Chaser

Harps is probably the only reason why im not fuming at the loss of Given. Not once while Harps has been the understudy have I ever worried about the GK slot whilst Given has been out. Rightly deserves the no.1 in my opinion, and will certainly do an excellent job of it.

I think it is possible that we could turn the clubs fortunes around in the summer, but that's a massive rebuilding job. We would have to clear something in the region of 8 players out of the club to trim the wage bill, and then invest in the same amount of players just to replace them. These have to be of substantial quality to come here and lift the club. The issue is attracting them. In that, Ashley would need to redress the current setup involving his mate Wise and get rid of JFK. We are not a credible opportunity with the current management team. Whatever Llameass does I dont know, because he certainly doesnt act as the club spokesman anymore. There definitely needs to be more transparency towards the fans that is without doubt.

Cant begrudge Shay for going, Im more angry at the club for not matching his ambition. Crazy to think of the team without Given, he's been in net for that long. Strange to think that we've had him for so long, yet he's leaving us in his prime. Good luck to him. Another nail in the coffin.

Since Kinnear has arrived at the club, it doesnt feel like Newcastle United for me. When I see Kinnear on TV, I sometimes dont consider that he manages our club, its as if we are watching something which says its our club, looks like our club but certainly doesnt feel like our club. Im half hoping for implosion at the club to clear out the owners, management staff, shite players and there to be a new dawn following that. At this moment in time, Im pretty non-plussed about us being relegated, hoping that somehow, Ashley and his cronies will leave town and give it up to someone who gives a shit. Maybe im just fed up with football this last few weeks, looking at the cataclysmic gap between us & Man City (In terms of cash) and the likes of Man Utd & Chelsea (in terms of quality). To think a few years back City were sitting in the 3rd tier of English football, while we were challenging in Europe and in domestic cup competitions. We dont have to win anything, but having the optimism that something might just happen is what keeps you going as a football fan. Any optimism surrounding the club at the present time has gone, and I honestly can't see when itll return.

Thats one of the few articles which has hit every nail on the head for me.

It could be seen as having passion for the game, however in Bartons case, I think he'll forever be a thug. I think theres something genetically wrong with him which just allows his aggression to get the better of him. I dont ever imagine him overcoming these problems.

The last time I was on there, it was mainly kids who didnt have a clue. I dont know if thats changed as I havent been on there for quite a few years.

Just watched the highlights on MOTD as wasnt in yesterday to watch the stream. We looked dire and capable of shipping more than 3 goals. Anyone who thinks we wont go down as there are teams worse than us, wake up. We are as bad as any other team in the league at the moment, our form, confidence and ability to turn things around is non existant. Butt being sent off and the Barton/Enrique bust up just shows the frustration of the players. Quite simply we have too many players that aren't interested in the cause or just arent good enough. The manager is clearly interested in the cause, but just isnt good enough. The owner is quite simply not interested in the cause, just in spending as little as possible while he has to keep on owning us. I am quite frankly sick of all of the constant turmoil at the club. I hope Shay goes to be honest, he doesn't deserve to be stuck with a club in this shit. I am currently tied over whether I want the club to drop into the Championship just to clear this lot out (the value would no doubt drop and hopefully MA would sell up) or we survive by the skin of our teeth. I was hoping that the problems would all go away in the summer, we would see changes throughout and take the club back up the league but with Kinnear's supposed extension and MA looking to stay, it looks like things could get a lot worse before it gets better.

last ounce of hope for me gone, I know every year we think of cup runs, and it was unlikely that we'd get anywhere this year but sometimes poor teams to very well in the cup. Nothing else to look forward to aside from the season being over

shyte

Would rather we had a good cup run. It can do wonders for morale.

Would love to see Bullard here. Him & Barton or Guthrie in midfield would be industrious.

Its on Newcastle on the Beeb website which is surprising as they usually dont put the match online. Must be something to do with league rights and not cup. Mick Lowes not on, some other guy doing it

I was just thinking that. No stream, is it on Radio Newcastle?

