kingxlnc

In terms of calibre, history, class etc - you'd have to say Coloccini is up there too. A terrible season last year, same as everyone of course but it cannot be denied that he's probably been the best defender of the modern era for NUFC. If this poll was last year, it would be Hatem Ben Arfa without a doubt - and that's even including the new signings!

What I don't understand about NUFC is for a supposed 'risk averse' and 'safe' and 'unambitious' club we don't half take some silly chances. - Carver will oversee more than half the season. That was a frightful decision. - Pardew an 8 year contract - to be honest no-one not even Arsene Wenger or Jose Mourinho should be on an 8 year contract. - Kinnear - nuff said - Kinnear again - ditto - Dennis Wise etc etc Now, even after everything, Patrick Vieira - as much potential as he has, is still unproven. In other years, yes take a punt - but this summer there are SO many good managers available. Tuchel they could have got, ditto Garde, Gourvannec, Jemez, Klopp (possibly), Emery, Bielsa even Ketsbaia etc. There are so many people available with fantastic EUROPEAN experience which suits the current model in place - and who have also got a track record of overachieving with modest clubs. There is simply no need to go for PV. It reminds me of the Ruud Gullit appointment - and even he had somewhat of a decent record at Chelsea at least. Ruud Gullit was one of the best players of his generation - but that doesn't make a good manager, which shows in his subsequent record. Keegan worked out simply because of his pure passion he GALVANISED the club. It helped that he had an attachment to the club - he did okay at Fulham and Man City but didn't have the same impact as here, as it was part of him. He was also an overachiever as a player, achieving much more than many expected. ALl that said, he was a one-off. Bobby Robson on the other hand, was the other end of the spectrum - been there and done it all. Huge contacts, and you could see that people would want to come to the club to sign for him, even in-demand players like Hugo Viana who could have gone anywhere. That's the kind of ilk and gravitas we need. Yes although SBR was local - his wide experience and wisdom was what we benefited from most. Those two and their character were what made NUFC attractive and gave us respect. Its the same reason why people love Klopp and would take an interest in whatever club he was at. My fear with Patrick Vieira is that whilst everyone says he was a great player - which he was, Graeme Souness was a great player. Roy Keane was. Stuart Pearce was. Didier Dechamps was. Laurent Blanc was. Great players very rarely make great managers. And even if they do, it is the more studious, unassuming ones like Guardiola (who was always the thinker and heartbeat of his sides - from day one) that make them. Other clubs go for ambitious appointments - Spurs went for Villas-Boas at the peak of his appeal - it didn't work out for them perhaps (I still think they let him go too early) - he has just won the Russian league with Zenit for only the 4th time in their history. Just for once, I'd like to see NUFC make a sensible choice, based on logic. No need to take risks with a 'new' exciting face like PV, nor is there need to go uber safe and boring with McClaren. Why is there no such thing as a middle ground that exists at NUFC? All this appointment requires is some balance. Garde, Bielsa, Gourvannec, Jemez etc would genuinely fit the bill, as they are fresh, new ideas but they also have a strong experience. Why oh why is it so simple for everyone but the buffoons at the top of the board, making the decisions?!!

Looking forward to a Feast of goals from this guy. Heard he's quite skilful, a good Twister and turner. Word has it he may move to Den Haag in Dec?* *Haagen-Dazs - ok it was weak I know!

I don't believe this rumour, what's the sauce?

Really sad about this. Criminally underused. I really hoped he would play a blinder for a forward thinking manager this next six months, get a years extension to his contract and we'd play entertaining, intelligent football using him, De Jong, Cabella and Perez - would have been so promising. This present NUFC, are the antithesis of the Keegan era - they really are destroyers of dreams. One of the only reasons why I bothered tuning into games over the past four years of dross was to watch this magician at work, even if it was just for a five minute cameo. He suited us, and we suited him. He provided us with that tiny smidgen of hope, in an era when it was lost for many. The player with the greatest 'potential' and natural ability certainly, in my 20 years supporting the club. Will miss him hugely.

We hadn't scored before the 37th minute once this whole season so far. The fraud leaves, and we score twice. Coincidence?

The worst thing about it is that we actually now have a semblance of appreciation for blob Elliot! Only a little bit, mind you. He's still awful. For 20 years we were spoiled with a plethora of riches in the GK department, first Srnicek and Hislop, then Given (who never got injured) and Harper (ditto), then Harper and Krul, and briefly Krul and Forster. We need to get back to a decent no. 1 and 2 pairing ASAP.

I actually recall that the season we signed Abeid, all the FM addicts around me were congratulating me on a top purchase by Newcastle... as he was one of those Henri Saivet, Cherno Samba type of wonderkids on the game! I remember when I used to play the game, back in the day, Ben Arfa was always the wonderkid I used to buy...

