Lotus

The scum are rivals on locality, not on playing ability. Yeah, i'm aware of the geography I was refering to the Hammers - Spurs thing. In the past (Under SBR for example) i don't recall much Anti-Spurs comments from NUFC fans. Since our decline and your improvement in fortunes you see much more of it. Antipathy is likely to be stronger when the 2 clubs can be compared in terms of performance or they are both competing for more or less the same thing, i.e. Arsenal vs Manure.

I would think Spurs and Hammers feel they are rivals because they are on a similar level. Arsenal and Chelsea are so far ahead of either of them that any rivalry can't be based on competition.

Amazing to think he's seen 5 managers in his short time here. Zoggy was at his best, imo, under Souness. He looked like he could have developed into something very good. Since then, as said before, he's stagnated. If he isn't going to get any better then it would be a good idea to sell. Sell him for his potential though, make that the defining influence on the price, not his actual current standard. We've paid over the odds for potential, i'd like to see us sell a player using the same mind set. Personally i think Downing would be an excellent replcement and an improvement. If we were lucky enough to have Downing and Bentley on the wings then the delivery into the box from both sides would be great. Then we'd just have to buy a forward who can head it....

Maybe try: .........................Harper..................... Beye......Cacapa........Faye.......Enrique ........................Geremi........................ ...............Barton.........Zoggy.............. .............Owen..............Martins............ ........................Carroll......................... Assuming Viduka isn't fit. Could be a bit narrow but would hopefully stop simple throws from their keeper beating our entire back 4. Pack out the middle a bit and hit them on the break. Bench: Forster, Taylor, Milner, Duff, Viduka/Smith

Thought Whittingham from Cardiff looked good on Sunday.

I just think KK had been out of the job too long to know who to buy tbh.

Time will tell. We needed forwards and I suspect that given half a chance Keegan would have brought at least one in. As I said, if HE decided the forwards we had were good enough I'd be surprised and also he will have to bear the responsibility for his judgement. Remember Mort saying before the deadline that if we bought anybody it would be for the future. w******, considering the position we were in and the fixtures coming up. You were putting forward the possibility funds may have been withheld in January were you not? We also had a bids for Wes Brown and Giles Barnes rejected too. Did KK mention Barnes? Cause i had the feeling it was a decision made by the other lot, more of the 'promising youngsters' thing rather than 1st team player.

never mind about the relegation struggle, at least we didn't waste any money in the transfer window Whos decision was that? it is what you said you wanted You're either saying that KK was wrong not to sign anybody and you think that was a major f**k up or you're implying that KK just lied us to us about it therefore suggesting KK is a man without intergrity. I would have thought you must be having misgivings either way. I thought you used to have a coherent arguement regarding the old board (i thought the old board had a lot of unjust crticism) but now you're not. I think you're a bit lost, mate. Seems like the disappointment is really getting to you. I sympathise with that, we must all be suffering. I hope that next season is one we can all look forward to and that we concentrate on the players performances rather than the board. yes I think it was a major mistake not to sign a player in the transfer window. If KK made the decision and we go down then he has to shoulder some blame. If the current board however denied him and he's covering for them it will become obvious, and if the current board are going to run the club with attempting to capitalise on the fanbase then so far as I am concerned they can f*** off back to where they came from. I don't believe the 2nd scenario holds true, and i think deep down you don't either. You're pissed off by the performances this year and you're highlighting the fact that a change of board would not guarentee success the was a few mongs on thought it would. You've got a lot to offer when it comes to appraisal of players and management, why don't you do that more? I would enjoy reading your synopsis of one of our games instead of your views on the old board. We all know them. But when you say Martins hasn't got the 'dead eye' i listen. If you think Owen has something to offer, i listen. If you think Taylor's got a top CB in him fighting to get out i'll listen and want to know why (i don't think he has btw). Because when you talk football it's great so please do it more :-) Thank you, I've also heard excuses from a board for 30 years to kid people they have ambition when they don't, so I've seen and heard all these too. Morts pathetic comments before the deadline and about our summers transfer activity were straight out of the Lord Westwood/Gordon McKeag book of football knowledge and ambition. We will find out. The board have a lot to do to even match the overall performance of the last board during their years running the club. Do you think these backround appoints meet with the approval of Keegan ? because this is another area which could cause him to walk and I for one wouldn't blame him in the slightest if he isn't allowed to run the club the way he wants. I think the club needs a better infrastructure, if it doesn't interfere with KK's decisions or if it serves his purpose then i think it's fine, there'll no conflict. So far they've targeted some young'uns which is good, KK doesn't want to get bogged down with that. They just have to be careful to stay within their remit. Hopefully egos won't get in the way.

