Mistle17

Tbf to JFK not that I'm saying he should be anywhere near a role like DOF apparently he does have a good eye for talent as he was doing some scouting for Wenger during his time out from management. That's kind of where I was coming from - has probably built up just about enough goodwill to be accepted in the role as well. Now just need to find a manager who would work under him - Bruce or Shearer anyone? But werent there rumors that Shearer said he wouldnt work under the DOF structure? And if Kinnear is to take that job then its still a DOF structure the club has, so I cant see Big Al working for us still. Bruce? Maybe. If it goes tits up at Wigan from now and till the end of the season then he might give us a thought. Tbh, I wish we could just go back to the normal, English way of doing things at this club. Ashley doesnt understand that you can still suck up the best youth players around the UK and rest of the world without having a DOF. All you need is a top-class scouting network and your set.

You used to support Newcastle? What happened? I'm sorry but West Brom are just a nonsense team. They can't defend and they can't score. Their midfield can pass the ball decently, but none of the midfield players can shoot or tackle. Their situation is due to lack of talent and lack of good tactics. Very little luck involved. Martin Tyler was saying on Sky Sports today that WBA had a total of 3m net spending this summer. No wonder their such a poor team, such little investment. The marking of Tim Cahill for the first goal was quite hilarious, actually.

What ever happened to that flag Arsenal fans had reading "IN WENGER WE TRUST"? :laughterisnotargumentation: Horribly fickle fans.

Well said. As for Boro, well, lets just hope they go down and stay down. The biggest 'stone in your shoe' club around.

F*ck sake!!! I hate both clubs so fucking much!!!

Great guy, he deserves to have the No.1 shirt his own. We're very lucky to have him. I always loved Given when he was here, and thought he was fantastic for us, but I do remember a time when he got restless after being left out for a couple of games because Harps was doing so well. He should've taken a leaf out of Harpers book. Harper's good enough to play for England, easily. If the likes of Joe Hart and Scott Carson can get the call up, then so can Steve.

I do agree with what you're saying, but his performance against Arsenal (H) last season was outstanding, imo. He was easily our best player that night and gave the Arsenal CB's a tough time. Why he cant do that any more is beyond me.... When he played upfront under Keegan he was gash. If he couldnt play well then, what chance does he have succeeding under Kinnear/Houghton-Calderwood?

I dont like it when people critisize 'Old fashioned' English football. They say its full of 'cloggers' and players with 'no skills or technique'. Rubbish. OK, I agree, we've been known for playing the long ball and having a physical approach to the game, but what about players we've had in the past like Gazza, Waddle, Keegan, Beardsley, Bobby Charlton and John Barnes! All fantastic players who could beat players and had great skill, some of whom went abroad because they had the technique to cope. And then you've had the more recent English players like Scholes, Beckham, Lampard, J.Cole, Ashley Young, Wayne Rooney and Micheal Carrick who all have fantastic skill and technique and are a combination of exciting wide players or a core team player from the middle of the park who can dictate games. Admittedly these sort of players are drying up and too many players that come through our youth systems are nothing better than average. The national teams fortunes have, as people have stated, down to a combination of poor managers, lack of discipline, penalties and sheer bad luck. Whenever we've been in World Cups (for the last 5 WC's at least) or Euro's, we've always had teams capable of AT LEAST reaching the Quater-Finals. At least. With the players we had available to qualify for the 2008 Euros, how we didnt qualify is just disgraceful. Sickening infact. Grassroots football in England is only starting to have a bit of attention cast upon it. We've had good, old-school football people like Sir Trevor Brooking banging on the FA's door to improve youth facilities around clubs and local communities but the FA we're too busy snuggling with the 'Top 4' clubs to bother about it. It had to take failure of qualifying for a major European competion for the FA to really wake up and try and address the situation. You can say all you like about coach's in grassroots level, and part of it is down to them and their methods, but ultimately the problem we've had with producing good English players recently has been down to the FA's way of running our game.

