AyeDubbleYoo

Class act, where would we be in the table this season without him? Eek!

Thanks for the kind words Shay, but hanging around for a few months yourself would have been peachy.

I generally agree, as long as we don't end up with a Souness situation where we piss off our best players for the sake of the manager's ego. Not saying that will happen with Shearer, but sometimes you need to handle unhappy or disruptive players for the good of results. The best players aren't always the nicest ones.

Alan Hansen was really emotional on MOTD, obviously still hurts a lot. There is some harrowing stuff on the BBC from survivors.

The interview is funny, the reporter's talking to him like he's a 5 year old! Nile hasn't got anything to say because the guy answers his own questions! Class, "Nile, what's your aim now, is it to get into the first team?". "er... yes". "What's it like when you're up there at first team HQ, it must be fantastic?". "er...yes it is" Numpty

It's movement that does us in midfield, not really power as such.

If he makes the first team we'll need another new server mind!

I can see their point TBH, even you've just conceded that Spurs don't threaten as much through the middle. Lennon is the big worry, at least Bassong is quick, strong and left footed.

Bassong. Oh yeah

Good to hear, shame Lua Lua has gone out on loan as well, would have liked to see him given more of a chance.

Lennon will be a real threat to our pedestrian midfield, especially without a proper LB. Not sure how we'll be able to contain him.

I'd love to think that Shearer kept him back on purpose against Stoke, but I just think he made an error. Jonas should start, the stats probably say his 'end product' isn't great but the difference he makes to our team is huge.

Whatever we were in the past, now we are definitely underdogs. I just hope we start Carroll and Jonas, any points out of this would be immense.

Does seem a lot of the game to waste, but I wonder how much longer it is than a normal attacking throw in. They probably waste about 6 minutes anyway! Especially our ones when they can't find anyone to throw it to.

Some more respect for you my man! To be fair, I think we all know Ranger isn't actually the messiah.

I said to my brother a while after Stoke scored, "He'll bring Ranger on and he'll head the equaliser". Fucking Carroll only went and stole the lad's thunder.

Very fair assessment, that's pretty much all anyone can say about Wise. The hatred he has got is stupid, but at the same time it had become clear that his image was such that he was just getting in the way of progress.

He's cool as fuck. We must have the coolest two fullbacks in the history of football!

Even if we get thrashed by Chelsea (which we won't), it is better that Shearer is here now to soften the blow and keep confidence up. Another defeat under Hughton and Calderwood might have left the lads suicidal!

Surely Shearer will talk to Martins about this and instruct him to attack more, plus offer more to his team-mates? Don't agree with the bottom paragraph either. In the right formation with the right players around him, he'd be brilliant. I was about to post this, Shearer is much more likely to give Martins clearer instructions than to drop him. As if we have enough options to drop Oba anyway.

I was going to say this.

Lawro is predicting 1-1. He probably doesn't dare piss off Al in case he comes back to the BBC.

The 'players in public' thread is doomed!

Imagine the fallout if Shearer kept us up and then was let go to make way for Kinnear's return! Keegan-pocalypse would be nothing in comparison.

Don't forget that he's still contracted to the BBC, Kinnear is still contracted to NUFC etc. None of them want to be too committal as this point. Again, if Shearer keeps us up and wants the job, I'm pretty sure it'll be his. If he doesn't and they bring back Kinnear, they'll be mad. I can't entertain the thought of Kinnear being our manager next season whatever league we're in. But how much power do contracts seem to have in todays world Not that much in football, but you still can't talk about breaking them live on national TV when they're still in force (and one of the parties is recovering from serious heart surgery). Everyone is just treading carefully at this point.