You'll get it back, you can't hurry love after all

Southampton's new players were eager to impress the new boss Our new players are loaned out or injured Tiote played twice for the Ivory Coast so wasn't fit for us to start The game after an international week is always difficult It was the Independent's fault, distracting us with talk of our beloved Mike Ashley selling Any one of these are possible

When I have a bit of spare time, I do a bit of blogging about business and leadership predominantly. I've started a short series of articles looking at lessons in leadership from my time supporting Newcastle - with the three part series looking at Keegan, Robson and Shearer. Here is Part 1, on Kevin Keegan: http://threefproject.com/2014/09/08/keegan-robson-shearer/

Given Beye Colo Woodgate Enrique Solano Cabaye Speed Robert Ben Arfa Shearer Subs: Krul Albert Dyer Beardsley Ginola Cole Ferdinand Bellamy Blimey this was tougher than I thought. SBR Director of Football, Keegan as manager I first started following NUFC in 1994, when I was 10 years old.

As a 30 year old, I've supported NUFC since I was at school, which was the Keegan era. Obviously I've seen a lot of highs and lows in that time, but today, like many others I feel well and truly done and finally ready to wash my hands of it all. They have extinguished our one last hope. Literally the only feeling which compares to this is when SBR was sacked, and then replaced with Souness. We were riding high at the time with some really good players so I guess that sickly feeling was more to do with being incredulous at the silly logic by the people at the top, rather than fear and hopelessness for the future. Getting rid of literally both our best defender and best player when the club needs them more than ever... it really beggars belief. I have never felt this way in all my years. Not even relegation, not even Carroll, not even the Souness or Allardyce years, not even when Keegan left first or second time. I think this time, it is the biggest middle finger up to the fans that could have been done. And after so long me just grinning and bearing it, or just accepting our fate or wistfully hoping for the best, they've done it, they've finally broken me. The club feels like an Orwellian nightmare at the moment, a vindictive regime whos aim is to break the spirit of anyone who dares to dream or dares to defy. It reminds me of the film equilibrium, where 'feeling' is a thought crime and punishable. Hence we are reduced to becoming passionless, joyless robots who will accept or like what they have dished out for us or else. Although Keegan left in 1997 after Newcastle were floated on the stock exchange against his will, it has never felt like such a corporate machine. This is suppression. Don't dream. Don't you dare believe. Don't get too attached to your heroes. Keep turning up. Paying your money. Rinse and repeat. It is a hell of an achievement to literally take the most passionate supporters in England and to drive the passion out of them within 5-7 years. Honestly, a hell of an achievement. Do not get me started on Pardew. Here is a man with literally ZERO dignity and delusions of grandeur, who is woefully out of his depth. A car crash, a pure embarassment. I wince every day I realise he is associated with us. If he survives the season, he'll be our longest serving PL manager. Disgusting. People talk about Anfield and St James Park being 'electric' in their atmosphere. I'm not sure St James Park will be any time soon, given the apathy and state of many supporters. And they don't really deserve it anymore. This has freed my emotions at least - I can't really be bothered to get too attached to this shite anymore. I support Ben Arfa, just like Keegan and SBR and all the other martyrs, victims and fall guys of the system. All I say is - do not fall for the clubs propaganda. They lie over and over. They are indicative of a totalitarian, police state. HBA was the symbol of the revolution, the uprising. They've ripped the heart out of that. There are two responses - the revolution can die a death, without its figurehead. Or this can be the straw that breaks the camels back, and the level of vitriol or boycott should be so significant that it brings about change. There's not enough thinkers amongst the fans to make this likely, unfortunately. Sad times.

Yes this is exactly what I meant, spot on

We had this guy for his peak years. Again the question has to be - what would Robson or Keegan have done? Ben Arfa wasn't as badly behaved as Dyer or Bellamy yet it is more talented than the both of them. Both aforementioned managers would have built their teams around him. Made him feel like the best player in the world. That's all that was required with him, he showed for the first time, in that 2012 5th season end product, but more than that, a willingness to finally knuckle down and make something of himself. Pardew is a charlatan, and probably a worse manager than Souness. Anyone backing this clown over HBA really needs a reality check. That is the real sadness, it is over what could have been and the injustice. He is still only 27 - apart from that one injury he is not a has been or overly knackered like Owen was gettting to be at that age, nor demotivated like Kluivert (who again was one of my favourites on his day). A club that treats loyal staff like Gutierrez in such a shambolic fashion should never be backed - the club has lost its soul and class.

Sad He's so damn good.

It should be the managers own teams they built (so a season or two into the reign) rather than the team they inherited. E.g. Souness would be Emre / Parker (as opposed to Robert and Bellamy in the team) Dalglish would be Serrant and Des Hamilton and Barnes as opposed to Ginola and Ferdinand etc etc

I think it would go something like this. Solano '13 (free kick) Albert 18 (header) Ferdinand '36 Shearer (P) '41 HT Robert '67 (25 yarder) Ferdinand '84 Bellamy sent off '86 Speed '90 (corner, last minute header) 4-3 Robson Both managers hug at full time on the pitch I think that the Premier League improved vastly from 1995 to 2003 (and even more to now) in terms of calibre, hence the team that was good enough to finish 4th in 2003 probably would have won it in 1995. Whereas the '95 team, awesome as it was at the time, probably wouldn't have been 12 points clear in 2003. This is based on absolutely no substance whatsoever! And is probably the most pointless post ever.