never mind about the relegation struggle, at least we didn't waste any money in the transfer window Whos decision was that? it is what you said you wanted You're either saying that KK was wrong not to sign anybody and you think that was a major f**k up or you're implying that KK just lied us to us about it therefore suggesting KK is a man without intergrity. I would have thought you must be having misgivings either way. I thought you used to have a coherent arguement regarding the old board (i thought the old board had a lot of unjust crticism) but now you're not. I think you're a bit lost, mate. Seems like the disappointment is really getting to you. I sympathise with that, we must all be suffering. I hope that next season is one we can all look forward to and that we concentrate on the players performances rather than the board. yes I think it was a major mistake not to sign a player in the transfer window. If KK made the decision and we go down then he has to shoulder some blame. If the current board however denied him and he's covering for them it will become obvious, and if the current board are going to run the club with attempting to capitalise on the fanbase then so far as I am concerned they can f*** off back to where they came from. I don't believe the 2nd scenario holds true, and i think deep down you don't either. You're pissed off by the performances this year and you're highlighting the fact that a change of board would not guarentee success the was a few mongs on thought it would. You've got a lot to offer when it comes to appraisal of players and management, why don't you do that more? I would enjoy reading your synopsis of one of our games instead of your views on the old board. We all know them. But when you say Martins hasn't got the 'dead eye' i listen. If you think Owen has something to offer, i listen. If you think Taylor's got a top CB in him fighting to get out i'll listen and want to know why (i don't think he has btw). Because when you talk football it's great so please do it more :-)

never mind about the relegation struggle, at least we didn't waste any money in the transfer window Whos decision was that? it is what you said you wanted You're either saying that KK was wrong not to sign anybody and you think that was a major f**k up or you're implying that KK just lied us to us about it therefore suggesting KK is a man without intergrity. I would have thought you must be having misgivings either way. I thought you used to have a coherent arguement regarding the old board (i thought the old board had a lot of unjust crticism) but now you're not. I think you're a bit lost, mate. Seems like the disappointment is really getting to you. I sympathise with that, we must all be suffering. I hope that next season is one we can all look forward to and that we concentrate on the players performances rather than the board.

Not sure tbh. Possibly a little better. I expect KK will do better though next season. Just to be contreversial, i think Redknapp would have done better than KK has upto now. Purely because he'd have bought someone, Diarra for a start.

However, if we're relegated it is due to the failure of the players and managers (both of them). SA had enough of a squad to do better and KK had the money to improve it but chose not to. The Board don't pick the team nor do they determine tactics.

I'm curious, what percentage of the top 4 debt is Chelsea's?

Tbh, the reason we're in a relegation struggle is to do with the 1st team managers we've had so far this season. BSA should have got far more out of the players available to him and KK hasn't had the customary honeymoon period. This is so blindingly obvious to me i really don't see howwonder The significant mistake, amidst all the transfer strategy cautiousness delivered by Mort & Ashley which has already been cited, which may well bring about our relegation. That mistake is the one that counts the most. That one month will go down as a 'not to do' blueprint for other clubs to go by. If we survive the drop, and if Keegan isn't sufficiently backed - surely promises must've have been made when considering the manner in which Keegan originally left - in the Summer as far as i'm concerned Ashley can bring in the scaffolders have them remove his "...... Direct" advertising and sell-up & bugger off, sooner rather than later that is. *Yet some many people still can't see the point. I guess 'not being Freddy Shepherd' is one factor, along with all the other stuff ie. Ashley's "i stand as the leader of Toon Army - i bleed as they do" warcry in the press and by getting down & dirty in the terraces and generally coming across as your everyday grassroots supporter.... and the debt reduction issue is also a relevant point, which weighs in Ashley & Mort's favour at the minute. The significant mistake, amidst all the transfer strategy cautiousness delivered by Mort & Ashley which has already been cited, which may well bring about our relegation. That mistake is the one that counts the most. That one month will go down as a 'not to do' blueprint for other clubs to go by. If we survive the drop, and if Keegan isn't sufficiently backed - surely promises must've have been made when considering the manner in which Keegan originally left - in the Summer as far as i'm concerned Ashley can bring in the scaffolders have them remove his "...... Direct" advertising and sell-up & bugger off, sooner rather than later that is. *Yet some many people still can't see the point. I guess 'not being Freddy Shepherd' is one factor, along with all the other stuff ie. Ashley's "i stand as the leader of Toon Army - i bleed as they do" warcry in the press and by getting down & dirty in the terraces and generally coming across as your everyday grassroots supporter.... and the debt reduction issue is also a relevant point, which weighs in Ashley & Mort's favour at the minute. Tbh, the reason we're in a relegation struggle is to do with the 1st team managers we've had so far this season. BSA should have got far more out of the players available to him and KK hasn't had the customary honeymoon period. I've not come to any conclusions yet re: the new owners but i know they had nothing to do with points dropped against Derby, etc.

