spongebob toonpants

1 The vast majority of fans put their team before country, and expect the same from the players. 2 Englands players are on the whole vastly overated 3 I forgot what point I was trying to make

People say the Czech's are good, their second best player of the last 15 years wasn't good enough for Manchester United in Karel Poborsky. Individually Spain are a better side than England, as individual players I don't think any other country has as many top notchers as us, like Ferdinand, Gerrard, Joe Cole etc.. If Joe Cole, played for Italy or Germany for instance he'd be their best player imo. There's a very very very fine line between unbelievable success and abject failure in international football as Sven found out in 2002, 2004 and 2006. Thats a much overlooked and very important point. England are portrayed as World Beaters until the point they become abject failures, but the truth is luck and tiny incidents make the difference

I dislike Carragher as much as the next man, and my hatred for the pool would put Stevie to shame, but I wouldnt criticise Carragher over this. He said on Talksport yesterday (Iwas in a cab who had it on honest) that he supported Everton as a boy and to him Internationals meant players like Lineker leaving because they did well at the World Cup or Neville Southall breaking his ankle with Wales when Everton were in the chase for the Double. He also said ne would support Scotland because Graeme Sharp was his favourite player. I felt exactly the same, I used to support Scotland over England when Bobby Moncur was playing, Bellamy playing for Wales with dodgy knees not to mention EMO. Added to the general London bias around England I think he just looks at England like we do, and I cant criticise him for that. I dont think you can say anybody has greater pride in playing for England than Beckham, and you mention Shearer who gave up England for Newcastle.

Look how much the Halls and FFS made and they were paying out big wages and transfer fees. TV money is going through the roof, internet money will probably dwarf it soon.IF they get enough owners to agree to stop a collective deal for the premier league and for each team to sell its own rights it will go up even more Hes got people buying season tickets three seasons in advance, every player isavailable at a price and he is scouring Europe for cheap talent to sell on at a profit. Sounds like a tasty erarner old son. The Hall's FFS argument doesn't really compare though as they bought the club when it was at its lowest ebb (after years of a board doing exactly what you are saying Ashley is doing) and therefor cheap. They floated it when the PLC craze was in full flow and made shit loads then. At the time the club was in a faw worse state than we are seeing now and they realised that all that was needed was a bit of reasonable investment and they could make a fortune on the back of the 'sucess' that the investment brought. Ashely doesn't have that oppertunity now that it's already been done. The TV money argument only stands up if we stay in the premiership and he doesn't alienate the customers. He's already failed in the second part of this and if he goes along the path you believe he will fail in the first part too. I just don't see it as a sustainable way to make money out of a football club. I dont know the figures for the Halls and Shepherd and how much they were earning from the club for the last few years, and tbh I havent got time to go looking. I take your point about buying the club at a low ebb. I still think they were making a fairly good packet year on year, but I may be wrong. I think that he plans to do enough to keep us in the Premiership, but on a budget that wont harm his bottom line. I dont think he is thick and the team he has put in place does seem have unearthed some talent. I think though that selling players at a profit whilst staying in the Prem is the aim. If he can get a steady stream of young foreign talent coming in who can acheive mid table placings and generate a profit after a couple of years he will be more than happy. As for alienating the customers I think he is banking on the combination of loyalty blind optimism and apathy that we can already see overcoming any short term anger. HE obviously doesnt care what anybody thinks about him personally, revels in it possibly. A team with a production line of young talent, too good to go down but without the serious investment to break into the top 4, with a huge fiercely loyal high spending fanbase. loads of media generated income. I think that is a hell of a way to make a lot of money.

Look how much the Halls and FFS made and they were paying out big wages and transfer fees. TV money is going through the roof, internet money will probably dwarf it soon.IF they get enough owners to agree to stop a collective deal for the premier league and for each team to sell its own rights it will go up even more Hes got people buying season tickets three seasons in advance, every player isavailable at a price and he is scouring Europe for cheap talent to sell on at a profit. Sounds like a tasty erarner old son.

gan on then

Do you honestly not see any logical fallacy in this statement?

