Papa Lazaru

I think its been the case for a long time that Shola storms it in training all the time, just a shame it means fuck all and he's shite on matchday! What i've never understood is why a succession of managers (apart from Keegan who wanted rid of him) seem to think being good at training is enough when they see the evidence of him being shite when it matters! Martins i can well imgaine being the same as he is during matches, one moment brilliant the next looks like he's never played football (or indeed any sport) in his life! If Shearer hadn't had the final knee injury to end his career and instead had just ended it intact, i think if he'd kept himself fit he'd probably be thinking of picking himself! After all Viduka is never fit, Shola is Shola so it would only be between Big Al and Carroll to partner Owen if he wanted a bigger striker rather than Martins up with him!

Who started this frigging rumour? It seems to be gathering momentum as perceived wisdom rather than the patent bollocks it clearly is. Sadly with most of the general populous if you say something often enough and they hear it enough it becomes true! Initially he improved on the complete shambles under Hughton (but who wouldn't have) and since then he's been found out as being nowhere near good enough, yet the belief still persists he was doing a good job.

This. It just shows how bad our midfield has been that we even considered him let alone that a lot (me included) were pretty happy with us signing him. It's a disgrace how much our midfield has been ignored since Robson was sacked. The most important position in the team (Liverpool are in contention for the league and champions league mainly because of one great midfielder) and we've had five managers who haven't addressed it. That's as big a reason why our team is so shit as anything else! Its shocking isn't it. The 'experts' always bang on about great teams being built on defences but really, look at any title winning side and you can guarentee a quality midfield especially the two in the middle. Also i bet Big Al can't believe that with Enrique injured he hasn't got a single out and out LB available as cover!

FFS i'm sick to death of the shafting we get with injuries, you could guarentee that when Beye finally returned from injury, other defenders would start dropping like flies! Enrique is a big miss, firstly because he's been in very good form and secondly because we have nothing adequate to replace him with on the left. They might end up playing Bassong there if he's fit, meaning Colo will have to get ready for a severe examination from Stokes big boys!

He has been a big disappointment, nobody was expecting a world beater and we knew that his form of the last 2 years or so was nothing like he'd been before that, but he's offered nothing so far.

I agree a draw wouldn't be a disaster for you as win your next home game and you'd be heading out of trouble, i don't even think a draw is the end of the world for us, though its not ideal! My hope is based on two things, one that Newcastle are ever the enigma and will do something you least expect of them such as go to Stoke and win when everything seems to point to a defeat, and two that since you finally got your first prem away win you'll go and follow it by losing one at home where you have an excellent record, football just works that way sometimes! If we do get a win then i don't think either of our clubs is going down to be honest, if you get a win then you're definitely not!

To be fair to the lying little prick in this instance, Shearer was the only option with this few games left and no other name (Barring Keegan which was a non starter) and its the only option i could think of as well. No top class proven manager would have been available, willing to come and able to that quickly transform the whole situation, it had to be a legend like Big Al to give the club a temporary and instant lift. If we want o have a go at Lambias i think this is the quote to focus on: “He has made a difference, he’s a straight talker. I like that about him. There is no nonsense, I’m really upbeat about it. They say opposittes attract so its no wonder he likes a straight talking, honest guy as its the reverse of what he is!

Was interested how a thread on the grand national turned into a discussion on hip hop! And i agree, plenty of it is class, but the good stuff is pretty much all American and mostly from the past (recent or long ago), the stuff i hear from this country is invariably shite. It may sound like inverted racism, but with the odd exception all the best hip hop comes from black American guys, just seems suited to them. Though i do like Everlast as a rapper and he's white, but never was a big fan of eminem tbh. Anyway its a genre of music you either like/love or completely detest with a passion and so wrongly dismiss as all being the same when it has as big a range as alot of genres of music really.

Hopefully they and Fergie will be itching to take their frustrations out on the mackems at the weekend and will dish out a thorough caning.

Jesus "Titty-fucking" Christ

Yeah, he comes across as a very upbeat kind of guy who loves his music, both stuff you'll know and more obscure bands and musicians he plays to give them a wider audience on the show, often from the states.

