Irrelevant Nick KP

We are not the same person.

I'm pleased that City look to have pipped Tottenham for the 4th CL place. However, I think it is unimpressive, to say the least, how Mancini has had all that money to spend, yet has just about hobbled his way into the Champions League.

I've worked with Man U fans. I've seen it with my own eyes.

Shepherd on Owen: He was my worst investment (never mind that he was the worst investment by any chairman ever). Shepherd then spent about 3 minutes emphasising how all the Newcastle fans were absolutely delighted at the signing of Owen, (so they couldn't blame Shepherd). Offering Owen that kind of money was absolutely stupd. Especially as it turns out that the club couldn't really afford it. Also, Shearer was paid way too much, especially in that new contract he signed in 2004. Shepherd was abysmal as an economist, and no wonder we were in such financial trouble when Ashley came.

LeazesMag, Shepherd did indeed run Newcastle on his own, from 1997 when John Hall decided to be a sleeping shareholder, and simply play golf. Fortunately, in 2007 John Hall realised what a mistake he had made letting Shepherd run the club, so he sold it to Mike Ashley, which spelt Shepherd's ignominious exit from power.

ChezGiven, no, if Birmingham get relegated and Man U win the Champions League, then Man U fans will be happier. But if Birmingham don't get relegated, and Man U win the Champions League, then Birmingham fans will be happier than Man U fans. Owertyo, of course Man U fans have got blase. Anyone who has worked with one, and seen their mooted reaction to winning the league, knows that. To be honest, I don't blame the genuine Man U fans who have supported them since the 1980s. I believe they are victims of the money game.

ChezGiven, Man United certainly do NOT reach their full potential all the time. They've won the Champions League 3 times in their entire history. Winning that competition is their full potential. And Man U fans should be very very glad indeed! If they won it as often as they won the Prem, they'd quite literally NEVER have any possibility to feel anything LIKE the amount of happiness felt by Brum fans when they won the Carling Cup.

ChezGiven, even if Man U fans are a little bit happy after winning the league (and they are only happy if they don't suffer too cruel an exit from the Champions League), you can't get away from the fact that most people seem to agree that Birmingham fans are happier when THEIR team reaches its full potential than Man U fans are when THEIR team reaches its full potential (according to most people who have voted on this poll, at least) And what's more, I don't hear you denying it.

If you mean you'd rather be happy than successful, then fair enough. But the two are different things even if they do often come hand in hand. I do sort of see what you're getting at. However, despite the anguish that came with it at times, my happiest time supporting the club has been when we've been (relatively) successful and have come close to winning things. Winning the championship was a good laugh etc. but it was fucking wank compared to coming in the top four, getting to cup finals, playing in Europe and so on. It was a bit like beating the kids in the year below you at school in a practice match. I understand there is a complacency that comes with a lot of success but if you think Man Utd are less happy than when they were also rans or that Arsenal fans are happier than when they were winning things then you're out of your tiny mind. I think Man U fans are no less, and no more happy than when they were, in your words, also-rans. I think Arsenal fans were happier when they won league trophies, but then again, they never spent massive bucks, and what's more, they weren't as happy with the league titles as Coventry fans were with their 1987 Cup triumph. Nowhere NEAR, in fact.

I've highlighted the part I'm addressing. That's exactly my whole point! You've gone round the world and come back where you started In football you cannot be happy all the time. No matter who you support, you'll have good times and bad times, Birmingham as well as Man U. Which brings us back to my own point. In football you cannot buy happiness!!! Abramovicz has had to learn that lesson the hard way, as Chelsea fans glumly win Cups and nonchalantly win leagues.

Well, you are perfectly welcome to think Man U's constant wins mean they are 80% happy every week. If Birmingham stay up, it will give them another burst of happiness, but of course we don't take that into account do we. Whether I was a Man U fan, or a Torquay fan, I'd always be happy whenever my team exceeded expectations (in Man U's case that can only mean winning the Champions League). But in general, I'd feel very depressed if winning the Prem had become a humdrum experience. That is why I'd rather support any other team than Chelsea or Man U, and, in a few years when City fans have become blasé, they too will be in that category. I'll admit that City fans are on a high now because of the money. But the Chelsea fans prove that this is a high which doesn't last many years. You really dont get it do you. A team can only exceed expectations once in a while. If they do it all the time, that change the expectations. So you can not by definition be happier all the time because of exceeding expecations as they will adjust. The whole premise of what you are saying falls apart right there. Also, you have no idea about what really makes fans happy. In Manchester, the things that make Man U fans happy are bragging rights over City and Liverpool, based on their success. I expect when Man U beat Liverpool's 18 titles they will celebrate it harder than ever before. Have you been to Stamford Bridge to hear how the atmosphere and crowds have been declining since Abramovich took over? I think the idea about expectations is interesting but to not get that being at the top of the league all the time is the best place to be is unforgivably stupid. I've highlighted the part I'm addressing. That's exactly my whole point! You've gone round the world and come back where you started In football you cannot be happy all the time. No matter who you support, you'll have good times and bad times, Birmingham as well as Man U. Which brings us back to my own point. In football you cannot buy happiness!!! Abramovicz has had to learn that lesson the hard way, as Chelsea fans glumly win Cups and nonchalantly win leagues.

