manorpark

That beggars belief. We have no national media in this country. We have a parochial London-based (and London-obsessed) media, broadcast nationally. Just look at the London-based "hype" of poor little Tottingham!!! In that local-London world (broadcast/written nationally) we will always have rubbish routinely written about us. There is no hope of it ever changing. This country will never get a National Press/Media. Never.

He is a most entertaining and 'infectious' talker.

Lets wait and see if anything happens. And if something happens, lets hope it was (really) worth waiting for. When I was a little boy, I used to believe in heroes. I used to believe what they said, as much as what they did. I have grown up since then.

I agree, he is not presenting 'spin' and he is (as ever) likeable.

Got to say I thought the opposite, that KK looks as enthusiastic and lively as I've seen him in the last few years. Yes, he has extra experience and that might have added a bit of realism/maturity, but that can only be a good thing. If he can continue to push for positive moves and the right players, while being pragmatic enough to realise he might not always get them, he'll be a great asset to the club for a long time to come. I believe in KK. He usually (not always) says the right thing, and he says it very well. He does a convincing and effective job. He is good at interviews.

Cuckoo...cuckoo...cuckoo... Helpful. This better? http://www.northumberlandlife.org/morpethmentalhealth/ Thanks for telling me about where you live, now try and show me the treatment worked, and come up with a calm and structured response to my comments, if you disagree with them. Lights out a 8pm...but don't worry, you can scream and bang your head as much as you want. OK

Cuckoo...cuckoo...cuckoo... Helpful. This better? http://www.northumberlandlife.org/morpethmentalhealth/ Thanks for telling me about where you live, now try and show me the treatment worked, and come up with a calm and structured response to my comments, if you disagree with them.

Cuckoo...cuckoo...cuckoo... Helpful.

Just watched the below Keegan interview. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/7588360.stm He looks relaxed, but he is such a long way from the positive 'fighting-fit' guy he used to be. He is like a prizefighter who is past his very best. He still (you can see) expects to WIN some fights, but he is gradually getting used to losing an increasing number. His world seems to have got smaller and he is more content with his lot than before. Yes, I think he is going to do very well for us - within his new, more limited, horizons. I'm not so sure he is the long-term answer though, if (am I allowed to say this on here?) we are ever going to compete at the top end of the league again.

Oh my god - "B I D S" . . . (or even more accurately - "reported bids"). How many times does THAT need to be pointed out? Fine then, lets look at facts. Coloccini for a reported 9m going up to 10.3m - also reported to have signed the 'contract of his life'. True, the Modric bid (I'll forget the Aimer & Inler ones because as Dave said, could be wrong) was made before any players were sold. In the end the deal didn't come off but it shows that the money is there for players of the right calibre. Gutierrez had an original asking price of 10m but we got around the via a loophole, but I imagine we still had to pay a few to get him in. There's a difference between 'selling to buy' and simply getting rid of players that are no good for us. How do you know (or 'imagine') that a Coloccini purchase would have been funded, if we had got (say) Modric? Also, I don't think Keegan would agree with any of you "Milner haters" on here ("no good for us" !!!!) I don't agree with you either. I also asked if you thought it would just be a 'mere coincidence' if Ashley actually spends some money RIGHT NOW? Well? Have you ever thought that we might not have budgeted to buy another RM, and therefore we need the money from his transfer before we can buy a replacement. er . . . is that not my point !!!!!!!!!! No it wasn't you mong, your point was that you think this means we have to sell to buy. His point is that we have to buy because we've sold.. not the same thing. Oh that hurts!! I am not even gonna reply to this . . Woops, too late (sort of) . . .

Thanks, because I have never questioned his integrity.

So basically you're questioning his integrity, given that he's not once said he has a problem with how things are set up? This thread is supposed to be about 'having faith in Kevin Keegan'. I imagine that this is premised on the fact that (to us, and I include me in that) KK became a GOD in the past at this club. I am saying that we should all remember that (for the various reasons I mentioned, but mainly the one you quoted) he is not the same KK we had here previously. Also (as I'm sure you know from your own life-experiences, not just in football) the clearest messages are often those that are not spelt out in plain English . . .

LOUDER, than, speak, words, A C T I O N S. (comes to mind) particularly . . . A C T I O N S . . . So why don't you wait until the window is over before you f***ing moan? Give them a chance to act before you start the ridiculously hyperbolic whining. Remember, we just took a point from the Champions of Europe and England in their house two weeks ago. Results matter more than names. What an amazing collection of words. Particular gems include - "give them a chance to act". We should aim to get new players in for pre-season training, not in time for a pre-match cup of tea on the day of the 4th match of the season!!! As for "f***ing moan". It is time you realised that to analyse what is happening and to (simply) not praise-it-all-to-the-high-heavens, but to actually tell the truth . . . is not the same as "f***ing moaning". I know when it comes to football and your own club in particular, it is difficult for some to get real. But, get real. LOL, well put Manor, anyone not buying in completely gets this s*** thrown at them all the time on here, good to see someone giving as good as he gets. Its a hard job at times - but someones gotta do it! Thanks for the comments.

