Scottish Mag

http://www.true-faith.co.uk/html/tbawe.htm Bristol C h 3-0 (won) Blackburn a 1-3 (lost) Barnsley h 1-1 Port Vale a 1-0 (won) Brighton h 0-1 (lost) Cambridge a 2-0 (won) Swindon h 3-1 (won) Grimsby a 1-1 Sunderland h 1-0 (won) Wolves a 2-6 (lost) Tranmere h 2-3 (lost) Ipswich a 2-3 (lost) Millwall h 0-1(lost) Derby a 1-4 (lost) Portsmouth h 1-0 (won) Leicester a 2-1 (won) P 16 - W 7- D 2 - L 7 Anyone recognise that series of fixtures and results? No? Yes? Well, they are the first 16 games after Ossie Ardiles was sacked and Kevin Keegan appointed until the end of the 91/92 season. KK's first 16 games. I don't know about you but as one who fretted, gnashed teeth and stotted my head off the concrete barriers in the Milburn Paddock in frustration at the time, I don't recall our new manager and players being slaughtered by supporters as they have been this season at SJP. It needs to be said that back then the quantity of our support on that last day at SJP when we faced Portsmouth (25,989) staring potential relegation to the old Division 3 and possible oblivion (Hall has told us he wouldn't have put any money in) in the face is less than 50% of the current attendances but I can't be the only one who rates those who attended that show-down at SJP as at least twice the quality of what we've had at SJP this season. At least twice. After the Pompey game this season, I had the good fortune to have a bit craic with a Portsmouth lad. He was sound as a pound. He kept his delight at an excellent away win for them in check and just cracked on. The conversation turned to '92 and Portsmouth's visit to SJP, which he had attended. There was no holding him back as he waxed about the support from the stands. To paraphrase him he referred to the usual ends in grounds where the most vociferous gathered to give it big licks in support of their team. On that day in '92 every corner of SJP was bang up for it. Our Pompey pal recalled seeing old boys in the Milburn up and out of their seats and into the referee when he gave something against us, SJP's baader-meinhof wing in the mental benches just going off it at the drop of a hat - the East Stand starting off the singing, joined by the Milburn-Leazes Wing lads and the Gallowgate providing a relentless wall of sound Phil Spectir would have been proud to call his own, whilst our section of the Leazes howled down anything from the visitors. This isn't self referencing vanity from Mags about our support that day, it was one of the opposition. I recall Jim Smith and John Beresford later describing how they couldn't pass instructions to each other because of the noise. Were we angry at where our club was languishing then (bottom of the old Division 2)? Of course we were, did we have misgivings about players on our books - bang right - were there some who wondered about KK's lack of managerial credentials? Of course. Did we believe in the just and righteous cause of Newcastle United? Well, only with every fibre of our being. We were united. Together. One Nation Under A Groove. Ya Bastards! Those in SJP that day shared a complete love for the club. Jesus, we've all cursed the B&W bastards down the years for letting us down and '92 was no different. We just didn't hear conversations about "lack of entertainment", "I never wanted this manager" -yap-yap-yap - we just knew the club 'kin well really needed us and if NUFC was going to go down it would go down with us, doing everything we could to give the players hope, encouragement and make life as unbearable as we could for the opposition and officials. Fifteen years later and the memory of that day is still with me but still with a lad who was in their end. He confesses to having realised what Newcastle United was all about at that match. Newcastle United is all about the supporters, our love for the club, our good humour, our defiance and our pride in our Geordie community, our city and our region. That's not Tory twat Sir John Hall Geordie Nation bullshit, its the real deal. Pure gold. Have a look at those results 1-1 at Grimsby, losing 1-0 at Millwall, 4-1 at Derby, 6-2 at Wolves and 3-1 at Blackburn. I can remember how we all felt - desperate, heartbroken but at the same time absolutely committed to Newcastle United Football Club. Committed despite having never seen NUFC win a fucking spoon let alone a cup - nothing changes. I can't remember the players being booed off at HT in any of those games - home or away. Perhaps I'm wearing rose tinted geps. And that spirit - the Portsmouth game where we took to the barricades - is still there. It's still there in the 6000 Mags who signed up for the trip to Ewood Park and gave a master class in how to support a football club. And its still there in the 50K+ attendances we pull in despite the mismanagement of our club over the last ten years which has brought our club near to its knees. For a club which has lost more than half a century of achievement, that has spent too long nowhere near the top of the game - those attendances are a perfect illustration of the devotion there is to Newcastle United Football Club - a club solely reliant on Tyneside and the North East for its support. We'll never be a day-tripper club. Never. The support, in terms of numbers is unprecedented. Manchester United has long been the club with the largest following in the UK but in the 80s when they were losing their way on the road to capturing an elusive Championship, they weren't getting 50K for all but the biggest games. When Liverpool went through a dip in the Souness-early 90s the gaps on The Kop opened up for midweek games when the day-trippers didn't fancy it. Celtic and Rangers - when nowhere near a bit of silverware have fallen well