Renton

DK, you are getting carried away. We've still got Souness as manager, Owen isn't going to single-handedly transform our team into top 4 contenders. The atmosphere will be great at Fulham to begin with, but to be honest it might go pretty flat if we perform like we did in the second half against ManU. If we want champions league football next year, we have to change managers NOW. Souness is incapable of managing a top 4 side, no matter who we have as players, I am more certain of that than anything else in the world. Also, you seem to be forgetting that our squad is still paper thin, and our defence is far from alright. A few injuries and we are still in the shit mate. 24319[/snapback] He's not getting carried away, he just had a head start on you in the sense that he wasn't manically depressed to begin with. This has allowed him to reach higher on the mood swing-ometer than you. 24326[/snapback] He's getting carried away if he thinks we are going to get in the top 4. As for me, I feel the best I have about the club for ages. Soon Souness will be gone and the only way is up. Throw a defeat of the mackems into the equation, followed by their relegation, a couple of cup runs, and yeah, life is pretty sweet!

I'm making a perfectly fair point, why have you got to spoil it? 24311[/snapback] Aah, the little boy who cried wolf. 24317[/snapback] You are just as bad. I'm taking crap off a lot of people here because I stood up for the board. Now everyone's happy because they bought Owen. What's even more sad is the deluded view that the "fans" made it happen. That's sadder than sad. That's gay. 24322[/snapback] So the fans should take the blame for everything, but never the credit? Bring out the whips, more self-flagellation is needed!

DK, you are getting carried away. We've still got Souness as manager, Owen isn't going to single-handedly transform our team into top 4 contenders. The atmosphere will be great at Fulham to begin with, but to be honest it might go pretty flat if we perform like we did in the second half against ManU. If we want champions league football next year, we have to change managers NOW. Souness is incapable of managing a top 4 side, no matter who we have as players, I am more certain of that than anything else in the world. Also, you seem to be forgetting that our squad is still paper thin, and our defence is far from alright. A few injuries and we are still in the shit mate.

As good as today was, and although people are definitely getting a buzz from it, even miserable buggers like me, it in no way comes close to how it felt when Shearer signed, for reasons that have already been mentioned. The only people who are going to agree with you Craig on this one are people who were too young to feel the buzz last time round. It was sensational with a real beliefthat we were going to bag the title (not just deluded souls like Smogeordie ). And although I rate Owen highly as a goal scorer, to be honest I don't think he is a patch on the player Shearer was in 1996. Not even close.

Its not difficult to spot the talent in a player like Michael Owen though is it? Come on man, he has been given 45 MILLION to spend, any manager in the world could get good players with that type of cash. Good managers can spot talent without paying a fortune for it - Wenger being the classic example. And he's still managed to sign a couple of knackers as well. If you want to give Souness credit then do so when he proves he can do it where it counts - on the pitch. If the past year is anything to go by on, you will have a long wait.

I said in another thread I haven't seen us win in the league since January, and I'm a season ticket holder! Sorry like, but that's not good enough, I have every right to whinge. If he gets us back on course for a top 4 finish then fair enough, but he won't, because he is useless!

Two games, then he's out. Anything short of 4 points from Fulham and Blackburn is simply not good enough. There can be no excuses now. None. With all the nice shiny new players we have bought at a ludicrous expense, we should be able to attract the best managers. If we keep this clueless manager then what's the point? Midtable mediocrity beckons.

I'm still glued to the office ceiling! I wonder how much of it was down to FF and Souey and how much was the hard work Shearer put it... Regardless of anything, Souness will always be the manager who brought Michael Owen to Newcastle United! Of the three super-signings I've seen in my time, this one is the cream of the crop. Keegan was coming to the end of his career and Shearer was effectively 'coming home'. Here we've signed the current best English centre-forward in his prime from under the noses of his dream team... I couldn't be happier! 23212[/snapback] To be honest, I get the feeling Shearer might be the main factor here. You never know, Shearer might make a great manager after all. He has a head start in attracting big names, being a living legend himself. Yet he doesn't half get some stick on these boards.

