Irrelevant Nick KP

I started supporting them when I was 10, and I started supporting them because I was born in Newcastle. I didn't even know that money was so important. A few years ago, I'd had my fill with listening to fans demand that chairmen spend spend spend. I'd also noticed that Man U fans and Chelsea fans quickly grew immune to feelings of pleasure, after a few years of winning loads of leagues (the CL became their one real source of pleasure). I also noticed how happy Fulham fans and Burnley fans were when they did much better than expected. That's when it dawned on me, what success really means. And it has nothing to do with buying trophies. If you don't want to regard me as a Toon fan, then that's fine. The fact that I was totally gutted, and still am, about losing out on that 9th place at the end of last season, is my reassurance that I'm a true fan - and that's more important than what other people think. Basically, I'm too busy hoping we do well, to worry about my own standing among Toon fans.

I started supporting them when I was 10, and I started supporting them because I was born in Newcastle. I didn't even know that money was so important. A few years ago, I'd had my fill with listening to fans demand that chairmen spend spend spend. I'd also noticed that Man U fans and Chelsea fans quickly grew immune to feelings of pleasure, after a few years of winning loads of leagues (the CL became their one real source of pleasure). I also noticed how happy Fulham fans and Burnley fans were when they did much better than expected. That's when it dawned on me, what success really means. And it has nothing to do with buying trophies. If you don't want to regard me as a Toon fan, then that's fine. The fact that I was totally gutted, and still am, about losing out on that 9th place at the end of last season, is my reassurance that I'm a true fan - and that's more important than what other people think. Basically, I'm too busy hoping we do well, to worry about my own standing among Toon fans.

At last Dr. Gloom says something funny.

We all knew things weren't perfect between Gullit and Shearer. But at least Gullit ranted furiously in his post-match interview about Shearer getting sent off. Very probably an olive branch to Shearer. Shearer's attitude stank in the final weeks before Gullit was sacked, and of course he had to be dropped - Gullit wasn't perfect, but he came from the strange world of football, where you drop players that aren't trying.

trophyshy, I know I'm the only person who thinks this way, but... I want to respect the club I support, and I cannot respect someone unless they do something clever. Winning trophies by spending more money than everyone else, isn't clever. I want to outperform expenditures. That's my opinion, other people can have their's. Just try not to be deafened by the cheers from Man U fans in your workplace, when they next win the league - did I say cheers? I meant politce, can't-be-arsed-shrugs.

Rubbish. Shearer was on the bench against Sunderland (on Freddie's insistance). He even came on, you fool. Gullit was angrier than I've ever heard him, after the sending off of Shearer. He was clearly trying to get on the right side of Shearer. He'd obviously learned that Shearer had loads of power (all thanks to Freddie). Under Mike Ashley, no one has that kind of influence, thank goodness. Not even the manager

Rubbish. Shearer was on the bench against Sunderland (on Freddie's insistance). He even came on, you fool. Gullit was angrier than I've ever heard him, after the sending off of Shearer. He was clearly trying to get on the right side of Shearer. He'd obviously learned that Shearer had loads of power (all thanks to Freddie). Under Mike Ashley, no one has that kind of influence, thank goodness.

Alex is going doo-lally. First he babbles about the Geordie nation, when all Freddie said was that when Shearer said jump, Freddie said how high. Then he says that Gullit didn't drop Shearer. What kind of fruitcake is this Alex?

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/foo...ticle385989.ece “I can tell you there is no chance of that. Bellamy has taken on a hero in Alan and there is only one winner of that one. And it is not Bellamy. Freddie Shepherd. Alex continues not to deny that Shearer strolled around.

That's your opinion, Nick. Like I mentioned, I do question the excessive influence Shearer had at times but at other times he was a massively positive influence who scored goals galore for the club. I don't think he did deserve to be dropped, actually. Especially since his replacement was absolutely awful. I also tend to blame Gullit for not getting the best out of him because the whole team, rather than just Shearer, struggled to perform and was largely lacking motivation under Gullit. I think the insinuation that Shearer is given some sort of special treatment by the media is unrealistic too. Unless you mean the local press, but they hardly count when it comes to providing unbiased views. Oh well, you continue not to deny that Shearer just strolled around the pitch, and at the same time don't think he should have been dropped. Says it all.

He’s not reaping any immediate personal benefits in terms of dividends but the company he owns 70% of is clearly getting a great deal. The company he owns 100% of clearly isn’t. The question is why, when he sits on both sides of the negotiating table, is he sanctioning this kind of arrangement? I think your right about FF – the accounts clearly say a cost, which means a cost to the company lodging the accounts. In this case NUFC. Well i cant understand why either but the only evidence is this contradictory statement based on the 2007 accounts. Some of Newcastle's players are earning the same in one week, as a Sports Direct manager earns in a year. So the company he owns 100% of is certainly getting the better part of the deal. It's not his fault that the other clubs in the Prem have even more ridiculously high salaries for players.

Towards the end of Gullit's reign, and before being dropped against Sunderland, was Shearer working very hard on the pitch. Or was he strolling around with a miserable look on his face, not trying at all? I post this thread, so that Shearer is given a fair hearing. If there are people who clearly saw that Shearer was as keyed-up as always, in that period, then this is their chance to come forward, as witnesses for Shearer.

Shearer deserved to be dropped (sold, in fact) after the not even bloody trying on the pitch. I notice Alex, you aren't denying what I said. Any other player who behaved in that way would be crucified by the media.

But Nick, Bellamy had fallen out with the club's managers. Robson couldn't control him and Souness was hired, at least in part, to wield the stick. No doubt Shearer bad-mouthed him to Shepherd but it well known that Bellamy was on the outer with management by then anyway. Well, none of us was present, so we can't be sure what role Shearer played. What nobody denies is that towards the end of Gullit's reign, Shearer strolled around on the pitch, not working at all, and then suddenly, when Bobby came, Shearer turned on the effort. Nobody who watched matches then, denies this. This means that Shearer had MUCH too much influence on things, and, in my opinion, the club took a wrong turning, when they signed him. It cost them lots of money, he was only world-class for one season, and his big salary helped the club get into a big debt. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Of course we should try to win things, but not by getting some rich bafoon who needs popularity.

I don't agree at all. It's all about achieving more than you thought you would achieve. Man U and Chelsea fans are so bored with winning the league, they can only get pleasure when they surpass their rivals' number of league title wins.