smoggeordie

FOLLOWING weekend reports in the Press, Newcastle United would like to set the record straight with regards season ticket sales. The Club can confirm that sales are now closing in on the 25,000 mark with uptake in the expanded family area particularly strong. Interest is continuing to grow on a daily basis and with the new season still three weeks away we expect the number of season ticket holders to further increase. Click here for more information on season tickets for the 2009/10 campaign. So who believes that then?

Exactly what I'm thinking. We wont be half the team we are without him. I wouldn't bet against him wanting to play in the 2010/11 tour now.

Freddie Strikes! 4 more to go...

I don't know the exact weather forecast but theres no way we should be batting anymore, getting 400 in an 4th innings run chase is virtually impossible, we already have more than 500, we have to get bowling at them as soon as possible and make sure we get them out. If it was me, and i think Strauss may have done the same i would have had 5-10 overs at them today if it wasn't for the fact the light meant the aussie batsmen would have been able to go straight off, because i think we could have nicked a wicket or 2 tonight and been well set to rip into them tomorrow. If the sun is shining and Australia bat like they did in Cardiff, chasing 500 down, however unlikely, isn't impossible. The pitch is still terrific to bat on.

Good game, some good performances. Thought Nolan played well and Kadar played well going forward. LuaLua was great on the flank too.

Bat an hour and a quarter or so tomorrow, get the lead up to 600+ and then declare (unless we're all out). Cheeky half an hour at them before lunch then 5 full sessions to bowl them out. If we can't do that, we don't deserve to win.

Ponting was correctly given out, but for the wrong method of dismissal. Not out for the catch, but plumb in front for the LBW.

STEVE McMAHON has claimed that the Profitable Group are waiting to see if their offer to take over Newcastle United has been a success. United are for sale for £100m after Mike Ashley launched the sale on the club’s own website on June 8. The former Liverpool and England man, who is the Singapore-based strategic global investment group’s commercial director, insists they want to give the stricken club “the kiss of life”. He has revealed to the Chronicle that they have been preparing their bid in London throughout the week, but due to legal reasons it is unclear whether they have met the asking price. That bid is now understood to be in the hands of investment bank Seymour Pierce, who are in charge of the sale. The Chronicle first revealed Profitable’s interest on June 9, with United initially batting away talk that they were serious bidders. Managing director Derek Llambias has always been sceptical about the Profitable Group – but he did hold talks with the Far East group last summer over plans to promote the Mags in South East Asia. However, that deal collapsed when Kevin Keegan walked out on United. And McMahon was on Tyneside for the friendly game with PSV Eindhoven last summer to discuss a commercial deal. Yet talking on their bid to take over Newcastle, McMahon told the Chronicle exclusively from Singapore: “Our people have been in London all week working with lawyers and attorneys. “And we have made them a realistic offer. “We have been pushing ahead and, make no doubt about it, the money is in place – we are for real. “We initially made a tentative bid to begin with, and discussions then took place. We were told to come back, and that’s what we have done. “There has been a formal offer and we want to get things done and dusted as quickly as possible.” Should Profitable Group’s bid be successful, former Blackpool boss McMahon is not thought to be a contender for the manager’s hotseat, with Alan Shearer the only candidate for the job. The Scouse star who won the league title with Liverpool in 1990 and starred for England in the World Cup 19 years ago, would be set for a “hands off” role in the boardroom and would be likely to be based in Singapore. This week, six senior players have publicly voiced their disbelief at the situation the club finds itself in, with star defender Habib Beye indicating he wants to quit United. McMahon is hoping to extinguish the anguish on Tyneside. He said: “I have been keeping tabs on the whole thing since Newcastle were relegated. “It’s just heartbreaking, and it is affecting people’s lives up there. “Football is the be-all and end-all in Newcastle, and it is basically people’s lives. “Everybody is in limbo and we are keen to put a stop to that if we can. “We believe we have a solution for Newcastle – and the sooner it gets sorted the better. “We just want people to get on with their lives and tidy up the mess that has been caused.” Toon fans are desperate to hear some good news with their Championship opener at West Brom coming up on August 8. McMahon added: “We have done all we can do and we have gone through the process we were asked to go through. “We are just waiting to hear – and we hope to hear something today. “If we can give Newcastle the kiss of life then we’d love to do it. “We feel we have been very realistic with our offer and we certainly have the funds to go through with it.” Despite the claims, Ashley’s PR man Jonathon Brill was cool on the claims from the Far East today. But he said: “There remains firm interest.”

Shame the bowling is 1/10th of what it was 4 years ago I don't think people appreciate just how good Simon Jones was in that series. Or Hoggard for that matter. Jones was phenominal that series, brilliant at reversing the old ball.

Sorry, just assumed everyone used the online ticket office now. The darker the area, the more tickets available.

Me http://www.toontastic.net/board/index.php?showtopic=25018

They wont have a choice if the ref calls it off for player safety.

There's only 1 or 2 with really small allocations I think. Scunny and Blackpool spring to mind. At the likes of Peterborough, you get 4,000 out of the 13,000 capacity.

Shame the bowling is 1/10th of what it was 4 years ago

25,000

Marko - if you're still planning on getting the train with me, it's the 08.55 from Boro to Darlo that i'm planning on getting

Aye i've heard it too mate. Absolutely lashing down and expected to for the next 24 hours.

500 should be the target now. With the start we had, and on this wicket, we should have got a minimum of 650. 500 should (hopefully) mean we wouldn't lose the game.

Not going well, eh Mike? Looks like about 10,000 sold so far.

On another note, there's some awful editing on the Ashes/Sky Player advert, when Hoggard is running in to bowl the batsman is left handed and magically becomes right handed a second later.

Rumours that Onions replacing Flintoff. As much as I like him, it would be an absolutely ridiculous decision not to pick GBH. EDIT: BBC now saying Freddie plays.

According to the dictionary.......you can pronounce it either way. Really gets on my tits though when people say 'NewcaRstle'.

Heard about this earlier, hope he makes a full recovery.

Forest Trip Switched For TV NEWCASTLE United's trip to Nottingham Forest on Saturday October 17 has now been moved to a tea-time kick off for live broadcast on Sky Sports. The game, originally scheduled for a 3pm start, will now kick off at 5.20pm. 7 games now, isn't it?

Just spoke to the club on the phone, shows how useless they are "Sunderland are also playing against Utrecht that day so we'll probably cancel it"