manorpark

I disagree over Spurs if they lose both Berbs and Keane. You can't get rid of the best facet of your team from the previous season and expect to progress. Spurs were in the relegation zone (the REAL relegation zone, not a late-season flirtation) for a large part of last season. They will be again, and could possibly be relegated. Just like last summer, they are being so frequently and so ridiculously "talked up" - so some people are (again) actually believing it!! The power of a dedicated LONDON-OBSESSED ("national") media . . .

I'm 26 (again, for the 2nd time) in December!

Where I live in North Newcastle, there were plenty of copies in our small newsagents this morning, so it looks like it will be available throughout the entire Newcastle/North East England, area. Surely, it should be available on-line though? Do we know for sure (yet) whether it is going to be available to buy online in the club shop, or not?

Now, Chris Waddle is saying that Keegan could 'walk out' by Christmas. What a load . . . http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/2008/08/09/newcastle-need-to-invest-100million-to-help-kevin-keegan-rebuild-the-side-115875-20690515/

SIR Booby, if you don't mind!

They can make the most innocent of events sound like a disaster! http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1042913/Keegan-dealt-blow-trusted-assistant-Cox-leaves-Newcastle.html

This thread is excellent!!! Great to read. I am "loving it" (as someone once said). I'm tempted to crack open a bottle of beer - so that I can join in (its a bit early, even for me) . . .

And so you should be. We've got the best manager this club has ever had. We knows us inside out, and he knows what it takes to deliver. All the off-field s*** means virtually nothing when it comes to organising 11 footballers and getting them to play in a fashion that entertains us lot. I'm looking forward to seeing us attack teams. Score goals. Maybe even lose a few 4-3s. f*** it. I'm going to enjoy this. You certainly sound 'determined' Dave!!

Well said mate! That is how I have always felt (for years!) and how I have always written and spoken to people. For the moment though, I will have to rely on you and a few others to write and speak for me . . .

Do you hear that? We're going to have FUN "well, woopeedoo"

Know you are taking the p*ss, but actions speak louder than words, all of them (KK included) at the club should remember that. There has been too many 'unsupported' (un-followed through) claims made by the club in the past - but also the negative stuff being said at the moment is equally unfortunate (and shouldn't be said). But - it is A C T I O N we need, not words.

Of course there's no way the current squad can get 4th on the face of it..... but its right to target it. We should be looking to compete for 5th place, we'll need a good run with injuries but the quality is there in the first 11 to challenge. Then you hope for Liverpool to implode, leaving one of the top 4 spots open. A club will break into the top 4 in the next season or 2, as history has shown though getting 4th is relatively easy - its repeating it and becoming established there that is difficult KK said after the last friendly that we were capable of finishing in the top 10. I think with the squad at it's current level that's probably realistic. "finishing in the top 10" - what an awful and truly PATHETIC thought. Embarassing. A 'joke'. But wait - it is probably the best we can hope for. My god, what a disaster we are. This is not a pessimist speaking, this is a life-long optimist speaking. "we should be able to finish in the top 10" - "well, woopeedoo" I know this is a pretty 'useless' post, which does not add or contribute to anything at all (sorry!) - but then we seem to be gradually evolving into a pretty useless club. If the cap fits . . .

Loads more CR*P . . . http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/2008/08/08/exclusive-mike-ashley-says-he-is-not-selling-newcastle-115875-20688781/ http://www.guardian-series.co.uk/sport/localsport/3579952.SPURS_TALK__Ramos_to_make_shock___12m_bid_for_Magpies_striker_/ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1042736/Keegan-Ashley-row-Everton-Smith.html http://www.newsnow.co.uk/h/Sport/Football/Premier+League/Newcastle+United

Yes - "theres only one Bobby Robson" at the Valencia game. Even if he's not there, he will hear about it. Makes you wish there was something we could do to stop this disease from doing what it is doing to him, but there isn't is there. He has had (and is having) a great life, he has done so much for people, Newcastle United, England, and so many others, but I feel so sad right now. Lets hope there is still a long time to go AND NO PAIN.

He was seen in a chip shop in Byker yesterday, in fact . . . That's s****. He was seen coming out of Cash Convertors! Fact* *oops shouldn't have said that, Anal Oliver will have it as an exclusive in the Ronnie tonight. What has he pawned his hair? Hey - THEN he went into the Chip Shop with his hair-money! - FACT! (he bought Hairdock and Chips) Yeah - I know (heading for the door . .)

He was seen in a chip shop in Byker yesterday, in fact . . . That's s****. He was seen coming out of Cash Convertors! Fact* *oops shouldn't have said that, Anal Oliver will have it as an exclusive in the Ronnie tonight. What has he pawned his hair? Hey - THEN he went into the Chip Shop with his hair-money! - FACT! (he bought Hairdock and Chips)

He was seen in a chip shop in Byker yesterday, in fact . . .

In the light of recent seasons performances, 5th could be seen as 'not a modest target'. But, 5th will always be a modest target, a pathetically awfully modest target, when judged against what (in all my years of supporting this club) I have come to expect their objectives to be - whether they have met those objectives or not. I know that these days it is fashionable ('cool' even) to talk about 'realism' and stuff like that, but accepting that 5th might be a realistic (even 'optimistic') target for us (after recent seasons) - it still remains, in the grand scheme of things, a VERY MODEST target (at best). What have we become??? So quickly we have become (and it is being readily accepted by many) just one of the small-time clubs. A club of no consequence. We have dedicated supporters who will argue against that statement - but so have Southend and Wigan (as examples). Are we closer to them now, than we are to teams above us? YES - if you speak to the 'cool realists' amongst us. My god - who finished 5th in 2002, 1991, 1987, 1958, 1944??? Who knows, and who cares!

The injury percentage is probably not going to get much better, as the season progresses. History tells me it is quite likely to get worse, if anything. We do not want to (just) increase the size of our squad, we want (need) to increase the size AND the quality levels. What we have now (fit or injured) is not of sufficient quality to mount a serious challenge, even for Keegans modest target of 5th, this season. That is what pre-season has made clear so far. We are likely to be in for one very tough season ahead. Very tough indeed.

Lets hope!

A quick trip to . . er . . . INDIA, perhaps??

And, if our 'esteemed negotiating team' of Wise, Jimeniez and whoever, are spending all their time on this one deal - what else are they (not) doing? I am not quick to worry . . . but I am starting to wonder a bit about the future . . . ? I can't see them spending all this time on one deal. Once everything is agreed its out of their hands and up to the medical staff. I think we'll see another 1 this week. Hope you are right!! I'm always right. You sound like my wife Though she admits to being wrong ONCE (and you can guess what occasion that was!)

And, if our 'esteemed negotiating team' of Wise, Jimeniez and whoever, are spending all their time on this one deal - what else are they (not) doing? I am not quick to worry . . . but I am starting to wonder a bit about the future . . . ? I can't see them spending all this time on one deal. Once everything is agreed its out of their hands and up to the medical staff. I think we'll see another 1 this week. Hope you are right!!

And, if our 'esteemed negotiating team' of Wise, Jimeniez and whoever, are spending all their time on this one deal - what else are they (not) doing? I am not quick to worry . . . but I am starting to wonder a bit about the future . . . ?

Have we actually got Coloccini then?