Just read that its going to return, Shooting Stars that is not Jade Goody! Hope the new series is like the old ones and not like the one off they did a while back which was pretty poor.

I'm sure he'd love being hanged, after the skincrawling arsekissing he gave Saddam Hussain years ago surely he'd be happy to emulate his hero's death!

I've heard him doing his show on planet rock quite a few times, picks a good selection of blues, blues/rock and prog songs, often good live versions from the bands in question. Haven't really heard much of his stuff, just the odd track but its the kind of stuff i'd like.

Best British comedy show at the moment i think, not that there's much worth comparing it to. The majority agree with you given his dwindling ratings....but then the majority have got Horne and Corden a second series. There's times when his repetetive drone doesn't pay off so much ("you know the rappers on the the top of the pops?", "You remember the Woolworths and the MFI?" - though I still get a giggle from his audacity) But there's times where it perfectly nails the ridiclous "Delboy fell through the bar, and Trigger....pulled a funny face". It's best when it's material he's been touring a few years like....the credit crunch stuff probably hasn't been honed as much. I'm not surprised his ratings are dwindling and to be fair he'd probably be expecting it and not that bothered as he always stands by doing things his way knowing its not populist or serving the masses and good on him, somebody should be like that on TV. He's always had problems with the way TV people interfere with your work and dictate what you can and can't do and its why he only came back with this done his way and needless to say it isn't that popular with the average TV viewer in this country! But he's always going to struggle as you either get him and are a fan or don't and think he's an annoying smug bastard who isn't that funny!

It's his career. I don't think he actually gives a fuck about any of his "causes", they are just a means to $$$'s for him. That's pure bollocks Fopper and you have nowt to back it up. Nothing except Portugal. Surprised someone like you is being led by the nose. There are much more darker allegations and motivations I could level at GG, but it surely ain't just a money making scam. I'm sure he is a money grabbing bastard, after all he's a politician, but always with him the overall reason for doing anything is ego and self importance and getting attention. After that it'll be money and greed, then possibly a tiny thought to the causes themselves.

Putting aside any arguments about what problems Ashley may have inherited, the blame for the current situation is down to Ashley and pretty much only him. He employs Lambias, Wise et al and tells them what their jobs are so much as i think they're a pair of complete and utter cunts, they were doing as they were allowed/told to, so Ashley is to blame. But i do also think a little of the blame goes to Kinnear, Hughton and the rest of the management who even with the chaos off the pitch have pissed away points through being nowhere near good enough at their job. Keegan leaving obviously put us in the shit, but i don't blame him for leaving the situation he found himself in, i just wish he'd even a month or so later so we'd be safe. And the players can take a slice of blame as well, considering how well they showed they can play against Manu, some of the shite served up against crap teams is unacceptable. And i suppose injuries as ever can be added to the problem, if we had our best players fit for any length of time we wouldn't be where we are, not saying we'd be challenging for the title but we wouldn't be 3rd bottom simple as that. Imagine having had Beye, Owen, Martins, Viduka, Barton etc all season, even if you think that lot combined is only worth another couple of wins we'd be safe!

I think he had to be personally. With our injury record i suspect he'll be needed again before the season ends and this game might have finished his confidence if Stokes big players took him to the cleaners. Shame for him, but hopefully he'll respon well to the dropping if its true, he seems to be a good pro to me, played every game this season, don't hear a bad word about him or anything so i think he'll respond in the right way.

Before Shearer you just know we'd have slipped up in at least one of those home games, with him here we have a chance of winning all 3 which is the key as you say. Also its not beyond him to pull of a win away from home, Stoke is tough but they're not worldbeaters, Spurs can be good or shit on any given day and they have nowt to play for now and Villa could already be out of the race for CL place by then, so who knows! And as we always know wth NUFC they can be unpredictable so why not go to Stoke, who's game is seemingly suited to beating us comfortably, who are hard to beat at home and go and win. Also they finally got their very first away win in the prem this season so the way football sometimes work they'll follow that by ballsing up their god home record next match...that's my hope anyway, i'm going for us to win!

