TheMoog

"We'll have none of your nonsense here Barton"

"Joey Stanley Barton, you have pleaded guilty to the charges brought by this court, and it is now my duty to pass sentence. You are an habitual criminal, who accepts arrest as an occupational hazard, and presumably accepts imprisonment in the same casual manner. We therefore feel constrained to commit you to the maximum term allowed for these offences — you will go to prison for 6 months." Cue the Porridge theme...

So it's worth getting then is it? Might grab a copy at the weekend if it is... only thing is, how complicated is the control set up? I mean I really am used to playing on the PS2.

I think that probably are reading far too much into the situation. The season has just finished. Transfer dealings are just starting at the moment and we already were (unsuccessfully) involved in one attempt to sign on of the biggest prospects of football in Modric. I think it is a case of wait and see what is about to happen during the summer. If there has been no action until August then is the time to start to worry, but definitely not now. I also don't see any need of making a public statement of intention. The best statement of intention will be when we are finally successful in signing a good player. But I don't think a statement saying that there is the amount of xy million pound available necessary. It probably would only be counterproductive as then clubs from Europe know they can try to hold us to ransom. All that matters is that Keegan etc. know that enough money is available, which I think does now since the meeting in London the other week. Aye, you're probably right, I must admit I'd be the first to moan if the club came out with figures on how much we have to spend as it'd end up with us being held to ransom like you said. Just a bit nervous I guess, seems strange not having the media circus reporting on every rumour going where we're involved

I've never heard of this guy, is he really worth £10m? I must admit I'm a little underwhelmed at present, we've had no real statement of intent from the board and that hasn't been helped by the press stirring the shit. Since Kev returned I'd been on a high but I'm starting to wonder whether that was the plan by Ashley to calm the fans down while he didn't spend any money. It's alright saying we were after Woodgate in January or we were after Modric just recently but it's got us no where other than being poor relations to a half-baked bunch of turds like the Spuds - yes they have European footy but christ it doesn't half bite being second choice to a team like them. I'd like to think that Ashley is aware that you need to spend money to win things and make money but the impression I'm getting right now is that we're just not in it. I know, I know it's only two weeks in to the silly season and there's a major international tournament between now and the beginning of next season but wouldn't it be nice to be getting some decent players in where possible before (1) the prices go through the roof and (2) other teams don't swamp the market for the bargains. Something else, while it wouldn't bother me to see Smith or Duff leave us I'm a bit concerned that our squad is soooo thin. Losing any of the players would add to that problem, so unless we're bringing in quite a few new players for the main positions and for cover I don't see the logic in it. We need some squad players, we need some first team players and in particular we need a midfield playmaker. I guess I'm just a bit anxious that the board aren't keeping the momentum going while the feelings are good.

Aye, and Petrov maybe

Hey, less of the 'armchair fan' comments please

I always thought Taylor was a good manager until his stint at Leicester let him down. That said I don't know the full ins and outs of his time with them so I guess there could be more to it, he certainly seems to do well enough wherever else he's been from what I've seen. Maybe a youth coaching role for him here would be good for us in the long run with future players.

It would be nice if we could go through the summer without losing any of our decent or even half decent players for a change, maybe then we'd end up with a good sized squad again one day!

I just can't get past the guy's name being 'Arse-Shavin' - or am I mis-pronouncing it? Looks quality though, even if he was playing against a pub team last night.

I know it's from Fans FC but what IF it was true?

I think I agree with it all tbh, not a bad report considering... the Taylor comment is odd though.

Pardon?

First and foremost I still think the majority of guff reported on last week by the press was exagerated beyond what was needed - however, IF even the slightest scrap were true about Mike Ashley then in my eyes he might as well pack his pags and fuck off right now. Keegan is the Messiah on Tyneside for a very good reason, that reason is no different now than it was all those years ago. I must admit after watching that BBC post-match interview today I really don't like the sound of that meeting or the fact that Kev said it was 'needed', makes me think Ashley's sticking his oar in too much and hampering things more than helping. I hope, for the sake of the club and all of us that there really isn't a power struggle between Kev and Ashley because Kev will win everytime for me - if Ashley wants success he needs to button it, stay in the background and be the silent financial backing for us otherwise it will ruin everything... and the Toon hasn't had anywhere near as much possible momentum to do great things as it has right now. Currently, I'm very nervous about our future.

Tbh he's been near non-exisitant for ages, how old is he now anyways? Maybe he could get a deal at one of the clubs joining the league from the Championship, just seems like a complete waste of space like Darren Anderton was for the Spuds.

So, what a surprise, these alleged crisis talks came to pass with nothing for the press to get excited about - are we honestly amazed by this? The whole story was a complete fabrication and no where near the truth, as per bloody usual with the scumbag press wanks. What's the betting that as soon as there's even half a sentance which could be taken more than one way the media will run riot again? It's getting totally ridiculous.

From the chron: Exactly how it should be, and I like his dig at the press.

Not to mention the scally bastards causing trouble by trying to sneak in without a ticket. Or pissing on any of their own unlucky enough to get caught in the mess

Jesus flying christ on a bike, I'm really fucked off with the press and their incesant, made-up, cretinous bollocks. Part of me wishes the club would make a solid statement saying they're fed up with the pathetic, negative, untrue stories that are coming from certain areas of the media but then I think why should they have to? It's a joke but it's soooo infuriating! Fucking useless, lazy, journo scumbag motherfuckers!!! Grrrrrrrrrrrr! I reckon Gemmil's right, just need to stick to reading the press on a Monday briefly for the match write-ups then ignore the rest.

London press in Newcastle United shit-stirring shocker... once again a non-story based on fabricated information and out-of-context quotes. Keegan told the truth regarding where the club's likely to be next season, anybody who's actually watched the post match interview can't argue with anything he said and it certainly wasn't projected in a negative manner. For anyone who believes there's even a slight chance of this nonsense being true go and watch the interview, so ridiculous it's laughable. I honestly think that a lot of the time this sort of rubbish is produced just for the benefit of other team's fans who know nothing about our club.

Oh noes, the deal is wavering!!! Check the Chron

So that blows KK's 'we only need two or three players' speech out of the water. All smoke and mirrors from KK i reckon, playing the money were going to spend and ambition down, hope so anyway. Aye, that had me thinking, maybe Kev's just playing things down so we don't get raped in the transfer market too much - look what's happened in the past when it's been known we've had the cash to splash, average players for over-inflated fees. If we can get some decent players in for reasonable prices then all the better. It made me laugh earlier when I read someone asking what the difference was between Fat Sam and Keegan playing down hopes and ambitions, the first thing that springs to mind for me is that Fat Sam's team looked shit, played shit and were going nowhere - Keegan's team have shown potential, entertainment and hope, so I'm inclined to put up with a steady upturn of the club under Kev more.

Aye, I'd be happy if we ditched Smith, Duff and Carr and brought in cover for them as well as two or three extra additions to the squad... that's quite a tall order though going by recent interviews.

Sweeeet

He's telling it how it is, as usual with our Kev.