Bombadil

Emre not even on the bench then

Admit it, you're just jealous because he didn't join Chelsea 82496[/snapback] He doesn't suit them either. Should have come to Newcastle IMO 82501[/snapback]

Admit it, you're just jealous because he didn't join Chelsea

Quite an interesting topic of debate - personally, I think the amount of ignorant people who still promote a head-in-the-sand attitude is shocking. See Bush, George W. "Global warning is a myth!"

I think it's a shame that he couldn't come out and say nice things about Newcastle when he broke his foot. It pissed me off that instead of saying how disappointed he was at not being able to do a job for the club that paid a huge amount of money for him, pays him £100K a week and got him back into English football, all we got from him was that he wouldn't let the fans down by being back by the time the World Cup rolled around. I certainly think there could be more than a bit of truth in what Eriksson said about Owen, and I think that anyone who thinks any different is deluing themselves. 81883[/snapback] Agree completely. Also, I'm pretty sure that if Owen was French/Italian/South American he'd be called worse than a mercenary...he can just about get away with it because he's English.

I thought it was bad news when I read it. It sounds like Souness will definitely be given until the end of the season to "get us into Europe".

What do NUFC.com base this on? That Curblishley interview? Sounds like they are putting 2 and 2 together and getting 19...

Snow in Switzerland...I'd love a bit of t-shirt weather, I can't wait for spring and summer.

Makes for some painful reading. The site is usually very reliable so I'm afraid what they are saying is likely to be true.

It's even worse on the Continent, there is a shocking amount of people here who don't even know who he is. Absolute legend though, if only we had someone with his skill playing for us now...

Rovers return doubt for Emre By Luke Edwards, The Journal Graeme Souness has already conceded defeat in his attempts to restore pivotal midfielder Emre to his starting line-up against Blackburn Rovers at the weekend. The Turkish international has been back in training for almost a fortnight, but the former Inter Milan star has little hope of starting on Saturday as he eases his way back into action following the second serious hamstring injury of his first season on Tyneside. Emre, who has started just seven league games for United, has not played since the dreadful Carling Cup defeat to Wigan on November 30 and, while Souness would love to be able to call on him when Newcastle take on his former employers, the Scot is already preparing himself for the worst. "He has got an outside chance of playing, he might be on the bench, but that's as good as it gets at the moment," said Souness, who is also anxiously awaiting the results of a scan on Stephen Carr's stomach injury. "We've been saying that for a while and I don't want to build anyone's hopes up, let alone mine. We'd love to have him back. "We felt he might have a chance against Fulham last weekend, but we decided to leave it another week because he wasn't ready. It's touch and go this week as well. We'll leave it until the last possible moment, but there is no way he is going to be able to start the game." Souness is rapidly approaching the end of his tether regarding the disastrous injury situation at St James's Park and the United board must surely realise that re-enforcements are needed unless they are willing to let the campaign drift, at best into mid-table mediocrity, at worst towards a dangerous flirtation with relegation. Reports yesterday claimed the board had dismissed the opportunity to sign French international striker Nicolas Anelka, even if it were only on loan until the end of the season, with the option of a permanent contract in the summer. Yet, with goals a major problem for United because of Michael Owen's broken foot and Shola Ameobi's niggling hip problem, most fans would surely accept that a gamble on Anelka would be worth it. The 26-year-old does not come with a glowing character reference, but he is a world-class goalscorer, has the pace to perfectly compliment Shearer and, if, as he declared last week, he wants a long-term deal at St James's Park, he has something to prove between now and the end of the season. There is also the small matter of playing well enough to ensure he is part of the French World Cup squad in June. The major stumbling block would appear to be Fenerbahce's desire for a sizeable transfer fee, but the club will also realise there is little point in wasting a big wage packet on a player who does not want to be there, which could work in the Magpies' favour. However, like the proposed swap deal involving Charlton's Danny Murphy and Newcastle's Lee Bowyer, the Anelka deal appears to have stalled, which will be of further cause for concern for Souness. Newcastle's manager has argued his case with chairman Freddie Shepherd, but has conceded that it is ultimately up to the board whether they back him financially, having already spent £50m since he took over from Sir Bobby Robson 16 months ago.

I'm looking forward to the World Cup, but I'll be watching it on the telly. I've already put aside some cash for the 2008 Euros in Switzerland though.