short of the full houses at Ibrox and Celtic Park. But some of us have lost the plot. There has become too much of the "I've-lashed-out-for-my-season-ticket-and-I-demand-results" way of thinking. A misplaced pass will bring mass sighs and woe betide anyone who has a bad game. They will have the equivalent of a public disembowelling. I think I know the reason. Disappointment. We've just been disappointed far too often. Premierships blown, Cup Finals lost and the piss taken by disinterested players (the Marcelinos, Luques, Viana et al) and charlatans in the dug-out (Graeme fucking Souness for fuck's sake) and directors just getting it wrong with managers time after time, but taking fortunes for themselves whilst we pay top dollar - bumbling from one balls up to another. That disappointment has curdled in some souls and its turned poisonous. At an ordinary club, supporters would stay away. But Newcastle United is no ordinary club. The punters keep coming and by and large we keep getting disappointed. The burden of historic failure is placed on new managers, new players - so when a new man calls for time and patience, there is mass scowling and a bitter recanting of "50 odd fucking years of being patient" as though our new full-back is responsible for Lord Westwood, McKeag, Shepherd et al when he wasn't even born when Malcolm Dix was doing the rebel rousing, God bless him. Its a nonsense. Does Allardyce deserve time? Of course he does. Will he fail with the current mood at SJP enveloping him and suffocating the life out of his players. Damned right, he will. And who then in their right mind would touch Newcastle United Football Club? Don't write in. We'd be the eternal poisoned chalice and only the seriously deranged would touch us. Fact. Joey Barton is spot on about our support at SJP this season. He isn't the first to clock it - we've been saying the same thing for weeks online and in print and bemoaning the boo-ers and those flouncing off like spoilt children when things have gone wrong. We're not the only ones - The Mag and nufc.com have both been shifting about uncomfortably at the bad heads some of us have turned into. Joey Barton and the new players haven't had the benefit of a big bad Gallowgate crowd behind them. Joey Barton is right to wonder if all the rhetoric about our support is simply empty words. Right now, it looks like it is. That said, although I'm not personally arsed either way that Barton expressed a few home-truths I do wonder at the wisdom of him expressing such views to the vermin in the football press which has clearly got the knives out and sharpened for everyone associated with NUFC and is all to ready to lie, distort and spin in order to destabilise our club. Had the comments came from someone with a bit more of a record at NUFC then I think it would have been more justifiable than from a lad I really rate but who is yet to have played well in our colours. And so it was entirely predictable that The Chronicle should populate its billboards with a hysterical and in my opinion misleading banner headline: "Barton attacks United fans!" on its hoardings and Wheyse Keyes Louise of The Guardian spin in her usual fashion as she glances longingly at a pic of her heartthrob Roy Keane and wipes the saliva from her chin. The challenge however is obvious - get behind the lads and I'd suggest reminding those around you what they come to SJP for - to support Newcastle United - not to cry-arse on we aren't winning the league. *** Blackburn was better but it still wasn't good enough. We are shipping far too many goals and look way short of being what a Sam Allardyce team is all about - well organised at the back (I'm sorry but although Bentley hit a nice free-kick, that wall was a shambles and maybe its time to consider someone on the line given Gerrard scored with almost an identical free-kick last week), strong from set-plays - our free-kicks and corners are woeful but Blackburn did feel a more ferocious level of competition from our players which was great to see. Where Sam is unfortunate is in his inability to put the same side out twice - particularly in defence. Our best defender is Faye and the challenge is to see who can get next to him and form a decent partnership. All of these new players, new to the league, in and out of the team due to niggles here and there isn't helping and we desperately need some stability throughout the spine of the side. *** Anyway, John Gibson of The Chronicle gave us all a laugh this weekend as he wrote about the new players not understanding the intensity of Newcastle United. Hmm. Could he mean Mark Viduka with spells at Dinamo Zagreb, Celtic and Leeds behind him? Habib Beye from France's biggest and most passionately supported club, Marseille? Those in the Stade De Veledrome for the UEFA Cup SF might suggest it was a bit intense. David Rozenhal would have seen a bit from the Parisian radges at PSG and Alan Smith might have an opinion from his time at Leeds and Man Utd not to mention Geremi with experience of Real Madrid and the high expectations of Chelsea. Still, nice theory. *** We have a big week upcoming. On Wednesday we pay hosts to Arsenal, who are without question one of the best sides in the world right now and coached by a genius. Newcastle United will need every hand on deck - and that includes in the stands - if we are going to have a chance against a dream of a football team. Saturday is no different with McLeish visiting with his new team and doubtless they will be on something of a high with a new face around the place and players looking to impress the new boss. A different challenge but we have to be up for it. Newcastle United - Where Is The Love? Keep On, Keepin' On ...

