The Newcastle United Blog

92 responses so far ↓

• 1 deano // Dec 26, 2007 at 6:04 PM

  pish

• 2 Steeley // Dec 26, 2007 at 6:12 PM

  Still any members of the “give Sam a few years to build the squad ” fanclub??

  No, thought not! And if you are still in that club then I think you have a take a good hard look at yourself!

  This was shocking. Shocking isnt the word for it. Abysmal. Disgusting. Sickening. All seem to be appropriate.It’s possibly a good thing we lost, as I would doubt very much that we will get anything from Chelsea. Perhaps therefore, Sam will be given the boot before he makes any more purchases in January.

  Needless to say, this result and perfomance today has confirmed with me that Sam isnt capable of managing NUFC. If he cant motivate the team to anything other a lucky point against the two worst teams in the Prem then he needs to go asap. He started the day by saying that he wont “go gung-ho like against Derby” – I genuinely think he may be going a bit mad. Firstly, because where on earth does he think that we went “Gung-ho” against Derby??? Secondly, if he’s too scared to go to the 2nd bottom club (who incidentally hadnt kept a clean sheet in 15 games!) and do anything other than attack then somethings up.

  At the end of the day, even if he had went there with a defensive plan, it failed, coz we conceded and then didnt score at the other end to even it up. Well done Fat Sam, your great tactical display has failed spectacularly….AGAIN!!

  Now get out of my football club before we end up doing a Leeds!!

• 3 al gardiner // Dec 26, 2007 at 6:13 PM

  i have been fortunate enough to go to a few away games this year despite the prices being around the 40 quid mark each time plus drinking money takes it to around a ton. ive watched newcastle since aged 7 which makes my support lasting 27 years of which its mostly been depressive. i wont be going to Arsenal in January because why should i part with my money to go there and sing my heart out hoping that allardyce will actually listen and play martins, will actually play milner on the right wing and actually play nzogbia where he is most lethal. i’m sick of watching drivel on the pitch only to hear after the game that the team spirit is amazing and everything is coming together. we have just lost to wigan, a team that will surely go down this year with the mackems who we scraped a draw against and also derby who we got very lucky against. i’m sorry, yes managers need time but allardyce is out of his depth at newcastle, his tactics are shocking and his player choice unbelieveable. we have a lot of talent at st james park but no heart. come in allardyce your time is up

• 4 Michael // Dec 26, 2007 at 6:22 PM

  Well, I had been in Big Sam’s side since our form dipped and hopped he would rectify things, Lamentably not, Derby, now Wigen. We are in a Relegation scrap this season if things do not change. Bolton the side Sam left last season look more lively, more inventive, precisely where we lack. We have good players so we can rule that out as a cause. That then leaves manager, do we have a good Manager? I disagree. Sam has shown that his tactics are questionable, He has good fitness regimes and dietary plans but that is it. Look at Bolton Last season, he could not get the best out of Anelka and now at Newcastle he is doing the same with Owen, who was in Fine form for England but not Newcastle, meaning Something is wrong Somewhere and that is at NEwcastle. We keep talking about giving it time and Rome was not built in a day but Look at Man city, Why has Sven not needed the kind of time as we are asking for Sam. Time is not going to wait for us to find form. The premiership goes on whether we are ready to play or not.

  Action is needed because as much as I advocated in his favor he has demonstrated time and time again he is not up for the Job.

• 5 Edd Case // Dec 26, 2007 at 6:24 PM

  I was just this afternoon talking to a friend of mine, also a Toon fan, about this website and the fantastic night we all had on here on transfer deadline day.

  Right to about 0100 hours when we got confirmation of Faye and Beye signing, the excitement was tangible. Everyone, and I mean everyone, was really looking forward to the new season ahead and were really up for giving BS a chance with his new signings.

  5 months on and how different things are.

  For me, at least, Sam has had his chance with his signings and is failing, week in, week out.

  You can say what you like about managers being given years to sort a team out, but we all know that it just doesn’t happen like that these days, perhaps, rightly so.

  Quite what ‘brand’ of football Sam thinks he is trying to achieve is confusing, to say the least.

  Last week, quite unbelievably, Sam actually tried to defend himself and the teams performance against bottom of the league Derby, by boasting that the team was “still on an unbeaten run”.
  Well, we’re certainly not now Sam, and that run was nearly ended by the bottom team – but WAS ended today by the team SECOND from bottom.

  Christ knows what Chelsea will put past us…..we’ve beem mauled there before 5-0 recently.

  Sam is not the man for NUFC.
  He is tactically retarded and clearly is not getting the players playing for him.
  The players seem as confused as I am.

  I’ve looked at todays team and still can’t really be sure we finally played a 442 – I suspect not.

  What bothers me hugely though, is that if Sam did play a 442 – why the hell was Alan Smith starting ahead of Martins???

  Sam, you are the weakest link, goodbye.

• 6 goalcentre.com // Dec 26, 2007 at 6:24 PM

  I guess you guys are pretty mad at him once again for playing players out of position. I wonder why he does that? He purposely finding for trouble?

• 7 Tom_Toon // Dec 26, 2007 at 6:28 PM

  hes wants a pay off.

  It was 4-3-3 and 4-5-1, but 4-5-1 mostly, against bloody wigan, ifwe had another manager he wouldnt play tht vs the world 11.

• 8 bigblackclouds // Dec 26, 2007 at 6:28 PM

  Quite clearly big sham has to go, he has been found out. trouble is he thinks that he is that good, if he was chocolate he would eat himself. The only answer is mr shearer who is one of us knows what the fans want and would be given time

• 9 thesilverbck // Dec 26, 2007 at 6:29 PM

  getting rid of sam lol u lot ain’t got clue wot ur chattin bout no loyalty here

• 10 Edd Case // Dec 26, 2007 at 6:30 PM

  I ‘borrowed’ the below from TEAMtalk.

  Seems we’re not the only ones baffled by Sams ‘tactics’….

  “Allardyce’s line-up at first appeared an attacking one as Damien Duff was handed his first start since April after recovering from a broken foot,

  With Mark Viduka, Alan Smith and James Milner all starting, there was the threat of goals, in particular against another of the top-flight’s strugglers and worst defences.

  But Allardyce played Smith in a holding role in front of the back four, his fourth different position this season since his £6million summer move from Manchester United.

  Smith, who was also surprisingly handed the captain’s armband ahead of the returning Geremi, has previously played in attack, on the wing and in central midfield.

  It effectively left Viduka on his own up front and the Australian, who grabbed both of Newcastle’s goals against the Rams, found no space against the Latics rearguard”.

• 11 Edd Case // Dec 26, 2007 at 6:31 PM

  thesilverbck – you aint got a clue full stop.

