Scottish Mag

I thought it was going to be Magma

WUM Shares an IP address with a few of the members on here but I am guessing it is one of them.

I don't know, but with a thread like this you must be right top of the pile..

Canny player but I would rather see someone with a little more pace..

I live 178.6 miles from St James Park. I wouldn't like to think the mileage I have done travelling up and down to the matches.

I'll gan as Toontastic's person, next time they ask. Toontastic weren't asked / involved iirc. Not enough members I guess. I think it's a good idea in principle - people from True Faith, The Mag etc. went - but N-O isn't that representative. Over half the people on the football board aren't even Geordies. I know you don't have to be but you know what I mean. I know EXACTLY what you mean. EXACTLY Geordie Nation and all that... Fuck all those "cunts" that aren't from Newcastle

Blackburn 1 point ahead of us. Quick get Hughes in now!

You mean 8 points off 4th?? Sorry off 5th place. My bad. With Liverpool having 2 games inhand No shit sherlock.

You mean 8 points off 4th?? Sorry off 5th place. My bad.

Yes we were/are shit but its another 3 points albeit a lucky three and as someone has pointed out we are now 5 points off 4th place... What I do find interesting is the constant abuse that Sam always gets but very rarely the players apart from the boo boys favourites get criticised. For people to expect us to be doing so much better they obviously think we have the players capable of so much more however you cannot always blame tactics. Poor possesion, passing and shit control is not something caused by team selections surely these players if they are as good as many think should be able to do the basics wherever they are on the pitch?

Wow Generalisations are cool Well you could say that an awful lot of them are total wankers tbh You could say that about many supporters. This being an example.. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_midlands/7139912.stm

Either that or he'll be in to piss all over it...

Wow Generalisations are cool

A Turkish lawyer is taking legal action against Inter Milan, the Italian football team, for wearing a strip with “Crusader-style” red crosses that he alleges is ”offensive to Muslim sensibilities”. Baris Kaska, a lawyer in Izmir who specialises in European law, said that he had lodged a complaint in a local court against Inter Milan, which last month played the Istanbul team Fenerbahce in a Champions League match at the San Siro stadium in Milan. The Inter players wore a new strip - a white shirt with a giant red cross on it - marking the club's centenary. Mr Kaska said he was not only seeking damages but was also appealing to Uefa to annul the match, which Inter won 3-0. “That cross only brings one thing to mind - the symbol of the Templar Knights,” he said. “It made me think immediately of the bloody days of the past. While I was watching the game I felt profound grief in my soul.” Mr Kaska told the Spanish newspaper La Vanguardia that the cross symbolised “Western racist superiority over Islam”. He said that Inter had “manifested in the most explicit manner the superiority of one religion over another”. He said the court had contacted both Uefa and Fifa to convey his demand that Inter should be “heavily fined for displaying an offensive symbol”. “How could Uefa allow this?“demanded the Turkish paper Radikal. Inter Milan officials said that they were “astounded”. They said that in the first match between the two teams in September at Istanbul - which Fenerbahce won 1-0 - Inter had deliberately refrained from wearing the strip with the red cross but had felt entitled to use it on its home ground. Inter officials also pointed out that a red cross on a white background is the symbol of the city of Milan. Many Italian football clubs incorporated the cross on their shirts, including Inter, founded in Milan in 1908. “The red cross has become an international political football,” Corriere della Sera commented. Uefa's mission is to “promote the principles of unity and solidarity” in Europe through football, “without discrimination on grounds of gender, religion or race.” However, Inter officials said Uefa had approved the new Inter strip at the start of the season, and the Turkish club had also accepted it before last month’s game. La Repubblica said it was unclear whether Mr Kaska was “more wounded by the supposed offence or by the goals Inter scored”. Fenerbahce, one of Turkey’s top teams and the main rival in Istanbul of Galatasaray, was also founded 100 years ago. Its players wear a yellow-blue strip and are known as "The Yellow Canaries”. The row comes at a sensitive moment in Turkey's ambitions to join the European Union. This week France won a symbolic victory at a meeting of EU Foreign Ministers when it prevented the EU using the word “accession” or “membership” in connection with Turkey, which is a secular state but has a majority Muslim population and a government led by Islamist politicians. Ankara opened negotiations for EU membership two years ago, but Nicolas Sarkozy, the French President, has repeatedly said that Turkey has no place in Europe and should be offered instead a “privileged partnership”. David Miliband, the Foreign Secretary, said: “We think it’s important that the European Union fulfil its responsibilities towards Turkey, but also that Turkey continues the reform process that is an important part of its passage to the European Union." The EU statement welcomed the strengthening of democracy in Turkey but said “significant further efforts are needed in other areas such as judicial reform, the fight against corruption, minority rights and strengthening of cultural rights, women’s rights, children’s rights, trade union rights and civilian control of the military”.

