Jimbo

Well they said on Talksport last night that AXA (and another company) had a healthy share of the club and that if there's a sniff that they club will be bought, they'll definitely sell. Shepherd is going to be left pissing in the wind with no power if he digs his heels in - apart from being the epitome of arrogance, there's no other point to him holding on... I heard that too, I'm not sure what kind of quantities of shares they have but I would hope that those shares plus those that are on the open market should allow Ashley to get the 51% he needs, you would think the quantity on the open market should be growing following the sudden hike in price following yesterdays news.

A basic 5.1 system shouldn't cost you much, you can get 6.1 and 7.1 now but to be honest 5.1 is good enough, you should be able to get a decent system from £150+. Most systems are mp3 compatible, so you could slap some music on a DVD and play them on your system, as for network options I don't honestly know.

I have an irritable bowel, and my Mrs threatens to kill me on a regular basis.

Just don't sell them to Shepherd !

And yet i can't help but find it hilarious! If the fat fucker really ever meant any of his stuff about how he loves this club and wants what's best for it then he would sell up straight away and get the whole business sorted as soon a spossible so that the club is stable and ready to go for the coming season. This bloke is going to takeover one way or another if thats what he wants, so Fat Fred can accept it and do everything possible for the benefit of the club and its fans, or dig his heels in and disrupt everything like a twat and cause us loads of problems. Wonder which one he'll go for... Its fringhtenign to think not that long ago we were on our arse and all depressed, yet in no time we could be looking at a new manager with the ability to run a football club properly and leadership at the very top who know what they're doing! If we could get rid of Anal Oliver as well it would be the greatest hatrick in football history! That would rival ManUre's 1999 treble !

Most clean sheets in a season ?

Just finished my first season with Valencia: La Liga: Gutted, had led most of the season just to lose out to Barca by one point. Graph: Table: Champions League: Managed to get my revenge on Barca in the final. Copa Del Rey:

Well done dude !

What further advantage does it give them over us if they'd won it? Seriously? if they were on a par with us perhaps I'd see your point. Take away your loyalty for NUFC for one moment and ask yourself this: You're a footballer who is being chased by two clubs, one finished 3rd in the league, qualified for the Champions League and have just finished runners up in this season's competition. The other finished 13th and have no European football next season. Which seems the more appealing prospect? And now ask yourself had the team who finished 3rd actually won the Champions League, would it have any significant bearing on your decision? I doubt it would. They finished runners up in a competition we couldn't even qualify for. That's like Whitley Bay begrudging Newcastle winning the FA Cup - it's crackers. I cannot support another English team to win a football match that will see them gain even more financial advantage over us and make them even more attractive to players that we might also be in the market for, I cannot turn off my support for Newcastle United like the flick of a switch when the disadvantages to us are so clear.

That's Cat language for "take me to the canal in a sack"

Regardless of the gap, they are our rivals along with the other 18 clubs in the Premiership, and I don't want to see any further advantage given to any of them.

Agreed, this needs sorting as soon as possible so not to get in the way of the rebuilding, however you can imagine Shepherd loving being in the spotlight once again.

A Liverpool win would have been further to the detriment of Newcastle United, thats why I couldn't understand the support lastnight.

Scouse devine-righters crying on Talksport.

I guess that means if Ashley buys enough to force compulsary purchace of the remaining shares, you will recieve an offer inxcess of the market value.

Jellyfish - Baby's coming back I can't believe they allowed McFly to murder this song, wankers.