• 12 David Dutch // Dec 26, 2007 at 6:31 PM

  My God I am in hiding; I live just outside Wigan unable to get a ticket I listened to Radio Newcastle on the Internet as usual. I have never heard John Anderson being so scathing about Newcastle in a long time, I think his words “I thought the bad displays against Fulham and Derby meant we could not get any worse, well we just have”. Good players do not become bad players overnight, we have some good players in the side so it has to come down to tactics.

  Big Sam is supposed to be the architect who analyzes the defensive frailties of the opposition and then carefully prepares a team to expose those frailties – I have seen no evidence of this this season to date. I travel to home games (well it is only a 400 mile round trip) and have been fed a diet of ineptitude and no imaginative play. It is not more players we need it is a tactician who can get the best out of the squad he has and an ability to consult with his training staff and players to play to their strengths instead of trying to fit round pegs into square holes just to show he is the boss, we have been here before. How he can play Geremi and keep Butt on the bench I do not know, Geremi is a headless chicken who only gets into the starting line up because he was bought by SAM. I wanted so much to give him time to settle in and develop the team but we are going down hill so fast I am sorry he must change or go. He is playing players out of position and rotating for the sake of it. Players no matter how good they are have to play in position and get runs in a settled side so they learn each others playing strengths in competition not just in training. Today it would appear that we were absolutely hopeless without any ideas. Kirkland had one shot to save and at the other end Shay appeared to have one of his most nervous games between the sticks since he arrived at the Toon, could it be that he cannot understand a word that the so called defence says to him or each other apart from Taylor and he had a nightmare according to radio Newcastle. Baye is the only class act, and why does he not play Enrique who is a proven left back freeing Charlie to play forward. I have not bought the Martins ticket yet, although to give him some sort of excuse he has played out of position, -SAM he is not a right winger have you not noticed that, we have a great player in Milner he loves the right wing perhaps that is why SAM refuses to let him play there.

  I look forward to reading reasonable comments not slagging everything off with foul mouthed words. But something has got to happen sooner rather than later we have got out of jail so many times this season against inferior opposition what happens when we meet the top four I shudder to contemplate where we will be come May, we cannot even say there are worse teams than us in the league when we only get 1 point out of playing the two worst team in the division.

• 13 GraemeR // Dec 26, 2007 at 6:34 PM

  Simply not up to the job. Two very poor showings against teams that we should be looking to roll over no matter who is in the team. I pesonally like SA scienific approach to fitness training but the rest is woefully inadequate. Tactically inept and constantly playing players out of position or even changing the positions during the game (fine if there is a noticeable improvement). Unfortunatley I cant see Mike Ashley coughing up too much cash in January – especially as the England team have robbed him of much needed revenue – as SA cant motivate the current crop.

  All in all a promising season has gone belly up – I thought SA may of been the real deal but performances like todays make me think otherwise. TAXI FOR ALLARDYCE

• 14 yet_another_indian_toon // Dec 26, 2007 at 6:38 PM

  I certainly dont wanna watch Saturday’s match against Cheksli scum….

• 15 Tooner // Dec 26, 2007 at 6:38 PM

  James Milner is a right winger, Charles N’Zogbia is a left winger, and Alan Smith is a forward.

  Stop the madness, Sam. You want your payoff? Just put Cacapa and Beye as forwards, as they both had great headed goals. In defense you can pair Emre and Martins. For the fullbacks, Ameobi and Carr can come in, with Carr of course playing LB.

  Since Ramage is out until April, I suppose we will have to make do with Nicky Butt in goal.

• 16 Tom_Toon // Dec 26, 2007 at 6:38 PM

  Lads, whats its gonna be:

  Allarshite
  Allarshize
  Allatard

• 17 Nick Dryden // Dec 26, 2007 at 6:41 PM

  Ed I have a confession. For the last few matches I have been indifferent as to whether we lost or not. If losing matches hastens the departure of Allardyce, then by whatever means is a price worth paying. Short term pain for a better future is all I’m hanging my hat on now. The shameless self promotion Allardyce heaps on himself, based on an absolutely nothing CV compared to the likes of Capello and Sven is laughable, yet he is the 3rd highest paid manager in the premiership ( nice one Fred!) Sam’s oft quoted statisitics are the last refuge of a desperate man. Well here’s a statistic, 1 shot on goal at a team in the bottom 3 furnished with our old favourite Titus!
  Surely we can entice someone better, even if Mc Laren cost Mike Ashley £74M in shirt sales by not qualifying for Euro 2008. Look what Ramos has done for Spurs who were in 18th place. Lets have some ambition ( an alien concept to Sam.)
  Surely we could get sone of the following:

  Shearer (+ KK, Beardo)
  Bilic
  Houllier
  Van Gall
  Klinsman
  Hitzfeld
  Scholari
  Jol
  Hiddinck

• 18 Ashton // Dec 26, 2007 at 6:42 PM

  Sack sack sack sack sack sack sack sack fat sam

• 19 ToonUSA // Dec 26, 2007 at 6:42 PM

  Marcello Lippi anyone he is still out there and looking for a job isn’t he???

• 20 Ben // Dec 26, 2007 at 6:45 PM

  We are the worst team in the PL as we play the worst football. And that has been the case for quite some time. Why pay descent money for zero entertainment? I don’t like booing, instead don’t go to the games. That will show the owners what we think and hurt them were it hurts them most – in the wallet.

• 21 Greg B // Dec 26, 2007 at 6:52 PM

  I find it very, very difficult to offer any excuses, any reasoning or any sort of support for Allardyce after yet another woeful display, however I do not believe sacking him is the answer, not just yet.
  First and foremost, as against Liverpool, Portsmouth and Derby to name just 3 recent games, Allardyce got his tactics all wrong yet again.
  Considering this bloke works all week on the training pitch, watches countless videos of the opposition, has stats, medical reports, fitness regimes and the like coming out of his ample backside and is supposed to be such a magnificent tactician (see his work at Bolton blah blah blah!) how can he get it so wrong time after time after time?
  A decent left back on the bench (who he forked out 6mil+ for), a talented attacking midfielder who loves to run at the defence stuck at left back, a natural right winger on the left and our best available striker on the bench – it isnt rocket science.
  I think Allardyce will get it right given the time and maybe a couple of new players in January but he is doing himself no favours at the moment – any ‘football fan’ can see we have some very talented players at Newcastle, Given, Taylor, Barton, N’Zogbia, Milner, Martins to name a few so why is Allardyce not getting consistant performances from them?
  You only have to look at teams like Portsmouth and Everton, I personally think we have a better squad than both these teams, so why arent we performing like Redknapp and Moyes have got their teams performing?
  I would guess the reason is because Redknapp and Moyes have been given time to get their squads together and work with their players on the training pitch . This is why I do believe that Allardyce should be given at least the rest of the season.
  Another point….. who would we get to replace him? and who the hell would want the job after some of the crap the ‘fans’ have been spouting over the last month or so?
  We are all entitled to our opinions, but as fans we should get behind our team through thick and thin (lets face it, we have had alot of practise at the thin bit!).
  Opposition fans are having a good laugh, not just at the teams performance on the pitch but also the way some of out ‘fans’ turn their backs on the manager and the team in such a public way – “We’re s***, and we’re sick of it” is that the team or the fans? You decide.