NEWCASTLE United stars had a knockout Christmas party in Edinburgh – after heading north to watch the boxing. Players including Mark Viduka, Nicky Butt, Alan Smith and Shola Ameobi arrived in Edinburgh just hours after beating Birmingham at home on Saturday. But rather than wildly dancing the night away the million-pound signings were only interested in watching the telly. Staff at upmarket bars including Le Monde and Tigerlily said the footballers had visited their premises for drinks. They said the stars remained well-behaved and only wanted to know where they could watch the boxing. One insider at Le Monde said: “They were doing a bit of a tour of the more upmarket bars in the city. They came here for a couple of drinks, and were very well behaved. “When they left they said they were heading off to watch the boxing.” The stars – who were accompanied by minders – were spotted leaving the VIP area of Le Monde shortly before 2am. They headed headed back to their hotel to watch the 4am clash between Ricky Hatton and Floyd Mayweather Jnr. One reveller who spotted the team said: “They were very much trying to keep out of the limelight. “They were tucked away in the VIP section of the bar. “They wandered off just before 2am.” Three years ago Newcastle manager Graeme Souness cancelled the team’s last planned Christmas outing to Edinburgh. The team had only won one of their last seven Premiership games and Souness said he thought that under the circumstances, a party was inadvisable. He said: “They’d planned going to Edinburgh but I’m not having any of that. “I can’t stop them having a quiet drink together but there’s no official party.” A spokesman for Newcastle United refused to comment on this year’s Christmas Party. He said: “The team’s Christmas celebrations are a private matter.”

Watford's Al Bangura faces deportation to Sierra Leone after losing his case to stay in the UK at an Asylum and Immigration Tribunal hearing. The 19-year-old, who became a father only nine days ago, will launch an immediate appeal against the decision, with the full support of his club. He arrived from Sierra Leone four years ago and was given limited discretionary leave to stay. But now the Home Office will initiate moves to remove him from the country. Watford's Head of Football operations Iain Moody said: "This is terrible news for Al and a big shock to everyone at the club. "We are sad and very disappointed that he has not been granted leave to remain in the UK. We have instructed our advisers to begin preparing an appeal to this decision. "This is a significant setback for Al and his family but we will continue to fight this case and have full confidence that common sense and justice will prevail and Al will be allowed to continue his life in this country. "We have been fortunate to count on the support of Watford MP Claire Ward in making representations to the Home Office on Al's behalf and we look forward to continue working with her on this." Watford manager Aidy Boothroyd had said being sent home would be an "absolute disaster" for Bangura. And club legal representative Chris Pelentrides insisted there was a compelling case for Bangura to be allowed to stay in the country. "His compassionate circumstances clearly warrant his continued stay in the United Kingdom," he said. "He has built up his life, having established great ties here, including a family life with his partner and a profession." Before the ruling, Watford MP Ward told BBC 3CR: "This is a young man who came to this country under very difficult circumstances and as an under-18. "He clearly has an incredible talent, which has been spotted, and in that sense he was fortunate. "He has made a very good life for himself and is a significant contributor to the UK economy and to my local economy as a constituent." Bangura has made over 50 appearances, scoring one goal, since joining the club in April 2005.