Football agent Willie McKay has compared his treatment by police following an inquiry into alleged corruption to that of a 'terrorist operation'. McKay was one of a group of five men arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud and false accounting on Wednesday. Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp, the club's chief executive Peter Storrie and former chairman Milan Mandaric were among those arrested. Charlton midfielder Amdy Faye, currently on loan to Rangers, was the other man arrested. And McKay, who says his house in South Yorkshire was raided by 28 officers at 6am on Wednesday as part of the investigation , has followed Redknapp in criticising the police. "I don't blame the individual policemen who eventually treated us very well," McKay told Sky Sports News. "But how on earth can an enquiry for allegedly giving a player money lead to 28 police officers storming my house with my family inside? It's incredible. "Twice my lawyer has contacted the police saying we are quite happy to meet, but obviously they have seen fit to do this. It was like a terrorist operation. "They said it was about giving Amdy Faye money. Now does that warrant 28 police officers storming your house? I'm surprised. It has upset me and upset my family." McKay also confirmed reports that he had been informed by a chairman of a football club that he was going to be investigated by police. "It's a chairman of a football club in the North West," added McKay when asked about the reports. "I won't name him, but about three years ago he told me, 'It is your head they want'. I've been through everything. Where is it all coming to?" McKay, though, remains certain he will be cleared of the accusations that he is facing. "I'm not confident. I know I will be (cleared)," McKay concluded. "I'm happy to meet right whoever right now and get everything right now to get everything sorted out. "It has been on too long and the smear campaign is difficult to take."

Aye I turned round to the boo boys behind me and asked how the fuck they could justify singing that anymore....

I do not see the point in going to the Arsenal game for that very same reason. Usually I need to take a day off work, find somewhere to stay or book a travelodge and I more often than not have done. I have done it more often than not and done it whilst playing shite under the likes of Roeder and Souness but now the atmosphere, or lack of it should I say, has me not even enjoying the thought of coming down.

I am still Leeds. Was promoted in my first season then beat in the play off final in my 2nd season but have just won the Championship in the 3rd. Bring on the Premiership.

Well I have an exciting weekend planned. I am finishing designing a magazine that has to be ready to go to print on Monday morning, I have so far only completed about a 1/4 of it!

...happy St Andrews Day.

The frisbee that went further than any other. Only problem being that the fucking thing went that far you were guaranteed to lose it within the first 5 minutes of playing with it.