I think they should reduce the amount of money that they pay the Royal Family. Queen Elizabeth is much more frugal than the younger royals, including Prince Charles, according to Jeremy Paxman in his book 'On Royalty'. I don't mind having a royal family, but I think Scotland, Canada, Australia and the rest should get their own. Queen Elizabeth is English, and should not have to bother with those far-flung sheep-worriers.

Well, you are perfectly welcome to think Man U's constant wins mean they are 80% happy every week. If Birmingham stay up, it will give them another burst of happiness, but of course we don't take that into account do we. Whether I was a Man U fan, or a Torquay fan, I'd always be happy whenever my team exceeded expectations (in Man U's case that can only mean winning the Champions League). But in general, I'd feel very depressed if winning the Prem had become a humdrum experience. That is why I'd rather support any other team than Chelsea or Man U, and, in a few years when City fans have become blasé, they too will be in that category. I'll admit that City fans are on a high now because of the money. But the Chelsea fans prove that this is a high which doesn't last many years.

Jon, you've proved my point. The only defeat that can make Man U fans absolutely crushed is a defeat in the Champions League. Nothing short of winning that can give them a real party! And you say no one else here agrees with me??? Well, I suggest you look at the score in the poll. As for Blyth, it's obvious that if you suddenly start supporting a club just because they've started doing well, that's called being a glory hunter.

Jon, you forgot to add something, and I've put the sign (......................................) where you forgot to add it. You forgot to add the words 'every season' and I'm not surprised you 'forgot' them. Yes, I most certainly would rather support any team in England, rather than support a team who can only get real delight from winning the Champions League, and even that delight is not as great as when Birmingham win the Carling Cup. And I find it strange that you can't believe that. By the way, I enjoyed the Blyth Spartans comment. But to be honest, if you switched to Blyth Spartans now, you'd be every bit as much of a so-called glory hunter, as if you switched to Man U now. By the way, a curious development has recently happened. 10-12 years ago, you constantly heard Liverpool fans going on about how they hated Man U, whereas Man U fans didn't bother much about that. People all assumed that Liverpool fans were jealous. Now, it's different, and Man U fans keep banging on about Liverpool, whereas the Liverpool fans don't seem that bothered any more. Could it be that Man U fans are actually becoming jealous of Liverpool, because Liverpool fans just have more excitement???

I enjoy banter, but I'd like to say one thing; by mocking what I'm saying about money not buying happiness in football, you are doing the bidding of Abramovicz and people like him. It is obvious that the money hasn't made Chelsea fans any happier, and loads of clubs' fans are happier than their fans. It all depends on exceeding expectations. But Abramovicz and people like him, don't want fans to notice that money can't buy happiness. Buy embracing the inexpensive happiness enjoyed by fans of Burnley, Fulham and Birmingham in recent years, we could finally free ourselves from the clutches of the Arabs at City and people like them. It's so pathetic that fans always think that the most important thing for a football club is to have an owner who is richer than all other owners. It isn't!!! Look at the score on this poll, for goodness' sake!!! We can all see that money cannot buy happiness. Well done, Birmingham, you are real Champions of this season, because you have probably got the happiest fans, even if Man U win the Champions League!

Haha, good one, Jon

Keep voting. This poll is very important.

I can't join it to an independent clause with a semi-colon??? But I just did? Didn't you see?

Who would you rather have in next year's' Champions League. I'd rather have Manchester City. The reason is simple. Manchester City are financially so far above us, that it wouldn't make any difference if they get Champions League prize money. With Tottenham it's different. If they don't get into the Champions League, I can see them falling like a pack of cards. This season might have made them over-confident in the spending department, but at the end of the day, what have they got from it, if they don't get into the Champions League. We could pip them to a spot in the near future, with a bit of luck. Not so with Al-Manchester City. They've got a bottomless well to dig into. What's more, I don't think UEFA's new rules will stop City from spending heavy dosh. If the worst comes to the worst, they could launch a scarf or flag or tea towel in the club shop at a price of a billion pounds. The Arab owner could buy a few, and hey presto, the money would be part of their turnover. So I hope they beat Blackburn in this evening's match.

KeithJ, this is treason!!! Surely we old chronites should stick together!!! LOL LOL

That list is not meant to be a joke. You may not agree with it, but it's certainly not meant as a joke. I believe in spending time looking for players who are a bit off the radar, who would almost certainly come to us without being asked twice and who are playing very well at this moment in time.

He used to play for us you tool. I know, but I didn't realise it was obligatory to mention it when you included him in a list. Oh well, you get some stupid people on all forums, I suppse.

We've overachieved, have we? Just like last year, when people were saying we'd do a Leeds? Face it, people WANT Newcastle to do badly. We've overachieved in comparison to what we've spent (opposite to Sunderland), but the table doesn't lie. We got rid of wasters like Owen, Martins, Duff, Bassong, Beye and Viduka and have repalced them with Best, Williamson, Tiote and Simpson. Also, Nolan has really been a revelation.

I've just had a go, and failed, due to not knowing the thought process of one who considers Wenger to be an all-seeing eye.