Agreed. Emre was like a poor mans Viana imo. Still, Emre was a very talented player on his day. I'm still really disappointed with the way its turned out for Alan Smith. He has all the characteristics to succeed as a Newcastle player and become a bit of a 'fans favorite'. He works hard, he's a aggressive, passionate....but for some reason cant seem to play football for us. He could do it at Leeds and at times with Man Utd, so why not with us?! Maybe if he was played upfront for us from the start he might've been better. Would any consider Nicky Butt as a contender for this thread?

Christ, where to start, eh? Way too many... For me its got to be Viana, Emre, Woodgate and Luque. Parker as well, I guess. I loved Viana.....he'd such a sweet left foot and could've become such a star for us but it just wasnt to be. Woody was just immense whenever he played for us, but that was the problem- he hardly played for us. If he'd been kept fit and we'd brought in another good CH, we could've won the title. Great player just a shame its turned out the way it had for the lad. I always liked Carl Cort but the lad was just ravaged with injuries he never got a chance. Dider Domi and Alain Goma were favorites of mine as well who never set the world alight. Others like Zogg, Smith, Kluivert, Viduka and Acuna spring to mind. Lua Lua maybe? Steve Harper as well. Jermaine Jenas is another who never fully blossomed for us, imo. He had such potential but turning to gay sex was the start of his downfall, imo....

To be honest, Im more concerned at replacing JK with a good manager than the speculation over the transfer budget. I'm not going to bother worrying about how much we're gonna spend because in reality, even Ashley doesnt know how much we're going to spend at this rate. Its crazy.

Chelseas home and 3rd strip looks like a fucking rugby shirt! Disgusting. I just pray that ours wont be in that design.

Wonder who he was looking at Jason Scotland would be my bet. Perfect replacement for Mr.Owen....

Aye, it all sounds great, but personally Im not gonna get excited until I see results. On and off the pitch. I'm sick to my bones of having my hopes raised but only to be let down severely.

Well said.

Yes please!

No, not a chance. Nolan at a very push, but otherwise no.

If Jonas' chance was on his stronger right foot then maybe he might've done better, but to call it a 'shocking miss' is pretty ridiculous, imo. Now Lovenkrands' miss, now theres a shocking miss. Woeful.

How are they going to move upwards? Are the league giving out free points or something? How? We had only 1 chance in the whole match where we actually threatend or should have scored- Lovenkrands shocking miss. Otherwise it was all Everton in the second half (understandably). OK, we had a little spell in the first half where we kept the ball and pressed them a bit, but not exactly serious pressure. I thought Shola's disallowed goal was a bit harsh but you just cant challenge the keeper nowadays. Lovenkrands was very poor today, imo.

won't be missed tbh. Well its either him or Geremi, Im afriad. I know who I'd choose, anyway. Disgusting tackle, btw. Yes, he apologized but that doesnt excuse him for what he did. What exactly was he trying to do? He didn't need to commit himself like that!

Doesnt get near enough praise from the likes of Sky etc. If he was playing in a 'top 4' side then he'd be the new Desailly etc. But yes, he was immense today. Jo hardly get a look in, while Anichebe and then Saha werent given a sniff. Quality player young Seb. What I like about him is that he's a very simple footballer, in that he doesnt try anything flash or fancy, he just defends and lets the more attacking minded players do the stuff. Doesnt take any unneeded chances as well (Mr. Bramble!!).

Sounds like just the sort of player we need in our midfield, to be fair. I'd lay pretty good money on it happening one day, too. We already have Barton....

I was wondering how they managed to lose 0-9 today. Horrible thought to think this could be their last ever day as Weymouth FC. Chances are they'll do a 'Wimbledon' and reform the club. Still though, such a shame to hear that.

FFS, Sky and Setanta all have 3 channels that broadcast sports, why not broadcast different games at 3pm all on different stations. I hate Setanta but at least they show games at 3pm. No they don't. No 3pm games on a saturday have ever been shown live. Not true. Setanta Ireland gets a 3pm Saturday game every week. Obviously this is only for ROI customers. Probably the reason I still pay for it... D'you live in Ireland, CocoBananas? Aye, living in Donegal, from Derry... Cool. Good to see a Mag in Ireland. More paddys on here than I thought.....Im from Galway I got lots of family in cobh, co.cork. Love the place and they are upholding a long black and white tradition. Yeah I moved over to Dublin from Kent about 9 years ago.