Still in a taxi looking for Happy Faces Aunties House?

Freddy Shepherd will not be given the option of buying Leeds United after the club insisted a takeover was out of the question. Shepherd, the former Newcastle United chairman, is keen to invest in Leeds after leaving his post at St James' Park earlier this year, but United will not entertain any offers for a controlling stake at Elland Road. Leeds moved to clarify their position today amid growing expectation that Shepherd will step forward with an investment proposal early next year. Shepherd pulled in around £37million by selling his shares in Newcastle to current owner Mike Ashley, and he recently confirmed that he was ready to resume his involvement with professional football, describing the sport as "a powerful drug". He and his son Kenneth are understood to have met with Bates in Monaco last week, and Shepherd has been considering his options ever since the possibility of investment was first raised over dinner with Bates on Tyneside in September. Leeds are a private company and their entire shareholding was acquired by Forward Sports Fund - the Swiss-based firm through which Bates took control of Leeds in 2005 - following their exit from administration in August. Bates intends to retain at least 51 per cent of the club's shares, providing him with a controlling interest, but he has been seeking serious investment ever since his arrival at Elland Road, and the recent discussions between the 75-year-old and Shepherd suggest a deal is increasingly likely. Shepherd would look to acquire at least a 25 per cent stake to make his investment worthwhile, but would not be allowed to take his holding beyond the 49 per cent. United reiterated today that Bates has no intention of cutting his ties at Elland Road in the foreseeable future. Any attempt to sell the club would be complicated in any case by the terms of the deal which took Leeds out of administration earlier in the year. United agreed to an 'anti-embarrassment clause' which stated that, in the event of a sale, 50 per cent of a takeover fee above £5million would be shared among the club's creditors. The clause expires next summer and realistically rules out the possibility of a sale until the end of this season at the earliest. Bates is continuing to pursue ambitious plans to develop the area surrounding Elland Road, as he did with Stamford Bridge during his time as Chelsea chairman, and he would place a high price on the debt-free club. It is understood that a 25 per cent stake could cost Shepherd as much as £10million. But despite their meetings, sources at Elland Road claimed that an agreement between Bates and Shepherd was "a long way" from being finalised, and Shepherd has almost certainly been made aware of Bates' stance over the division of United's shares. The former Newcastle chief could yet be drawn to another English club, and he has been linked with Sheffield Wednesday this week. Shepherd is also understood to have considered a bid for Ipswich Town, but his interest in Leeds is serious. United chief executive Shaun Harvey said: "We've previously stated that investment would be welcomed. A takeover is not an option."

Newcastle winger Damien Duff has revealed his injury torment left him in tears. The former Blackburn and Chelsea star has undergone two foot operations after suffering a dislocation in the middle of his foot in April. Duff is back in light training after recovering from the problem and the Republic of Ireland international has admitted he was shocked by the extent of his injury Describing his injury, Duff told the club's official website: "It was devastating. "You should have seen me when I first found out in the surgeon's office, I broke down in tears. "It was a dislocation in the middle of my foot and the surgeon said he had never seen it on a footballer before and that was a shock." Duff is delighted to be back in training, but he is refusing to set a target for his return to first team action. "It's great to be back training with the lads and I've started my second week," added Duff. "You take things for granted and being out for so long has made me appreciate things an awful lot more. "It's too soon to pinpoint a game. It was a horrendous injury. I was the only footballer to ever get it. "It's a case of taking things one day at a time because I've had my foot up all summer. "We'll be looking at a couple of reserve games first but hopefully it won't be too long before I'm back."

Mark Viduka has promised the Newcastle faithful there is a lot more to come from him as he looks to recapture his top form. The big Australian has shown only sporadic glimpses of his talent since arriving at St James' Park in the summer. A succession of niggling injuries has limited his appearances to just eight starts following a move from North East rivals Middlesbrough. Newcastle have been equally lacklustre in what has been a disappointing start to the campaign, but in chasing a first win in five, they possess a striker desperate to get on the goal trail. "I want to get as many goals as I can under my belt. With every game, you get fitter and fitter, so hopefully it should not be too long," said Viduka. "I'm very happy to be training and playing as normal. It has been stop-start. "I had a pretty long summer with the national team - I was away for a long time and I came back here and I didn't really do a proper pre-season with the team. "It's good to get it behind me and be able to concentrate on some games coming up and just to be involved in the squad. "I was happy with my form last season and I was looking - and still am looking - to keep on going from there."