• 22 Tom_Toon // Dec 26, 2007 at 6:53 PM

  g

• 23 Rob Kirton // Dec 26, 2007 at 6:55 PM

  David Dutch : In general I can only agree with your comments. There is really little you have said that anybody can argue against

  RE: Players

  Martins: He is not the most skilled footballer in terms of control / technical ability – he is however our top scorer and deserves a regular run out. He just has “a nose for goals”

  Milner: I don’t actually rate him as highly as many because of his inability to consistently put the ball in the mix; however he is far and away the best option we have on the RIGHT.

  The work ethic of these two can never be doubted.

  As a general point it is so sad to see so many players who either seem de-motivated or unable to understand what they are supposed to be doing; and there is only cause I can see for such a situation.

• 24 Andreas // Dec 26, 2007 at 6:58 PM

  Well, say no more.

  Will be fun to read the die hard SA supporters comments when they “ride in defence of SA”.

• 25 Andreas // Dec 26, 2007 at 7:06 PM

  I have said many times before that I THOUGHT SA was a good enough manager to change HIS tactics based on the players at his disposal (and to some extent the type of club he’s managing), but sadly he has proved he doesn’t have that ability (or else he’s just to stubborn to change).

  One other thing which I don’t think I have read on this blog. It seems quite clear that SA indeed is good at sorting a clubs back room staff, creating a good infrastructure (scouting network etc.) and to quite some extent good at buying/selling players.

  However, in my opinion he has proved he’s a crap manager. Hence, a possible solution might be to “kick” SA up a notch and have hime oversee things at a higher level (NOTE: not tactics, selections and similar) and bring in someone responsible for the managing/football side (ofc this won’t happen but still and interesting thought in my opinion since SA undoubtely have some good qualities, albeit not as a top-level manager it seems).

• 26 Alex // Dec 26, 2007 at 7:09 PM

  Its a sad fact ,We are playing the most inept ,boring defensive football in the premership.On paper we have a squad that should be top 6, the reality is we have a manager that is turning us into true relagation material.He needs to be sacked tomorrow ,he is obsessed with 433 defensive football ,still does not know his best 11 and still does not realise that his squad can not play his style of football.

• 27 Obafan // Dec 26, 2007 at 7:09 PM

  thesilverbck – Do you really mean what you are writing as a comment. I think that it is okay to say that if you are new a t a club that you need time to build something. But one thing that is so important is seeing an improovement, perhaps not afeter a week but surely after 5 months. And what do we see?

  Not an improovement, on the contrary our team lokks every time when they go out on the pitch worse and worse. We didn’t manage to create one chance against Wigan!! Come on, what else do you need as a proove to say that SA is not the man we need at NUFC.

  Go for;
  Lippi or Jol (maybe Pellegrini but I don’t know him that good). Jose is too much asked for.

• 28 Tom_Toon // Dec 26, 2007 at 7:12 PM

  looks like fulham are gonna get relegated, buy clint dempsey quick the guy is pretty class, would be a good player for us, back up most probably.

• 29 GraemeR // Dec 26, 2007 at 7:14 PM

  Greg B are you Barton in disguise??

  The fact the fans ‘turn on’ the team and manager is that they feel thay are being ripped off. They invest time, money, effort and to some their lives to the team and in return they simply ask for commitment and effort.

  We all know that that is not happening and the only way to make an impact is to turn on the team. The mere fact that they are at the match allows them (and entitles them in my book) to booh them off the park. If that is the catalyst for change then so be it. The fact that the chants are being talked about here (and reported im the press) means that the fans may at last have an ear (oh and MA was in hte away end – no doubt leading the chants sic)

• 30 Toon Barmy // Dec 26, 2007 at 7:17 PM

  Even the hardcore away support has now lost the faith.he is diberately trying to p@ss the fans & players off for payday , i know the majority of nufc fans would be behind him if we played to our strenghs and positively ie give teams no respect and get in to em (stopped fulham playing). this just isnt right we have to much quality. Quotes from sheilds gazzette: NEWCASTLE United’s 5,000-strong travelling fans turned on Sam Allardyce and his side after their Boxing Day clash with Wigan Athletic ended in defeat.

  United’s four-game unbeaten run was brought to an abrupt end by a stunning Ryan Jarvis free-kick at the JJB Stadium.

  And the away end chanted “We’re s***, and we’re sick of it” as the clock ticked down on another disappointing Premier League defeat.

  Newcastle owner Mike Ashley, who was among the club’s success-starved fans, would have been given plenty of food for thought.

  Allardyce’s side saved one of their worst away performances for the fixture against the relegation-threatened side, who had been second-from-bottom of the league at kick off.

  And in the end United were well beaten, registering just one genuine shot on target.

• 31 Obafan // Dec 26, 2007 at 7:23 PM

  I think nothing is going to happen tomorrow, although I would prefer so. I hope I’m wrong but, … I think SA will be given more time.

  Another thing which annoys me often is other managers (Bruse, Erikkson, …) who say that SA needs time at NUFC. To all the managers keep your heads with your teams and leave ours alone pls. We are strong enough to decide what is the best for our team (I mean our board)

• 32 ToonNorway // Dec 26, 2007 at 7:29 PM

  For God’s sake!
  Yes, today’s performance was abysmal, degenerate crap! But does anyone remember the exact same outcome last year? We have never scored away at Wigan in the PL, and I did not have high hopes before this game. my hart was wanting a win, but my head said draw, at best!

  Of course, the team we had this time around is much better than the one we had last year, but for f*** sake, we all know we are dreadful away from home, we have been for ever, even in the Robson days..

  I’m not trying to make up excuses for a dreadful game, yet again, but please, don’t try to pin it all on Sam. I think the formation today was ok, based on the players we have available! I would like to see Enrique on left back, and Zoggy up as a winger. But the players we had out there should really be able to do better than what was shown today!

  To very bad games on a row, and Chelski away next doesn’t sound good! But lets cheer on the team from our sofas, pubs, or wherever, like we always do. We can’t really believe that Sam could turn it all around in half a year? And if you do/did, I would say: WAKE UP!!! It’s Newcastle we’re talking about, we have been middle-class for years!!!

