timnufc22

Ask SBR about that, and the game against Wolves in 2004. How false can you get, what a shambles.

FFS can you not get into prespective now how harmless Shepherd's Geordie Nation words are after the crap weve been through!! Bloody hell

It's not based on what he says though. We know for a fact that Souness wanted Anelka and Boa Morte, Souness practically baited Anelka as best as he could through the media. It was also clear that Souness favoured the 4-3-3 system, and wanted Anelka/Morte for that system. As for the Owen bid, that was clearly entirely Shepherd, and I can't see it being any other way. He wanted a big name, big money, long term replacement for Shearer, he wanted the best England had to offer, so he went for Rooney first and foremost, and when that failed, he used the same funds a year later to sign Owen. Souness by that time had been told Anelka was a no-go as Fenerbahce had rejected our no-doubt derisory bid. It was compeltely obvious at the time what happened here without any need for Souness' eventual confirmation of the undermining that occurred. In the press conference Souness said, very smugly, 'when I walked into the Chairmans office and handed him a piece of paper with Michael Owen written on he nearly fell off his seat, but we've done it & got him, and I'm absolutely delighted. Only a few players in the world could replace Shearer and he's one of them'. Granted he might just be saying that, but it hardly looked like he was saying it through gritted teeth. Dont get me wrong I am suspicious about the Boa Morte/Anelka deals and why they didnt happen, what was Shepherd doing etc. Although I agree with Shepherd that everyone was chuffed when we signed him, we had already bought midfielders aswell to supply him.

So you were impressed. Now what benefit did that bring the club? It sent a message out to the players that pathetic, unproffesional crap like that from Barton is unacceptable especially in the situation we were in. It showed theres a line you dont cross, and letting everyone down in that manner is crossing it. You can say all you like about performances, hiding, not showing etc, but that was such a massive 2 fingers up at his team mates, manager and fans. He was our best player that game until he made that stupid tackle, please don't make out he planned this just to be a t*** to everyone. No, what Im saying is he let his temper (for the millionth time) get to him and let that be put ahead of his team mates, fans and manager. His first game back, and his millionth chance, and he still does that. I agree he was our best player, but unfortunately it seems that a Joey Barton performance isnt without stupidy in amongst it, so in the end it was a terrible performance. I know what your saying, if I was manager I'd love to try and get inside his head and channel that aggression in a positive way. I'd say he needs to sort his head out as a person and come back to football.

So you were impressed. Now what benefit did that bring the club? It sent a message out to the players that pathetic, unproffesional crap like that from Barton is unacceptable especially in the situation we were in. It showed theres a line you dont cross, and letting everyone down in that manner is crossing it. You can say all you like about performances, hiding, not showing etc, but that was such a massive 2 fingers up at his team mates, manager and fans.

Ambition it is for me.

The quote in bold is yet another example of HTL's selective memory to suit his own agenda where he fails to remind us that Freddie Shepherd massively undermined SBR when he made it public in the summer of 2004 that 2004/05 would be Bobby's last season as manager at the club, and bearing in mind the "characters" we had at the club at that time the implications of Shepherd's decision were always going to be dyer, sorry dire. Chapter 20 of SBR's autobiography is entitled "Undermined" just to underline the point. IMO this is the most damning single example of Freddie Shepherd's mismanagement of the club, the fact is that we have never recovered from that decision, and is a major reason why I never want Shepherd in a position of authority at the club again. jimmymac Certain players are mainly at fault for the undermining of Robson. Why do you think the Board (and fans) began to question the ability of Robson to take the club any further, daft lad? I'd personally have Shepherd back, and I agree with a lot of what you say about him, but to be fair he did sell Gary Speed behind Robsons back, stupidly announced it was his last year, critisised some of his buys, and Robson basically says he wasnt supported much at that time before he was sacked.

The defence is good, the rest of the team is pathetic and I hope this post is a wind-up Thats just a rough idea of a team - are you telling me you would not want Taarabt or De Ridder? Are they players who would be pathetic? Imo they'd blatently be good players to be in for, do you know we're in the championship? We need hungry younger players, Butt might actually be useful with legs around him at breaking up the play, though granted a proper replacement would be best.

----------------------------- Harper---------------------------- Beye---------------Taylor---------Bassong------------Enrique De Ridder-----------Butt------Taarabt-------------Commons -------------------Ranger/Lualua------Carroll------------------- (If not Viduka on a pay as you play) Jack Wilshire & Darron Gibson on loan.

Gibson, Wilshere on loan & Taarabt if not a purchase are quality options, and deals like that would help improve us loads. Add to that signings such as De Ridder, Gera, Commons, Dyer (tho he might be off to swansea now), Giles Barnes, then bring on the likes of Ranger, LuaLua, Vuckic, Kadar and the possibilites of us having a good, improved team this season are there to see.

