Chris_R

I wouldn't mind us taking a punt on Barnes. However I don't think we'll get him this window - Derby have invested heavily and brought in a lot of new players in an attempt to drag themselves up the table. To let go of their prize asset would all but condemn them to relegation and undo all the work they've done in this transfer window. So I can't see it happening myself. Best hope for us getting Barnes is for Derby to go down (Not that I wish them relegation, I'd much prefer to see Sunderland and Middlesbrough rooted to the bottom!) and then I think they'll accept a sensible offer.

As per what everyone else has said. He's old and if we were to sign him, it should have been before he went to Portsmouth. Not now. There's younger and better about. His legs have gone now, he's almost completely immobile. If Geremi has the legs of a 40 year old, then Campbell must be using Christopher Reeve's.

Mort does make the decisions and Ashley did say that it was Mort who rang him and told him that Allardyce had to go. Well he has to say that. Otherwise it completely undermines Mort's public position and would damage the relationship he has with Ashley. I doubt it went quite like that though in real life. Sure, Mort would have had some input and gave his opinion, but I know who would have had the final say on the matter and it wasn't Chris Mort. Surely we're past believing everything that's said in the papers? Even though it was a direct quote from an interview, sometimes people bend the truth when speaking in public to protect themselves and each other. Ashley will have had the final say on firing Sam, even if Mort had a lot of input and was the person to tell Sam to pack up and leave.

Thanks Mick Jonny - You know what I mean. I know he's not the chairman, but he's the guy who makes the big decisions. Mort has brains, there's no doubting that, and says all the right things to the media and does a good and worthwhile job for us but who do you REALLY think made the decision to fire Big Sam? Mort? I don't think so. Can you imagine Chris Mort ringing Ashley up and saying "Hi Mike, just thought I should tell you I've fired the manager. I'll let you know who the replacement will be." Of course I should have said "Wouldn't swap him for any other owner in the world".

Yes, Ashley turning into a bit of a legend alright. Wouldn't swap him for any other chairman in the world. Never thought I'd get to say that about the guy in charge of my club!

I thought what he said was that he wanted someone who wouldn't have to take time to adapt to the Premiership. That's a slightly different thing.

Hmm, I seem to remember it wasn't that long ago that we paid lots more for a player from a big Glasgow club than they got him for 6 months prior. Didn't turn out very well last time...

Not me. I was tempted to put it on, but it would have spoilt my lovely hair.

Man U Sunderland Tottenham Can't see beyond them really.

Yes, I genuinely believe Barton wants to reform. The problem is I think he's too much of a toerag to actually make changes to his personality. He'll always be a powderkeg ready to go off, on the pitch and off it. Sadly it's not the sort of thing that I think anyone is capable of changing, not when he's so obviously a bit unhinged.

Agreed, ban all music after 10 mins to kick off. Gets in the way of a good atmosphere. Read the names out by all means. Actually, ban all music at the games. Whats the point of it!! There's a lot to be said for that tbh. Gets my vote.

Dammit Nobby, you've got me rooting round now looking for the Mick Lowes / Radio Newcastle commentary of those goals that's floating round somewhere in this room. I'm making a right racket and the Mrs is bound to wake up and come charging in here demanding to know what the hell I'm doing "at this time of night"!

Hmm... that would tie in with what Mort said about it being Shearer's song and inappropriate for the period. (I think it was someone on here who said about that, who'd spoken to Mort in person) Well that's rot. It was played way before Shearer ever set foot in this club. Not saying it wasn't said by any players, just that it certainly wasn't Shearer's song. In fact as a fan I never associated it with Shearer even when he was playing, it was just the song the team came out to.

Why TF would players have issues with it? If the players have issues with running out to a stirring, locally-written instrumental track with no words to offend anyone then they need a slap. Bring it back, transfer list anyone who complains.

Yeah, best goal he scored for us, and he scored some crackers. Sublime technique from an awesome player.

Well here's a little hint: If you see a thread with Kevin Keegan's name on it, don't open it. Hey presto, problem solved. Leave the rest of us to have some fun while we can, after all it won't be long before we're doing sh#te and everyone's calling for him to be fired!

