Neil

This is sensational. Will William Hill be his assistant?

Now obviously I can't fully speak with my heart here, but I entirely agree with Robster. Turning backs on the club even for a couple of games won't do much good. Don't buy anything at the ground by all means.

I've heard he needs to lose some weight.

Anon's in the lead.

Guy Fawkes has ruled himself out. He'd be an explosive appointment tbh.

ala Frankie Boyle: "My dad'll shag yer dad....and yer dad'll enjoy it!" Love Frankie Boyle, effing hilarious, but I think he tries too hard to be controversial sometimes. Anyway, that's a topic for another forum. So Lien, what's your take on this affair from an outsider's perspective? Do you think there is any way back for Ashley after the events of this week? Also, looks like we may be in competition for the Indian billionaire.. Do fans/you want him at your club? I don't know the fine details but from what I do know, this whole debacle comes down to the general structure, and the fact that the landscape is changing. In British football particularly, the manager is seen as an emotionally iconic figure, he calls the shots, he does this, he does that, he's boss. Sadly though, I'd say Ferguson is one of the few of those type that remain. Like it or not this continental organisational hierarchy seems to be becoming increasingly dominant in contemporary football. There's no doubt it can work, but it's a case of adapting to change. In my personal opinion, I prefer the "manager is boss" approach. I think there is a way back for Ashley. He needs to do something about it bloody quickly though. Communication needs to improve (I've said that a fair few times summer with regards to Everton), and he needs to be open. More importantly, he should be putting everything else on hold (including getting rat-arsed in the Big Apple), to get this new manager in. Someone who obviously is used to this set up. Rijkaard, someone who is used to big expectations, would be a good choice, if acquirable. This Ambani character seems an interesting proposition. The last week or so has been a sad week for football, for me at least. A lack of trust has dominated, and secondly it's becoming a rich man's world, as it were. As much as we all want ethics, we all want a nice guy who understands the club to be in charge of it, but really, it has to be about the money. Bill Kenwright at our club is what I'm talking about (despite the negative publicity he's got). Fact is, he's a so-called nice guy who loves the club desperately, and wants the best, but has openly admitted a billionare is needed. "We don't want a millionaire, we need a billionaire", to quote him. I'd want Anil Ambani at my club personally, as long as they have no say in the footballing side of it. I don't want money to dominate but is there another way of keeping up with the speed at which clubs are moving nowadays?

ala Frankie Boyle: "My dad'll shag yer dad....and yer dad'll enjoy it!" Love Frankie Boyle, effing hilarious, but I think he tries too hard to be controversial sometimes. Anyway, that's a topic for another forum.

The friendly against the Czechs I simply could not understand. No Young. No Agbonlahor. No Richards. I know, let's play a side that we already know has played 10000 times before against mid-level European opposition. It's immensely frustrating. Oh and on another topic, the best thing that can happen for Wayne Rooney is that he's dropped for a couple of games, whether that be at international or domestic level. Getting complacent and thinking he can walk into the team on name alone and not get dropped. At least there were signs of some of the players being given a kick up the arse with Capello apparently bollocking Cole and Rooney.

An Italian passport. You just know the same people swooning over yet another Chelsea yes-man with no qualifications would turn their nose up at Alan Shearer. As a general topic, how many Newcastle fans would actually want Shearer in charge at this moment in time? I'd personally not want him at all. At this stage, anyway.

Why haven't you given me a free ice cream on Facebook?

Has Nile Ranger joined the group "I iz da nxt managa"? I'll give up.

Using the logic that some of the people on this thread have used. RONALDINHO! KAKA! MESSI! They, like, haven't scored 10 billion goals and stuff..... therefore they're a fraud. Sound logic.

Rooney to grow a par? Unlikely.

Oh come on. A 1-0 thrasing who scores the goal? the only person i'd trust to score a goal in that team is lampard. Defoe can, but him and rooney have been disastarous for england recently. (just wait for them to score a hattrick each). Who scores the goal? Capello with a 35 yard blockbuster, obviously.

And some people are on the pitch... they think it's all over! Oh and it is now! Robbie Keane, lobs his own goalie from 40 yards, its 4-2 Georgia; stunning! I'm slapping a cheeky fiver on the above scenario. In other news, it's been a long day.

Oh come on. A 1-0 thrasing You've gone from 3-0 to 2-0 to 1-0 in the space of a few posts. EDIT: Oh right, cheers Dave haha. I've long said we're going to win 4-0. 2-1 anyone?

Oh come on. A 1-0 thrasing

Young wasn't in the squad, Cole must be injured, Gerrard is defo out (having an op) and Ferdinand was ruled out during the week. Simply can't understand Capello's thinking here. Yet Heskey, Walcott and Downing all are. Disgrace. (Glad Johnson is, though).

Dare I ask who 'Fat b******' will be?

Ashley is getting a lot of stick from some fans although nobody knows what part he's played in all of this, if any. Keegan has done what he's done in the past, he's walked away from a manager’s job when things haven't gone his way. I'll reserve judgement before deciding who has come out of it the worst. Ashley appointed Wise on a premise that he failed to stick to You won't have long to wait for proof that the goalposts were moved on Keegan. I'll say no more... Howay man, spit it out. Facts and specifics have been a bit thin on the ground recently...... I'm told a statement from Ashley, which won't do him any favours, is imminent Are you "sensing" a statement is imminent, David Craig style?

As an outsider I think Rijkaard would be a very good choice for Newcastle. Led Barcelona to the CL and 2 titles in his tenure, and is used to stupidly high expectations. Whether he would come is a different topic.

Depends if you're talking about managers or above that. This Ambani character will hardly have any more of a grasp of the history and culture of the club. Comes down to money, it seems.

All Northeners have either a Yorkshire/Geordie accent and live in terraced houses, whilst all Southerners are from London. FACT!

Which is, as you are hinting, why Newcastle are being held back and may not truly progress until that is done. The sooner KK is not linked with a return and the reciprocal love affair he has with Newcastle is ended, the better. Emotion cannot get in the way of footballing progress. With Kevin Keegan, emotion is always going to get in the way. Without a doubt. I also think the whole reaction of fans comes down the emotionally iconic perception of a manager in British football. The manager is boss, he has total control. Unfortunately, I'd say Ferguson is one of the few managers who can boast such a powerful position. The landscape is changing, fast.

Which is, as you are hinting, why Newcastle are being held back and may not truly progress until that is done. The sooner KK is not linked with a return and the reciprocal love affair he has with Newcastle is ended, the better. Emotion cannot get in the way of footballing progress.