Wallace

I would like Owen to stay but as he has hardly played for us, there is no emotional attachment to him so if he goes, I won't miss him. I am curious though to see how Sam would use him and how successful it would be. All I want really is for it to resolved ASAP and not to drag on all Summer - I think we are at least owed that much. However, I daresay the "big" clubs will probably only consider him if they don't get their other targets in which case, it is going to be one long frustrating Summer.

Shouldn't be a problem with Nigel Pearson being one of the coaches.

officially signed

I might be wrong but I am sure Shaun Custis at The Sun is very close to Allardyce so the chances are that their future Newcastle articles are going to be more reliable.

I would not be happy if the club was in Chinese ownership. I 'd be very wary of their motives and would not believe the true motives would be made public. I say this with having worked for a company that has been involved in working with Chinese companies.

I am not at all enamoured with most of the names we are being associated with at present so cannot see how any of them will improve us greatly. Therefore, I think top 6 is beyond us so just looking for progress and to finish comfortably top half and not be flirting with relegation.

Don't want to see Parker go - especially if he is to be replaced by Barton. We have been slowly getting rid of all the "bad" character players such as Bowyer and Bellamy so don't want another who takes assaulting team mates and supporters to a new level. How would he cope with the "goldfish bowl"? However if Parker is to leave, think we should take the Spurs route and try and get as much money as possible for players we don't need to lose and not accept the first offer that comes along. West Ham have already shown they are ready to pay silly money and over the top wages to get players. (Reckon they are the only ones who could afford Dyer's wages). Do we need to sell before we can buy or is there plenty of money for Sam? The prospective take over has muddied things somewhat.

Reckon we are going to need at least 10-15 players coming in. We were about 4 players short last year and 6 have gone already and if others leave, it could be even more. If we get some "name" signings, there will be have to be a few bargains just to bolster the squad.

Having lived all around the country, I do believe that this club is unique. People outside the area just don't get it and so ridicule us. Keegan is my hero but that was then and we need to move on. I think sometimes we are too sentimental about our old players and the continuous disappointment with so many current and recent players makes us cling even more so the memories of years gone by. I think there was a real partnership between the supporters and the players in Keegan's time. Because he understood the fans, he made his players embrace them and the rapport between those players and the supporters is maintained even today. I would love the same thing to be recreated because with the club and supporters as one, we are a powerful force. However, I fear that those days have gone because so many players are so alienated from the supporters these days. However it is a fresh start for everyone and I hope we the supporters also improve our act next season and really get behind the team and manager and make them fall in love with the club again.

Thought he played very well in the away game against Sheffield United

It was time for Bramble and Newcastle to go their separate ways. For as long as he was at the club, we would have been labelled as having a comedy defence even if the stats proved otherwise.

Remember he has had a hernia operation in the last 2 weeks and may just be recuperating somewhere.

I haven't posted before despite reading this site for 2 or 3 years so please bear with me if this ends up being a bit of a ramble as there have been a few things I have been wanting to say for a while. I despair with everyone wanting to get rid of all of our players at once. This rebuilding of the team is going to take some time - it doesn't have to happen within the next 2-3 months. Allardyce needs to see some of these players in action to make a judgement. At the moment, we now have a situation where we have only one decent recognised defender - the rest are at best squad players so this must be the priority. Additionally, we have a problem with the forwards in that Owen is considered likely to go and there are rumours about Martins. If this happens, we then have a major problem in that area of the team. At present, the midfield is the least of our problems - we have talented players who are underperforming in that area and I would expect Allardyce to be able to put a better blend together of the players we have available. I would also expect them to perform to a tactical plan rather than running around like headless chickens (well those than could be bothered to run in the first place). I like Parker (awaits abuse) and feel he is much maligned. Yes he can slow up play but IMO, I often see the problem being with the forwards who in the latter part of the season seemed to not make themselves available to receive the ball. I think a good manager will improve his contribution to the team. Emre seemed to me to be a liability for the team during the winter months where he seemd to be on a mission to get sent off in every game - before and after the Everton game and the racism allegations. I was puzzled at the time with what was going on there and would be interested to see how Allardyce handles his temperament. But he is again a player who we know can perform (albeit not often enough). I would be very interested to see how the players we have respond to the new manager and how he improves them and what kind of team he puts together. If I was a player, I would also be excited about working with this particular manager in view of what his previous players have said about him and of what appears to be very different techniques to what they are used to in improving their fitness and their game. Parker, Emre and Duff suffer from injuries too often. (Could he work his magic on Luque or is that a lost cause?). It was thought that Butt would join Keane down the road but he has said how eager he is to work with Allardyce and that Ferguson really rated him. In his position, you would think that here is a chance for him to extend his career (a la Speed) and to enjoy a new and challenging training regime that will reinvigorate his whole game. This could also apply to Solano. Also with the latter, he has stated on many occasions his desire to go into coaching when he retires and working with Allardyce could be a real education for him. (Hierro came to Bolton at the end of his career because he wanted to go into coaching and so wanted to learn from Allardyce). Remember there is the January window when under-performing and unresponsive players can be moved on and often for higher fees than in the close season. I think that would give the manager and players a fair understanding of what they can expect from each other. If we have to sell a player or two to create some funds then so be it but we just cannot afford to get rid of everyone in one go. We were 4-5 short last season as it was, we have just got rid of another 5 and the kids are all supposedly going on loan next year. As it is at the moment, I reckon that barely leaves us with enough players for a 16 for a game. I would like us to start adding players before we get rid because otherwise teams will see we are desperate and hold us to ransom (see the inflated fees we are always quoted for defenders). (On a side issue, if Owen does want to go, I think the least he could do is to let the club know now. The last thing we need is for this to drag on through the summer and for him to go in late August when we have no time to replace him. However, I would have thought he might be even more sought after in January depending on eg. the injury situation with the top 4 clubs because he will not be cup-tied for Europe). If players are unhappy and want to leave then so be it (I for one wouldn't blame Parker if he was desperate to go). I personally would be happy to see Dyer leave but would be hugely irritated if he went on to perform well at another club because he is better managed. However, I hope this is an opportunity for the players to give the club another chance and for the fans to give the players another chance. I am looking forward to next season because I just don't know what to expect. Unfortunately, a lot of other teams now find themselves in a similar position and whereas we were always the next best after the top 4 as a destination for players, I now feel that it would be difficult to choose between us, Villa, Spurs, West Ham, Everton and potentially City. Wages may still sway a few towards us but I reckon West Ham will attract the mercenaries with Lucas Neill on a reported $60K a week. However, I hope that the players we do sign do so because of the manager and the club. I hope I have not rambled on too long.

Heard an interview with him on the radio when Boro were playing in the Youth Cup this season. He mentioned in the interview that he was from Newcastle and supported Newcastle.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Quote from: Wallace on Today at 12:44:27 AM Been to a talk-in tonight with the 4 goalkeepers. Krul said he would be going on loan next season. -- Does that mean Pav the Geordie is staying for another year? After all, Given's "Lazarus" tag has taken a bit of a beating this year... -- Pav hopes to play for one more year before retiring. Did not mention anything specific with regards to playing at Newcastle next year but I inferred that it would be elsewhere. Harper said he would have to think of a new nickname for Shay now.

Been to a talk-in tonight with the 4 goalkeepers. Krul said he would be going on loan next season.