ENGLAND GOSSIP The Football Association has virtually ruled out an Englishman as a successor to England coach Steve McClaren after delivering its initial report. Chief executive Brian Barwick wants a 'world class' manager. (various) Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp believes his arrest over corruption claims on Wednesday has ruined his chances. (various) Sir Geoff Hurst and Sven-Goran Eriksson have backed Jose Mourinho for the job, with both men claiming the former Chelsea boss would be a great success. (The Sun) And the FA are set to offer Mourinho the job. (Daily Express) TRANSFERS AND GOSSIP Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks is ready to sell his stake in the club, following the row with manager Rafael Benitez over investment. (Mirror) Sheffield United boss Bryan Robson is interested in signing Bolton winger Stelios Giannakopoulos. (various) Derby boss Paul Jewell wants Wigan coach Mark Seagraves to become his number two at the club. (Mirror) Manchester City are set to make a £12m move for striker Nicolas Anelka, who Bolton have admitted is available for the right price. (Mirror) Eriksson is also interested in Liverpool striker Peter Crouch and Heerenveen forward Afonso Alves. (The Times) Bolton could make a move for Jonas Olsson after his agent revealed the Sweden defender will be allowed to leave his club, NEC Nijmegen, in January. (The Times) Carson Yeung must prove on Friday he can raise £35m or his takeover plans for Birmingham will be over. (various) Former Manchester United midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron is set to join MLS side DC United. (Daily Star) Newcastle manager Sam Allardyce is lining up a January move for Porto centre-back Bruno Alves. (The Sun) Chelsea are ready to splash out £10m on Valencia's Portugal international full-back Miguel as a replacement for Paulo Ferreira. (The Sun) Former Leicester boss Martin Allen has put himself in the frame for the vacant manager's job at Swindon. (The Sun) Wolves manager Mick McCarthy will make a second attempt to sign Sheffield United striker Billy Sharp. (The Sun) AND FINALLY David Beckham is being lined up to play the role of a labourer in a new film after Hollywood star Nicole Kidman told director Baz Lurhmann she thought the former England skipper would be perfect as a hunky builder. (Daily Star) New Wigan boss Steve Bruce is not yet up to speed in his new job. He passed defender Granqvist at the club's training ground and asked a member of staff whether his first name was pronounced Jasper or Jesper. Actually, it's Andreas. (Daily Express)

No I also check my work e-mails at home and bring work home with me..

Last night I bought this And tonight I bought an iron, a microwave and a toaster. Exciting stuff........

