manorpark

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?

OOps, have just seen this has its own thread - but then again, it should be IN HERE in this thread, also!! Its so utterly ridiculous, it deserves to be posted in 2 threads. Just added a comment to the NOTW page commenting that the report has not 1 single comment or quote. Lets see if the moderator posts it Why wouldn't it be posted? Its true!! Actually - thinking about it - I suppose that IS the reason why it WOULDN'T be posted!!!

OOps, have just seen this has its own thread - but then again, it should be IN HERE in this thread, also!! Its so utterly ridiculous, it deserves to be posted in 2 threads. Just added a comment to the NOTW page commenting that the report has not 1 single comment or quote. Lets see if the moderator posts it Why wouldn't it be posted? Its true!!

OOps, have just seen this has its own thread - but then again, it should be IN HERE in this thread, also!!

Here we go again!! http://blogs.notw.co.uk/sport/2008/08/260m-newcastle.html

I know it's a free country, but what you have written is a load of rubbish!! You appear to have no notion whatsoever of what it is like to be a "dedicated / obsessed / realistic / delightfully unrealistic / dreaming / hoping-against-hope" Newcastle United supporter. You would not last five minutes in the good company that I have kept for nearly 40 years of going to the match!! Nothing against accountants (I know some) but are you an accountant? I would not last 5 minutes, how's that like, you going to crush us under your scintilating wit and piss-taking banter and call us an accountant? No, i'm not but i do travel 1500km 10-15 times a season and spend about 3k doing it to see matches. You think i dont know blind optimism with that investment and level of effort? Its a 2 day round trip for me to go and see the match. That doesnt mean i have to take on the manner of a spoilt 5 year old because things arent going the way i want them to. Thats life. You talk about blind faith and yet you're jacking it in? And i'm talking s****? To be fair, i don't think manorpark was talking about jacking it in. Chez - I did specifically say thet I was NOT jacking it in!!! I am only trying to reflect what I find to be the 'majority views' of my own circle, which (as said) covers a lot of ages and types . . . even accountants, who are LOVELY people . . .

I know it's a free country, but what you have written is a load of rubbish!! You appear to have no notion whatsoever of what it is like to be a "dedicated / obsessed / realistic / delightfully unrealistic / dreaming / hoping-against-hope" Newcastle United supporter. You would not last five minutes in the good company that I have kept for nearly 40 years of going to the match!! Nothing against accountants (I know some) but are you an accountant?

Great post. I think you've summed up precisely how I feel about things at the club there - except I won't be getting a season ticket because I simply can't afford it. I can't even afford a Sky subscription anymore. In a weird way, the lack of transfer activity is a kinda relief for me, because it means not being able to afford it all right now is made just a little bit easier to take. That said it goes without saying I'd love to see Ashley step it up and just go mental in the transfer market a la Abramovic in his first summer as Chelsea owner - but let's be frank here...the credit crunch (or at least the general economic environment right now) may be part of the reason why Ashley's being a bit more circumspect in his dealings thus far. It's frustrating, sure...but it's understandable on one level as well. Season ticket holders who stick at it through thick and thin, whilst laudable for their loyalty, may well be doing so to the detriment of their families wellbeing, and I just cannot fathom that. Following other views (Credit Crunch, etc) I have just done a fair bit of 'ringing around' this morning, before commenting further. The Keegan 'we are 2nd rate' outburst has had the most impact - far and away the most, with the 'low profile / buying unknowns if any' transfers situation a close second. Combined, they are why a surprisingly large number of really life-long fans of all ages, are 'losing a bit of interest'. This is then, sometimes, being reflected in them not buying or renewing season tickets. The 'credit crunch' type issues are not having too much impact, as the type of die-hard/always go to every match person I know, has ALWAYS deprived himself (not the family) of pretty much everything else to get to the match anyway - they are just working a bit harder at it!! So, amongst my circle of 'football mates' (which is quite diverse in types and ages) the Keegan outburst is the killer, followed by the ongoing (at this point in time) low-grade transfer activity.

Firstly, I am not talking about any 'financial realities' - I am talking about peoples feelings and how this has affected their decisions whether to renew season tickets or not. Secondly, if you bring the separate issue of financial reality into it, the club has been part of a (far out on their own) "group of five" huge turnover clubs in the UK for over 10 long years. Now, we have been caught and are 6th in the UK in terms of income (the huge gap between 5th and 6th has now been eroded) BUT - this has been counterbalanced by the fact that we for the first time have a billionaire owner!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! There should be no 'financial realities' (still large income PLUS billionaire owners top-ups) that should hold us back - quite the reverse. BUT - that was not what I was talking about.

