smoggeordie

It's a bit rich about Ponting talking about the 'spirit of the game', after his antics at Trent Bridge in '05. They lost a minute and a half according to Sky Sports, so that's under 20 seconds a day if you take it over 5 days. Less than the time taken for a sightscreen to be moved etc. Time to get Harmison back in the team.

....with the Southampton position and bags of money now available.

An ex-strike and an ex-defender too.

Atrocious shot from KP.

2 hours to go....

According to wiki his middle name is also "I hate Mackems"

Signed for AC Milan

Less than a week to go gents, with the line up looking like: Cook Strauss Bopara Pietersen Collingwood Prior Flintoff Broad Swann Anderson Harmison/Panesar/Rashid. A lot depends on the pitch really. Harmy has been bowling superbly recently and deserves his place on merit. But if it's going to turn like a banana, it's a toss up between the spinners. I think they'd probably go for Rashid, because he can hit a few more runs, despite probably being not as good a spinner as Monty. Whatever happens, both teams are significantly weaker than 2005. Ponting and KP are hopelessly out of form and that new Aussie opener can't handle the short delivery. The major worry for us is that our batting line up has collapse written all over it.

OOTs? No thanks, not if they weren't born within 0.5 miles of the RVI.

Milner's goal in the same game. Robbie Elliott and his chicken dance against Arsenal/Man City.

Utrecht selling tickets for a fair old amount for our game: https://fc-utrecht.voetbalticket-shop.nl/web/show/id=179127 Sure it said though that their season ticket holders get in free. Hopefully there will be a good crowd in.

Worried about Utrecht being cancelled now

In a nutshell, how every single Toon fan feels right now. We need this done and dusted by this time next week at the very latest.

Bolton at home in a 3-2 win is the one I think you're on about. It was Bellamy who put it in.

Shearers second in the 1-4 at Boro Tino's trickery to set up a goal in the 2-1 win at boro.

Jornal running similar story THE two consortia leading the race to buy Newcastle United both want to appoint Alan Shearer as manager as the sale of the troubled Championship club continues to advance. Shearer has received some encouraging news from United managing director Derek Llambias this week and a resolution to the ongoing takeover saga appears to be in sight. The Journal revealed last week that Seymour Pierce, the bank in charge of the sale process, are confident new owners will be unveiled before the end of the month and that target remains a realistic one according to those directly involved in the deal. And it seems Shearer may well be in the manager’s chair just as quickly after he was told by Llambias the two serious bidders intending to take over control from Mike Ashley believe he is the right man to try and propel the Magpies back into the Premier League at the first attempt. That has been the first good news Shearer has received from the United hierarchy since his final face-to-face meeting with Ashley almost a month ago. The apparent breakthrough was enough for Shearer to contact defenders Steven Taylor and Habib Beye to urge them both to be patient following reports they were tempted to quit St James’s Park because of the lack of progress surrounding his unveiling as permanent manager. A source close to Shearer said: “There has been some contact between Alan and Derek Llambias this week and it seems the two serious bidders that emerged last week both intend to appoint him as manager once a takeover is completed. “It’s definitely some positive news at last, although no timescale has been given so we don’t know exactly when it is going to happen. “There is still a bit of work to be done by the sounds of things and until it happens, Alan will not be getting carried away with anything.” Shearer has had to suffer in silence as he waits for updates on the takeover talks and his frustration has increased with each passing day. United’s first-team squad return for the start of pre-season training next Wednesday and Shearer is itching to be able to take charge of the first session as he looks to get started on the urgent repair work which needs to be done following relegation. Like every United fan, Shearer has been alarmed to read reports linking Taylor and Beye with a move. Taylor is wanted by West Ham, while Beye is a target for both Stoke and bitter local rivals Sunderland. The prospect of losing two of the only players to emerge from last season’s dreadful campaign with any credit would have been another painful kick in the teeth for Newcastle’s long-suffering supporters. But Shearer appears to be confident both will stay as long as he is put in charge as quick as possible. “Alan has talked to Steven and Habib and they have said they will stay at Newcastle if he is manager,” said the source. “However, as has always been the case, the sooner things are resolved the better because Newcastle have already lost ground on their Championship rivals in the transfer market.” The Journal also understands United are close to selling their first player of the summer, with midfielder Kevin Nolan expected to sign for Hull City six months after a £4.5m move from Bolton.

Was it Sir Les who scored the bullet header at the Gallowgate that season, home to Man City in a 3-1 win?

Shearer volley vs Villa

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/foo...icle6564757.ece From the most reliable toon source out there as well. Alan Shearer has been assured by the outgoing hierarchy at Newcastle United that the two groups leading the bidding for the club are intent on installing him as manager. Shearer has received a progress report from Derek Llambias, the managing director, the tone of which was markedly upbeat. A takeover is still on course to be announced by the end of this month and the club's record goalscorer remains the sole managerial candidate of note. To protect the integrity of the bidding process, neither Shearer, Llambias nor Mike Ashley, the owner, are aware of the identity of the interested parties, who are vying to buy the club for £100million. They have, however, been kept informed of developments and the nature of discussions by Seymour Pierce, the investment bank handling the sale. Up to four groups - one of which is fronted by Freddy Shepherd, the club's former chairman - have been involved in substantive negotiations with Keith Harris, the executive chairman of Seymour Pierce, but two are understood to have moved ahead of the others in terms of demonstrating their financial strength and are eager to open talks with Shearer.

All booked up now. Return flights from Birmingham for 80 quid

Robert FK vs Man United Solano Volley away at Derby

Am I the only one that sees that as extremely bad planning? No players from the club available to attend the game, no directors, manager (whatever the fuck one of them is!) to show their face, sit with Bobby or provide possibly much needed help? Fans now torn between following the club they love or attending a charity match. Planning? pah whats that? Utter disgrace if you ask me.

I'm sure i've seen this lass walking round town with a full toon kit on inc socks, shorts etc.

Cheers, may just hop in a taxi from the ground then. Will be out the ground at about 4.30 and the plane back is at 7.50, so with online check in the latest we can be there is 7.20. At the station for 5, should be at Schipol 6.30 at the latest.