The Prophet

we're winning mate. Chomp.

Palace beating Boro.

Harewood injured. How sad.

Peterborough going for all out attack.

Is it the FA Cup first round?

FA Cup first round.

It was class, no one will ruin this moment for him.

Really could of just left it to him to it first half, shame about the injury. Probably his best performance since his debut against the Mancs.

First half an hour was some of the best football we've played this season, was helped by Peterborough's statue-esque approach like. As expected we dropped the pace a bit and became a bit sloppy, consequently we ever so slightly let them back into the game. We need to come at them hard second half, kill them off.

At least half time is coming up.

Watford two up.

West Brom two up.

West Brom in front.

Jonas took it past about four players before slipping it past the keeper, clever finish. Carroll's was a header from a corner.

Starting to lose a bit of the urgency, to be expected though.

Helguson puts Watford in front against Preston.

Knobing them, surely only a matter of time if we keep this intensity up. Jonas playing like a man possesed.

Regarding last season. In any other situation he shouldn't have played. He was carrying an injury and was desperately short of confidence. I remember watching him step up to take the penalty against Arsenal and I just knew he was going to miss, he bottled it as soon he was given the ball. The problem was he was the only player that even vaguely looked creative going forward which meant there was an over reliance on him. Given the problems above and the fact he was hardly consistent at the best of times it's obvious to see how it ended in disaster.

He wasn't exactly a prolific goal scorer either.

When Obafemi Martins took the number nine shirt it is unlikely he realised the burden to be placed on his shoulders. Unknown to some and questioned by others it was disputed if he was the right man for the job, a question probably still worth asking. His potential was evident. Lightening pace, a powerful shot and a decent jump meant he was (relatively) quickly amongst the goals and as a consequence, swiftly became a fans favourite. However amongst the memories of goals against Spurs, Blackburn and the Mancs lay feelings of frustration. To quote Andy Gray, Martins was “the scorer of great goals” rather than a “great goal scorer”. Although it’s cliched it’s probably correct. In Martins we had a striker capable of unleashing a thirty yard screamer but also a striker capable of blazing over from a matter of yards. In our time of need we probably saw the latter too often for our own good. In his last season here we saw a forward woefully short of confidence. The need for his pace and unpredictability were evident in his absence and while his effort was appreciated his form was not. Unassisted by many of his team mates Martins left on the lowest note of all having been relegated in a team that badly lacked goals. Now at Wolfsburg you can’t help but feel his best years are ahead of him. Still a raw talent but performing with the confidence we saw in his earlier Newcastle years. Personally when I look back at his stint there are a lot of positives, but it can’t be denied his contributions last season left a bitter taste in the mouth. On his day he really is an unstoppable force but his day didn’t seem to dawn all that often in a black and white shirt.

I'm hardly complaining, the thirty-odd percent who said they weren't going to protest were asked why and I've given my reasons. Ashley is already comfortable, in his club statements he's said how much he regrets buying the club and how unhappy he is. If I felt something could be done to help remove him I would take part, a protest however will not. Ashley knows how angry we all are, he's hardly going to run at the first sight of a chanting crowd. Like I've said in my both my previous posts I hope I'm proved wrong. Good luck to all those who take part.

We all know what Ashley has done though. We don't need telling how bad things are and we don't condone the idiotic acts he's commited. Most supporters have had enough, they've been through the mill and it's shite. You don't think Ashley reads the papers or watches the TV? He'll be fully aware we've had enough, and he'll be fully aware he's a hate figure. He's been unhappy here for a while and he still hasn't budged, you think a daft, one off protest will change that? What bothers me is other so called "supporters" telling me how I should act and behave as a fellow supporter. So you go ahead have your protest, I hope I'm wrong and it's a success, but I'll be shocked if it does little more than give David Craig a change to earn his pay cheque for the week.

In all seriousness though, a pre and post-match protest are limited in what they achieve. Ashley has been threatened, mocked, criticised and has stood firm throughout, although I agree with the sentiment it seems like a pointless exercise. Now I know no one who takes part in the protest actually thinks that alone will scare Mike away, they are merely venting their frustration and anger. Whether I or any fan agrees or disagrees they have a right as paying customers to do this. Now I've supported the club since I was a nipper. I felt the pain of relegation and I'm experiencing the humiliation that the regime is currently dragging us through, just like every other fan. If I really believed a protest or any other action would contribute to Ashley's demise I'd be there. However, he's is a hard nosed hate figure in this city and he damn well knows it, he will sell this club when he feels like it. With this in mind I feel like a lot of supporters there is just no point to this protest, it's just going to end with Sky broadcasting a load of drunkards and charvers running round with misspelt banners. I wish good look to all those attending and I hope I'm wrong, but this is effectively a massive waste of time.

Oh no, not this again...

It's just stupidity from the club. With the amount of money at stake in the modern game you'd think they'd have a specialist draftsman to clearly outline the significant points of the contract to both parties. That way if the contact is undermined by either party they have no one to blame but themselves.