

Our XI; Pav Gate Cave Doninger Edgar Morris Lua Lua Pattison TRoisi Donaldson O' Brien 1 of our subs is called Franck Waife Dhaunqur or summit?!