He is also a totally different person to the Keegan of old. He is older and less dynamic (and less well known around the world). But mainly . . . He is not free to do what he wants under Ashley & co, to the extent that he was under SJH. So, effectively, he is not the same Keegan. (Still good mind!)

See, it's obvious that Keegan says what serves the purpose of the moment. Everton was sniffing around Smith - suddenly Smith is a fantastic part of the dressingroom, would never sell him. Same goes for Milner - the last player I'd sell. Blah blah blah. So why do we believe these quotes? Once again, Keegan is just saying what needs to be said. It's equivocal enough that he can back out of it if the signings don't come and it makes him look like the one calling the shots. Gloating, for those so inclined, can wait until Tuesday. What is the point of 'gloating'? We all want the same things, but some on here are more prepared than others to see the faults and limited-abilities (and to say so) of some of those who are responsible for providing us with those things. It is called 'honesty'.

We don't have to go off the quotes and just follow like a sheep, things are changing on a regular basis and most of the changes are for the better. If people deliver then what they say should be taken seriously. I agree 100% with your last sentence.

LOUDER, than, speak, words, A C T I O N S. (comes to mind) particularly . . . A C T I O N S . . . So why don't you wait until the window is over before you f***ing moan? Give them a chance to act before you start the ridiculously hyperbolic whining. Remember, we just took a point from the Champions of Europe and England in their house two weeks ago. Results matter more than names. What an amazing collection of words. Particular gems include - "give them a chance to act". We should aim to get new players in for pre-season training, not in time for a pre-match cup of tea on the day of the 4th match of the season!!! As for "f***ing moan". It is time you realised that to analyse what is happening and to (simply) not praise-it-all-to-the-high-heavens, but to actually tell the truth . . . is not the same as "f***ing moaning". I know when it comes to football and your own club in particular, it is difficult for some to get real. But, get real.

I hope that the expenditure is not just the 'handy' Milner-sale money.

The head in the sand comment goes both ways, Keegan and Ashley seem to be giving out a message which seems to go unnoticed by some and the quality we've brought in so far supports Keegan and Ashley. The Keegan & Ashley quotes are not going unnoticed by some of us - they are not always taken at face value though. When someone at the 'top' of an organisation says something, it is best to take some time out to think . . . "why are they really saying that?". The answers are not always what we want (and are intended) to believe.

LOUDER, than, speak, words, A C T I O N S. (comes to mind) particularly . . . A C T I O N S . . . Agreed. So just wait it out. I agree, and like many of us, I have great faith in KK - but we should all be aware that this in not the same KK that we got to know years ago. NOT because he is older and slightly less dynamic (which he is) it is because he is not the "free KK" he was under SJH. There are a lot more constraints and limitations on his actions now - at least there would appear to be (I say that because I don't have a 'mole' at SJP, only one on my . . . ) which will prevent him from doing everything he wants now.

LOUDER, than, speak, words, A C T I O N S. (comes to mind) particularly . . . A C T I O N S . . .

Such 'sweeping generalisations' from the head-in-the-sand types (wooops!!!)