Good on him, man of his age shouldnt be anyone's puppet.

If Kinnear gets a good offer on the table near to the end of the season from another club willing to put their faith in him with an extended contract then I can see him leaving. This will then tempt the current fools to either sign him up for a long term contract or let him go. Who comes in after that I have no idea. I cant believe I am saying this (it goes against everything ive said about him in the past) but I'd like to see Steve Bruce take over if he wanted to come here.

Id happily get rid of Nzog now. Was keen to keep him before the season began, but he spouts off too much about moving for my liking. Id rather have Duff play there where he wanted to, rather than someone who is just trying to do anything to get away.

Where are we in terms of points in comparison with previous years?

Lets say that the season has been secured and we've finished up bottom half but clear of relegation, where do you think the club will go? Will Ashley be looking to sell or do we have to face another season lacking ambition, clearing out decent players to replace them with cheaper alternatives? Will Kinnear get an extension to his contract? Will Owen leave and will there be a further exodus of players? Personally, Ive got little faith in the chances of Ashley selling up and so we will be faced with yet more mediocre ambitions, cheap transfers and wheeling and dealing. If he doesnt sell up, Ive got the feeling that Kinnear will remain in post until next season on another year deal. I think Owen will definitely leave, regardless of what happens and there'll be an exodus of any talent left at the club. I think we'll probably be stuck with some deadwood still and we'll be still be in the same position we are in now, next January. I sincerely hope I can be proven wrong, but for some reason any optimism I once had about "maybe next season" has gone now. Im not sure I believe that there isnt anyone willing to take this club over for a good price, its not everyone suffering from financial meltdown.

Unfortunately while this guy has been provoked, its probably the worst place to do it at a football ground as the penalties are harsh. Was he charged with assault or a public order offence? Maybe one of you lot who witnessed what happened should pipe up and give a statement putting the facts across how this guy was acting in such a manner and intending to provoke. Its not going to stop him getting done in some way but may help explain to the court who passes the sentence.

I think a few posters have firmly hit the nail on the head why to me the future appears bleak. Ashley just isn't interested in us challenging at the top. What is the point in competition when we arent looking to compete?

So theres a queue of players looking to get out, we have a manager who clearly isnt good enough/cant attract players, we have an owner who doesnt give a flying fuck about us and a chairman who doesnt talk to us. We have 28 days to potentially save our season by getting people in, or 28 days to condemn us to a relegation battle and a serious threat of going into the Championship. We havent got any stability at any level at the club and I honestly wouldnt begrudge any player who wanted to leave. Lets face it, if we werent Newcastle fans, would we genuinely want to stay on a sinking ship or leave if the opportunity arose? Kinnear has already come out with the quotes that we've heard all too many times before about it being hard to attract players/compete in market etc. Its plain to see that he's simply a mouthpiece for the management and has little control over what will genuinely happen at the club. Ashley has obviously weathered the storm against him and the apathy against his ownership seems to be going in his favour. In the current financial climate, it seems impossible that we could see a change in ownership, and we have genuinely missed the boat. Wise and friends are still in their positions and obviously arent just twiddling their thumbs. What are they cooking up? The club is definitely at a crossroads this month. I wouldnt put anything past the clubs regime and one wrong turn could seriously threaten our position in the Premiership. At what point will we see it all bottoming out?

Missed the whole game, glad I didnt stay in to watch it tbh. Was it the lack of quality on the pitch, the lack of managerial nous from the manager or a mixture of both?

Im no fan of Gazza, as I think he's had help from pretty much every quarter but just hasnt taken any of it on board. He's got to want to get better and to stick at it (Adams/Merson etc) but he just seems to get worse much like Best. Saying that, it is sad seeing the guy literally implode on a very public stage. This kind of publicity only further compounds the problem and cant see it as anything other than a cheap money making opportunity for the producer and for his Ex.

Get in, inspired substitution by Kinnear!