Wallace

I keep forgetting about Smith. I thought he did OK with Owen in that England game so maybe he should be tried up front with Owen.

http://www.newcastle-falcons.co.uk/36_3470.php 17 September 2007, 1:45 pm Newcastle Falcons today pledged its full support to main club sponsor, Northern Rock. The club has backed the growing ‘Support The Rock’ campaign, urging all north-east sports fans to get behind Northern Rock and back one of the region’s iconic names. “Northern Rock has supported us, and we will support Northern Rock,” was the emphatic message from Falcons commercial director, Mick Hogan. “Our decade-long partnership with Northern Rock is the longest main sponsorship in Premiership rugby history. In addition to this the Northern Rock Foundation has given incredible backing to our own Falcons Community Foundation, impacting on so many lives in a positive way. “They are not just a sponsor, they are part of the fabric of the club and of the region, so we are putting our full weight behind the ‘Support The Rock’ campaign in any way we can, urging the people of the region not to abandon one of their own in its time of need.” Falcons director of rugby, John Fletcher, echoed Hogan’s sentiments, stating: “Northern Rock has done so much for rugby and sport in the north-east, so as one of the region’s main clubs it is only right that we should lend our full support to them. “We therefore urge all north-east sports fans to show their local pride and support The Rock, who have done so much good for the north-east and for sporting teams across the region.” Falcons captain Phil Dowson added: “Everyone knows how much support Northern Rock has given to the club and to sport right across our region, so it’s at times like these that we need to repay that backing.”

Ameobi and Owen played well together for 45 minutes against Hartlepool in pre-season!! His laid back style doesn't help him though because it always comes across as if he could not be bothered. Every once in a while he has a great game which reminds you that he can play a bit but unfortunately we see it all too rarely. The problem is that all of the strikers need games with each other to work out which combinations work and to get a partnership going and until something clicks, it is going to be a frustrating experience. Despite his youth and lack of experience and depending on how he gets on at Preston, I felt after watching Ameobi last night that maybe Carroll would be better as the 4th choice striker come January as he would keep to doing the simple things and at least he can head a ball. I would also expect him to keep improving and learning whereas I am starting to think Ameobi never will.

Would definitely haver Taylor in to deal with Ashton as he is more experienced with that type of Premiership striker and he handled Drogba well last season. Not fussed who partners him although maybe he could try Faye there. If Bellamy plays and we play like we did last night, he will have a field day but hopefully he will still be injured.

If he is such an average defender that is always likely to be error-prone as many on here suggest, then why do Liverpool and Chelsea want him?

I haven't been to Wembley for a few years but I always preferred the train - 9 mins back to Marylebone and the queues were never as bad.

Looking ahead, I would expect Harper and Given to play a game each against West Ham and Arsenal, Hopefully, that will be to our benefit as each strive to prove they should be first choice.

I for one am glad that he is still our player and hope that he scores lots of goals for us.

For the Champions League this season, 3 players have to be association trained players and 3 players have to be club trained players who have been registered with their club for 3 years between the ages of 15-21.

The Sunday Sun say that Milner is on £30K per week and that the offer to Taylor would have to be increased by 60% to match that. If true I think Taylor has a right to feel aggrieved.

Well if the club don't sort this soon, the big clubs will be chasing him even more actively than they have done up till now. I daresay if he went on to be a huge success at another club, then all the critics will blame the club for letting him go. If he is on £9K per week and other squad players are being paid £30K per week then that does not seem fair. He has been a first team regular for a while now - that may not continue to be the case this season but he should still get plenty of games. What is it with our supporters that we have to have a scapegoat at all times. Taylor and Milner (the kids in the team) are both being criticised. Zoggy was woeful last year and because of a couple of games, he's the best thing again. I think we have a good bunch of players at the club and local players should be part of that - maybe the new ones still have that shiny new feeling before people get bored with them and decide they need a good slagging off. I think a young talented local player who cares about the club is an asset and it is too soon to write him off. If this is what we think about local players maybe we should just close down the Academy as what is the point - they will be the scapegoats for our fans until we destroy their confidence and then sell them.

I can't believe there is much truth in the story as after all it is only the Wigan game that he has missed and he has just come back in after an injury. By the Derby game, he will have played a couple of games for Ireland so it will be interesting to see who Sam plays then.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/sport/football.html?in_article_id=479998&in_page_id=1779 Given aiming for Allardyce showdown Last updated at 00:39am on 5th September 2007 Newcastle's Shay Given will have showdown talks with Toon boss Sam Allardyce when he returns from international duty next week. The Ireland goalkeeper, who will earn his 81st cap against Slovakia on Saturday, returned after groin injury in the Carling Cup on Wednesday but Steve Harper was recalled for Saturday's Premier League win over Wigan. Given, 31, said: "I've gone away with Ireland so I haven't had time to chat with him but I'll have to do that when I get back after these games."

I think so because they were definitely there for a previous game this season. Interesting stuff.

