robm

First pint in Lisbon at last. Quite warm here. Lovely looking city. Hotel porter a benfica and nufc fan.. Everybody dead friendly.

I'm from the other side of the world, have no family links to the city (or even the club) - I follow NUFC for a range of reasons that formed more than 20 years ago, but I think as an outsider I can help answer this. Newcastle (and more broadly the North-East) have a deeply-grained disdain of the central London government; not quite seperatist but I would certainly suggest that Geordies see themselves as "apart" from a London-centric England. As evidence, consider the disdain shown towards our "Cockney" leadership or the railing against the "Southern" media. You might consider that a social analysis, but I'd suggest it is indeed political. Consider the comment earlier in this thread about how much of Sunderland's resentment of Newcastle is due to the "favouritism" Newcastle got when it came to government funding of North-East rejuvenation. NUFC is the embodiment of the city, the success of the club is a vindication of the city's unique identity. When the club does poorly, the city pulls its cloak tightly around itself, sticks two fingers up to the south and creates a genuine seige mentality. Again, that's political identity, not just social or regional. At least, that's how it seems from half a world away... On a similar note I'm saddened by those who choose to view the Celtic v Rangers rivalry as religious rather than political. It's got nothing to do whether you pray kneeling or standing up; it's Republicanism v Unionism. Politics is woven into the fabric of football, and it doesn't need to be left v right to be political. Finally, maybe there are people who didn't become "outraged" when Di Canio joined Swindon because the news cycle deemed it worthy of a single report and it passed them by? I know that's certainly true in my case (again, from half a world away)... Good post. I do think the EDL and other right wing nutters will be clapping their hands over this. A ready made poster boy to recruit new members in Sunderland.

Anyone else flying out today? Newcastle Heathrow this afternoon then straight to Lisbon . So looking forward to this, first Europeantrip since Milan.

Blunderland, Blunderland über alles! Oh when the Mackems, go goose stepping in, I want to be in that blitzkrieg.....

http://www.readytogo.net/smb/showpost.php?p=14616366&postcount=19

Just bought an away ticket. Just need to get one for my lass now.... and tell her about her birthday suprise trip to Lisbon

Probably giggs but Benfica TV have bought the Portuguese rights for all Premier League games for the next three years. Bit of a pisser for the Porto fans. http://www.premierleague.com/en-gb/news/news/2012-13/feb/BenficaTV-acquire-premier-league-rights-in-portugal.html

Just a shit story in the Express quoting some Spanish transfer website.

From RAWK match thread

And you got your tit out Best thing I've seen all year. :lol: Yeah! That's Shak!

Same

Realistic Sunderland fan Re: Most boring game of football I've ever seen tonight And that's up against some pretty stiff competition. Such is the life of a fan who can hope that we avoid relegation and dream of finishing top eight. We aspire to nudge into a top 8 place and have a cup run or, see avoiding relegation as a triumph. Certainly top 8 is out of the question, relegation seems unlikely so what? Have we a promisingly youthful side ready to go next year? Nah. We have an amazing scouting network that will prove fruitful soon? Doesn't look like it. Billionaire owner ready to invest ridiculous amounts to push us forward? Genius manager in the transfer market? Coaches that turn average players into champions? No. It is what it is. Avoid relegation and take the money each year. Fucking depressing actually.

Score prediction from a Villa forum: Re: Aston Villa v Newcastle United Pre-Match Thread « Reply #220 on: Today at 06:49:26 PM » Newcastle to win 10-0 with an own goal hattrick by Paul lambert who plays himself and hammers them past Guzan screaming "Who's in my army now? Whos in my army NOW???" Before he is dragged off screaming by the mascots, the lioness having to pummel him into silence as he shouts obscenities at the crowd. or we could win/lose by the odd goal. I have no idea.

What formation do Vitesse play? From that YouTube they don't seem to have out and out wingers. He could suit a 4 3 1 2 or whatever

Is the stuff on that RTG thread and on twitter bollocks then or what? Only thing that makes sense. http://www.readytogo.net/smb/showthread.php?t=755292&page=18

I take it the reasons in that thread for him wanting away are bullshit?

I agree. Yep could easily have got something from that. Colo was nervous first half. Entertaining game.