Oh my god - "B I D S" . . . (or even more accurately - "reported bids"). How many times does THAT need to be pointed out? Fine then, lets look at facts. Coloccini for a reported 9m going up to 10.3m - also reported to have signed the 'contract of his life'. True, the Modric bid (I'll forget the Aimer & Inler ones because as Dave said, could be wrong) was made before any players were sold. In the end the deal didn't come off but it shows that the money is there for players of the right calibre. Gutierrez had an original asking price of 10m but we got around the via a loophole, but I imagine we still had to pay a few to get him in. There's a difference between 'selling to buy' and simply getting rid of players that are no good for us. How do you know (or 'imagine') that a Coloccini purchase would have been funded, if we had got (say) Modric? Also, I don't think Keegan would agree with any of you "Milner haters" on here ("no good for us" !!!!) I don't agree with you either. I also asked if you thought it would just be a 'mere coincidence' if Ashley actually spends some money RIGHT NOW? Well? I'd rather we spent money now than didn't spend any just to prove you and your ridiculous theory wrong. There have been reports of us going for specific players all summer, with either agents or players themselves saying about interest - some I'll take with a pinch of salt but I wouldn't be surprised if some had truth in them. I honestly don't think that the club has been sat about hoping for the likes of James Milner to be sold just so we can buy some players. Coloccini negotiations were started 3 months before he signed and Modric nearly signed in May I believe. Ashley has come out and said how he feels about the club but you clearly haven't read it or decided to simply disregard it because it doesn't fit in with your opinion. Keegan has said about the type of players we want - need even. It's the easiest thing in the world to go out and splash £10m here and there for players, that's how we ended up with Luque and Boumsong. I'm curious where you got the 'Milner Hater' thing from as I've never really slagged him off or wanted him out. I do think that £12m is way too good to turn down though assuming he can be replaced. For a player his age and with his experience he just hasn't moved up the level required for me, he has little pace struggles to cross. I think we can get better and hope we do. Wasn't meaning specifically YOU by the 'Milner Hater' thing - sorry if it read like that. There are a LOT on here who are though! You do make a fair few 'broad brush' statements about my opinions and how I form them. None of them are true, by the way. I am simply observing a disjointed organisation, failing to 'achieve' in the manner that it should be capable of achieving. Naturally (as this organisation is one that I personally care about) I am WORRIED. Fair play about the Milner craic - same with any of our players I guess. Some go too far, you're right there. On the topic of a disjointed organisation, you could seriously be talking about any premiership club outside of the top 4 really. Tottenham, City and Villa are the only teams that have really strengthened but all of their fans are still dropping bricks - Spurs, especially. I'd much rather we'd have done alot more to improve the first team squad but I think the issue is less with having no money to spend and simply just not being able to get the type of quality that we're after through the doors which is somewhat understandable given the last few seasons of managers, finishes and performances in general. On the whole though, I am happy. We've gotten rid of players that never played or reached their potential - like Carr, Emre and Ramage and replaced them with players that have already shown a marked improvement on the first team squad. Some of the passing and confidence that we've shown against ManUtd, Bolton to a smaller extent and Coventry shows that changes are in place - and we're scoring goals with an unfit Michael Owen which fills me with loads of confidence. I think that even if we had signed more quality, we'd still be in for a hit and miss season hopefully leading to a marked improvement and I feel that we may get a few more names through the door but if we don't I'm confident that we'll do good enough until January. Look what Keegan did at the end of last season with the players he had - that alone gives me faith. I'm not really panicing and if we don't sign anyone else I'll be a bit disappointed but not worried, I'll just go along for the ride because for the first time since Sir Bobby Robson, I trust the manager of the club. You make a lot of good points. Whether the good things you mention are 'enough', and WHY much. much more is not being done - I do not know! We should not be the disjointed mess we are - there is no logical reason for us to be like this.

Go check yourself into a clinic for the terminally depressed then before you transmit your doom and gloom to others please. Before I go - I have a lovely beachside property for sale, with its own sandy beach. Its yours if you want it - bring your own spade . . . or do you want me to dig the head-shaped hole for you?

Oh my god - "B I D S" . . . (or even more accurately - "reported bids"). How many times does THAT need to be pointed out? Fine then, lets look at facts. Coloccini for a reported 9m going up to 10.3m - also reported to have signed the 'contract of his life'. True, the Modric bid (I'll forget the Aimer & Inler ones because as Dave said, could be wrong) was made before any players were sold. In the end the deal didn't come off but it shows that the money is there for players of the right calibre. Gutierrez had an original asking price of 10m but we got around the via a loophole, but I imagine we still had to pay a few to get him in. There's a difference between 'selling to buy' and simply getting rid of players that are no good for us. How do you know (or 'imagine') that a Coloccini purchase would have been funded, if we had got (say) Modric? Also, I don't think Keegan would agree with any of you "Milner haters" on here ("no good for us" !!!!) I don't agree with you either. I also asked if you thought it would just be a 'mere coincidence' if Ashley actually spends some money RIGHT NOW? Well? Have you ever thought that we might not have budgeted to buy another RM, and therefore we need the money from his transfer before we can buy a replacement. er . . . is that not my point !!!!!!!!!! Eh? We had (in Keegans opinion) a strong pool of wingers and therefore wasn't looking to buy another one. Milner leaves so Keegan decides he does now need one. Ashley sanctions the move. This is not selling to buy. This is replacing a player who wanted to leave* *If you hand a transfer request in you want to leave, bollocks to the looking for a pay rise crap Buying when you have sold, when you probably (I said "probably") were not going to buy - irrespective of how the sale originated - is not the sign of a proactive club going forward. I am still STUPID enough to think we should be accumulating good players and moving forward - not taking one step forward and one step backward (in whatever order) . . .