There have been a couple of radio programmes in recent weeks where they talked about the music connected with different clubs and the presenters all mentioned Local Hero and SJP.

I think it is brilliant that the club are communicating with the fans in this way and that they seem to be listening. Really hope Mort and Ashley are here for the longhaul because in such a short space of time they have already made the club seem much more approachable and likeable and we seem to be regaining some dignity as a club after all of the embarrassments of recent years. I think they are doing a fantastic job so far. I agree with a lot of the points already made eg. PA system in the Gallowgate, drainage problems outside when it rains, the way the stadium has started to look a little scruffy, more flags etc inside, Local Hero, Carmina Burana, Blitzkrieg Bop (and all the punky or "attitude" music they used to play a few years back). Cheaper prices for students/unwaged. (Good start already with cup games and season tickets). Would like a TV channel too. The open training day last year was good but the manager might not like that idea. Yes to the Leazes and Gallowgate Ends and would like the East Stand to become the Gallacher or Harvey Stand or such like. Hate the TV monitors on the concourse - not big enough screens especially with all the surrounding info and often seem to be out of focus. Some of the locks on the doors of the toilets in the ladies have been broken for years. Don't buy programmes that often but have occasionally thought that I wished I had bought one for a particular match so surprised that you never see back copies on display in the club shop. Like the idea of the Heritage Stones but think they should be on a wall - hate the way they are walked all over and some of them now look scruffy. Supporters of other clubs all seem to be very aware about how many loyalty points they hold where we seem to be in the dark. I think people can find it if they pursue it but a lot of people went to many matches for years with the club's official travel club only then found out they were never awarded loyalty points and so missed out on the big games. I think some of them are still arguing their case. I travel with Backpage and they provide a good service but it is appalling that the "official" travel club provides such a poor service. They only seem to run if they can guarantee filling the coaches and sometimes don't provide a service at all (I presume because they think they are going to make a loss). Not a problem this year, but I would travel to more European games if there was organised travel. Toon Travel have been OK but chaotic and I for one, don't have the time to trawl the internet for bargains and more often than not, would be travelling by myself so in the end tend not to bother even though I go to all the domestic games. I am aware that away tickets are often late being sent out because the Box Office do not receive them until late from other clubs but I think it would be useful to advertise such problems on the websit eeg. when they will be sent out because people panic about not receiving them and are waiting to book travel. I always have problems booking tickets online so now I don't bother and either phone or call in. I think the players probably do a lot more work in the community than is appreciated - certainly Taylor, Ramage and Given seem to do more than their fair share. I recall seeing pictures of Bernard and Robert in a local school a while back where they had got involved with French classes or something which really surprised me at the time. However, I think it is important that the supporters have a strong bond with the players. The relationship between the players and supporters in Keegan's time was a real benefit to the team but even though it is only 12 years ago, an awful lot has changed and I doubt that could ever be recreated. Like the talk-ins although can be a little too stage managed with questions pre-selected (and so can be very tame) and I like to see the players mixing with the fans. I thought the one with Pavel last season was interesting as it highlighted how comfortable he was with the supporters unlike most of the current players. I watch the Falcons when I can and the club should talk to them about some of their community initiatives because they seem to have a brilliant relationship with the supporters. I realise the fanbase is much smaller so it is easier to manage. For season ticket holders who renew early, they hold a social evening where all the players have to attend and they just mix with all the supporters in the bar and you see players joining in with games with the kids. I think we have a unique club and the local support is vital - start alienating that as Shepherd and co had been doing and then you see the apathy start. I also think that when the club is successful, it has a positive effect on the city and the local economy benefits. The club needs the city as much as the city needs the club.

I may be mistaken but I think Babayaro has either been injured or suspended for every Christmas period since he joined us.

Totally agree. No player should be allowed to think they are a guaranteed starter.

Sorry but I have never heard of any such actions by Given. It is well know that Given handed in a transfer request in Robson's early days when he did not walk straight back into the team after injury. I don''t know if he has made any such threats since but then until last season, he has been pretty much an ever present. The transfer request is something that he has talked about himself at various talk-ins I have attended. However, Allardyce recently said himself that had positions been reversed, he could not imagine Given being as patient as Harper as been.

High up the Gallowgate bit where I sit we don't have the luxury of a clear sound system & when the dark haired player warmed up, someone said that was Enrique & I went with it. It was David Edgar.

Harper might also be benefiting from playing behind a better defence this season. Like all players, he needs games to produce a consistent standard. Until last season, he had scarcely played for years.

Faye was not introduced as he had to go back to the North West for some reason.

I was confident that we would not concede today despite a couple of scares. The defence look so good (it will be interesting to see how they perform when they play a really good attacking team). It was just a case of when we would get the goal. Butt was getting into a lot of attacking positions today - if only he could shoot. He kept urging the team forward and seems very vocal on the pitch these days.

So what's happened to that American guy who wanted to takeover the club?

Thought he was fantastic as well. Definitely should have been the MOM but we all know the sponsors pick the players they want to meet.