Tsunami

Good Luck Shola. Still remember the blinder he played in the Nou Camp.

I'd take a bet that he didn't do it by spread betting on the financial markets in a week where panic was the order of the day. He got rich by being astute - what he did last week was plain stupid. Whoever did advise him shouldn't be in a job today & if he did it off his own back then we have a potential crackerjack on our hands. Let's get naked & all drink in the Black Bull. As a club we need stability - here's hoping he can bring it. This has nothing to do with his running of the football club though. To call what he did stupid is a fantastic piece of hindsight. Good to know that you know more than him about the financial markets though You need to spend less time reading the NOTW Well I didn't lose jack shit spread betting last week. If you'd been watching the news it wouldn't have taken a lot of thinking to decide against taking risks last week. We have to hope it doesn't affect the running of the club. I never read the NOTW - I do sometimes look at the pictures

There should be an option for renew on a similar deal. He'll not take a lower deal as he'd get better elsewhere, if we let his contract run out he'll go. We should try and extend it for similar money, this would give us the ability to attract a transfer fee should he then go & we wouldn't be over rewarding for the return we've had from his performances so far. We really should not simply allow his contract to run out; if he chooses to do so then so be it. He impressed me against Fulham - never seen him work harder for the club & it was good to see. I have relations who know a Toon legend (I know but it is true & I'd rather not say names - no not Shearer) who reckons Owen is about that only player in the squad who is putting it in day in day out & that the rest are mostly absolute shite. Might sound obvious but hopefully we will see action in the summer.

I'd take a bet that he didn't do it by spread betting on the financial markets in a week where panic was the order of the day. He got rich by being astute - what he did last week was plain stupid. Whoever did advise him shouldn't be in a job today & if he did it off his own back then we have a potential crackerjack on our hands. Let's get naked & all drink in the Black Bull. As a club we need stability - here's hoping he can bring it.

He shouldn't be good for us - though imo he was the best midfield player on the pitch (other than Owen ) & that shows how bad our midfield currently is. What the fuck Anal is talking about saying that Barton & Geremi were fucking brilliant & that Bullard played like a twat I have no idea. He must have spent too much time on the lash beforehand. Barton did ok, Butt did most of the closing down & Geremi was pedestrian.

No idea, I'm assuming here that the bet has now run it's course & that he's pissed the money up the wall for good on that loss. Let's make it clear again - he didn't buy any shares - he bet on how'd they'd do. Great business - he must be using Terry Mac as his financial advisor.

It's his money & his club - no question. I'm interested in what kind of person he really is - we just don't know. What he's done is a bit like me going out and buying a PS3 as a play thing, not getting many games & then going to the betting shop and blowing half as much again on the cartoon dogs. I'd wish I'd bought a few more games, I hope he wishes he'd invested in his toy.

I'm puzzled why so many don't think it a tad worrying for the club that it's owner lost 129 Mill spread betting on the financial markets in a week where everyone else seemed to be running for cover. Some have said he'll just win it back - yeah it works like that. I know Ashley has stuck a lot of money in buying the club & reducing the debt, but how much have we spent on transfers, not much & BS did say the money wasn't there. Yet he can go out and blow that kind of money on sperad betting? Some may choose to disbelieve the story - but there's been no denying it.

Next season will tell us what he's really like. One thing I can say for sure - he runs like a girl; what is he doing with his arms when he's running? Seriously, have a look.

We all expect the negative press, it is slightly concerning that we seem to have a bit of an impulsive owner & a manager who we all know to be impulsive. At some point they will clash. I wouldn't have thought that last week was the best to go looking to make a quick killing in shares but it may give a bit more of an insight into what makes Ashley tick. If he's looking for thrills n spills he's come to the right place.

Newcastle owner Mike Ashley has lost a reported £129m gambling on financial markets sparking fears he could be about to sell the club. So says the NOTW but also reported on the TV. It may be his money but playing the markets to the tune of 129Mill in a week of market turmoil may appear reckless to some. I don't accept this as a sign that he may sell the club but I'm sure KK would have liked to have had some of that money for summer transfers. The craic is he lost the money on HBOS (Halifax, Bank of Scotland).