It's criminal what we've done to this guy. It really is. I really hope he digs his heels in and sticks his ground, and Pardew is sacked after 4-5 games.

Ironically, the only one that is a true 'upgrade' on the previous incumbents is actually Colback, who is better than Gosling. Cabaye > De Jong HBA > Cabella Debuchy > Janmaat Remy >>>>> Riviere Based on bias. No not bias: Debuchy, stats wise and otherwise has been seen as one of the top-performing right backs in Europe for the past few seasons. France's undisputed number 1, etc etc. Janmaat is younger yes, but is not yet as established nor as proven. Ditto HBA/Cabella - HBA talent wise is one of the most technically outstanding players of his generation. Cabella has never been talked about in that breath, although albeit has had a good last season. So it's not biased at all, it's fact. This can all naturally change, given the alternatives and younger and hungrier etc than their predecessors.

Ironically, the only one that is a true 'upgrade' on the previous incumbents is actually Colback, who is better than Gosling. Cabaye > De Jong HBA > Cabella Debuchy > Janmaat Remy >>>>> Riviere

Eriksson also flopped in three main issues for England: 1. Scholes - there is no reason at all, if used properly in a Pirlo type of role that he could not have been playing (even at this world cup!). For someone with continental experience you would have expected him to be able to utilise that type of system more so than most British managers who tend to be limited in their understanding and experience of using such roles as a deep lying playmaker. There was always the Gerrard / Lampard debate - but never Scholes, who was shoehorned criminally on the left side. 2. For such a good side on paper, they were largely a lucky team (Germany 5-1 aside). I don't remember a single game against top opposition where I felt really positive or that we dominated to such an extent or that I enjoyed our style of play. In fact the last time England looked good, was under Glenn Hoddle in France 98. I think that team with Shearer, Owen, etc were more unlucky than most. They gave a good Argentina side featuring a peak Batistuta a helluva game with only 10 men and had a goal ruled out. They shouldn't have really faced Argentina as it was only down to a silly penalty against Romania that ensured we finished second as opposed to top of the group. 3. Too many random caps for random players. Devaluing the concept of playing for England. The likes of Powell, Ricketts etc. Let's not forget his personal life was constantly in question, Ulrika, Faria, Nancy etc. The coach should be stable and not be that newsworthy. He didn't justify his huge salary at all for me.

I hated Dalglish. Dalglish was a catastrophic manager. I could have managed the Liverpool sides of 87-88 and 89-90 to the Championship with players they had. As soon as the writing was on the wall (the 4-4 v. Everton in the FAC the catalyst), he did a runner (even before the replay!) He was, frankly, lucky to win the Prem with Blackburn or, rather, he had Shearer who basically won it on his tod. Thereafter, it got worse and worse - he shat it at Blackburn, embarrassed himself and Celtic both with his managerial efforts there and pathetic stunts like taking press conferences in an East End pub, then shat it again. The best was yet to come, though, with his '2nd coming' at Liverpool, culminating in possibly the funniest 90mins I have ever seen at SJP when we dismantled his Liverpool side 2-0 on 1.4.12. His second tenure at Anfield was remarkable only for its ineptitude, his disgraceful backing of Suarez, the Suarez t-shirts, the 'he shouldn't have been banned in the first place' humility when Suarez returned from suspension, his 'I think I'm being clever but I'm coming across like a c*nt' press conferences, etc. etc. Horrible, twisted man. Horrible, talentless manager. Comparable to Pardew in many ways, but at least KD has some medals.

Including last season and this seasons - has someone ever scored as many goals that have ended up being ruled out? I remember at least 6-7 last season and a couple from this season now. Yes some are self inflicted but had even half of them stood we wouldn't necessarily be thinking he had completely lost it and was a lost cause etc etc

Being from Nottingham - Andy Cole was actually in the same class as my cousin at school and remember being impressed that they were 'friends' - especially given this was around 1994-95 when he was scoring for fun. So I picked my club at that point... (I was 11 - had always been more into cricket at that point) My mates at school were incredulous - especially as Forest finished 3rd that season with Collymore being the best thing since sliced bread etc. But have never looked back... despite the constant digs in the time since then! Andy Cole's brother actually lived next door to a another friend of mine - so I got to meet him once when I was around. It also helps that Alan Shearer was also my favourite non-Newcastle player at the time - so I was obviously over the moon when he joined... I also helped to 'convert' a few of my friends / relatives who were just getting into footy at the time or just coming into the country - one guy in particular was the hugest Asprilla fan. Another was mesmerised by Dyer (a little later). Needless to say these guys never lasted. I did. Been a lone soldier ever since!