Shak

I skip past the golf stuff, don't see the fascination with it myself, boring game for boring people. Probably Hitzfeld's only weakness 111531[/snapback] Proper legend and all.

We've had it in Ireland for a while, it's actually pretty good IMO, everyone seems happy with it. Pubs and clubs are less murky, and as a smoker I find it to be nice to head outside for a cigarette. Pubs are also putting in smoking areas out back so you can still have your pint and a smoke if you want.

I'd like for him to be able to go to the World Cup, I like seeing teams at their strongest where possible at the World Cup in particular. No doubt it'll be interesting come summer to see if he stays here or leaves, but for him to miss the World Cup would be harsh. At 26 he could arguably be said to be at his peak, and top players don't get many World Cup's while at their peaks. Rooney should be frightening in this one and then particularly the next 2. Ronaldinho at his peak should be a joy to watch this summer, see if he can lead a team to victory as the main man.

I can, but it's with a look of disdain on his face.

Maybe crushed was a bit strong, just didn't want to say disappointed as well and seem unoriginal. Loss is a loss though for me, especially as the whole season was riding on this game. Personally am looking forward to Shearer going. He's been a negative to us for 2 years now, as he's an automatic starter when fit despite it being very arguable that he's one of our two best strikers.

Did you expect to win it like? 109434[/snapback] I fail to see your point. I hoped we would win it, and now that our season is officially over and yet again we have no silverware I feel saddened by it.

On the whole yes, given his all to the club, sacrificing personal glory to do so. Would have been nice to see him have at least one medal to show for it. On the other hand I do believe that he has become a negative to the club for the last 2 seasons, and he offers almost nothing on the pitch these days so that does lessen my pity. On the third hand he gets to live the rest of his life as a living legend in his home town, with a big bank balance to live on and the gaurantee that he'll one day get a shot at managing the club. So the lad doesn't have it too bad.

Aye feeling crushed myself. Next few months are absolutely massive for us. A good manager and a few good signings and we could be flying next year because, as you say, we have the basis of a good team. However another bad manager could completely maroon us, meaning we'd lose the likes of Given, Zoggy and Owen and slip into mediocrity on a long-term basis. We need a good appointment. Let's just hope our chairman is as good as you claim him to be.

Parker doesn't look comfortable on the ball, and until he learns to be comfortable on it he'll never be international standard. Since Roeder took over and we've actually started passing the ball through the midfield, this part of Parker's game has been exposed. Under Souness he stood out as our game plan was to send it long and fight and scrap for every ball, without any real tactical plans. Like a 15 a side game you'd have in the playground when you were young, everyone just chasing the ball. This suited Parker as his workrate is top notch and he gets about the pitch very well. He's got the drive and tenacity to be a good holding player, but unless he develops some composure on the ball and learns to recieve and get rid of it without taking 4 or 5 touches, we'll struggle to build a good passing side with him in it.

Personally still reckon that Boumsong will one day be an accomplished center back, just probably not in England and almost definitely not at Newcastle. Souness on the other hand was never going to be the man to take us anywhere.

Barring a Dream Team-esque disaster where a number of our players perish in dramatic circumstances, or George Graham is appointed, next season is almost a cert to be an improvement on this one. All depends on the new manager though wheter we'll be hopefully challenging for a CL place or a UEFA Cup place.

Must be true. Theyre always reliable. 108727[/snapback] Came from Martin Jol, who's generally quite a reliable poster. Personally I reckon it's O'Neill's if he wants it, but if he turns it down we may see Hitzfeld offered the job. Wheter Hitzfeld takes it or not would be a different story, the Germany job among others may become available this summer so he may wait and see what transpires, which would leave us in limbo.

Going to happen it's not. Regular Yoda aren't you?

The one before that wasn't all that good either. Still though, I don't think we can hold our previous players from Spain as as barometer for how well someone like Torres would do.

I don't remember those quotes being attached to the story from last August, and I do believe it's possible we'll make a move for Torres. Severely doubt we'll get him though, I'd expect other clubs to be interested, bigger, shinier clubs at that.