dustynrg

The thing that Sky don't realise is that they are encouraging a whole generation to support Man U and the like and in 20 years time the top 4 could be playing each other 20 times a season, like what happens in Scotland. There'll be a top 4 mini league and the rest. I never forget the woman who phoned 606 on one of the rare occasions when Man U lost at home and she declared in a Surrey accent, "I didn't buy my season ticket at Old Trafford to see them LOSE!" What's the betting a few of the muppets will be phoning these talk shows complaining how boring it is they're only winning 1-0 these days? It would be fairer (and more exciting) if the German system came in - no debts allowed at all by any club, and therefore no club has a monopoly of 30 million buys like Man U and Chelsea etc. The leaders in the German League change every year and that's the reason.

I love Arsene Wenger and would be delighted if he even thought about taking the job with us. He's a fantastic manager with a huge amount of integrity, and after all he's JFK's best friend and neighbour What I'd be asking if I was him would be how come Ronaldo TWICE kicked someone after the event and didn''t even get booked a few weeks back? And nothing was done by the FA at all. At that time the ex footballer punditry type Manc lovers were saying "oh well that's football". Now it's the biggest crime in the world.

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That was Harper. Obviously my memory's going as well as Shay.

Shame he was like a statue ten days ago when new team mate Bellamy beat him - as just seen in the goal of the month comp. (Not that he would do it on purpose like). :-[

If Portsmouth v LIverpool is 0 0 there'll be 20 minutes of their game and 15 minute chat about Rafa bla bla and Adams bla bla, then there'll be 3 minutes of our game.

Just noticed that!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1138467/Hot-shot-Taylor-proves-instant-hit-Newcastle.html?ITO=1490 Fewer players can have been welcomed into a new dressing room quite like Newcastle's final transfer window signing Ryan Taylor. The England Under 21 international scored only six goals for Wigan, the club he left this week, but four were against Newcastle, including the sweetly-struck free-kick which won the Boxing Day clash between the teams. 'I got a bit of stick from the lads when I walked in because they said I only came here to stop scoring goals against them,' said Taylor. 'But I've no idea why it happened. It wasn't a case of it's Newcastle and I'm going to score. It was just a fluke.' Boss Joe Kinnear needed bodies and Taylor, out of contract at the end of the season and with negotiations stalling, was an ideal addition as a utility man who can cover the many areas where Newcastle have been weak this season. On top of that, Kinnear offloaded Charles N'Zogbia and Taylor feels he has got the better end of a deal, which also cost Wigan an additional £6million. Wigan may be well clear of the relegation battle that lies ahead for Newcastle but Taylor is convinced he has joined a squad more than capable of pulling away from the drop zone. 'I would say I have made a better move than Charles N'Zogbia,' he said. 'It's a step up. Overall, there is a huge difference in terms of size between the clubs, and with the players we have here it is just as good a squad as Wigan have got. 'This is a massive club with a huge fan base and a fantastic squad. I feel very fortunate to be part of it.'

Surely the only thing it can be is that he was made to put in a transfer request, therefore depriving him of money. Unless they made him scrub the bogs with a toothbrush before he left for Manchester like.

Never mind, we beat them again only six weeks ago.

I don't think it is money, he wants to be at a club that has a better chance of winning a trophy than Newcastle. Said it in that video interview. No real reason to doubt him tbf. Ah but if you think all be it from a cynical point of view, if he blames Ashley and Co he has that perfect get out, the fans will love him more as he's having a go at public enemy number 1. I'm not saying that either side is right, or that Given is lying, but I would not be surprised if he just went for the money and the change. He's human, if anyone offers you twice the salary you're getting (as they have - allegedly) you'd jump ship from anywhere, well I would, I don't know anyone who wouldn't (Shearer?). But you're not going to say - bye I'm off for more money. He and his agent or lawyer or whoever it is have played a very good game, but Shay do us a favour and stop bleating about having to put in a transfer request. The whole thing with him and N'Zogbia shows to me how out of touch footballers are with the fans, moaning about having to put in a transfer request when a lot of people are worried about having a job, and the other one moaning about mispronouncing his name when most fans would give their eye teeth to be playing professional football at all.