Part timer. 23094[/snapback] You're going to love this one, for the Fulham match, I'm supposed to be in Skegness 23102[/snapback] Jesus Wept. 23104[/snapback] Supposed to be going to a festival called 'Sonic Rock' with me mate and his lass. How pissed was I when I agreed to that? 23106[/snapback] Sonic Rock in Skegness? Jesus wept.

Munch, munch. £500 all inclusive, not bad value I think.

Part timer. 23094[/snapback] Newcastle in the winter versus the Carribean or the South of France. A difficult one for a non-soopa fan like myself!

This forum has been far too cheery today, so I thought I'd add a depressing fact or two. I haven't seen us win in the league since January the 15th, against Southampton! This is because I missed our wins against Bolton and Liverpool as I was in St Lucia at the time. January the 15th ffs, and this includes 3 away matches. Anyway, I am obviously the jinx, but you'll be glad to know that I am on holiday for the Fulham match, so we'll win it. If we do, will people pay me to stay away from now on?

Owen, Parker, and Emre look like good additions, Moore and Clarke probably not, and the jury's still out on Luque. Still not happy with most the outgoings, especially for the paltry fees we made. And Souness has now spent an absolute fortune - something Robson was denied when we reached our peak. If it all goes wrong now we are well and truly in the shit, so I hope Souness knows what he is doing. Of course, replacing the manager was the most important signing, and we have failed to do that.

Luque's not really a centre forward though, is he? I hope Owen combines well with Shearer, because that will be the combination we will use (or Ameobi plus Owen). If we persist with 4-5-1 we're shagged anyway tbh. God, I really hope Owen fits in alright.

Here's another negative. The last time I saw Owen play in the flesh was against Espanol when he was at Real Madrid. To say he was shit (came on as a sub) is somewhat of an understatement. Real were appalling that night at the Olympic stadium, they lost 1-0 but in all seriousness could easily have lost 10-0 (Espanol even missed 3 penalties). Carlos made Babyaro look like a world beater. Now, of course this wasn't Owen's fault, but my point is, is it possible he may not be great in a shit team? This is a nagging concern I have which will hopefully be dispelled against Fulham. And I can just see him breaking a leg too. Wullie is right about all our eggs in one fragile basket. But overall, I think this may be a fantastic signing, and no way am I going to criticise the board for it.

Really? How surprising. 22931[/snapback] Well, I'm pleased but we do need further strengthening. Owen isnt enough. And someone said that the bloated price is probably down to Newcastle cutting a deal on the Woodgate money. 22946[/snapback] Of course we need further stengthening. However while you try to find negatives, just think if he didn't sign, no striker signed, and then come back to me and say you are not happy that Owen is coming to Newcastle. 22954[/snapback] To be honest even I am struggling to come up with a negative in us signing arguably the best English striker. It's completely allayed my relegation fears, for one thing. I still think we have yet to make the most important transfer though - Souness out! We could sign Ronaldino, Schevenko and Henry and still not win anything with this prat in charge. There, I've managed to make this a negative post after all.

Really? How surprising. 22931[/snapback] He's after my most pessmistic poster award.

Disagree, we have paid well over the odds for Owen, not that I'm complaining, but I still think Shepherd is an idiot. It's all about money, and Owen made it clear he would have preferred to go to Liverpool, but they wouldn't pay up. Same is true for many of the other players on that list.

Don't be stupid...right wing surely? 22552[/snapback] Sweeper.

Agree 100%.

Great news, I'm genuinely, well, astounded! There can be no excuses for Souness now, none whatsoever. With the money he has spent he has to get a top 4 place, but that's not going to happen even with Owen, I don't think. Shepherd, do the right thing and get someone who can do the job! You know it makes sense!

He was just being nice and keeping us in suspense. Nothing was more certain than Van Horsehead scoring on Sunday - well, apart from Rooney scoring.

How long before the transfer window closes now? 38 hours, or something like that? This smilie best represents our club at the moment:

FFS, you couldn't make it up. Never a dull moment. Cheers, horse face.

Self flagellation is the key to redemption, I believe. 22296[/snapback] So what should we do, give away free whips with season tickets? 22299[/snapback] 52,000 fans self-flagellating could get messy. I think we should all do it at home with our own whips.