“I’m from Byker. I used to fight my way into school and fight my way out again. I’m not running away from a fight.” — Freddy Shepherd, 2006 George Caulkin The Times As recently as last week, on the day he announced the seventh manager of his 11 years as chairman, Freddy Shepherd declared that Newcastle United were “an impossible club to buy” because “I’m not selling”. As those ubiquitous adverts for a famous sportswear brand – although not one of Mike Ashley’s – have it, Shepherd discovered yesterday that impossible is nothing. Ashley’s purchase of the Hall family’s 41.6 per cent stake-holding in Newcastle leaves Shepherd’s position close to untenable. He is understood to have been as surprised as anyone by the reclusive billionaire’s decision to leave the shadows and enter the highly visible world of football, but he is under no illusions that the country’s 25th richest man aims to buy the entirety of his club. Shepherd spent yesterday in hastily arranged discussions with his fellow directors and a full emergency board meeting has been called to consider the offer of 100p per share from St James’ Holdings, Ashley’s company. “The board will meet to consider the offer shortly,” a Newcastle statement said. “Newcastle United shareholders are urged to take no further action at this time.” At yesterday’s valuation, Shepherd’s 29.8 per cent stake of Newcastle is worth about £40 million, which would represent more than loose change to most businessmen, but while he has maintained that he would step down in favour of a “Geordie Abramovich”, Shepherd has been steadily reinvesting dividends in more shares. It has long been understood that Shepherd has been seeking a formula to buy Sir John Hall’s holding – “I would consider buying the Hall shares at the correct price,” he said – and friction between the men, who were part of the consortium that took control on Tyneside in December 1990, grew when an offer period for the club failed to bring a tangible bid from either Polygon or the Belgravia Group in January. At that stage, Shepherd blamed Hall, his predecessor as chairman, for increased instability that had afflicted the club on the pitch and in the transfer market. “Sir John has to decide what his role in the club is,” he said. “He has to decide whether he wants to stick or sell. The offer period has been damaging and difficult for everyone at the club. Everyone here has been left wondering whether they would have jobs when it was all over. It is me who has to run the club on a day-to-day basis and the situation isn’t conducive to running a huge Premiership outfit.” That position has been clarified, although Shepherd’s shock at the latest developments illustrates the gulf that separates him from Hall (whose statement that Ashley has his “full backing” can be read in a similar light). While he is not obliged to sell his stock, the logic of retaining a minority shareholding seems dubious, particularly once Ashley crosses the majority threshold, with inherent voting rights. Shepherd has previously insisted that he would depart the club in similar circumstances to this. “I am not looking actively to leave, not at all, but if there was to be a takeover it would be a clean break,” he said at December’s annual meeting. “I wouldn’t be hanging around. I don’t think it is right for any company and I have bought enough companies in my time to know that doesn’t work. I certainly wouldn’t do it.” Few supporters would mourn. As a Geordie, Shepherd’s tribal allegiances are obvious, but under his stewardship the club have not won a trophy and regular appearances in the Champions League have been consigned to memory. A history of ill-timed dismissals and public gaffes has not helped his popularity. New direction will be embraced. Earning curve £8.3m Price the Hall family paid for 79 per cent of club in 1980s £10m Estimate of the sum they earned from the 1997 float £15m What they have earned from dividends since

Yes. Benitez talked of as some sort of God at 7:40pm yet had become a tactical buffoon by 9:35pm. I love scousers me. Seems strange to me that there are so many fans here that have in the past said they would rather see Newcastle win a corner than see England win the world cup, but suddenly get patriotic and emotional when Liverpool play an Italian team in the European Cup final.

Great track, love it on the video when he gives the guitarist a peck on the cheek, the sheer disgust on her face is priceless. Tempted to try and get to see one of his London shows this summer

Honestly Gemmill, I'm not bothered, I had a preference for Liverpool tonight, no more. In fact, I suspect, had Liverpool won more people would have been bothered, perhaps you included. NJS and SpongeBob, I think you know somewhere where your own prejudices lie. I have a different life experience, that's all. Anyway, all of this is insignificant to me now after today's real news. Amen brother.

Prince - Purple Rain

Seeing the thunderous look on Souness's face on SKY at half time quickly irradicated any lingering doubts of my favouritism towards Milan.

My only concern over Meeelan winning is that Gabriel Marcotti's head has now expanded exponentially.