Vital 3 points. But we're not out of the woods yet. Bullard was the most influential player on the pitch & how MOTD picked out Barton I don't know - he was disappointing again; Butt covered more ground & had a far better game than Barton. Geremi was way of the pace, he spent the second half marking space in a 20 yard square area. Our lack of pace and drive from midfield is worrying. Owen worked his socks off & became the link man in a lot of the play. Quick word for Viduka; class act, showed how much we need a biggish target man. Fulham are gone; no chance.

No more excuses, we have to win tomorrow, if we don't we deserve to go down. This is the game that should make or break our survival. KK should have these players pumped up, believing they are world beaters. Might sound simplistic & Fulham will be expecting an early onslaught & will be making plans for quick counter attacks, but we need a fast start & pray for an early goal or two. Time to deliver boys.

If we hadn't brought KK back & our results had been the same as KK's (remember the squad we have & the fixtures) where would we be? We'd have a manager under enormous pressure & fans calling for head; or in the case of Shearer, a rookie manager seemingly out of his depth & under enormous self pressure. Whereas what we have is a manager under pressure, but crucially still with the vast support of the crowd & hopefully the players. Yes, a different manager may have brought better results, but given the proximity to the end of the transfer window & the run of fixtures, I doubt they'd have been much better. Look at the results just befoe BS left & you can see where we were heading. I still believe we got the only man for the job & if we beat the drop by the last kick of the season I'll be happy (but mentally drained).

Have to say Cole followed by Lee. Cole came from no-where, his goals helped us get up & his impact in the PL was devastating. Lee was a fantastic player for us but Cole was the man; he really did get the ball and score a goal. Think of the reaction when Cole was sold - for me he was the best signing (but clearly not the best player signed).

Emile Heskey, knows Owen & we need someone with presence & who will work hard. May not excite everyone or score many goals but he'd be an improvement & you'd expect he'd relish the opportunity to try again with a bigger club and break back into the England squad. Think about it before you all laugh at Heskey.

We have to be pleased with a point given that the game could have been over by HT. We were the better team after the break & the fact that we managed to avoid losing in a game where we've gone behind has to be encouraging. Have also got to say that Barton just wasn't at the races again & that Viduka showed why we need a target man - anyone for Heskey? We must now gone & beat Fulham; anything else & we are still right in the shite.

Aye, I'm not very good with that kind of thing. You should see the size of my camera..................

Fantastic 2 days. Toon Travel special. http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/8051/sansiro110303010sw9ki1.jpg http://img292.imageshack.us/img292/9804/sansiro110303014se2rd4.jpg

David Kelly no contest. As been said in other threads. I was in the Gallowgate in line from where he shot; flew in. Unbelievable relief, we were as good as down until it went in. I was on the lash on a weekender for the Leicester game, it was fairly certain by HT that we would be ok & the winner in injury time just capped it off (caught it live in the betting shop).

I've reset the poll as Milner is out. Most people wanted 442 with Owen & Martins up front & Emre in midfield in front of Butt or Barton. I can't see how we can play both Owen & Martins against Brum. With Milner out I can see Duff starting on the right or just behind the front man who I'd have as Martins, KK will pick Owen. If Viduka was match fit I'd have him start but that just aint going to happen.

Harper Beye Taylor Faye Enrique Milner Butt Emre Duff Martins Viduka Butt, as he has something to prove against Brum, Emre if fit. Duff (but off in a flash for Zog if not producing). Viduka as a target man (wishful thinking he'll be fit & interested) & Martins feeding off him & slightly behind him. Smith, Barton no chance. Geremi possibly. Take a chance on Emre. We can't play Owen & Martins as a two up front in this game; Martins has to play.

Birmingham is a game we can't lose & frankly the way we are playing we will. We need to be solid, compact, a threat on the break & in front of goal. Yes all the things we haven't been.

That daft Irish kid the Mackems had in the early 80's. My mackem mates reckon he was the business.

Game of his life probably. He's hardly scoring for fun in the Championship is he? Scored once. I did say target man not goal scorer; was also being a bit tongue in cheek. But on a serious note I'd rather have him than Smith, I'd rather have Dion Dublin than Smith, in fact I'd rather have Dionne Warwick.