  The only thing I want, is that the players show the same commitment in every game like against Arsenal, and B.ham…!!

  Don’t pin it all at Sam….even though I can be quite critical of him at times, at least I know that he needs time! And since we don’t have the same shit-board as the latter years, maybe he will be given that time! Rome was not built in a day:)

• 33 milner fan // Dec 26, 2007 at 7:33 PM

  Keep BSA give him time, ye were strugling against low class teams, but thats the players, SA can only put them on the pitch, then its up to them to do what they are paid for. Look at cacapa he was taken off against Pompey for playing shocking. Give him time, or we will be in the same position next season calling for the new managers head.

  Have faith!!!!

• 34 Eve // Dec 26, 2007 at 7:44 PM

  This is ridiculous we can blame the players, we can blame the ref, we can blame whoever the hell comes to mind first, but when it comes down to it it’s the managers fault.
  We’ve a good enough set of players here and under the right manager we could do something. But no instead we’re the laughing stock of the premiership.
  PLayers aren’t preforming under him. And can you blame them like, he isn’t the most confidence inspiring person you’ll ever meet. He changes his starting 11 nearly every bloody week. I don’t think that the players are confident or comfortable playing under him. There is know way that ALL the top players we have are off form at the same time. IMO it’s the environment they’re playing in and the atmosphere in the camp it’s obviously affecting the players.

• 35 Tom_Toon // Dec 26, 2007 at 7:51 PM

  the fact is: players want to play and will follow the managers instructions not to get dropped, therefore its the managers fault.

• 36 billy // Dec 26, 2007 at 7:59 PM

  before a ball is kicked the players have nothing but negative thoughts in there heads because all sam talks about is stopping the opposition home and away the man is obsessed with trying for a clean sheet . he thinks hes really clever but seems to know more about opponents strengths than our own!

• 37 JW // Dec 26, 2007 at 8:04 PM

  Today’s performance was NOT Sam Allardyce’s fault, no way in a million years. Absolutely, Newcastle were abysmal against Wigan, but it was the PLAYERS who were at fault NOT Allardyce. Does anyone out there honestly think that Allardyce told ANY of the players to go out there and play as badly as that?!

  I totally agree with criticizing anyone who deserves it, I’m not a blind Newcastle supporter. If Allardyce does something wrong then, fine, he’ll deserve to be criticized. But you can’t blame him for Abduolaye Faye punting aimless hit and hope balls upfield all game. You can’t blame him for the ineptitude of our midfield either, they couldn’t string two passes together or even keep possession. No one can sit there and tell me that Allardyce sat down and told our players to play like that. You also can’t tell me that it’s Allardyce’s coaching techniques or his motivational ability that’s at fault either because they worked just fine when he was at Bolton.

  Displays like today are the fault of the PLAYERS no question at all in my mind. Today’s performance is merely symptomatic of the pit Newcastle United Football Club is in. The dearth of talent and real quality in the squad is there for all to see, not just in today’s game but for many seasons. When Mike Ashley took over in the summer, Allardyce was given little money, had little time and lacked much of the things needed to attract top players ie recent success or european football. In my opinion there is absolutely no way he can be blamed for the state our squad is in. Even if the players Allardyce bought in the summer haven’t added to the squad, I don’t think he can be blamed. Allardyce HAD to buy players in the summer even if they weren’t really good enough he had to buy them anyway. He had no choice because he couldn’t afford or attract better players to a mid-table club that had no European football.

  Blaming Allardyce would be the easy thing to do, but it would also be completely the wrong thing to do in my opinion. We fan’s MUST wake up and realize that we’re supporting a mid-table club with an awful squad and close to no youth development program. I’ve no problem whatsoever with blaming or even sacking Allardyce if he deserved it or it would make things better. But, in my opinion, he doesn’t and it wouldn’t. It’s going to take years to get this Football Club back up amongst the big boys. Allardyce has realized it, I think Chris Mort and Mike Ashley realize it. It’s about time some fans realized it too.

• 38 Tom_Toon // Dec 26, 2007 at 8:11 PM

  JW ylour a minority so shut your mouth, we should never have hired a dumb english manager, he controls the team, its his fault end of.

  Read my las comments the one before billy’s.

• 39 true // Dec 26, 2007 at 8:15 PM

  good by Sam thanks for nothing except a glimmer of hope that you have FAILED to fullfill.

• 40 JJ // Dec 26, 2007 at 8:26 PM

  It all started to go wrong when BSA said he would only communicate in English -I guess a bit of English footlball talk (Clichés) and an abundnce of slang will be thrown in there as well.

  I would like to know what they (the team) make of Sams strategy talks…

  On paper I’m happy with the team so why don’t they play to their ability

  A very unhappy toon faithful.

• 41 David Dutch // Dec 26, 2007 at 8:28 PM

  When you say it is not the manager’s fault that the players perform so badly I disagree to a large extent. Faye booted the ball 70 yards because that is what he was told to do just like at Bolton, the difference is our front players prefer the ball played to their feet and that means coming through mid-field, no good for Big sam he would rather play without a mid-field. A manager must look at his players recognise their strengths and play the game accordingly not just get a blackboard or white board out and draw pretty diagrams on it, I often laugh when you see Terry Mc drawing circles on his piece of paper before a sub comes on I am convinced the player takes no notice for very few look at what he is doing but that is what he gets paid for. When was the last time we went on the field and took the game to the opposition, stopped them playing football instead of the other way around. That is the game we want to see for the best form of defence is attack.

• 42 Hadrian // Dec 26, 2007 at 8:39 PM

  at least his interview on sky sports is honest enough.

• 43 Aussie Dave // Dec 26, 2007 at 8:49 PM

  This was thie first game not shown live in Aust all season, seems like I didnt miss much.
  I was an advocate of giving Sam a chance but we seem to not be able to show any composure and pass the ball.

  I just listened to Sam’s sky interview where he went on to say he selected a team to counter Wigans combatitive nature.

  In the 22yrs I played the most difficult team to play against are not those who simply set out to stop your play but go out and play themselves, which we do not do.

  The best teams play with width, and combine a fast moving short passing game with fast attacking dribbling in one on one situations, with 2 strikers, sometimes even 3. Top teams back their own ability.

  We have a lot of top class players at this club but a combination of defensive selections, tactics and pressure seem to be restricting thier ability to be creative.

  Mourinho would be a decent option, I think this guy may have won a few trophies in England!!!!