At least Given's was mostly just some dodgy clearances, Harper has that but its his choice not to play early balls and counter attack that really annoys me, when he follows it up with aimless and innaccurate punts to nobody. People might not think its that important, but over the 90 mins he surrendered possesion to Chelsea so many times that it built up the pressure on our piss poor midfield and our as ever overworked defence! But its still midfield thats the biggest issue and has been as we all know for sometime. Duff was shockingly bad, the only things i remember from him were wasting some excellent passes by Enrique and hitting the ball back to Colocini for some reason in the lead up to their goal. Butt did everything he could defensively but obviously offers little or nothing attack wise, Nolan just offered nothing at all. Jonas ran at people and played quite well tbh but especially second half Chelsea knew fine well to have him well marked as nobody else was offering anything in attack and he was mostly taken out the game. I get the impression Enrique cant stand playing with Duff and always tries to find another pass on if possible. And who can blame him! You're right though, i think i remember later in the game he looked for any option other than Duff as he was sick to death of his pin point passes being pissed away!

I certainly agree that any fan would be happier seeing their team winning loads of games, scoring and being at or near the top of a division rather than watch a load of shite and lose most weeks near the bottom, but sadly if we go down it will be a complete disaster and i dread to think what we'd do in the championship. But i do really miss the days of actually wanting to go to St James and enjoying games there, i haven't for fucking ages now!

At least Given's was mostly just some dodgy clearances, Harper has that but its his choice not to play early balls and counter attack that really annoys me, when he follows it up with aimless and innaccurate punts to nobody. People might not think its that important, but over the 90 mins he surrendered possesion to Chelsea so many times that it built up the pressure on our piss poor midfield and our as ever overworked defence! But its still midfield thats the biggest issue and has been as we all know for sometime. Duff was shockingly bad, the only things i remember from him were wasting some excellent passes by Enrique and hitting the ball back to Colocini for some reason in the lead up to their goal. Butt did everything he could defensively but obviously offers little or nothing attack wise, Nolan just offered nothing at all. Jonas ran at people and played quite well tbh but especially second half Chelsea knew fine well to have him well marked as nobody else was offering anything in attack and he was mostly taken out the game.

I'm never against playing a combo like Owen/Martins as i don't think you have to have the big/little partnership all the time. However it was pretty pointless when Harper insisted on 90 mins of refusing to throw the ball out early and humped it up for their two CB's to win with ease. Added to that he shanked and sliced half his clearances and the strikers were getting nothing. What's worse is Martin's repeatedly went wide to isolate 1 defender and was begging Harper to kick it early but, no he held it up and then lauched it up to Terry. And unbelievably once Carroll was brought on he hoofed 1 or 2 balls outwide and another time with Carroll waiting he chose to pick out Owen to battle for it in the air instead! People went on about Givens distribution but Harpers is at times a disgrace, he rarely if ever uses quick, early balls and wastes just as many kicks as Given did. But if the team plays the right way, and the midfield contributes something then Owen and Martin's is my choice to start with.

So do i, fully fit and all having a run together would have been good, but that's never happened. The problem now is that Colo is really struggling and will have no confidence at all and Stoke are the single worst club for him to face so much as i think Taylor is a complete clown at CB he will be the better option for Stoke if fit. Also Beye is just a class player and so slotted into CB and did a respectable job as i knew he would and if we had a top class RB i would happilly play Beye at CB ahead of Taylor and a struggling Colo. His confidence is shot I agree. I'd probably go with what Ritchie said though Steven Taylor might be better in the middle against Stoke. I'm not far off agreeing myself tbh, even though i have always hated players being played out of position unless needed, so i usually wouldn't go for Taylor at RB and Beye CB, yet such is the damage Taylor can do in the middle and his better performances are all at RB that you're tempted to go for it!

So do i, fully fit and all having a run together would have been good, but that's never happened. The problem now is that Colo is really struggling and will have no confidence at all and Stoke are the single worst club for him to face so much as i think Taylor is a complete clown at CB he will be the better option for Stoke if fit. Also Beye is just a class player and so slotted into CB and did a respectable job as i knew he would and if we had a top class RB i would happilly play Beye at CB ahead of Taylor and a struggling Colo.