They will be fine in any of the city centre pubs. See plenty round the Haymarket usually and Shearers should be ok.

http://www.readytogo.net/smb/showthread.php?t=726411 They really are giving Fletcher some stick after his first appearance! Also realising they have been mugged there is some classic Macktracking on the price they paid. Down to 7 million by page 4

Guidetti and Defoe signing tomorrow. Going to leave Spurs a bit light up front on Saturday mind http://www.readytogo.net/smb/showthread.php?t=722486&page=6

Ajax did something similar a few seasons ago. Their season turned out to be disastrous, which made the behind the scenes footage fantastic to watch, especially for non-Ajax fans. Here's hoping for a similar outcome. so that's the mackems, ajax, anymore ? seems like this sort of thing is a kiss of death. Documentary was called "Daar hoorden zijn engelen zingen" if anyone is interested. Documented their centenary season 1999-2000, where they finished a disappointing 5th a whopping 23 points from champions PSV and sacked their manager (Jan Wouters). Did the mackems ever do a similar documentary? What's it called, and which period did it span? It was called Premier Passions as Pilko said. Covered 96/97 season when they got relegated . Most famous for the amount of swearing from Peter Reid and Bobby Saxton. There are some canny clips knocking about

2000 to 2010 is 11 years [/pedant]

How do we know this? Not having a go and I have just based my post on an assumption. Just wondered where the 25% profit came from? That's what I've mostly read, and it makes far more sense than 25% of any sell-on fee. Obviously, Liverpool got taken to the cleaners in this deal, but it's hard to imagine us agreeing to 25% of any transfer fee. Then again, from the word go, we passed on the fee to Chelsea (nobody knows, but I reckon that when Ashley pulled £35m out of his arse, we called up Chelsea and asked for £20m more for Torres. They agreed, we agreed). With that thinking (i.e. someone else is paying), it's possible they agreed to anything I thought it was 15 million 35 for Carroll 50 for Torres?

http://www.readytogo.net/smb/showthread.php?t=716231 Getting excited at a shit rumour of signing Stuart Downing for fucks sake

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/newcastle-united/9402195/Liverpool-reject-Newcastle-United-loan-offer-for-Andy-Carroll-but-permanent-move-could-still-be-agreed.html But Liverpool are not interested in sending Carroll out on loan, and are even more reluctant to offload him to Newcastle after paying such a significant fee to sign him in January 2011. Liverpool were refusing to comment on the offer last night but it is understood they will only sanction a permanent deal. Newcastle’s offer was also understood to be minimal, paying only a small portion of his wages, and was laughed off by Liverpool’s owners – but is unlikely to be the final offer made by Ashley in this transfer window. Newcastle are expected to return with a cut-price bid towards the end of the window, in the hope of forcing Liverpool’s hand and tempting Carroll into making an emotional return to his hometown. Carroll, who is on holiday after being granted extra leave by Rodgers after appearing at Euro 2012, is said to have been surprised by the tone of the Ulsterman’s comments last week but sources close to him insist he still believes he can salvage his career on Merseyside. The 23 year-old has only managed six Premier League goals in 42 appearances since leaving St James' Park and his future with Liverpool appears even more in doubt after Rodgers completed the £7 million signing of Fabio Borini from Roma last week. But the prospect of an heroic return to his first club is certain to be tempting, especially if first-team opportunities appear limited under his new manager. He must also consider whether he can afford to take the risk of staying at Liverpool and possibly falling further down the pecking order in Roy Hodgson’s England squad if he is out of the picture with his club. Carroll recovered from a disappointing campaign to shine in the final weeks of the season and also impressed in England’s 3-2 win over Sweden, scoring a trademark header in the first half. Other Premier League clubs including Villa are monitoring Carroll’s situation. Villa have made tentative contact in the past few days and Paul Lambert, the manager, refused to rule out a move for the forward after the 2-1 friendly win over Burton on Saturday. He said: “If we could get him it would be great. He’s a top player, there’s no doubt. It wouldn’t be one I would dismiss if we could get him.” Sam Allardyce, the West Ham manager, also retains an interest but has declared he has doubts over whether he could sign him on loan. There is also interest from abroad but Newcastle are the first club to make a concrete offer. Carroll returns from holiday on Wednesday but will not meet up with the Liverpool squad in Boston until next week, together with the rest of the players who featured in Poland and Ukraine. Newcastle are close to completing one deal, with France international Mathieu Debuchy flying into England last night to seal a £7 million move from Lille. Debuchy, the defender who impressed at Euro 2012, is expected to sign a four-year deal and tweeted yesterday: “I can confirm #Newcastle.”That is a powerful tool that may yet make the most unlikely of deals happen.