• 44 TelfordToon // Dec 26, 2007 at 8:51 PM

  I think jw and ToonNorway are talking sence we are only a mid table team . Long gone are the days of 2nd 3rd 4th finish in the prem. Give the man time he will get it right you don’t become a sh*t manager over night. The new players like barton need to start preforming he could not keep the ball for two secs on sunday

• 45 geordie down south // Dec 26, 2007 at 8:57 PM

  i said this with glenn roeder…we are sh*t..and arnt entertaining..but if we keep sacking managers less than a year after we hire them..then were going to get worse..

  i think this season will be close to us getting relegated..i dont think we will..(mackems.derby.and fulham will) but weve got to give him a year/ 2 years just for consistency..newcastle needs a manager for more than a year!!..

  i dint want big sam getting the job in the first place ( juande ramos) would have been awesome..but now we have big sam we must stick by him..

  he bought 9 players in the summer thats nearly a whole team..and today six of our team was new.. thats half the team have only played together for 6 months..no wonder were shiit..

  sam bought too many players in a short period of time.. that will have unsettled the team in itself..and if when they play all they hear are boo’s then there not going to have any confidence and self belief..

  i dont think chris mort should sack big sam .. think he should bring in shearer.. him bieng a local hero will want sucess and this will mean a lot..he will be abnle to motivate the team..he knows how the premiership works..he could even work with the strikers..alan smith, mark viduka, shola ameobi and MO..all respect him..he is one of the best strikers the game has ever seen..and oba says he wants to be the new shearer well.. how about having the real thing there working with him??

  having shearer at newcastle would also give him the experience and mort and ashley there next manager..which when sam lwaves newcastle would still give continuity as shearer would have already ben working with the team..

  i hope the board dont do anything stupiid..!! as sacking Big Sam would just make the situation worse!!…

• 46 Daniel Petersen // Dec 26, 2007 at 9:16 PM

  I’m actually at a loss for words. I’ve been a supporter of Big Sam all season, but this is starting to be ridiculous. Today’s result is partially BS ’s fault. Sam Played Smith out of position as a defensive midfielder, who gave away the free kick, that conceded the only goal. I just don’t get it. Off the top of my head we have four other players that excel at the DM role (Faye, Butt, Roz, Geremi) but BS plays a forward. I just can’t get my head around it. I’m terrified of what we’re going to be like during the African Cup of nations. The only good news for the Chelsea game this weekend is both Carvalho and Cashly Cole picked up red cards today. Huh, I guess I wasn’t at a loss for words after all.

• 47 thelongshanks // Dec 26, 2007 at 9:19 PM

  An utter disgrace,he is playing survival football and wont pick a decent 11 in their right positions.

  Given
  beye,taylor,capaca,enrique
  milner,emre,butt,nzogbia
  martins, viduka

  Nzogbia is a left winger,enrique 6.5m spent on a player he wont even play.This lad is apparently the best left young back coming up in spain.Smith is a striker and so is martins.Nzogbia is a midfielder.Why is he doing this to our club?I wanted sven but sheppard is an idiot.

  I think allardyce will be given to the end of the season.Please dont let us get relegated,like every season recently after 18 games we planning for next season.

• 48 JW // Dec 26, 2007 at 9:39 PM

  Just accept that Newcastle is a mid-table side, with a terrible squad. Stop looking for magic cures and easy answers and face facts, man. Sacking Allardyce would be a complete farce, it’s the kind of thing Freddie Shepherd would have done. At the first sign of trouble Shepherd would just sack the manager to appease the fan’s for a while. We criticized him for sacking managers at inappropriate times but know some fan’s want to do just that! How messed up in the head are you?!

• 49 the big p // Dec 26, 2007 at 9:42 PM

  Goodbye Sam, need time???
  Mancity didn’t need time.
  I am sure that our chairman is not a fool, if the wipping boys can make life difficult for you then you havn’t got what it takes and he knows it.
  When will he get the sack?? Before he spends in January. Our new manager must give this side some attacking style and confidence.
  Lets bring in a classy manager.

• 50 AltaBatalJoneN // Dec 26, 2007 at 10:04 PM

  If Sam is the BIG man that he thinks he is, then he should take his hat and walk away NOW!! (looks like he is trying to get sacked, and get a BIG payout) He embarrasses me and all that is The Toon!! It hurts so bad to watch our very talented team play so poor, and they all look lost!
  F..k,, all he ever does is talk about how good HE was at Bolton..
  To all Boltons out there, you’re better off without SAM. He thought he was bigger than the club, and still does… and even you play attractive football nowadays.

  I wish you all a happy new year.

  From “Frustrated Toon-fanatic from Norway!!”

• 51 JW // Dec 26, 2007 at 10:08 PM

  Like who? Which top manager is going to come to a mid-table club, that’s been in the duldrums for most of the last decade and has no European football to offer? Which top manager is going to go to a club who’s fans give you ten seconds to get it right and then if you don’t then that’s your lot?

• 52 Nobby's dad // Dec 26, 2007 at 10:12 PM

  Big Sam looked haunted in his Sky interview…………..I can hear the fat lady clearing her throat!

• 53 Tom_Toon // Dec 26, 2007 at 10:13 PM

  with the amount we are paying sam, any manager in the world, klinsmann is best realistic option, and he would come, he was going to go to spurs and is in the running for fulham.

• 54 Toon Barmy // Dec 26, 2007 at 10:15 PM

  JW i know what your saying in keep sacking managers isnt the answer & your right, if he was the right man for the job, but to a lot of fans the guy is just too negative. his tactics are very questionable, i dont think he can change, we are not the only one’s to notice this negative tripe being played even lawro noticed lawro! on match of the day said he was trying to make us play like bolton, its not just toon fans.
  We just want to see good football, there wouldnt be a problem if we are going down with a fight of it and we’d all be behind sam, but the truth is we are going down with a wimper in games we should be winning & its sad to see.

• 55 Dave Evans // Dec 26, 2007 at 10:16 PM

  I feel so sorry for you guys. Firstly having taken Big Sam and then taking Barton off our hands. I couldn’t believe Big Sam’s stupidy then.
  Luckily, we didn’t get him as manager and you gave us 5.6 mill for idiot Barton.
  Then you gave us three points (well we were the best team on that particular day). Now watch us bring you guys a late christmas present and your resolution for 2008 by taking three points on the 2nd. Jan.
  Let’s face it Sams P45 , just like Graeme Clueless’s at our place, is needed here.
  Your club is just too big to have to put up with the crap you are being served up this season. Good luck guys, we were there with Pearce this time around last year.

• 56 ToonKing // Dec 26, 2007 at 10:23 PM

  i wanted to express my opinion but as a Sam supporter i find it hard to say anything today.

  i think the views of Daniel Petersen, A Gerodie Down South and JW are mostly my own too.

  i’m hoping we can beat an injury and suspension devastated Chelski on Saturday.