Does anyone think that defeat on Saturday will be the last straw? Personally, I don't think the Fat One will sack him even if Blackburn beat us. Lose to Cheltenham/Chester in the Cup though and he will definitely be gone IMO.

You will upset yourself even more.

Downright depressing tbh.

I think maybe the point is that instead of aiming the blame at the central defenders it would be easier, and more obvious, to aim the blame at the manager who is putting them under so much pressure for 90 minutes by having no plan of attack and just trying to soak up pressure for the whole match. That's obvious to anyone who watches us who knows a bit about football, that's obvious to Lawrenson and Hansen, so why don't they say it? 80598[/snapback] Good point, yes.

I see where you're coming from now, so - no, I don't think having a go at Boumsong and our current defence is putting forth pro-Souness propaganda. I never said that though. What I said is that blaming our poor defence on 'historical reasons' is 1) nonsense and 2) making excuses for Souness. Saying we've always had a bad defence shouldn't excuse Souness from being the one responsible for our current defence. Basically that's what Lawrenson says though.

He may have said that initially and surely he had a point, no? He isn't saying it now though and hasn't for a while. The fact he has criticised Souness's signing - Boumsong - proves this imo. 80572[/snapback] Lawrenson apologist tbh. 80575[/snapback] Do you disagree though? 80577[/snapback] I think Lawrenson and Hansen are blatantly sticking up for Souness because they're his mates, yes. 80578[/snapback] Even when they have a go at Boumsong and the defence? 80580[/snapback] Lawrenson having a go at Boumsong doesn't mean that he (and Hansen especially) aren't making excuses for Souness in general.

He may have said that initially and surely he had a point, no? He isn't saying it now though and hasn't for a while. The fact he has criticised Souness's signing - Boumsong - proves this imo. 80572[/snapback] Lawrenson apologist tbh. 80575[/snapback] Do you disagree though? 80577[/snapback] I think Lawrenson and Hansen are blatantly sticking up for Souness because they're his mates, yes.

He may have said that initially and surely he had a point, no? He isn't saying it now though and hasn't for a while. The fact he has criticised Souness's signing - Boumsong - proves this imo. 80572[/snapback] Lawrenson apologist tbh.

Can you elaborate? If I'm wrong then fair enough, but my impression was that Liverpool fans felt Houllier had made a big mistake not taking him on full-time and that Man City fans were happy with him. I'm also not aware of him being a disruption in the dressing room or a party animal in recent times. I don't blame quality players for not wanting to stay at a club flirting with relegation, loyalty from players is a rare commodity, I'd rather the honesty than the bollocks we get from most of them. 80555[/snapback] Oh come on, just read through the first post in this thread: The way he's engineering a move now isn't exactly professional either - Fenerbahce fans must be impressed...again, I think he's a good player, but just because he's likely to sign for us doesn't mean we should pretend he's anything other than a troublemaker.

It was pro-Souness propaganda in a way. He's been saying that all season - in his view, Souness' 'excuse' is that we've always had a bad defence, so Souness is not to blame. 80548[/snapback] Criticising our defence is pro-Souness propaganda? Fuck me gently 80554[/snapback] It may not be 'propaganda', but it is making excuses for Souness, yes. Don't you think that Souness is responsible for our appalling defence? Well, Lawrenson doesn't - basically, he says that it's not Souness' fault because we've always had a bad defence. Nonsense.

It was pro-Souness propaganda in a way. He's been saying that all season - in his view, Souness' 'excuse' is that we've always had a bad defence, so Souness is not to blame. 80548[/snapback] What was the story behind Lawro and coaching our defence? Was he sacked, or did he walk? 80549[/snapback] I think he was sacked? Not a 100% sure though.

It was pro-Souness propaganda in a way. He's been saying that all season - in his view, Souness' 'excuse' is that we've always had a bad defence, so Souness is not to blame.

As far as I'm aware he was a model professional at Man City and Liverpool, I must admit the way he's gone about engineering a move out of Turkey worries me a little. Not really worried about Souness have time to fuck things up with Anelka, who really believes he'll still be here in August? 80542[/snapback] I don't think Anelka would still be here in August either. He has to be one of the most notorious troublemakers in European football and I don't think he would do too well or like it too much in a struggling team like ours. He would probably want out at the end of the season anyway...it would still be good to get him in until the end of the season though. He has done well in this league before and he would get us goals.