manorpark

Completely agreed. We need more like him, who spend (to make money) but improve the Newcastle area environment, as a successful looking place to live in (and to visit and invest-in from outside) etc. WELL DONE.

Still good in the box apparently. Aye, but a bit wooden. Cool . . put him on for the last ten minutes, when we are (as we often are!) losing. You never know . . . Just seeing him standing in the opposition penalty area for ten minutes would be canny. (er . . not really, but . . . )

Gateshead is "Tyne & Wear", but that's most definitely on the Tyne. Worst comparison ever I'm just saying the fact Washington appears as "Tyne & Wear" doesn't necessarily mean it's both Tyne and Wear, because like I said, Gateshead also appears as Tyne & Wear but is certainly on the Tyne. Interestingly . . "Tyne & Wear" when used in an address, is ONE place, not two. So, being in 'both' is not a relevant thing to say. Tyne & Wear refers to Tyne & Wear County , which is one place. It was going to be called 'Greater Newcastle' - as the new Metropolitan County was in Manchester (Greater Manchester) and London (Greater London) but we ended up being called the hideous T & W instead! A mistake on so many levels.

Yeah, good old Wiki, sums it up perfectly!

Completely wrong. The word "Sunderland" does not appear in any Washington address. Read my earlier posts about how the two towns of Sunderland and Washington came to be 'lumped together' for Local Authority purposes in 1974.

The amusing thing about this is, back in 1974 (when they were re-organising all the local authority boundaries and forming Tyne & Wear, Greater London, etc) they were finding it very difficult to create a viable "Metropolitan Borough" around the town of Sunderland. It was too small - population only 190,000, or so. So, they decided to 'lump together' the highly independent towns of Washington and Sunderland into one borough (otherwise, because of its location, Washington would have become part of Gateshead). Even more amusing, they were wondering what to call this artificial 'two-town new borough' and they thought of calling it Washington rather than Sunderland (!!!!!) for a while, before finally (sadly) opting for Sunderland. So, the current 'City' (so called) of Sunderland, as the new borough eventually became, nearly became the "City of Washington". Actually sounds a lot BETTER, doesn't it!! (PS - my Grandad told me about all this . . . )

The town of Washington, though an independent 'town' from Sunderland and not having the word 'Sunderland' in it's addresses, is actually administratively part of Sunderland Borough. So, I can understand you being called a 'Mackem' by some people.

Yes, we needed to keep Lee Novak, but (sadly) it seems we needed the money more. The 'loan-back' for the rest of this season will possibly get us promoted, but we will need to strengthen next season with Lee Novak gone.

Course you are! Then I would say that Well what the hell are you then ? I'm from Gateshead, of course i'm a geordie In any rational world, Gateshead would be officially (what it is 'actually') South Newcastle. So, yes, people from South Newcastle could be classed as Geordies, if they want to be!!

I go to Gateshead matches quite often. They have an excellent goalscorer in Lee Novak (got another two at Southport yesterday) who maybe NUFC should have looked at. Too late for now, as Lee Clark and Terry Mac watched him loads of times and have now signed him for Huddersfield. He will finish the season here on loan though, which should (hopefully) be enough to get us promoted.

The other WAS Keegan - it no longer is. He has now left us twice. If he had remained the first time and still been here now - our history and current status would probably have been SO different . . . (WOW - the 'dream' of that era continuing all the years until now . . . WOW, what a thought - just CLOSE your eyes and 'think' about that . . . ) So, because of that (leaving once / leaving once again) Keegans days of "bringing a feel good factor to NUFC" are over (in my view).

Got a little off point, saw the opportunity to list all of Newcastle's 'major sports' clubs and teams and compare their relative success. I suppose I am saying that 'if other clubs in Newcastle can do it, so can our football club' . . .

It is good to see our teams at the top and dominating their sport nationally. We are currently doing it at the VERY TOP in Cricket and (particularly) Basketball - and not too long ago in Rugby Union. The rest (esp NUFC) are sadly underachieving - at the moment. Give us (another) five years though . . . . . . (says Big Mike)

Corrections duly made . . . NEWCASTLE FALCONS Rugby Union. In the top league. Struggling. NEWCASTLE EAGLES Baketball. In the top league. CHAMPIONS and the 'Manchester United' of Basketball (win most things most seasons). NEWCASTLE UNITED Football (!). In the top league. Struggling. NEWCASTLE VIPERS Ice Hockey. In the top league. Mid table. NEWCASTLE DIAMONDS Speedway. In the Second top league (which is called the Premier League). Average to struggling. and nearby . . . DURHAM CCC Cricket. In the top league. CHAMPIONS. GATESHEAD THUNDER Rugby League. In the second top league (the National League 1, Rugby League's equivalent of the championship) They are moving to Newcastle soon, seemingly.