Funny how people remember things like that. I always used to laugh when my mother said everyone could remember where they were when they heard JFK had been shot but I can tell you exactly where I was when Andy Cole was sold. And like you, I was in A Level maths actually! I didn't f### off home though, but I got no work done that day. Just moped around thinking "WHY?" and feeling sorry for myself.

I can't pick one as there's so many, so I'll just type away for a while: The Leicester 7-1 game, like others have said was pretty special. Fab atmosphere, great result, goals galore. David Kelly was my hero back then, and this was his last game for us. He got a hat-trick, while the man who ultimately replaced him, Andy Cole, got 3 as well. Cole's 40th to break the record for most goals in a season against Villa. Never has a goal been celebrated as enthusiastically as that one until Shearer scored past Portsmouth for number 200. The Villa game was made even more remarkable as I'd bet my mate that Bracewell (Who basically never scored) would score Newcastle's first goal. And he did. The first Liverpool 4-3, even though I only watched it in the student union bar, was very memorable. And of course humping Man U 5-0 will live with me until my dying day. Rob Lee's 'goal' from 70 yards against Brentford - With his left foot - That was disallowed to give US a free kick. Cole's hat-trick against Liverpool. Signing Shearer. Ginola, in one of his first games for us (Possibly his debut, and possibly against Middlesborough? - My memory may be failing me all these years later!), being stuck on his own goal-line with a boro player in front of him. "Just hoof it out!", thought everyone. But no, he just dropped his shoulder, shimmied his feet and left the smoggy on the ground as he strolled off up the pitch with the ball. I knew then I was seeing someone special. Going away to QPR. They beat us 3-0 with all the goals coming in the opening 20-30 mins. The atmosphere was already fantastic but every time they scored, we got louder. When the 3rd went in the whole Newcastle end was jumping up and down like lunatics, it was just so surreal. After the match I was walking round the ground and I heard 2 QPR fans talking about our support, one said to the other "F#cking hell, if that's what they're like when they get beat I'd hate to hear how much noise they'd make if they won". Made me feel so proud. Right, bored now. Could type all night but there's some stuff that springs immediately to mind.

Popped round my parent's house for lunch. My father and I just sat in silence watcing the conference, not one word spoken by either of us. Absolutely delighted with everything Keegan said. I'm really optimistic for the future now, I can see that the game on Saturday will be a fantastic event and no matter what the score, I'm sure I'll come home having lost my voice through singing and urging the team on. And that's not something I can say has happened too many times since Keegan was last here.

Like others have suggested, I'd fancy giving Charlie a run as an AMC. Duff out left and Milner on the right. Personally I like Milner. He lacks killer pace but he's not "Mick Quinn" slow, he's just not as fast as some. And although he lacks that bit of pace, he can beat a man with technique. He's genuinely 2 footed, and a confident finisher. He reminds me a lot of Chris Waddle with his style of play. Even plays with his shirt untucked.

Eh? Ashley HAS been at the matches you know. What has Smith done to make fat Mick be "in awe" of him?

This could be absolutely fantastic or totally awful. At least we'll play good football, he should get some money thrown at him from Ashley and there's no real reason why he can't do well. He's never really failed at any of the appointments he's had. The concerns are that he's had time out of the game and never really thought about investing in the future (Reserves scrapped etc). Plus they do say "Never go back". But just join me for a moment and think "What if he DOES win something? Just what if?". Imagine the party.

Seconded. I know it's an adult forum and we're all aware of all the words, but it's much appreciated when people at least try to disguise the swear words. A lot of us view this forum at work - During break times, of course! - and certainly my company PC (and probably many other people's) stops me going onto certain sites if it detects too many instances of the undisguised versions of an*l, c*nt, a*se and c*ck and f*ck. The site just gets blocked under the assumption that I'm sat here looking at p*rn and knocking one out in company time. Now that won't get me into any trouble (I'm allowed to use the internet during work time), but it may ultimately stop me and others posting on here until night time and make the forum less active than it currently is. Help us out here lads.

I've sure I've got DVDs volume 2 & 3 of that.

Awesome player. Absolute c#nt of a human being.