Hughesy

I was told that one of the reasons that Ashley and co sold Carroll in the first place was that they had huge concerns over his fitness.

I don't think Hatem would get into either team if i'm honest, he's great but not THAT great. Is definitely is that great man, he's one of the most talented players I've ever seen. Performances > Talent. HBA is comfortably a better player than Dyer. And Dyer wasn't exactly the best defensively, so there's no reason why HBA couldn't play alongside Speed.

Speed was underrated though, whereas I think everyone always knew what a class act Lee was. When Speed played for us, he used to get a fair bit of stick from the crowd. I am sure a lot of the people who used to do it would never admit to it now given the tragic circumstances.

Rob Lee is one of the best midfielders I've seen at the club, others have had more skill but I can't think of any that is a better all round player when you consider cost, goals and number of games played. Rob Lee was absolutely exceptional. He really should have got more caps for England really. I loved the way he adapted his game under Robson as well.

Yep.

I don't actually think Bruce is that bad a manager. Maybe this should go in the unpopular opinions thread...

No way Carrick is dogshit.

Wonder if Shearer and Gillespie will enjoy being on the same team.. Interesting to note that Bellamy has not been invited (or declined to come).

To be honest, I doubt any kind of campaign would be successful, but I would prefer to see an organised protest along the lines of the Man Utd scarf thing than boycotting matches. You'll never get a substantial enough amount of people to boycott matches (especially if they have already shelled out money) and by its nature a boycott is more passive display. I think it is easier to mobilise people with something more active and passionate.

I always thought Peacock was underrated. He improved a lot as his career with us went on.

Some bizarre reactions there to some honest opinions about a player.

Spot on - seems like a great bloke, but he wasn't really that good. A bit harsh. TBF he had Ginola playing in front of him for a decent amount of time and his contribution to defending for the most part, was to watch the RB run past him and help the winger out. He was a pretty solid left back. I remember Bez taking a corner in an Anglo-Italian cup match (forget when exactly - think it was the promotion season). He was taking it at the Gallowgate/East corner and slipped when he was taking it putting the 'corner' out before the 18 yard box. He picked himself up did the donkey ears, laughed with everyone else and scooted back to LB. Top bloke. Can't imagine many players reacting like that now. Don't get me wrong - he was a decent player, but he wasn't much better than decent. In my opinion, he was one of the 'weak' links in the Keegan team.

Spot on - seems like a great bloke, but he wasn't really that good.

I just don't understand that. Pretty much every bank loan contains a change of control clause as a mandatory prepayment event. His lawyers would have told him that.

http://www.themag.co.uk/the-mag-articles/allo-allo-ashley-to-sell-newcastle-to-his-ukrainian-double/

Just the odd sponsor on that shirt.

Get in!

nufc.com seem to think we are still after a foreign winger? I wonder what info they had to publish that story a week or so ago about 2 new arrivals. They tend to be fairly accurate.

Yep - they might as well have just stated that they had no intention of buying anyone and left it at that.

Assuming Ashley does want his money back, I don't really understand is his lack of investment. I realise that the tv money helps, but the business model he seems to be using is based mainly on buying players cheaply and selling them on. Hard to do this if you don't actually buy anyone.

I remember being warned by a ref for that and I thought he was making it up as I'd never seen the rule enforced. Surely Ben Arfa did that yesterday when he beat Riise - he definitely ran off the pitch on purpose.

I am going to start saying 'oof' more often.

Oof.

I don't see a problem with booing a player if the majority of newspaper reports suggest he has refused to play for us. I certainly wouldn't applaud him on.

Where does your dad sit? Milburn stand. I am sure the guy lives near Ashley - I can never remember the guy's full story as he tends to ignore me..