robbo_11

0-4

I am very disappointed at the sacking of Sam Allardyce and even more disappointed in the calibre of managers being talked about. Mark Hughes, Harry Redknapp and Steve McLaren are no better than Sam Allardyce. If we were to appoint Hughes here he would follow Sam's suit because the expectation levels at Blackburn and Bolton respectively are nothing compared to the over inflated opinions of Newcastle United fans. The fact that he lasted 8 months (24 games - 8 wins 10 losses 6 draws) at Newcastle after enjoying 8 years at Bolton and turning them into a prominent Premiership side disgusts me. Chris Mort's comments as of November 7th 2007 “Success stories at other clubs are often about longevity. The Premier League manager is clearly in a highly pressurised environment – four have gone this season – but the guys who have brought success have been there longer term. Sam is doing a great job.” offers little hope to any open-minded supporter or even manager as they seemed to have been swayed by those fans who crave for Kevin Keegan and Alan Shearer leading us to the promised land. We aspire to be like Everton, who have challenged the top four and battled relegation in Moye's tenure. I know results have not been great, expecially the Liverpool, Portsmouth and Wigan games, but with an improving training ground, an improvement to the reserve side and adopting the sports science route things have been far worse at St. James' Park. There was no barracking for the managers head outside the Milburn reception or chanting against manager or the board for weeks on end, so why have they taken a seemingly rushed decision? The calibre of manager as Alan Oliver reported days ago who 'knocked the socks' off our chairman? Fan pressure? A story that has not yet reached the media about Sam? Off the field problems (Barton)? It is another season wrote off already. We give the new manager the rest of the season to try and get us in the top half or face the sack. I'll remind you of a few Allardyce quotes when he was appointed: "I've left a football club that is very, very healthy so when my time to leave Newcastle does come I hope I have done the same here." I think Sam can leave knowing he has improved this club slightly in his short time here. "I'm not saying I can get it right at the flick of a switch. If there are some sticky times I hope we can get over them for the best of the supporters and me." Were the majority supporters behind him during the tougher times? He certaintly hasn't been given enough time.

Spurs never bid for Woodgate, just asked if he might be available, just like the enquiry about Taylor. Boro have got competition for Fred, the Lyon President is at WHL now. http://www.lequipe.fr/Football/breves2008/20080109_130842Dev.html Could mean Defoe will definately be going, although it is in the very early stages of any deal happening between Spurs and Lyon. I take it there is also interest from PSG as well?

Palermo have resisted offers from Manchester City, Fulham and Everton for Mark Bresciano as well as Fiorentina and Sampdoria in Italy. They were looking to buy him for €4m, but Palermo are holding out for €8m.

Newcastle rejected an approach from Tottenham today for Steven Taylor, so that rules out any move for him away at the minute.

http://sports.setanta.com/en/Sport/News/Football/2008/01/08/Prem-Newcastle-linked-with-Geromel/ Newcastle are believed to have jumped into the race for Guimaraes' Brazilian defender Geromel. The 22-year-old has won many admirers with his efforts for Guimaraes in the Portuguese league and is believed to have attracted attention from Bolton and two Russian clubs. However, it is believed a Newcastle scout returned to Tyneside with a glowing report on the Brazilian. Scouts have been posted at games against Belenenses and Porto and Geromel has already expressed a desire to move to England. Guimaraes are aware of the interest in their player and are believed to have slapped a €4 million (£2.5m) price tag on his head. Geromel has claimed he would prefer to remain in Portugal until the summer, but the indications are that Guimaraes would cash-in should a club match their demands. Possibly another defender being brought in. Although from this article http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11095_3026215,00.html its more likely he will move in June or would prefer to move then and we may face some competition from Bolton. http://infordesporto.sapo.pt/Informacao/Modalidades/Futebol/noticiafutebol_futvguigeromelpretendido_080108_455624.asp this looks like the source of the story coming from "O jogo", although the only thing I can make out is "a concrete proposal" and the title "Newcastle want Geromel".

Just been on SkySportsNews about noisiest fans (average decibels). Source was 118118 Survey. Sunderland 129.2 Tottenham 128.2 Man City 127.4 Aston Villa 126.5 Everton 126.1 Chelsea 125.8 Middlesbrough 125.4 Derby 124.7 Newcastle 124.5 West Ham 123.8 Birmingham 122.7 Arsenal 122.3 Portsmouth 120.9 Blackburn 119.5 Bolton 119.1 Liverpool 118.9 Man Utd 117.5 Wigan 116.8 Reading 116.2 Fulham 115.4 Now Portsmouth don't even make the top 10, Middlesbrough are 7th and Liverpool in 16th?

Maniche, ex Chelsea player, from Athletico Madrid to Inter Milan is being discussed between the two clubs. Gianluca Zambrotta will remain at Barcelona until June and then consider his future with both Chelsea and Tottenham interested. Cristiano Lucarelli has left Shakthar to join Parma in a deal that could reach up to €6m. It is not only Fulham and Birmingham interested in Guglielmo Stendardo but also Celtic. He has already asked for an transfer and could invoke a FIFA rule to leave Lazio at the end of the season.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyqYRx6Y9uk&NR=1 His English seems to have improved Will be pleased with this signing if it comes off.