The City of Newcastle does quite well, having the sports (nearly said 'sporting'!) clubs that represent it, in the TOP leagues in most of the major team sports in the UK. NEWCASTLE FALCONS Rugby Union. In the top league. Struggling. NEWCASTLE EAGLES Baketball. In the top league. CHAMPIONS and the 'Manchester United' of Basketball (win most things most seasons). NEWCASTLE UNITED Football (!). In the top league. Struggling. NEWCASTLE VIPERS Ice Hockey. In the top league. Mid table. NEWCASTLE DIAMONDS Speedway. In the Second top league (which is called the Premier League). Average to struggling. and nearby . . . DURHAM CCC Cricket. In the top league. CHAMPIONS. GATESHEAD THUNDER Rugby League. In the second top league (the National League 1, Rugby League's equivalent of the championship) They are moving to Newcastle soon, seemingly. Just out of interest - if anyone is . . er . . interested!! (probably not)

Never done the tour. Do they allow you to take photos, wherever you are on the tour?

It is interesting that the very year that Abramovich bought Chelsea, the two clubs (Leeds and Chelsea) had almost IDENTICAL (amazingly identical figures) financial results (debts, losses etc). To all intents and purposes, they were in an identical financial position. They were both about to go the 'natural way' of all failing businesses. Then for Chelsea the Russian Loans started (look where they are now and since) while, for Leeds the Russian - or any other - loans did NOT arrive, and they are now in the 3rd Division ('League One', as it is now called!!). Just an interesting comparison, I thought. (ie - The difference a billionaire sugardaddy CAN make . . . )

Only a few years ago, the situation in this country was that we were part of a very comfortable 'Big Five' financially, with our turnover way ahead of the distant sixth club, which was usually Tottenham. It was a permament situation, for many years. Fifth (well ahead) in this country and between 9th and 11th in the world, I think it was. It is a pity that we have slipped almost as far financially and been overtaken by as many clubs financially, as we have on the playing field. It is going to be a long way back on both (linked) fronts. I hope Ashley is up to it (I am 'assuming' he WANTS to do it, from what Llambias has said this week)

We will never have anyone at this club, of his quality, again. Our owner has decided that the height of his ambition is mid-table mediocrity, if he is lucky. He speaks about us like that, I assume he thinks about us like that (both of these are from 'reports' as he does not actually speak to us at all) and if you read what many people on this board write, THEY too think that this is our rightful place (the best we can hope for). The days of sheer excitement at our 'potential to achieve' . . are over. The days of quality players wanting to come here and then coming here . . are over. I am not being pessimistic, just factual - as most on here seem to routinely acknowledge, particularly the younger ones who appear to accept and be 'happy with' our lot. Do one. I assume kindergaten was closed today because of the snow? It was actually as you well know. I assume that's why you're so pent up today. No opportunity to get your rocks off, right? Anyway... ignoring the melodramatic nature of your post... is it really necessary in here? Plenty of other threads on the state of the club. My post was in response to an earlier post, which you have not included here. Yes, it is appropriate to this thread as people need to realise (some cannot and some can, but seem to think it is 'ok') what a long-term state we are in. Because of the nature of our owner, management team and players, we no longer have any will (or expectation, or ability) to succeed. The facts are never (as you call it) 'melodramatic' - they are . . . er . . . the FACTS. I find it hard to accept these particular facts, but I realise I have to - why don't you? "We will never have anyone at this club, of his quality, again. " That is not a fact. It's melodramatic bollocks. Based on all available facts - it's bleedin' obvious. In the absence of a crystal ball (you got any?) all references to the future contain an element of conjecture, however, our future seems reasonably clear, based on facts available. Sady, only one word really applies to our beloved club now . . . MEDIOCRE. We need to accept that. deary me. Deary us all.