• 57 Eve // Dec 26, 2007 at 10:28 PM

  Sam is never going to get time, why, because we wont give it too him, here we want success, we want it now and if we don’t get it then someones loosing their job. I don’t like Sam, I don’t, but someone, somewhere along the line needs to be given time to get this club off the ground. Like come on, what was everyone expecting, in the top 4, 6?? Some manager, wether it be Sam or whoever should be given time and the lads upstairs need to back him completley even on days like this.
  Anyway I don’t like Sam, he doesn’t seem to get the best out of the players, there is no way that all our decent consistant players have a dip in form at the same time, it’s not a coincidence like, it can’t be, there’s something else there. Wheter it be him, the other new players, the atmosphere, the atitude, something. But I refuse to believe that suddenly all our decent consistant players are playing badly, it’s not that simple.

  Martins, he’s a bloody good player, he’d thrive somewhere like Man U or Arsenal, he can be a goal scoring machine and what have we seen with him so far..nothing, Sam seems to have no confidence in him whatsoever, it’s pretty much like he’s a stand in till Owen (God help us all) is fit again. That’s just wrong and unfair on him. With pressure like that on him it’s no wonder he’s not scoring goals.

  Given, he’s still a bloody good keeper, I’d pick him over most in the premiership but I think it’s safe to say that we know him and Sam don’t have the greatest relationship. Droped for Harper at the start, leading (apparently) a revolt against Sam. Somethings not right there.
  Given’s been playing good this season but we’ve seen him play amazingly, and it’s not a drop in form, he plays a hell of a lot better with Ireland then he does with us and we’ve both a pretty average (overstating) defense. So why is that..is it that he can’t comunicate with his defenders in front of him, is it cause he’s afraid to take risks cause he knows that Sam’s waiting for him to slip up. When he plays with Ireland you see a lot more confident, happy Given. Today he made a couple of decent saves but he didn’t look happy, he didn’t look confident. It’s not nerves from the pressure of the fans, he’s been here for 10 years, it’s something else.

  Taylor, he’s been very good for us in the past and suddenly he just drops form like that. I don’t accept that.

  Barton, he’s a fireball, 100 miles an hour kinda player we’ve seen none of it yet.

  Ye getting my drift, I could go on for another while naming more players.

  We can blame the players all we like but come on, there’s something not right here. IMO Sam’s having a bad negative affect on all the players around him. Everyone riddled with nerves, obsessed with clean sheets. Negative, negative, negative. That’s all anyones hearing.

• 58 Ginola // Dec 26, 2007 at 10:45 PM

  Should get sven instead, it’s all your own fault..you guys think sven is shit and BSA is a god. look what happend now

• 59 JW // Dec 27, 2007 at 12:12 AM

  Eve, why can’t it be the most obvious thing which is to blame for the players bad form, why does it have to be Allerdyce? Surely the most obvious reason why so many of our players are playing badly is because they’re playing in a team that’s so low on confidence? I mean when the team is losing games and getting booed by their own supporters which is putting even more pressure on them. Surely that’s the reason why they are playing so badly?

  I’m not saying Allardyce is the right man for Newcastle but there is no way you can judge him on just half a season in charge. It’s insane. Whether you like the man or not is irrelevent; I don’t like Sir Alex much but look at what he’s acheived. We’ve got to stop making scapegoats out of people because of some airy fairy notion of not liking them.

  We’ve got to give Allerdyce time and judge him when he’s got his own team of players. I love Martins, but, lets face it, even played through the middle he’s been pretty average. It’s not like he’s been scoring 20 goals a sason is it? Our best young players, like Oba, Milner, Zog and Taylor get talked up so much but theyre still just boys. They’re not the legends being wasted by Allardycesome people think they are.

• 60 Toon Down Under // Dec 27, 2007 at 12:16 AM

  There is something wrong with everything at Newcastle besides the fans!

  I don’t know what it is, but you get a new manager in who signs every experience defender under sun & after a couple months on Tyneside, they all catch Titus Bramble syndrom, where they lose concentration or concede goals after poor clearances!

  It makes you sick to the guts after ten years of it!

  The current squad seem to not give a crap! Newcastle lack flair in attack, confidence in defense, play most players out of position, & sign players who don’t even want to be there (Owen).

  Get rid off Butt(too old), Owen(overpaid & wants to play for Liverpool), Carr(Has dined eversince on a wonder against Man U), Emre (better suited to Spain or Italy, & Ameobi (Will never lead the front line!)!

  The team should be:
  GK: Given
  RB: Geremi, CB:Taylor, CB: Cacapa, LB: Enrique
  RM: Milner, CM: Barton, CM:N’Zogbia, LM:Duff
  ST: Martins, ST: Viduka

  Geremi is a right back, not right midfielder!

  Enrique is a 6M signing, play him!

  Milner is Right footed!

  When in the middle, N’Zogbia has scored goals!

  Martins scores more goals than Owen & does more work off the ball!

  The manager will be sacked if he doesn’t use a team like that! Currently there is no drive moving foward. Newcastle biggest concern is not a crappy defense, but a lacklasture attack.

  The old fashion English route one football is nearly dead, & Sam will have to change or he will be gone by the end of January.

  Foriegn coach are flourishing in the Premiership now because they play the ball on the ground rather than in the air, & it is also a key sign when England cannot Qualify for the Euros because they have an English coach who also plays route one football!

  Newcastle should keep an eye out for the a new manager, Jose who, Marcelo who, Guus who?

  We have the money, we have the fans, we have the stadium, & we want success!
  Do It!

• 61 JW // Dec 27, 2007 at 12:17 AM

  Toon barmy, I don’t think Sam is trying to make us play lik Bolton I just think he’s using the same system at the minute because it’s getting better results than other systems we’ve played this sason. We just don’t have the squad to play 4-4-2 successfully in my opinion, not yet. Besides few teams play 4-4-2 anymore – most of the big clubs don’t play it so whay should we?

• 62 Tom_Toon // Dec 27, 2007 at 12:26 AM

  when we played well at the beginning of the season we played 4-4-2 and then when we switched to 4-3-3 became very inconsistent.

• 63 Tapir Angkasa // Dec 27, 2007 at 1:04 AM

  Newcastle January 08 signing

  new Right Back
  new Creative Midfielder
  New MANAGER!!!!!!