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/126887

INTERNATIONAL MANAGEMENT GOSSIP Ex-Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho will demand £4m a year to become the new England manager. (The Star) Graeme Souness has made it clear he would welcome the Scotland or Republic of Ireland jobs but insists he has not been offered either. (various) Aberdeen manager Jimmy Calderwood has put himself in the frame to be the new Scotland boss. Also on the list for the job are Billy Davies, Jim Jeffries, Souness, Craig Levein and Mark McGhee. (Daily Record) TRANSFERS AND GOSSIP Bolton striker Nicolas Anelka has told Chelsea boss Avram Grant he wants to move to Stamford Bridge and could complete a £10m move in January. (The Sun) And Chelsea have offered Saudi Arabia captain Yasser Al Qahtani the chance to train with them with a view to a transfer. (various) Manchester City are set to bid £3.5m for Lokomotiv Moscow midfielder Marat Izmailov. (various) Middlesbrough's Dong-Gook Lee will leave in January. (The Sun) Newcastle boss Sam Allardyce believes he has only two games to turn the struggling club around, otherwise he will be sacked. (The Sun) But Allardyce is hoping to persuade Newcastle chairman Chris Mort to release funds for new players in the January transfer window. (The Mirror) Manchester United are closing in on £20m-rated Sporting Lisbon midfielder Miguel Veloso. (The Sun) Crystal Palace want to sign Barnsley defender Rob Kuzluk. (Daily Star) Leicester boss Ian Holloway will make Israel midfielder Tamir Cohen his first signing for the Foxes. (The Mirror) Juventus are leading the race for Aston Villa defender Olof Mellberg, ahead of AC Milan and Roma. (The Sun) QPR are poised to sign Italy defender Francesco Coco, who is a free agent after leaving Inter Milan. (The Sun) Bolton's Greece midfielder Stelios Giannakopoulos has threatened to quit the club if he does not get regular first-team football. (various) Fulham, Wigan and Bolton are in competition to sign Barnsley's German goalkeeper Heinz Muller. (The Sun) West Brom striker John Hartson is wanted by Sheffield Wednesday in a loan deal from January. (various) Sheffield United misfit Billy Sharp has been told by boss Bryan Robson that he has a future at the club. (The Sun) Tottenham boss Juande Ramos is unlikely to buy players during the transfer window after he claimed only desperate teams do that. (various) Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor has suggested that the Gunners might be tempted to sell him if Real Madrid came in with a £100m offer. (The Independent) Brighton are giving trials to ex-Crystal Palace players Michael Kamara and Sam Malsom. (Daily Star) Everton manager David Moyes has taken Swindon defender Ben Tozer on a four-day trial. (The Times) Blackburn are confident they can hold on to defender Andre Ooijer despite Feyenoord's interest. (The Times) Wigan manager Steve Bruce has revealed that recruiting a left-back is his number one priority. (various) Joe Kinnear is lining up a possible takeover of crisis club Luton, who have been placed into administration. (various) AND FINALLY Tennis legend Bjorn Borg says he is a Charlton fan, and claims he has been to see them play a few times and owns a few of their shirts. (The Sun) AC Milan's Brazilian superstar Kaka has revealed he wants to become an evangelical minister once he hangs up his boots. (various) Blackburn midfielder Robbie Savage is disappointed that team-mate David Bentley is "getting more boos than me at away grounds". Savage says he wants to be "the pantomime villain again".

Aye and hopefullu Souness is brought into it, even if its just speculation. Anything to stop him getting the Scotland job. I dunno how I could go back to Hampden if he gets it you don't think he'd be a candidate do you ? Alot of the pundits up here and ex pros like Gough (surprise surprise) are saying he should get it on the basis of his CV. People see the clubs he has managed and regardless of the fact he has actually done very little since his Rangers days which were actually 20 years ago he has done nothing but make a mess of his teams since then, which we all know too well. People look and see Rangers, Liverpool, Blackburn, Newcastle, Benfica etc and compare it to other managers around and make the assumption with his "experience" he must be the man for the job. I seriously am shit scared it will happen and can see it which would top off what has been a shit month for both club and country.

No this one

Aye and hopefullu Souness is brought into it, even if its just speculation. Anything to stop him getting the Scotland job. I dunno how I could go back to Hampden if he gets it

Do you have the same shopping list as me. Have had my eyes on it for weeks and just bought one tonight.

Cheers Whats the display like on it, can you see what tracks/albums your picking? Name wise Looked a bit small to me Aye it is pretty small but lit up well enough to see IMO. To be honest I have bought it as its only 40 notes to see how it is and after a while will no doubt put it elsewhere in the house and upgrade to the newer version which has a better display or the squeezebox or whatever its called.

Aye sorry mate I did get one but apart from checking it out to see if it works haven't really used it as I am in the middle of buying a house and it was purchased for that. I did have some trouble at first trying to get it synced with the PC but had it sorted within minutes when setting up to the laptop. It seems to work decent enough though as I set it up downstairs and had it running no problems and also had it running through my logitech speakers no problem too. Was easy enough to set up the radio through it though I am having some problems with URLs of some of the stations but I imagine a look around the net will sort it out. For £40 it def seems like a decent enough buy I just need to but a half decent surround system to rig it up to.