Amongst the people I know, there seems to be two main reasons why many are not renewing their tickets, and why no-one who doesn't already have a season ticket are even thinking of getting one . . . (1) Many have had the 'stuffing' knocked out of them by Keegan officially and formally declaring (whether we 'suspected' it already or not) that we are a "second rank" club, and can only compete for 5th spot in the league, at the most. The "official" lowering of our status from only a short while ago, has finished many people. IN SHORT - PEOPLE FEEL AWFUL AT BEING TOLD THEY ARE SECOND CLASS. (2) We were bought by a billionaire (to take us into the big league again, as you need to be owned by a billionaire these days to really be able to afford to compete) and then he refuses to spend the money needed to compete. This seems to be a 'bizarre contradiction' to most of my friends. People know he has paid off a lot of club debt, but to only buy a couple of 'unknowns' (to date) and only be linked with other similar level players (and to probably not even get them) is very demoralising. IN SHORT - PEOPLE FEEL LET DOWN THAT WE ARE THINKING SO VERY SMALL IN THE TRANSFER MARKET. OK, those are the prevailing views around my part of Newcastle and amongst the lifelong supporters that I know. ME? I feel most of what they feel, and that I have tried to reflect above . . . but I have had a season ticket since 1969 (the season after we won the European Fairs Cup . . . glory-hunter that I am!!) - and I am not giving up now!

Same for me - just gone out today for the year to July 2009 - £11.99.

This is exactly the same as all last summer - Tottenham included at the top in predictions. whereas I said they would be down near the bottom. They were down at the very bottom for much of last season, and just reached mid-table by the end. They did as pathetically as we did. This coming season they will - as ever - be down at the bottom. Their two "blip" seasons that ended in 5th are a distant memory. Don't suppose that will stop some including them at the top again though!!!!!!!!!!

As suggested!! http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/transfers/ferdinand-the-latest-big-name-to-snub-newcastle-868588.html

Latest load of ***** http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1034491/United-Red-alert-Toon-tell-Owen-accept-30k-week-pay-slash.html

Sanity at last. Having lived down there for many years, I know EXACTLY what their local rag is like. It is a local rag, and no matter which "locality" it serves (and you guys seem to think that makes a difference . . . ) it is still just that - a local rag. No, it is more than that - it is one of the worst (most boring) local rags I have seen anywhere. I know that it is fashionable on here to 'knock' the Evening Chronicle - but believe me (or don't!) but most local papers are FAR worse than the Chronicle. The Newcastle Evening Chronicle is a success. It is well liked (loved even) by many, and it serves a duel role as a Newcastle paper and as the only regional (Evening) paper for North Eastern England. (IE, it covers the entire region). It also sells a lot of copies (which would not happen if it was not liked). It is, as you say, indeed a direct contrast to the London Evening Standard. Gosh your blowing our minds with you local London knowledge. Thank You Parky, I normally only blow women's minds with my local knowledge . . . I have escaped from the sh*th*le some years ago though and am now living in civilisation.

Sanity at last. Having lived down there for many years, I know EXACTLY what their local rag is like. It is a local rag, and no matter which "locality" it serves (and you guys seem to think that makes a difference . . . ) it is still just that - a local rag. No, it is more than that - it is one of the worst (most boring) local rags I have seen anywhere. I know that it is fashionable on here to 'knock' the Evening Chronicle - but believe me (or don't!) but most local papers are FAR worse than the Chronicle. The Newcastle Evening Chronicle is a success. It is well liked (loved even) by many, and it serves a duel role as a Newcastle paper and as the only regional (Evening) paper for North Eastern England. (IE, it covers the entire region). It also sells a lot of copies (which would not happen if it was not liked). It is, as you say, indeed a direct contrast to the London Evening Standard.

Exactly. Its nice when people agree with you isn't it. Having said that, your previous post ("If we finish sixth I'd expect us to progress from there. That's not accepting mediocrity") is a major improvement over implying that people who did not agree with you were "expecting to win the league." I think we all want what is best for the club, it is just that some people write like leonard Cohen (you need to be 'of a certain age'!!) on here, much of the time!