Isegrim

I don't think so. And he was happy to offer more than anyone else for Woodgate in January wasn't he? I don't see where people get the idea he's not stumping up what the manager asks for. To help their agendas perhaps? moi ? Give me one good reason why I should have an "agenda" johnny ? Other than wanting the club to punch their weight ........ ? What the point of having the 3rd biggest stadium/crowds in the country if we act 2nd rate ? BTW, Allardyce has probably signed a confidentiality clause to keep his gob shut, that is pretty common. He did make noises last summer about not being backed though, and Mort clearly said that the dealings we made [good weren't they ?] were "good business" and also said before Xmas that any players signed in January would be for the future. Its the comments from Mort that cause this sort of response from me, and others. Why make out the club was going to fold, and put bad spin on what they took over ? Its bollocks, he knows it is. And its been explained in financial terms. The club will not fold. If NUFC were ever going to fold they would have done so in 1991. The new owner should have done more research into the clubs accounts if he doesn't like what he finds, now. And believe me if he sells it on he won;t lose anything, he'll want 230m quid having paid off the clubs "mortgage". Good move, but dont' kid yourself he's gave it away and is writing it off, which is what some people appear to suggest. Do they believe this ? Surely not. Has Mort said the club was going to fold? Again, a genuine question, I know he said they were suprised to learn the real size of the debts after the sale had gone through, but that was because they had to rush through the coup d'etat while Shepherd was on his death bed. Yes he did. http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/26092007/4/t...brink-mort.html Regardless of Mort's spin, to blindly deny that a club can fold is a bit deluded imho.

Maybe the 'transfer policy' he has adopted in the two transfer windows is down to the £100 million of debt he's had to pay off to stop the club from folding because of your good mate Freddy This idea that a business like Newcastle (with a virtual monopoly and catchment area) along with massive gates regardless of performance had any chance of 'folding' I find spurious and the kind of 'spin' Mort has been putting out since he arrived. The millions pouring into the PL virtually secures all PL club businesses for a considerable period. Many top flight clubs carry proportionate to income high debt ratios. It's not really about profitability either as there aren't many PL clubs that habitually make a profit. That said I am of the opinion the debt did need looking at but I find the melodrama surrounding it unnecessary. Not actually England, but Dortmund who are in many aspects very comparable to Newcastle had one foot in the grave because of their overambition. Of course it is difficult for a club or a business of the size of Newcastle with it's income to fold, but it's not impossible. I got told that KPMG had serious reservations about the balance sheets in recent years and it wasn't that easy to make them look (sort of) healthy. In the end the fate is down to the creditors and their securisation. As I understand it the likes of Schechter had options to cash in after the take over which would have fundamentally affected the resources of the club, which they seemed to consider to make use of. This was avoided by Ashley paying off the debt from his personal assets. You may call Mort's comments a drama, but I don't think they were technically a lie. They certainly aren't worse than the attempts to blandish the increasingly worrying financial state of the club in the form of lalaing. Out of interest what kind of TV money do top tier German clubs get? Less, which isn't of much importance in this context. Getting more tosh doesn't mean you can't get bankrupt if your higher debts get out of your hand.

Maybe the 'transfer policy' he has adopted in the two transfer windows is down to the £100 million of debt he's had to pay off to stop the club from folding because of your good mate Freddy This idea that a business like Newcastle (with a virtual monopoly and catchment area) along with massive gates regardless of performance had any chance of 'folding' I find spurious and the kind of 'spin' Mort has been putting out since he arrived. The millions pouring into the PL virtually secures all PL club businesses for a considerable period. Many top flight clubs carry proportionate to income high debt ratios. It's not really about profitability either as there aren't many PL clubs that habitually make a profit. That said I am of the opinion the debt did need looking at but I find the melodrama surrounding it unnecessary. Not actually England, but Dortmund who are in many aspects very comparable to Newcastle had one foot in the grave because of their overambition. Of course it is difficult for a club or a business of the size of Newcastle with it's income to fold, but it's not impossible. I got told that KPMG had serious reservations about the balance sheets in recent years and it wasn't that easy to make them look (sort of) healthy. In the end the fate is down to the creditors and their securisation. As I understand it the likes of Schechter had options to cash in after the take over which would have fundamentally affected the resources of the club, which they seemed to consider to make use of. This was avoided by Ashley paying off the debt from his personal assets. You may call Mort's comments a drama, but I don't think they were technically a lie. They certainly aren't worse than the attempts to blandish the increasingly worrying financial state of the club in the form of lalaing.

The Hoff - I've been looking for freedom

They are all new to Capello tbh.

Nah, the club's gone to the dogs.

I thought we'd seen the end of groin strains? Bring back Fat Sam and his Sports science staff.

Yup, barring the odd "wonder goal" it's his footballing brain and then finishing that's been behind his success not his pace (although that has clearly helped). I wouldn't have said he's lost that much pace between signing for Newcastle and now, or at least he probably lost a lot more between 18 and then. Agree. I think his recurring hamstring troubles during his time at Liverpool took a much great toll.

I think all this "lost his pace" is getting a bit overused. Sure, he is not the '98 version of Owen where he sprints the whole size of the pitch with the ball to his feet. But he hasn't been this kind of player for a couple of years already, even before his latest injury setbacks. On better fitness he still looks quicker than a lot of his colleagues to me, especially on short distances. So I think he still very much has it to get behind of back lines. Hopefully with a more creative midfielder behind him he is used in a much better way than now.

Nah, can't stand those gloating Arsenalfans either... These are those games where I wish players to start fighting and the clubs getting points deducted afterwards.

Man-up ffs Not that I want to ( ), but I have to agree with Patrokles. Martins played ok/well in the last two games, but the über-wankfests are totally over the top if you ask me. What will people do if he actually scores, something he hasn't done since a dodgy penalty early in December btw (including the games for Nigeria).

I agree (don't know if N'Zogbia does). As a squad player he would be pretty useful. He seems to be quite a character and pretty good for team spirit as well.

I hope he breaks his finger writing match reports...

I never doubted that with match fitness the goals will come. Even if never becoming the 'old' Michael Owen I reckon he is still far from 100%.

Good to have put a comfortable point difference between us and Fulham now. With Bolton not winning I can't see them finishing ahead of us now keeping their remaining fixtures in mind. I reckon we are more or less save already.

Get the fuck in!

Got to love Lowes' unbiased commentary though. He's right though. The booing of the fan boys is absolutely pathetic. Even if Martins had actually played well.

Fucking numpties booing again.

About time.

Lineup was to be expected. Unfortunately I can see the Zog sulking himself away from Newcastle in the summer.

This thread has officially been fopped.

I've upgraded tp the two teabags recently. One normal black tea and one "wellness" (silly German usage). As someone who lives in northern Germany, you shouldn't use teabags. Vile stuff. Pure leaves and a sieve tbh.

Was it viz that did the mock up Regal cigarettes ad "Reg likes 'em because he's chemically addicted to nicotine" I wasn't taking the piss btw. It's something that's struck me on the odd occasion I've seen women's football. They were thinking about making goals bigger for men to make the game more attractive, so the size should be about right. They had an interview with the Jorman 'keeper during the last World Cup about the general (sub-)standard of goalkeeping. She said that's foremost down to la ack of special training which was rather rare in Germany until a couple of years ago. So you probably get an image how it is handled in even less advanced nations.

This has to be the game plan. Seeing how much more positive people are after we just drew with Birmingham I think the atmosphere would be rocking after a positive start and an early goal. Though, I already expected this in the games against Bolton and Boro...