TicTacWoe

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2558/news/2...aming-rights-to Looks like Chelski are thinking of following in our illustrious footsteps. This really is shameless and I truly hope more teams don't go down this route (although am I right in thinking Hull have already done something like this with their own stadium?).

Reality check we are top of the second tier of the best football league in the world with god knows how many clubs below us who will never even get within a sniff of the premier league. Yes the team is shit compared to Keegans, Bobby's etc but in our current position to be considering starting a new club altogether starting in the lower leagues is highly knee-jerk imo, which was my point in the first place. What I was saying was that things would (and could easily become) a lot worse for that option to really become a sensible one. I am under no illusions about the current state of the squad, it's the worst we've had for a long time, but with promotion a real possibility and the possible sale of the club in the future it's not too much of a leap to think we could be back to being a mid table PL side in a year or two.

Starting a new club should be the very last resort only taken when all is totally lost (stadium sold, further relegations, god forbid renaming the club itself etc). As bad as things are at the moment, it could still be a lot worse. We still have a decent-ish team, are in a good position for promotion (and therefore hopefully more likely to be sold next season) and we still have a fantastic stadium (whatever it's called) and history. Starting a new club would be far too drastic a measure at this point and in any case who's to say that by the time it has crawled up from the lower leagues back to the big time that another Ashley figure wouldn't have taken over anyway?

They could quite easily do a Leeds if the bank ask for their money back though. It was only staved off this year at the last meeting iirc. There was a lot of talk about the banks wanting to renegotiate the loans, hence the sale of Alonso. Yet they still found £21m to sign Aquillani. Who still hasn't played in the PL yet. *Probs paying over 5 years or some such arrangement. Also what with it being a deal with an Italian club there probably is a buyback clause and they are just using 'the deal' to balance the books this year. And they still had quite a bit cash left over for Glen Johnson too. For the amount he's spent Benitez has assembled a very poor team overall though I can understand why many still support him because of his past success and because top class managers don't grow on trees. Still, he has made huge mistakes in the transfer market and comes across as a bit of a tit.

2-0 now!

I'm just back from Helsinki as a matter of fact where two popular crisp brands are mega-pussi and for the Polanski types out there, mini-pussi.

Exactly, Benitez has spent close to the same amount Man U have in the last 5 years while not being far behind Chelsea either, it's staggering what a poor squad he's put together in that time considering the money spent.

5-0 now

While I think it's odd timing to give him the sack he hasn't done a good job at Boro regardless of the supposed transfer restraints he had. It wasn't so much the players he bough (though many were indeed shite) it was those he sold. The likes of Shwarzer, Woodgate, Young, Boatang, Cattermole and Yakubu were all sold by Southgate and were never really replaced.

ipswich concede another last minute goal

time for a frustrate-o-wank me thinks

Lyon win 2-1 Liverpool in real danger of not getting out of that group

My blackburn supporting mate warned me about kishnisvilli being shit, I think he was right

well done lads...

nolan!!!!

I wish Geremi never joined

balls

He's quite useful, but that Cana fella is much better, looks like a fantastic signing for them from the games I've seen him in so far and can fill in for Cattermole.

You do know this is Newcastle United right? Common sense is not our forte

No reason why not, we had a very creditable draw in Italy and we were only denied a victory against them in Dublin due to a couple of defensive lapses. Obviously France will be favourites but it will be tight enough imo. I can imagine us getting a draw or even a narrow victory at Croke park but getting convincingly beaten in France.

While I agree about those 4, if you went down the route a lot of other countries take and called up the 'foreign' Almunia you'd have an all round better keeper in goal. It's not as if the whole team would be non-uk born, it's just one player so I don't see what the big deal is. Spain have Senna, Croatia have Eduardo, Portugal have/had Deco, none of which have any relations from the country they play for.

A fucking beachball has scored more goals in one game for the mackems than Smith has for us in 3 seasons

Re:Ranger. If he's good enough he's old enough* *credit; tired old clichés vol II Yeah I'm not sure what way Ranger will go. We've all seen the likes of Ian Bogie and Shaun Murray, unless you're utterly exceptional you can never be sure. Fast forward two years to a NUFC in the Premiership, who would be good enough? Enrique and Taylor (if he can maintain some consistency), who else? Serious question. You look Everton, a wank club like them, they are a million miles ahead of us in terms of players. We could be five years behind Everton and Villa. I reckon Krul could be good enough by then, Carrol and Guthrie also but they have a lot of improving to do obviously. We're way behind Everton and Villa mainly down to our absolutely apauling transfer history both ins and outs going right back to Souness. Everton and Villa have both consistantly bought sensibly (but for a few exceptions) and trusted in their younger players.

I've visited many clubs forums out of interest over the years and would generally agree that most football forums are littered with complete fools who appear to be pissed most of the time when posting. The Arsenal forum isn't too bad but other than that I can't think of many where the balance of idiots doesn't outweigh the rest.

The reactions here are a bit OTT if you ask me, one win and we could well get back in the swing of winning regularly. The selection is worrying though, picking Harewood when he clearly isn't in good shape (or just crap) ahead of Ranger is going right back to the conservative, 'hes got more experience' shite of before. Carroll and Ranger are hungrier and did well together earlier in the season. Have to say though I'm surprised at just how bad Lovenkrands has been. Again, Nolan was barely in the game, far too many invisible performances from him and most of our midfied.