I don't understand your arguement NE5. It seems the club spent the same amount in the summer that it has spent on average over the past 5 years. I was happy with Allardyce and you were very happy yet Sam did buy some crap, you have to admit that, i have! He spent £12m in Barton and Smith. Barton i STILL hold out hope for, Smith is rubbish. Enrique wasn't cheap either. You said there is never a bad time to sack a bad manager. The Board didn't believe in Sam so they sacked him. They appointed KK, which you're happy with, he tried to sign Woodie (for £8m - not cheap) but he wouldn't come. I think KK didn't sign anyone else because of 2 things, he's been out of the game and didn't know who to sign and the players he did know and want wouldn't come. IMO, the club shouldn't have sacked Sam at that time, and if they were going to, they shouldn't have appointed KK because it's a tall order to expect him to come in after 3 years out and make good purchases. All this seems clear and logical to me. What am i missing?

Yes, it's one of those places that i fancy us to get something but because Birmingham are in the s*** as well, they will be up for it. I hope it will be an open game and our better players can produce. They will have the physical edge and will battle hard. But at the same time they must fear Martins and Owen, they'll have been watching us batter Blackburn so they know we can handle it and what we are capable of. We ARE the better team we just have to go their knowing it and pick the players who won't be scared to perform on the day. We've probably got bigger problems trying to handle their strikers than they will have trying to deal with ours tbh.

Tbh, i have been asking myself if we'd have spanked quite as badly under Sam as we have been under KK these past few games.

Fuuny name! You'd think he would have got himself one of those funky Brasilian nicknames instead of sticking with that. Sonething like 'Dewey'...

Well, that would be a shame simply because that bloke has looked pretty mediocre to me. I thought Enrique's looked OK, worth perservering with anyway. I'd certainly start him instead of Zoggy. But if we're going to replace him instead of trying to develop him, if we're going to go out and buy a LB in his prime, i'd hope for a lot better than Nicky Shorey.

It's a good point but then Zoggy got in the 1st team. I know he didn't come through the academy but he was young and unproven when he arrived. Shocking to think he's on his 5th Newcastle manager already in a fledgling career!

Wouldn't play Emre and Barton in the middle. Might be tempted to play Geremi somewhere, i don't like him much but he can find a team mate more regularly than Butt and he certainly isn't any slower.

As Manure already 2 DMs in Carrick and Hargreaves i would be surprised if they splashed out on Veloso too. Who needs 3 players for 1 position?

Viana didn't exactly 'adapt' in Spain either so i'm not sure he's the best example.

Watched Miguel Veloso the other week playing for Sporting. Looked a good player, quite strong actually. Played as a DM, good first touch. Someone told me the Portuguese media were saying he's been linked with some big clubs but as far as i know, no bids have been made. I don't work in football but the boy looks quality to me, with athleticism to match.

I thought the reason we didn't sign anybody was quite simply because KK's been out of the game for a while. He wouldn't have had the chance to have a look at the players the scouts may have recommended and he wouldn't have had time to assess our squad and target the replacements. If you're going to spend proper money on a player you'd want to have a look at him first i'd imagine. Woodie was different because he knew him already. That's how i saw it, the simplest explanation.