Craig

It's not really a very good "ethos" though is it? (and it's not true anyway now, it's pretty much out of reach almost any individual) They'd be better off getting rid of all regulations going that way (nor does Fop suspect F1 will be the driving force behind this century's automotive industry - not unless they limit them all to Nano's ). Or as Fop thinks allowing wheel spikes (and possibly mini-guns) on the cars. Why not? It's worked for almost 60 years... As for being out of reach of almost anyone, Brawn had totally disproved that theory this season. They're working on a minimal budget (around the figure the FIA wants to bring in) yet they're still comfortably beating the teams who throw money into the sport (Ferrari, Toyota). The advantage is techincal ability, not financing. Teams should be allowed to spend what they like - if the FIA are so concerned about costs, why did they hike the entry fee and superlicence costs this winter by a record amount? Haven't they just basically got lucky with a technical loophole? Or at least got away with something most other teams thought was against the regulations and therefore got a big step up this season with most of the rest playing catch up? That can happen once (or maybe even twice), but its not going to be the case all the time or even the majority of the time. Got lucky? Nope, they've engineered their car around one particular innovation which has shown to be a success. Only like the Wings, Ground Effect, Turbos, Raised Nose, etc in the past. The others are playing catch up but then again Brawn took another step forward with the changes they made for Barcelona. As an aside, 'The Cock' has alluded to something on his blog (http://www.jamesallenonf1.com/) which the press are overlooking and which will mean that the FIA will back down: The breached contractual obligations he alludes to is that this veto states that Ferrari have to be in agreement with something the FIA want to push through in order for it to become legitmate. In short, if the FIA enforce the salary cap, they've broken their contract.

You total n0b. Who are bigger Sunderland or Tottenham Hotspur? I think Sunderland and I do. You're too easy Stevie. It is us though, more trophies, bigger fan base, more money, better team. By almost every measure its us. I don't agree..... with you or Stevie.

Honestly? I don't think there's anything in it hence the general vitriol between the fans of the two clubs... I do think they're both bigger than Sunderland however.

Robert, Martins, now Harper... you're unstoppable. Annoying to admit it but he's been right with each one though He was calling for Robert's head long before Larry came up short though. I think Robert's turn in form had more to do with the change in tactics and power balance in the dressing room, than himself. As for Martins, the jury is still out for me, I don't think he's half as bad as the ginger one declares, I'm not saying he's our best striker, but he's sure as shit not the retarded geriatric Gemmil purports. Harper, well Steve is just the latest in line to come in for Gemmil's vitriol. The first two have one thing in common which explains Gemmil's want for their exclusion, they're both enigmatic. One game they can rule the roost, the other they can be utterly anonymous. This frustrating quality seems to be the litmus test for our bank breaking buddy. I can understand frustration, but see a pattern... that's all. There are two l's in Gemmill. Martins is shit by the way. And Robert was shit long before Gemmill jumped on his case....

Good morning I don't want to get involved in you twos flirting. I've been hoping you'd get together On a side note, I want to finish 7th over Fulham, even if it were Arsenal I'd want Fulham to lose. Nice to see some of your fans ARE more concerned about your own team's predicament rather than that of another club....

What about Mr Parker and Mr Duff? I seem to recall a lot of Spurs fans particularly livid at the time that they dared to join Newcastle instead of Spurs. Particularly Parker who many of you believed had been 'promised' in exchange for Arnesen

Still prefer him to Frank Pingel Don't talk of that Man Utd supporting tosser... Fucking turncoat.

We have had three Uefa's on the bounnce now, I think quite a few would sacrifice Thursday nights for a few more Saturday 3 oclocks. I can't even believe you've posted that. Sacrifice the revenue that European football will afford you just so you can got to a match at a traditional time is ridiculous. Some of your lot don't deserve what's been achieved this year - FACT Talk to any real football fan who goes to games and they will tell you that stupid timed football games are one of the biggest problems with the game. You cant even get tanked up on a Sunday. The two situations aren't linked though are they? Forget what evening UEFA Cup football is on (FWIW I think it should return to Wednesdays), some of your fans are saying they'd sacrifice it for the relegation of another club. And you're defending them!! I hate the Mackems, Man Utd & Spurs but if it we needed one of them to win to bolster our own chances of qualifying for Europe, I'd be backing them every single time.

She was caught utterly red handed - couldn't have been worse if she'd been found in the bank vault with a bag labelled swag and a black and white stripped jumper and a mask. Of course she and all other involved (including the 1 or 2 the police are actually looking at) will get away with it. But yes that is the big problem, most anybody else would have been at best sacked and at worst facing criminal proceeding for doing what average MPs have been doing for years. What's worse is instead of saying "it's a fair cop, guv" they tried their best to rebury it (with their failed attempted to exempt it from the FOI act), only now after everything are they finally beginning to do the "right thing" for utterly the wrong reasons (self-preservation). I'm fucking disgusted at their whiter than white 'look at me, i'm being good and paying it back' attitude and the half-arsed apologies they're all making... They've been totally found out - would they have apologised had they not been caught? Would they fuck!