• 64 Eve // Dec 27, 2007 at 1:07 AM

  JW, normally I’d agree with you, like I said whoever it is in charge needs time there, but I honestly think that Sam isn’t bringing the best out of his players. At the best of times they’re struggling.
  Now these players are good players. Some are average but a couple are very good and I don’t know, maybe it’s cause I don’t really like Sam, but in fairness I haven’t since the start, maybe it’s the fact that I don’t believe in coincidence or maybe it’s cause I believe in the players a little too much. But I wont except that all the players have a dip in form at the same time. For the entire season I’ve seen most games, not once have I seen them look, well, happy, comfortable with each other, it’s like there’s 4 seperate teams out there, there’s the forwards who go off and play themselves, the midfielders who can’t decide where to go, there’s the defense, who 99% of the time run around like headless chickens, all talking their own language, litteraly, then there’s Given, who like usual is on his own anyway, he can’t communicate with the defense, the defenders wont communicate with the mids and the mids and the forwards fall over each other. It’s like they’re all playing a separate game, we can’t expect to win like that, and we wont. The tactics are horrible, it’s all very rushed, it’s all very confused, it’s like they’re playing with a hot potato and half the time they look like they don’t even want to be on the pitch.
  Now are you telling me that that’s all down the players. I refuse to believe that. I’m sorry but I don’t.

• 65 wsq // Dec 27, 2007 at 1:36 AM

  he talks about keeping up with their tempo!!! what about them keeping up with us!! have u ever thought about it thatway BS(bigshite)

• 66 Leo // Dec 27, 2007 at 1:37 AM

  i am close to turning and say that we should sack sam soon. ffs he is not playing wingers ever

  or play a proper left back. wonder why our defence is not doing well!!!

  why are we not getting service up to smith and viduka? because we have no wingers playing

  its crap to watch i am so angry that yet again we are being pulled through this shit by a manager who did so well at his previous club. come on BSA get your act together

• 67 Dragoner // Dec 27, 2007 at 2:00 AM

  Tom Toon why dont YOU shut up, your so irritating with your stupid little comments and ridiculous little transfer suggestions.

  here is an example of your stupidity.

  “Lads, whats its gonna be:

  Allarshite
  Allarshize
  Allatard”

  ha ha your so funny, grow up.

  “the fact is: players want to play and will follow the managers instructions not to get dropped, therefore its the managers fault.”

  That is a stupid and ignorant statement. It is your theory, thats all, not fact.

  Everyone on here is angry, and that is fair enough, but take a look at the whole team before blindly blaming allardyce. I bet if Allardyce played the tactics you lot wanted and lost you would still find a way to blame him. The manager is only half of the problem, our players Aren’t good enough. We have very few quality players despite what some people on here believe. If players like Milner are described as quality, then what are players like Sean Wright Phillips called. If strikers like Martins are quality, then what are strikers like Van Persie called etc.

• 68 Sinead // Dec 27, 2007 at 2:03 AM

  Lol, on talk of next manager..give Richo (Damien Richardson) the job, he’d do a dalm side better then Sam is. And I’ve a feeling that he’s looking for work at the moment.

  No seriously though, he’s a lot of experience, managed successful clubs. And ye’ve no idea whatsoever I’m talking about..ah well.

• 69 Sinead // Dec 27, 2007 at 2:07 AM

  “the fact is: players want to play and will follow the managers instructions not to get dropped, therefore its the managers fault.”

  Well he is kinda true like, a player doesn’t like or do what the manager tells them to and disobeys it, then well, I haven’t seen that happen a lot, but I have in one particular occasion, in Saipan on the eve of the WC in 02. When Mick McCarthy sent our captain, our general, our best player, home, and why, cause he told the truth.

• 70 Ausgeordie // Dec 27, 2007 at 3:19 AM

  I think the majority of fans would like to see Martins and Viduka playing up front together. Milner on the right with Barton/Geremi/ Emre in the middle and Zog on the left. I dont think anyone is particularly fussed about the backs because no matter who is there we leak goals. Thats not that bad if we are attacking minded but to go to Wigan to shut them down is ridiculous. What we should have done was open them up. The frustration comes not from the loss but the way the boys are being forced to play.

  I fear Sam has made the same mistake Roeder did when buying Duff and is now forced to show he has spent wisely by constantly playing Smith. Sorry but the guy does not fit in the team and does not score or create enough goals to warrant his place in the team. His behaviour is foul and he is not captain material.

  Sam you need to drop Smith now if you want to save your job. Bring him on as a sub if you wish but he does not bring anything to our game at the moment……and I ferkin hate looking at his scowling bellamy esq face.

  I cant help but think a new manager would be able to give everyone a clean slate and at that point play the players to their strengths andselect the squad on merit. That is not happening and should surely be one of the first lessons a manager learns.

• 71 goalcentre.com // Dec 27, 2007 at 3:27 AM

  How can the fans not be fed up? No shot on target in the first 45 minutes and only 1 for the whole match.
  Although Derby is rocked bottom but their performances is definitely better then Newcastle.

• 72 steve // Dec 27, 2007 at 9:49 AM

  It’s not 2 bad games in a row, we were truely sh!te against Fulham and Brum but managed to sneak last minute goals to paper over the cracks, we put up a dogged fight against arsenal to get a point ( don’t forget boro beat them in the next game!) and were completely crap against liverpool and portsmouth, we’ve played poorly all season – the players still aren’t gelling and that has to be down to sam ( he bought half the team after all)
  We’ve drawn against sunderland and boro and whilst people can say these are derby games and are different they are both relegation candidates and we should be beating them.

  I’m sick of people getting on our backs and blaming our expectations – most of us would rightfully expect to be challenging Everton, Blackburn, Portsmouth etc for 6th spot, I don’t think anyone on this blog would be expecting us to get anywhere near challengint the top 4 this season or even next.
  We are not seeing any improvement, we’re actually seeing the opposite – Sam seemingly can’t motivate the players or get them to follow his game plan and if thats the case he should go

• 73 lee...malaysia // Dec 27, 2007 at 10:42 AM

  disgusting and abysmal display…thats to sum up our play. I began to suspect the players belief in fat sam’s tactics. He doesnt seems to have his steady back four all the time. He just know how to chop and change the team in every match. Behavivng and talk like a invinsible englishman but actually he is a blunted and retarded football blind person. i am sorry for fat ashley.. it seems that the three fatty can’t combine together. we need a leanier chicken to make a burger.. i am also not quite convinced by shearer ability but on the safe side, lets have mourinho or scolari (if the portuguese refuses)

• 74 scott 9 // Dec 27, 2007 at 11:53 AM

  agree toon king i am a big sam fan but im struggling with words today i cant back him up based on that preformance

• 75 daiv // Dec 27, 2007 at 11:54 AM

  I hear Alan Smith is the club captain which means he will be playing. Says it all. How can someone be the captain of the club who is a forward and has not scored a league goal for nearly THREE years. A player who cannot stand on his feet and make a tackle. A player who fouls for Brazil and collects yellow cards for fun. A player who is three yards off the pace and creates nothing. Man, he cannot get a shot off never mind score. And he is our captain because of his “commitment.” We have sunk this low.

