Isegrim

I won't eat any beans but Heinz. None of your strange flavoured ones either, just plain old-fashioned Heinz beans. 70371[/snapback] I'm not a big bean eater tbh, but it's Heinz only for me an'all. If you want something on toast though, you should look no further than Heinz tinned spaghetti. Much nicer than beans. 70384[/snapback] Tinned spaghetti? Sounds like charver-food for people who are too thick to cook themselves...

Playing way above his ability together with Acuna once again Arsenal. Still the best performance from a central midfield I have seen from a Newcastle pair in recent years...

Well, this seems to be roaring along quite nicely. 69995[/snapback] To be fair, it was me that pointed the billows in the direction of the burning ember that is Renton. 70031[/snapback] Homoerotic tbh. 70034[/snapback] Aye but Renton loves that sort of thing. 70036[/snapback] Yes, but he is just interested in Chinese men and not in people 'hung like a Chinese mouse'...

Gemmill said it scratched when they were kissing each other...

I see your 'Bring back Robert' and raise a 'bring back Craig Bellamy' 69984[/snapback] I see your 'bring back Craig Bellamy' after my 'Bring back Robert' and raise a 'If Souness reads this I fear for his health' 69989[/snapback] And I'll raise you a 'shave Terry Mac's tache' 69990[/snapback] Or just sack him...

I see your 'Bring back Robert' and raise a 'bring back Craig Bellamy' 69984[/snapback] I see your 'bring back Craig Bellamy' after my 'Bring back Robert' and raise a 'If Souness reads this I fear for his health'

I see your "Fuck off" and raise a "Bring back Robert"...

It must be a sad life you have to get pleasure out of this. Though, I can understand it being one of the last few nutters backing that clueless tosser who is in charge of the team affairs...

You really are completely blind to any faults when it comes to Robert aren't you? The bloke didn't just have bad games. He was a lazy prick who couldn't be arsed to pull his finger out and get stuck in a lot of the time. Shearer has bad games but it's very rarely through a lack of effort (I don't think even some of his recent poor performances have been a lack of effort, more because he just doesn't have it in him anymore, which is excusable given his age). Robert on the other hand couldn't be arsed on a regular basis, whether you or Isegrim can see this or not. 69955[/snapback] I have never denied that Robert was lacking commitment often. But I think despite his faults (again questionable commitment and a head as big as your arse) I think his positive contribution did outweigh his faults. I always said that I would not have a problem with Robert being replaced by a better player who is offering all the attitudes Robert is lacking AND those which Robert is offering. Though, I remember you saying for you a player who just shows some effort but isn't as good a player would do it. Even a couple of months later I find this statement absurd as IMHO it means nothing else than accepting mediocrity. I only became a fierce "Robert-backer" after this Lisbon incident when I felt Robert (after already being a scapegoat for some people) became the victim of a vendetta of a clueless manager who tried to force certain players out of the club. And that's by using an interview that got blown out of all thinkable proportions. I stand by what I said after the game: Robert got accused of being selfish and having a scathing attack at the team. The only selfish person was the manager, who gambled with Newcastle's progress in the competition to claim a cheap victory over a player he obviously wanted to get rid off. A player who was doing his manager every favour in the couple of games before by being instrumental in those games won (despite crap performances). In contrast to the likes of Butt et al I can even understand that Robert wasn't really inspired a couple of days later at Cardiff - what is still not an excuse for the performance.

Yes, these sentences are nearly as scathing as those "the arsehole" said when the tosser decided it was for the best of the team to leave him out in an important European Quarter final... 69929[/snapback] I didn't say he'd said anything out of order on this occasion did I, my German chum? Although the beautiful offer from Bolton is amusing at least. You seem to consistently forget though that as part of the interview you refer to, the arsehole announced that the manager and his coaches didn't talk to poor little Laurent and he just didn't know what to do with himself. I don't know about you but I'd be ashamed to come out with tripe like that. 69931[/snapback] Eh, players complaining about their managers not talking enough to them is pretty usual. "Tripe" looks completely different to me. In the same interview Robert said that the team's performances and his own have not been good enough. It also could have been interpreted as an appeal at the team to stay focused. But the press and tosser decided to make an attack at his team mates out of it. So if he isn't saying anything out of order here, why is he talking crap? He is a bit overly self-centered yes, we already knew that. But I can't disagree with him saying that he made a lasting impression by helping to lift the team out of midtable mediocrity (where the team under the guidance of the tosser is ending again). He recognised that he didn't do this own his own (that's why he says he isn't a miracle player). So please tell me where the "crap" part is. That he had offers of a couple of mediocre clubs and he ended up at the wrong one? I cannot see why all the fuzz about these kind of interviews...

Yes, these sentences are nearly as scathing as those "the arsehole" said when the tosser decided it was for the best of the team to leave him out in an important European Quarter final...

Herrrrzlichen Glückwunsch also from Sepp Blatter and the whole FIFA, UEFA, the English FA and all the referees in the world...