SAM Allardyce will be hoping to persuade owner Mike Ashley to release the funds for a new left-back in January after ending Celestine Babayaro’s Newcastle United career. Last night the Magpies were finalising the Nigerian international’s release and, although his departure was not unexpected, it leaves the club with only one specialist left-back. But Allardyce’s options are set to improve ahead of the busy festive period with Michael Owen one of five players close to a first-team return. Allardyce had a habit of talking about the defenders in his squad without referring to Babayaro. It speaks volumes that he was prepared to end the 29-year-old’s contract half a year early despite expecting to be without another two defenders – Abdoulaye Faye and Habib Beye – during the African Cup of Nations. With top scorer Obafemi Martins and captain Geremi also expected to be called up by Nigeria and Cameroon respectively, Allardyce is keen to strengthen his squad in January. No discussion has yet taken place with Chris Mort about what funding will be available, but the chairman has pre-empted them by warning Ashley is unlikely to provide money for any major signings. “If I was going to sign anyone it would be with a much longer-term view than January and February,” he said. “We’re looking to build a first-team squad capable of competing at the top level, but we are also looking to improve at youth level and make signings there.” Ever since joining for £1m, along with defender Jean-Alain Boumsong in January 2005, Babayaro has been plagued by injury. His non-appearance record in that time was emblematic of the problems which infected the club at the time and caused many Magpies supporters to question his commitment. In his three years on Tyneside he started just 45 Premier League games and was involved in 68 matches in total, despite being first-choice in his position throughout. His last appearance came on March 31, when he was part of the side beaten 1-0 by Manchester City. He completed the match but subsequently complained of a groin injury. He has only managed one reserve team game since. Allardyce signed £6.5m Jose Enrique as Babayaro’s replacement but the Spaniard is the only specialist left-back in the squad. Charles N’Zogbia, a midfielder by preference, has been deputising there in recent weeks. United have organised a behind-closed-doors game this week to speed up the recovery of Damien Duff, Abdoulaye Faye, Claudio Caçapa and Shola Ameobi and, although Owen is not expected to play, the December 23 visit of Derby County has been pencilled in for his return from a thigh strain. “We are looking to get some players back for Saturday’s game with Fulham at Craven Cottage,” Allardyce revealed. “I have arranged a behind-closed-doors game this week when we are hoping the likes of Damien Duff, Abdoulaye Faye, Claudio Caçapa and Shola Ameobi will all play. “Michael Owen will probably not, but we are expecting him back with the rest of the first-team squad nearer the end of the week. “ He should certainly be back for the game with Derby County at St James’s Park a week on Sunday.” Duff had been due to make his comeback from a dislocated foot last week, only for the reserve match aaginst Manchester United to be postponed. Swedish club Djurgarden’s sporting director Bosse Andersson has revealed United have offered a trial to right-sided midfielder Lance Davids. “Newcastle has sent an invitation to Lance and he will be on trial there all this week,” he said. The 22-year-old South African is expected to play in next month’s African Cup of Nations.

Aye I think I would be just as well becoming one. Late Saturdays and early Sundays shaft me as I struggle to get trains that will get me to Newcastle/Home and then Monday nights are hopeless as I need to take time off work. I really am starting to wonder if its worth the hassle.

Add to that, the fact that the Everton and West Ham games were both moved to the Sunday. That means we will only have played three Saturday 3pm kick offs in 14 matches.

8 out of 14 of our home matches have now been moved for TV

£179.99 So I assume you went for that over the 360?

Loving the pics...

Mad Jock probably does too...

To be fair, I'm surprised to hear this in the media, since he's notoriously unfriendly to the media in general. I can't imagine him ever getting the job either, just saying that it wouldn't be a bad move for the Scots. I would disagree as I don't think he would have the first clue who any of our players/teams are. Also admittedly whilst I do not think there are any names getting mentioned that stand out and Arenas record at international level for the United States National team may be impressive at least both Smith and McLeish had a good experience both in Scotland and in Europe too. Would be another Vogts waiting to happen...