It could mean he could leave unfortunately. But I'd try and shift Collocini, Nnolan, Jonas, Smith, Geremi, Barton, Martins, Amoebi & release people like Owen & Cacapa first and as soon as possible, which could mean he could stay.

One of the players I'd keep.

Exactly, its there to do, I dont see why people should be so pessemistic considering a lot of the players mentioned would potentally come to us ahead of a lot of clubs, just need to sort out Shearer bieng here.

How about this as your team: Carroll LuaLua Taarabt Butt/Guthrie De Ridder Gera Enrique Taylor Edgar/Bassong Beye Throw in possiblities of Giles Barnes and Darron Gibson & Jack Wilshire on loan, then the answers yes. Why not? Damn right its a challenge, but a challenge there to do and win.

Ridulous fee (even if they werent in admin) + no manager + a team of players to shift first = non story How do you know we aren't on the verge of selling players? I'd say Daniel De Ridder from Wigan would be a tidy shout. Yes, definetely one I was thinking of. Adel Taarabet Zoltan Gera Darren Gibson (loan) ? Jack Wilshire (loan) ? Not sure what the situation is with Giles Barnes at Fulham, but they dont want him...

The basis of what we could have is actually not that bad, if we keep players like Duff, Butt, Guthrie, I'd maybe ask Viduka about a pay as you play contract, S Taylor, Beye, Enrique, I'd keep R Taylor too, add the talented youngsters we have to the mix, some senior signings, and loan singings too, then we have a good team.

This. We really need to get momentum going. We must set our standards high, and the fans need to take advantage of SJP being in the Championship. Theres no other ground like it there, and no other ground with the potential hostility we could have. The fans need to be as loud as anything and highlight any mistakes from the opposition. Yes it a challenge ahead, but we can get in the top 2.

If shearer stays, i ahve doubts about his know how for the championship, but absolutely no doubt, he will find players that give a s***. I think we can hope for much better attitudes, attitudes that involve wanting to play for the club and Shearer more than the current players, and not just the money. Dowie has the experience of not only the championship, but getting promoted too. He will be very important if they stay. We need to get momentum going, and keep building and building on that momentum, and the fans are involved in that too. Everyone at the club needs a ruthless determination.

I'd get rid of: Cacapa Collocini Barton Nolan Geremi Smith Jonas Ameobi Owen Martins Xisco I'd ask Viduka to stay on a pay as you play contract. Keep Bassong if we can, but most likely he will leave. Which would leave us with: ----------------------------- Viduka ------ LuaLua -------------------------------- ------------------------------Carrol--------Ranger--------------------------------- ?-----------------------------Butt----------?-------------------------------Guthrie Duff---------------------------?-----------Guthrie------------------------LuaLua Enrique--------------------S.Taylor-----Edgar--------------------------Beye Duff--------------------------?-------------Beye------------------------R. Taylor ------------------------------------Harper----------------------------------------- -------------------------------------Kruhl----------------------------------------- Yes, Butt's legs have gone. And I wouldnt look to start him every game, but he would be a strong character to have in this difficult time, and could do a decent job at times imo. Lee Carsley was important for Birmingham this year. The defence and attack would have promosing basis' imo, obviously midfield would need the most surgery. I think we can do it, get some pace in, and players like Gibson from Man U on loan could be good moves imo, Brunt from West Brom? Whether he'd come is a question I know. We would release a lot of money from the wage bill, and its a challenge, but one that can be won.

Aye, and loan players too, Gibson from Man U?

Shepherd?

the consortium didnt do bad for Niall Quinn at sunderland? I dont trust Ashley will be able to supply the funds needed to get us out of this league. Like others, part of me thinks 'stability & surley he's learnt from his mistakes'. But has he really? Theres a long list that never made him learn before.

WHAT A BRIALLIANT 'SYSTEM/SET UP' THAT WAS Or something highlighting the stupid system in place at the start of the season, the one that totally failed in the window, the one that we then choose over Kevin Keegan, & the one thats so good has been ditched before the end of the season!

If Ashley had shown a bit of backbone and some leadership after Keegan left, the protests would probably have been quelled quite quickly. The silence that followed then that stupid fact statement just inflamed things. Exactly, while I take and understand the point, the reaction came about not only because Keegan left in the circumstances he did, but also because of the silence from the club. Ashley could have come out before the Hull game with a statement in reaction to Keegan leaving. A statement similar to the one he released when selling the club; re-enforcing his vision for the club, but also explaining things like Wise's role in more detail. People wouldn’t have gone as nuclear if this had happened. There was nothing apart from the 'FACT' statement, which had no name to it. It was crazy; anger was allowed to build up during that week because zero leadership was shown by the people at the club. There were allegations of foul play towards a legelnd of the club & during that time there was no communication from anyone at the club. But again, he still had the chance to attempt to sort the managerial side of things as soon as he announced the club was off the market - and when things had died down.

Aye, this.