The very fact we carry a goal thread when he plays takes defensive pressure off the entire team. It also gives players an extra option (or at least an option) when they are in possession. The stats are still remarkable though. 69848[/snapback] It's true, Bramble has an extra option where to pass, after out of play. Also the morale-booster type thing. 69863[/snapback] I don't think Owen gives Bramble's hoofing an extra option. The difference is that Owen unlike Shearer still has the legs to run after these balls...

Tabloids, you gotta love 'em...

But this one is funnier...

That was what I thought when we played the likes of West Ham, Pompey, Wigan, Villa, Fulham before. From 15 possible points we got 3...

What are little kids doing in a porn movie theatre anyway...

Actually this interview is another invention of the tabloids (the same as last year's interest in the Newcastle job). Either that or the interview with Hearts and only consisted of three words ("Would you?" and "No"). Last Saturday (live on TV) Hitzfeld ruled out to take over a new job until next summer. And couple of days ago he described the ManUre job as "probably too stressful" (though that was in Jormany's tabloids ;-) ). Anyway, Newcastle should make sure that they hire a high profile manager the next time and not flick again through a list of Fat Fred's likely drinking buddies again...

Thats the way I see it - the top 4 SHOULD be those 4 and if we're lucky/do well/they falter then 4th or 3rd is possible. It would be possible imo to break into that if we could get a Wenger/Morinho/Ferguson/Benitez calibre of manager and therein lies the crux. I think Bobby and possibly Souness (just) are good enough to get that 5th/possible higher but thats our lot at the moment. 69540[/snapback] If Newcastle would fail to get a CL spot because those four teams are taking them I would not necessarily hold it against Souness. What bothers me is when the likes of Everton, Bolton or Tottenham are taking advantage of Newcastle's inability to hire a competent manager.

That's just bollocks. There are no "Souness lovers" (apart from me, obviously) and no one will celebrate the fact that we don't get relegated. Or demand another season for the bloke if that's all we achieve. 69510[/snapback] The expectations have been lowered though Gemmill, otherwise how is he still here after last season? What's acceptable to you again - 6th place and no silverware? Less than what Robson achieved with less money anyway. 69514[/snapback] I expect us to qualify for Europe this season, so I don't think expectations have necessarily been lowered, as I never expected us to qualify for the Champions' League. He's still here after last season because it's ridiculous to give someone less than a season to prove themselves. 69527[/snapback] You don't think it is reasonable to expect CL qualification with the money spent, considering the squad Souness inherited (the best ever apparently) and our previous placings? COnsidering the league now is undoubtedly one of the weakest ever bar Chelsea? As for your second point, it was ridiculous to give him the job in the first place. Once again I could mention Gullit, but you conveniently seem to forget about him. 69532[/snapback] How have I conveniently forgotten Gullit? I just assumed that seen as we weren't discussing him I could get away without mentioning his name tbh. And no I don't think it's reasonable to EXPECT CL Qualification. I didn't think it was reasonable to expect it under Robson either. It was great when it happened, but I never thought that we'd all of a sudden made it and could expect to do it every season, and I think you'd have to be a bit daft to think that way. 69534[/snapback] Well, how many teams really have a better squad than Newcastle? Chelsea, of course. Despite their various problems, ManUre and Arsenal still have better players. I'd say Liverpool have better players either. After that I think Newcastle come 5th. Though, there is always one of the top four struggling. It was Chelsea before Abramowich and Mourinho came in, then it was Liverpool, now it is Arsenal. Newcastle should be able to take profit from this, especially when investing heavily in a squad that before was able to break into the dominance of the top teams.

Have you mathematicians taken into account the 3 games before £28m was spent? 69477[/snapback] Of course But come on! No club (with the exception of Chelsea, who are in a league of their own) has spent more money on new players in the last year than we have. Are shit performances and 10th place a fair return on investment? 69480[/snapback] No but I think absences have been a factor (though too easily stated as well). We need a run with the best 11/12 out to properly judge imo though I accept that the squad should be better. 69486[/snapback] How often does it happen that a team is having its first XI available for selection? Newcastle cannot cope with injuries, especially they cannot cope with the absence of just a single player. IIRC it's 6 points out of 27 from games without Michael Owen.

And I can't see Newcastle finishing in top six with Souness in charge. We will end up somewhere between 8th and 12th (depending how often Mickey Owen is fit). Even a caretaker should be able to get more out of the squad. I'd rather give Shearer a chance with the help of Roeder than allowing Souness to lower the standards more and more by his inapt regime.

I still want to see him go - rather yesterday than tomorrow. It has already been pointed out several times that Mickey Owen is Scot(t)ies life insurance. Without Owen Newcastle would win owt. From what I gather the win against West Ham was flattering as the better team did not win. I am not complaining, but I still fail to see the improvement in the performances, but at least in results. Though, I don't want to hear the "bad luck" excuse the next time Newcastle do not get a performance related result...

Unbelievable. I blame Souness.

Of course it's not, but you're happy to see other English teams get bigger are you? Amazing 68919[/snapback] Says the one with the soft spot for Chelsea?