We will never have anyone at this club, of his quality, again. Our owner has decided that the height of his ambition is mid-table mediocrity, if he is lucky. He speaks about us like that, I assume he thinks about us like that (both of these are from 'reports' as he does not actually speak to us at all) and if you read what many people on this board write, THEY too think that this is our rightful place (the best we can hope for). The days of sheer excitement at our 'potential to achieve' . . are over. The days of quality players wanting to come here and then coming here . . are over. I am not being pessimistic, just factual - as most on here seem to routinely acknowledge, particularly the younger ones who appear to accept and be 'happy with' our lot. Do one. I assume kindergaten was closed today because of the snow? It was actually as you well know. I assume that's why you're so pent up today. No opportunity to get your rocks off, right? Anyway... ignoring the melodramatic nature of your post... is it really necessary in here? Plenty of other threads on the state of the club. My post was in response to an earlier post, which you have not included here. Yes, it is appropriate to this thread as people need to realise (some cannot and some can, but seem to think it is 'ok') what a long-term state we are in. Because of the nature of our owner, management team and players, we no longer have any will (or expectation, or ability) to succeed. The facts are never (as you call it) 'melodramatic' - they are . . . er . . . the FACTS. I find it hard to accept these particular facts, but I realise I have to - why don't you? "We will never have anyone at this club, of his quality, again. " That is not a fact. It's melodramatic bollocks. Based on all available facts - it's bleedin' obvious. In the absence of a crystal ball (you got any?) all references to the future contain an element of conjecture, however, our future seems reasonably clear, based on facts available. Sady, only one word really applies to our beloved club now . . . MEDIOCRE. We need to accept that.

We will never have anyone at this club, of his quality, again. Our owner has decided that the height of his ambition is mid-table mediocrity, if he is lucky. He speaks about us like that, I assume he thinks about us like that (both of these are from 'reports' as he does not actually speak to us at all) and if you read what many people on this board write, THEY too think that this is our rightful place (the best we can hope for). The days of sheer excitement at our 'potential to achieve' . . are over. The days of quality players wanting to come here and then coming here . . are over. I am not being pessimistic, just factual - as most on here seem to routinely acknowledge, particularly the younger ones who appear to accept and be 'happy with' our lot. Do one. I assume kindergaten was closed today because of the snow? It was actually as you well know. I assume that's why you're so pent up today. No opportunity to get your rocks off, right? Anyway... ignoring the melodramatic nature of your post... is it really necessary in here? Plenty of other threads on the state of the club. My post was in response to an earlier post, which you have not included here. Yes, it is appropriate to this thread as people need to realise (some cannot and some can, but seem to think it is 'ok') what a long-term state we are in. Because of the nature of our owner, management team and players, we no longer have any will (or expectation, or ability) to succeed. The facts are never (as you call it) 'melodramatic' - they are . . . er . . . the FACTS. I find it hard to accept these particular facts, but I realise I have to - why don't you? - and ok perhaps this subject is more appropriate to other threads, but a dose of realism doesn't do any thread any harm.

We will never have anyone at this club, of his quality, again. Our owner has decided that the height of his ambition is mid-table mediocrity, if he is lucky. He speaks about us like that, I assume he thinks about us like that (both of these are from 'reports' as he does not actually speak to us at all) and if you read what many people on this board write, THEY too think that this is our rightful place (the best we can hope for). The days of sheer excitement at our 'potential to achieve' . . are over. The days of quality players wanting to come here and then coming here . . are over. I am not being pessimistic, just factual - as most on here seem to routinely acknowledge, particularly the younger ones who appear to accept and be 'happy with' our lot. Do one. I assume kindergaten was closed today because of the snow?

We will never have anyone at this club, of his quality, again. Our owner has decided that the height of his ambition is mid-table mediocrity, if he is lucky. He speaks about us like that, I assume he thinks about us like that (both of these are from 'reports' as he does not actually speak to us at all) and if you read what many people on this board write, THEY too think that this is our rightful place (the best we can hope for). The days of sheer excitement at our 'potential to achieve' . . are over. The days of quality players wanting to come here and then coming here . . are over. I am not being pessimistic, just factual - as most on here seem to routinely acknowledge, particularly the younger ones who appear to accept and be 'happy with' our lot. I dunno. Give it 200 years we can get back up there. Is that what you really meant??

We will never have anyone at this club, of his quality, again. Our owner has decided that the height of his ambition is mid-table mediocrity, if he is lucky. He speaks about us like that, I assume he thinks about us like that (both of these are from 'reports' as he does not actually speak to us at all) and if you read what many people on this board write, THEY too think that this is our rightful place (the best we can hope for). The days of sheer excitement at our 'potential to achieve' . . are over. The days of quality players wanting to come here and then coming here . . are over. I am not being pessimistic, just factual - as most on here seem to routinely acknowledge, particularly the younger ones who appear to accept and be 'happy with' our lot.

Why on EARTH would we ever wait so long to try to do these sort of deals (whether they are half-decent players or not is another matter). What is wrong with January 1st or January 2nd? (rather than February 1st or February 2nd) The same reason it happens for everyone. It's the way the market works. No, that is an over-simplification. As with anything in life, the more capable get things sorted out sooner. Our club no longer possesses people of sufficient capability, which is obvious on the pitch, but is equally obvious through all levels of management and ownership. We are classic 'also-rans' (by design and intention, now) and I hear that the tea-lady is pretty crap too!