Pons Alias

“He was a coward” M. Ritchie.

In common with Bruce, Souness had some natural ability, combined with aggression and a work ethic. They were the sort of player you'd love on your team - but hate on others. As a coach, pundit or manager, Shearer is out of exactly the same mould, which is why I wouldn't want him. This is why these types can't deal with flair players like Ben Arfa - or even Bellamy. They think a player is no good or lazy if they aren't all about rolling your sleeves up and putting in a shift. The rest - they think - all comes from natural talent when you're on the pitch. It's also why they defend each other in post - because they don't think it's down to the manager, it's down to the shortcomings of players who aren't like them. In terms of tactics, it's easy to them: You're a defender - defend. You're an attacker - attack the box. You're a midfielder - get up and down, win some tackles and put some crosses in. It's really not hard as a manager to be better than that - IMO. You don't really have to be that clever - if you have the ability to either think and/or feel. (Ideally both, sure.) In terms of thinking, Rafa isn't really that different to them. He won't tolerate a lack of effort or commitment either. But he is adept at adding playing chess to the effort and talent. When it comes to the emotional approach, Keegan and Bobby (both more alike than they might admit) instead of just hard work, substituted flair and inspiration and saw that belief and an arm round the shoulder can take you a long way. This is also the approach Hughton took - or tried to take, I think as well. For me, it's no coincidence that those four are our best-regarded managers of modern times. They all had the emotional intelligence to see what the fans were about, and the extra ability to deliver it.

As a manager, Souness is the footballing Genesis of our current decline. I felt like I had been physically punched when we appointed him. Following on from the Bowyer-Only summer of recruitment, we stank of decline. That's when the seeds of our sale to the current Fat Man were sown.

Graeme Souness: Newcastle United is a graveyard for managers Former Toon boss Graeme Souness says Newcastle is a “graveyard for managers” following increased pressure on Steve Bruce. The Liverpool legend succeeded Sir Bobby Robson at St James’s Park in 2004 but was sacked after an unsuccessful 18 months. In light of fans demanding Bruce, who has won just two of his last 19 games, is relieved of his duties, Souness has warned against future managers accepting the job. He told the Sunday Mirror: "People go there thinking, ‘I’ll be the one who brings the good days back.’ But it isn’t as simple as that. “Newcastle has been a graveyard for managers for years. “I remember my first game there was against Blackburn. I went into hospitality before the match and saw the chairman’s wife. She said, ‘So you’re the new lion-tamer', and she pointed at the crowd. “They are wild and they demand success.” The Magpies remain just two points above Fulham, who occupy the final relegation spot. Fuck off Souness. How the hell do we demand success? We haven't had any for over 50 years. Meanwhile, Arsenal fans hounded out Wenger, Leicester sacked Ranieri and Man U sacked three managers.

Pulis has experience of keeping a club up for consecutive seasons...

If the takeover doesn't happen, then the PL and the Top 6 closed shop fucked us over. End of.

I wouldn’t stop to help him if he was being anally spit-roasted against his will by a pair of elephant ladyboys.

So the Judge ruled that Barclays were RIGHT to doubt her abilities - but that they were Cunts in the way they went about it.

Or the only time they score. Lee Hendrie, Darren Bent, Jermaine Pennant, Bendtner.... It’s like she’s part of the signing on fee.

Why does every story about a striker involve them shagging Bruce’s daughter?

We should change the thread title to: ‘Multiple Relegation Specialist Steve Bruce’

If there were fans in the ground, this would be his crying in the dugout game.

Just compare Villa now, to under him.

"Not a must win" Makes sense now.

Plan B is Ritchie's responsibility.

fyp I meant after he worked out he was in the wrong place.

Apparently, when Bruce was trying to get his missus pregnant, he told her it was all about the accumulation of Semen.

I think I want us to lose, to go down, to humiliate Bruce, for the takeover stuff to be resolved one way or another. Bollocks to this Zombie club stuff.

Because we’re a shitty little northern town full of thick Jordys who don’t know our place.

It's frightening, the amount of cognitive dissonance that we're seeing around Bruce at the moment.

Or his dancing bear.

Fans: Pardew, Kinnear, McClaren. FFS - can we have had any worse managers? Ashley: Hold my coat.