My thoughts on Martins are that he thrives on confidence and the "odd chance" ala Spurs. If you give him too much time to actually think of what to do with the ball i.e. pass or shoot or take another touch he will fluff the chance. However, when he has to make a quick decision, the sheer power behind one of his strike's is unstoppable, examples include Chelsea in the League Cup and Spurs (again!). The team have to create these sort chances, but have been lacking in recent games before Man City due to a long ball approach. Quite a few of his shots were from distance in his first season, yet Allardyce's policy seems to be either get a cross in or from inside the penatly area and we have already heard of the supposed fine for striking over 25 yards out. His goals this season include a header, overhead kick but mostly latching on to the long ball forward (Man City away and Tottenham at home). Simply Obafemi Martins thrives on creativity, yet he has to drop deep to create these chances as we lack a creative midfield player. Essentially he is the player who is creating opportunities for other players to score by picking the ball up from the half way line. We look better with Martins in our side as he offers more than scoring (Michael Owen).

A nice right hook after the Kilmarnock player stamped on him. Finnigan was quite prolific, but not like Walton, Chopra or Brayson.

http://www.nufc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10278~1205420,00.html Confirmed Krul remains at Falkirk and Carroll has returned. No news on Pattison, maybe a permanent deal is being sorted?

Just watched the first half on football first. Newcastle just shaded it on chances, but Man City were more clinical. The referee got the Onuoha decision wrong and then for them to score straight after was pot luck. As for Elano's challenge, I thought it probably should have been a red card.

Sven had more cash to spend and we sold two of our creative players and didn't replace thm. Sven had a year off to scout the players he brought in. I'm sure Sven said he hadn't seen some of them play before when they signed. But Sven definately spent more than Allardyce did. Newspaper bollocks, duly dismissed. He definately did spend more money than Sam. If we sack Allardyce then we will get into a relegation dogfight and whose to say we would get a better manager in his place? Why would any respectable manager want to come to a club where the fans crave success so much that they become impatient and unwilling to give him any time to sort out the club. A manager has more to do behind the scenes than put an 11 out against another side on a Saturday. Its a vicious cycle. Positives Improved scouting network. Long term planning. Team look fitter. Less injuries than at this stage last season. Improved training facilities. We are midtable after wholesale changes in the summer, when the club was "rotten to the core" as some put it last season.

Sven had more cash to spend and we sold two of our creative players and didn't replace thm. Sven had a year off to scout the players he brought in. I'm sure Sven said he hadn't seen some of them play when they signed. But Sven definately spent more than Allardyce did.

Titus Bramble has scored

Why blame Sam Allardyce when the players could not take their chances? Beggars belief why some are chanting for Shearer. I saw the first half and we played excellent free flowing attacking football and had a few shots from distances as well as getting crosses in. Conceeded and we went in behind when it was slightly against the run of play. Apparently should have had a penalty aswell - no decisions went our way.

Agreed Was it two footed? They usually clamp down on these things.

a funeral.

Milner trying to much there.

Great attacking performance atm. Martins just needs to score!

Mort's comments come from today's programme. He also says: "Much of the late summer and early part of the season was spent on refurbishing the training ground at Benton, with additions such as a new gym and threapy rooms, and recruiting a number of medical and training specialists...Some of the building work is still ongoing..." Youth football "...I think we could still do better and do not be surpirsed if several of our signings in 2008 are under the age of 20..."

A clean sheet today against Kilmarnock, but he was booked for dissent and then sent off for violent conduct after a late challenge from Frazer Wright.

NEWCASTLE What they need? A new back four might help, creativity up front and cover during the African Cup of Nations. Possible activity The Newcastle board may well be presented a long list of targets by boss Sam Allardyce with a top-class defender presumably at the top of it. Brazilian Edmilson, Alan Hutton and Wes Brown have all been linked with Newcastle, while promising Swindon left-back Ben Tozer will arrive imminently. Toon fans are crying out for attractive football so Allardyce might want to appease them with a playmaker. Shola Ameobi, Stephen Carr and Celestine Babayaro all look certain to depart. Who have they been linked with? Brown, Hutton, Edmilson, Peter Crouch, Tozer, Ivica Dragutinovic, Andrey Arshavin, Luis Garcia. Who do you want them to buy? "The main players we need are a young back-up full-back and a creative midfielder: Zuiverloon and Arshavin." zeTom1 From the BBC.

Not really. He took us from bottom to 11th in his first season. Plus a semi final we should have won. The second season he got hit by injuries but he consolidated our position. From then on in it was top 5. The point is that the improvement was obvious. It doesnt appear that way at present. Exactly why Sam Allardyce should be given at least a season. Next season with his methods fully implemented and understood by the players as well as a greater understanding between the players we might see that imporvement. I think Robson took over a decent side and just got them playing whereas Sam had to get rid of the waste and build his side, certaintly a new defence.