Wor lass had 8 inches this morning and she's still on. Where were you at the time? :colo:

Will it be on? Birmingham had 8 inches of snow this morning apparently.

Anyone seen the thread on the Man City forum site where someone knew back in November that Shay was going to Man City? He had been approached and was very interested then according to them. That was weeks before the Liverpool game. As for this being "loyal" business, I'd be "loyal" for 11 years if someone paid me £40k a week (or whatever it was) and no "big" club came in for me until Man City offered him twice the wages. The way people go on you'd think he'd been rewarded nowt for his services over the years. Now he''s moaning because he had to put in a transfer request? Sorry but I feel more sorry for the fans who are losing their jobs every day of the week and have to feed a family on not very much. Sympathy for football players should be reserved for us long suffering fans. Aye he's done a good job, aye he's fed up with the present regime, but now he's at another club he should just get on with it and leave us behind.

Funny I was saying the same about Harper's distribution on Sunday, it was good, instead of just hoofing it upfield and hoping for the best like Shay increasingly tended to do. I think the master of the goalie distribution is David James, shame about his bloopers.

A Portugese site says we're after Veloso after selling Shay. http://www.correiomanha.pt/noticia.aspx?contentid=E1080D95-E420-4148-BB4C-BFB6CF7A9E82&channelid=00000214-0000-0000-0000-000000000214 Second story down. At least I think that's what it says.

Shay probably would have wanted a testimonial to go to the McMillan Cancer fund and the Shay Given Foundation anyway. He does loads of work for McMillan, cos his mam died of cancer when he was a little bairn. Fair enough, I expect you're right, but I've never heard of someone getting one when he's left?

There were riot police just outside the Irish Club, we watched from the bar upstairs and one lad was getting laid into by the police. There were bits of clothing all around the street - looked like there'd been a bit of a riot previously. The police were banging their riot sticks and some kids were goading them, not sure who was enjoying it more tbh. Then there was a shout from somewhere that these riot police had to go to the Central and fast. The Mackems were being escorted to the Central by then.

Surely the testimonial story can't be true, why would anyone ask for one when he was leaving the club? I thought they were a thing of the past anyway, it's not like any Premiership player needs the money to kickstart the rest of his life. Surely someone whose earnings must run into millions over 11 years doesn't need a testimonial?

He won't like, he'll start well, within a year he'll look huffy and barely ever perform, then the "My agent tells me" s*** will start. The kids a rotten egg and I honestly can't see that changing because he's moved to a small club who are performing above themselves at the moment. Bruce has already said that he's happy for Zog to use Wigan as a stepping stone to a bigger move. This is good man-management, I've doubted Bruce in the past but his buying and handling of players is making me think I mis-judged him. going to wigan is like going to army. i bet he would think twice to have mess with bruce. bruce training method is more intensive than other football clubs. he'll change undoubtly. Aye into a more moaning twatface than he is now. He certainly won't change for the better, his attitude is merde man, people don't change attitude like that. And that's why Wigan will never be a stepping stone to anywhere better, he'll disappear into the French LEagues in about 3 years time, or even less when he discovers what a shithole place Wigan is. Wenger, Ferguson wouldn't touch a player like that in a million years.

Where did I read that Ashley was going all out to get him? Or did I dream that?

Said he's going to another premiership club Man City?

I think i missed something. http://www.newcastle.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=138983 Was supposed to have all been media lies, iirc. Aye they were probably discussing what salaries they'd been offered at man City and what "exit strategies" they could use to get out of their respective clubs.

If his attitude doesn't change he won't improve, give him 6 months and he'll be texting away at teamtalks in the Wigan dressing room. Then he'll be sold back to a French club and we'll never hear from him again. Shame he didn't get his wish to get back to that city he was so homesick for - London.

No Kinnear and Wenger are, aren't they next door neighbours? Bruce wouldn't dare be friendly wih Wenger. Sir wouldn't approve.