It's not really a very good "ethos" though is it? (and it's not true anyway now, it's pretty much out of reach almost any individual) They'd be better off getting rid of all regulations going that way (nor does Fop suspect F1 will be the driving force behind this century's automotive industry - not unless they limit them all to Nano's ). Or as Fop thinks allowing wheel spikes (and possibly mini-guns) on the cars. Why not? It's worked for almost 60 years... As for being out of reach of almost anyone, Brawn had totally disproved that theory this season. They're working on a minimal budget (around the figure the FIA wants to bring in) yet they're still comfortably beating the teams who throw money into the sport (Ferrari, Toyota). The advantage is techincal ability, not financing. Teams should be allowed to spend what they like - if the FIA are so concerned about costs, why did they hike the entry fee and superlicence costs this winter by a record amount?

We have had three Uefa's on the bounnce now, I think quite a few would sacrifice Thursday nights for a few more Saturday 3 oclocks. I can't even believe you've posted that. Sacrifice the revenue that European football will afford you just so you can got to a match at a traditional time is ridiculous. Some of your lot don't deserve what's been achieved this year - FACT

Rather have us relegated than themselves qualify for Europe is quite unbelievable! That's bordering on Mackem-style obsession tbh.

I'm wondering who the keeper is likely to be. Tommy Wright perhaps?

Hazel Blears is paying back capital gains tax to the Inland Revenue - isn't that techincally an admission of tax evasion? As for claiming for expenses that they can do but know that in reality they shouldn't - isn't that similar to benefit fraud?? In both events, if it was a member of Joe Public rather than pay it back, we'd be fined and sent to prison. As for the bloke who claimed for the fine he received for non payment of council tax.......

They're calling the FIA's bluff.... and I think the FIA will blink first. I'm no Ferrari fan but I totally support them on this. F1 was created as a machine for rich blokes to spunk as much money as they wanted on fast cars. Putting a budget cap on it will remove the very ethos of the sport. There are other formulae which they can apply this to - F1 should be left as it is. For one thing it's the developmental workshop for road vehicles. If the budgets are capped, there'll be less development on the track and therefore less development in automative engineering full stop. The FIA have already changed their stance by suggesting a two-tiered championship as a compromise - tighter technical regulations for those who don't conform to the budget caps than those who do. This would leave us in an absolutely ridiculous situation of 10 cars fighting for one championship and 10 for another. What doesn't seem to be widely reported is that this isn't just the opinion of Ferrari - it's of all the FOTA teams which is everyone. Ferrari are just making the first move.

Robert, Martins, now Harper... you're unstoppable. Annoying to admit it but he's been right with each one though

he's not registered again and keeping his head down then Last seen playing for Brescia. Canny player tbf

Retired years ago man!

Tell you what, look how much it means to Dowie to escape the drop This is a man who a little over a month ago had absolutely no connection with the club yet he's going as mental as any lifelong Newcastle fan would. Can't for life of me have ever expected that reaction out of the likes of Dean Saunders, Alan Murray, Kevin Bond or Nigel Pearson. The only no.2s in my memory who would have reacted like that would have been Terry Mac and John Carver - both of whom had links with the club. Refreshing to see - Shearer and Dowie remind me very much of Keegan and Terry Mac (1st time round).

At this stage it's about squeezing out every tiny drop of luck and self belief until the fat lady's singing. Attacking a player who really didn't do much wrong isn't the smartest move. That's all Fucking hell man it's people's opinions!! tbh IF (and it's a big fucking if) Harper does come on here and read up about what we're saying, he'll be a plank for taking it to heart. Quite why you think people voicing their honest opinions on an open football forum is "not the smartest move" is quite beyond me. Perhaps you want us to start banning people for being negative?

Phil Brown and Fergie are good mates as well. Fergie probably still hasn't forgiven Shearer for turning them down either.

Exactly. I'm not actively seeking out someone to have a go at, and I'm 100% supportive during the match. However, I am entitled to an opinion, and if I think Harper had a poor game then I'll say so. On a fans' message board of all places. It's clear to see why he was number 2 for so many years tbh. For a fanzine to be going WELL over the top criticising a player after THE BEST FUCKING TEAM PERFORMANCE WE'VE HAD THIS SEASON is stupid. It's ingrained. Seriously. If you're saying you can't justifiably criticise a player just because we won a game then you're a fucking idiot. It may well have been our best performance of the season but it was anything but perfect. As I said earlier, it was more a case of them being more shit than us than anything to really get excited about. A decent team would have beaten us handsomely IMO.

ha! shame actually a burnley preston final would've been incredible Would have been superb actually.

I remember you saying before actually Craig, aren't your family from Preston? I originally come from Kendal - my Grandad was a life-long PNE fan and was responsible for getting me into football so I've always had a bit of a soft spot for them. My uncle supports them too so often have good craic with him about football. I guess my love for Newcastle was born out of the fact it was my local club. My Dad supported Blackpool as a lad and my Mam Everton!