AyeDubbleYoo

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.

Not charismatic? This man could exude charisma just by staring into space At least you get the impression there's a brain between his ears. I think he's improved a lot since he started working for the BBC. Always was a bit boring but he seems to have livened up a bit now.

I was gutted when Lambarse said " Kinnear is coming back as manager next season". Won't happen, especially not if we stay up.

"Would you have joined any other club at this stage of the season as manager?" or something like that. It was "would you have done this for any other club".

Feel even better about our chances now I have heard Shearer and Dowie speak then. Al seems like he already knows some of the pitfalls and challenges he will face, was very good when he stressed listening to Dowie and wanting to be told when he goes wrong. Sounds like he won't be very Souness-like after all!

No work until this is over man.

How immense will it be if he keeps us up and stays on? I don't even want to let myself imagine it, but I can't help it!

Dowie sounds like he will be a big asset.

The club have already made plenty of criminal decisions, seeing Shearer off and bringing Kinnear back would be exactly at their intelligence level. I know what you're saying, but I don't think even they would be that stupid (assuming Shearer is a success). I don't think they even wanted Keegan out really, the situation was just beyond saving. What if we go down? i know id rather have shearer as our boss in the championship than Kinnear. is it what shearer would want and he does have a say in it. but these questions breed instability and unsurety. id rather they came out, thanked kinnear for his job, said he is being appointed head scout or whatever, and then said shearer is the man to lead the club, relegation or not. i can appreciate the 8 games thing gives an extra emphasis on the survival aspect but it strikes me as a bit of a gimmick atm. Well it is a gimmick, but that's exactly what we need at the moment - a short term boost to the players.

He's going to speak to Glenn Hoddle!