NJS

I'm a bit happier after reading this: Guardian Take Especially these bits: If its true (big if) and they interview a number of people then thats a better approach than reeling from rejection to rejection until someone takes it (as per Souness). I'd even forgive McLaren being considered if it meant getting Mourinho.

I read something which suggested that they spent an obscene amount for a German club but are only just ahead of second so it was considered "failure".

We look a bit left-footed in midfield - unless he plays Lua Lua or another kid.

For those who follow foreign football how likely is it that Milan (or Madrid as mentioned elsewhere) will be changing managers this year? Just wondering if the Mourinho assumption is "true".

I'd be more concerned on health grounds - Newcastle is no place for someone with a history of heart problems.

I honestly think they were applying the same logic as was applied to Allardyce. If he could get a club like Bolton to 6th/7th/8th with no money then he should be able to do better. That now becomes "well he's always played good football and got West Ham and Pompey to a decent position - just think how he would do with us backing him" You can think two ways - you can go out and get "guaranteed" success with a proven winner which as LM has rightly said we've done in the past without success or you can take someone who has shown signs that they could and impose an improved environment on them. For the record as I've said I think Redknapp wasn't a disastrous choice but I'd like to see better and I'd like to see them choose the "proven" option rather than the "potential"

I'm sorry to keep saying it and sound like a stuck record but those who thought no change was needed should wake up to where we've been left.

I watched the game on Setanta and instinctively thought it wasn't in. The replays didn't convince me. Couldn't face MOTD or Goals on Sunday - did they prove it? Did they try?

I think the "low" amount of spending was a symptom of not fully being behind Sam and as he says in the article possibly not taking enough control from the start - this interview is an attempt to say "Right, no more messing around". I agree we could be involved in the relegation fight - I said before xmas that the fixture list wasn't our friend - thats why sacking the manager wasn't absurd - the way things were going could you see 5 or 6 probable wins under Allardyce? - I couldn't. From what he's saying now we will have someone to lead us out of the mire - and I think it'll be someone decent.

Ashley returns from trip abroad to take charge and save us all - hurrah!!

Whats ambiguous about net? - othewrise you wouldn't see the net receivers.

I read one of those "rules for women" things ages ago which declared closing their eyes whilst having a load shot in their face to be a crime.

Just read the whole article on N-O and I have to say if the bloke lives up to his words I'll be happy - he sounds just like what I or any one of us would say if we were in his position. We may have had to suffer 6 months of turgid dross and the Rednapp/lack of anyone yet thing isn't fantastic but it does give me hope reading that.

Why did Abramovich buy Chelsea? Why did Lerner buy Villa Why did whatshisname buy City? All as playthings - get over it. The only thing thats wrong is that he can't make his mind up between fun and success - and probably hasn't realised that success IS fun when it comes to football.

There are a couple of bands I like which are supposedly "emo" but I don't give a fuck - to me its just music I like. In particular Jimmy Eat World

Anybody who calls themselves a football fan who denies NUFC is a big club is a fucking idiot. You can say "not as big as you think you are" - thats a debate but "big club my arse" qualifies you as sky era fuckwitted twat. Goodnight.

Except we had 2 years of shit under Bobby but he was given time because there were signs that he knew what he was doing - under Allardyce those signs were conspicuous by their absence which was the whole point.

I agree we wern't that bad in the first half but Rooney still could have had 3 and at least one pen should have been given. Of course I'm the usual over-pissed off when we lose but I just want to make the point that anyone who wanted to persevere with the man (failure to replace not withstanding) has no legs to stand on imo.

We lost 6-0 to Chelsea in about 81 - that was horrific as well.

Knee-jerk-tastic tbh. Yes, the team fell apart in the second half. How much has it to do with Allardyce though? The players he signed? Cacapa and Enrique did quite ok in the first 45 mins. Smith is appalling though, I give you that. But with all the turmoil that is going on at the club I don't think it is a great surprise what happened after Manchester went ahead 2-0. Do you think it would have been any different if he's still been in charge? - I don't for a nanosecond. If Rooney had had his shooting boots on in the first half they would have had 10 - acceptable? I've seen us got to old trafford with infinitely worse squads than today and not get as badly beaten.

It could be a positive if Ashley realises how far we have to go. Then again he could just say fuck it.

So thats 9 proper trophies to our 11 Fuck off.

Would be complaining if it wasnt Smith, sending a player off in injury time for opening his gob when his team is 6-0 down sounds very very petty. To be fair questioning the linesmans legitimacy in view of those two decisions is something I'd have been tempted top do.

That to me is a message to the Allardyce defenders - his team absolutely destroyed. Yes Man U are fucking brilliant but the incompetence throughout the team is manifest. And by the way we're 6 points above 4th bottom.

Ronaldo - dive for the pen plus more dives - should had a yellow at least. Rooney - left his foot in just before Smith got his lecture - could easily have been a yellow - should have been off Ferdinand - two yellows for whinging ("pen" + Rooney booking) - should have been off Linesman - corrupt/incompetent/coward - pick a choice. Smith one was a pen like. The formation seems to be ranging between "fluid" and "all over the place" depending on your pov. Overall we have done badly but Man U are having a nightmare in front of goal which won't last.