• 76 JW // Dec 27, 2007 at 11:56 AM

  Our squad is abysmal; just accept the fact. If you don’t believe me have a look at the squads that Man Utd, Man city, Arsenal, Everton, Portsmouth, Aston Villa, Chelsea, Blackburn, westham and even teams like Reading! Take a look at their squads and come back here and tell me that Newcastle’s squad is better than theirs.

  Our squad, even compared to the midtable teams, is PATHETIC! It is so poor all over the park it is just unbelievable.

• 77 daiv // Dec 27, 2007 at 12:02 PM

  Dragoner, I agree totally about the lack of quality. The players are not good enough but Sam gets the blame. How nmany of Newcastle’s best players would get in the top 4 teams. ZERO. And they are paig £50 K a week to implement his tactics. Its claer some of them dont like them but they are professional players paid a fortune and should try their best. Some are going through the motions which is a disgrace when they wear the balck and white shirt. They want the manager sacked. We should sack them and start again in the Championship. Primadonnas now run this club and Im sick of them.

• 78 scott 9 // Dec 27, 2007 at 12:09 PM

  i think we should sign gilberto arshevin park jji sung daniel carvalhio and greiter stienson a centre back

• 79 Tom_Toon // Dec 27, 2007 at 12:23 PM

  scott, no you dont, steinnson is a pathetic attempt for a rb.

• 80 hanzemre // Dec 27, 2007 at 12:51 PM

  Sam Allardyce is S*** . He is just pathetic. Get rid of this S***. Shame on him but he must go soon. Can bear no more pains watching his S*** team playing (around/be outplayed?). ENOUGH is ENOUGH.

• 81 Dragoner // Dec 27, 2007 at 1:41 PM

  Daiv the only problem is, there are very few of us left who can actually see the situation for what it is. People on here find it much easier to blame sam allardyce for his tactics, but even when these players play in their positions they are distinctly average. Players like Milner who have little to no skill, no pace and poor delivery are held in high regard on this website and its a joke. I am not going to go through all of the average players we have that are severely overrated by our fans as i am sure you are fully aware of who they are….everyone is fully aware, apart from many newcastle united fans.

• 82 Dragoner // Dec 27, 2007 at 1:44 PM

  When Allardyce came he should have got rid of more players and simply started fresh.

• 83 JW // Dec 27, 2007 at 2:11 PM

  Totally agree with you, Dragoner. I think there will be a pretty big clear out coming up in the summer, now that Sam has got to know just how poor some players are. Players like Milner and Zog are young and have plenty of time to improve. Taylor needs to stop believing his own hype, realize that he’s not already as good as John Terry or Tont Adams, and sign a new contract. I wouldn’t be surprised if Martins was sold during the summer; a few nice touches and a dozen good goals doesn’t turn you into wayne rooney! We need a more versatile and more consistent player than him.

  I’ve thought for years that Newcastle needed a board big enough to ignore the fans and do what was right for the club. I really hope we have that now and I very much doubt Allardyce will be sacked for the simple reason he’s nopt the problem.

  Being asked to play in a certain way or in a certain formation does NOT make you play badly. It’s the players who are to blame for their displays.

• 84 Gun "Indonesian Geordie" // Dec 27, 2007 at 2:49 PM

  Cloud nine when SA came in bringing fresh change. Thought it would be the end of the sloopy dying football showed by the previous managers. Great start of the season. A lot of smiles on the face of the lads during training.

  November was when i started to take off my vote for SA. Terrible football (is it still football we are playing or chess on green field?), amazingly screwed up tactics and formation (i might say the players don’t even know how to play SA football), coward (how could he ever ask his players to sit back for the whole game, in ST JAMES’ PARK???!!), has no knowledge of players (how can he put players wherever he wants when he’s already got that PRO bla bla bla stuff to evaluate players???!!!), great future England politician (When have we found him losing his so called “diplomatic comment” over a chopped and roasted performance?NEVER), a good physio (should be considering this field once he’s given the boot. Think this’s the only thing he masters, taking good care of players’ health).

  It’s enough Sam, you need to face the fact that you’re not at all the person to handle this massive FC. Great start of the season in my view is just luck of you and it’s because the players still want to play, not because you’re genious football architect. Playing Spanish Italian formation in England? What do you consume for your breakfast on matchday that it affects your brain so badly?

  An idea for Mike, why don’t you try to swap the initial from SA to AS? That should be cool. Alan has proved how great his influence and tactics when he assissted Roeder. Without alan the season after, were we still playing the same football?NO. Alan is the first man all Toon Army should be considering. He might have no much experience in being a manager, but he has been one of the most loyal fans, a legend, becoming one of the soldiers on St James’ pitch for a decade. He knows this club in and out, what fans are hungry for, and the most important point, he surely still wants trophies with his hometown club, never mind as a manager. What else the criteria he misses?

  BRING SHEARER FOR THE TOON!!!

• 85 Gun "Indonesian Geordie" // Dec 27, 2007 at 2:53 PM

  what a howler!!!

• 86 JW // Dec 27, 2007 at 2:55 PM

  Just had a look at the league table and I reckon that 12 of the 20 teams have better squads than us! If that doesn’t make people realize just how poor our squad is then nothing will.

• 87 daiv // Dec 27, 2007 at 4:48 PM

  Spot on JW. I would think there are more than 12 better squads. The players are poor.
  Playing some players out of position does not make a bad team unless the players are no good. You lot go on about Milner and Zog and ???? (can’t think of anymore) being creative players. They play on the wing supported by other creative central midfield players (???? can’t recall their names)) and create nothing. Why? because they are as creative as my granny. Stop blaming Sam. You lot are using him as a scapegoat. Blame the players like Smith (THE CAPTAIN!!!!! a forward who has not scored for three years) and the “saviour” ObaMartins who couldn’t even be bothered to run back onside against Derby. Never mind, Oba will pick up his £70K again and again and again.

• 88 JW // Dec 27, 2007 at 6:15 PM

  When Emre came on as a substitute against Birmingham the other week he got a massive cheer from the Toon Army. I was listening to radio Newcastle and I remember Mick Lowes commenting on it. He said it was indicative of the lack of creative midfielders at the club that a man who’s essentially done nothing in a black and white shirt gets a cheer like that!

  I mean, Emre’s scored a few nice goals, including one against the mackems, and got a few assissts. He’s not exactly Rob Lee, Beardsley or Ginola is he?! And Emre, by himself, is supposed to be this creative genius who’s going to unlock the tightest defnces the Premiership’s got to offer!

• 89 derek Chapman // Dec 28, 2007 at 12:06 AM

  What a shambles, and £45,000 a week thug Barton is arrested again for assault on Boxing Day

  Makes you proud to be a Geordie
  NOT

  Fecking disgrace

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