There isnt going to be a transfer kitty, Ashley isnt trying to get succes as we see it, he is trying to line his pockets. The only hope I see for the future is if he cant make money out of it then he will sell up

I blame Ashley - Alex ...Stevie......stop the madness

You better get used to the club not spending any money, and they wont feel the need to explain it either

Exactly The highspot of Ashleys ambition is to pocket a fuckton of cash

Sell any players you can at a profit Pocket the money from advance season ticket sales hike up ticket prices Pocket the tv money When internet tv really takes off that'll be a nice earner. I imagine he thinks he can do enough to keep us in the premiership by buying cheap foreign imports who if they are any good he can flog on at a profit At least FFS was attempting to win stuff while he lined his pockets. Ashley will show how to really exploit a club

At last. Someone has just realised. That's why I want him, and only him, out. Wise is Ashleys man, you wont get rid of Wise without getting rid of Ashley. Maybe, maybe not, but I'd like to think Wise could be forced out with the right approach. Ashley has backed Wise over Keegan to the extent he was celebrating in New York in the aftermath of Keegans celebration. I cant see any way of forcing out Wise

At last. Someone has just realised. That's why I want him, and only him, out. Wise is Ashleys man, you wont get rid of Wise without getting rid of Ashley.

This is the thing that's preying on my mind. How little "success" will be needed to have the fans forgive the club (I say club, I mean board and establishment, but club is shorter (I understand I could have just written that in the beginning, thereby saving me this explanation as well (I'm aware that I'm an idiot))). Will three wins on the bounce, as Fop suggests, placate the masses? Above all else, I want this club, the club I love, to be successful. Of course I'm vehemently opposed tot he way they've treated Keegan and the way they've acted, BUT, if this period of turmoil brings genuine and long lasting "success" I don't think I can hold a grudge. If what they've done results in glory and much needed improvement of the club on and off the pitch... do the ends justify the means? I know this is probably going to piss off a few people, but it's the truth. I'm angry, hurt and upset... but I've also got one eye on the future. Which is exactly why Ashley will get away with using the club as a cash cow, fans cant help supporting the club. Ashley is an asset stripper, a pile em high sell em cheap barrow boy. He has got his cockney spiv mates running the club with one aim only imo - to bleed it dry and then sell it on.

Only the good people will survive the bad one's will get turfed out as we are about to witness. thats a remarkably optomistic view

I agree with this, I do think Everton will be next to go

A G AGR AGRO AGRO!!

Im not interested in fighting for the future of football I just want Ashley and Wise to fuck off

wow

The club statement is jaw droppingly crass - who the fuck are these people

Im glad to see a response - this is going to get dirty and I know whose side Im on

On The Bench Group Icon Group: Members Posts: 1478 Joined: 30-August 05 Member No.: 349 Situation Feb does not equal sitaution now imo I cant find any fault with Keegan, he has been completely undermined and marginalised. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/t...ted/7223479.stm QUOTE Wise explains role at Newcastle Keegan wants to make it clear he is the boss of Wise Newcastle executive director Dennis Wise has insisted that manager Kevin Keegan has the "final word" on all football matters at the club. Wise left his role as Leeds boss earlier this week to take up his position with the Premier League club. "I'm here to help Kevin, bringing young players through and also recommend certain players to him," said Wise. "He'll say yes and no, he has the final word, no-one else. Everything that happens will be run past him." Wise, who has previously managed Millwall and Swindon, added: "I'm not going to bring players in behind his back - I'm not into that. "A lot of people have got mixed up with the reason why I am here. I'm not here to be involved in the first team, I'm not here to manage. "I have to concentrate more on the academy, we need some young blood coming through of our own. We need to look abroad for players and that's my intention over the next few years." Keegan has insisted that the appointment of Wise was made with his blessing and that he believes the new structure will be successful. He said: "I am all for the changes and I approve of them. They want someone on the board who understands football, and Dennis understands football very well. "It will work very well. Dennis reports to me - the chain is established. "The club has become slightly fragmented. From my point of view, it's a positive thing - provided I get all the help I need. I know Dennis. I know he's intelligent. I know his job here is to help me. He's on my side Kevin Keegan "I know what Dennis is going to do, and the idea in principle is good - to look for new players, to bring youngsters through and do things which our academy isn't doing so much at the moment." Keegan also revealed he was involved in the appointment after speaking to owner Mike Ashley before he returned as manager. "I knew about it. It's not a surprise to me, it might be to other people," Keegan told BBC Radio 5 live. "Two or three names were given to me when I first sat down and talked about the job with the owner. One of them was Dennis. "I know Dennis. I know he's intelligent. I know his job here is to help me. He's on my side. "How can any manager be against someone who is going to come to the club to try to bring in talent? "It's right for this football club. A lot of people outside might be shocked about it. I think in the long term it's the right decision. It's something that needs to be done."

times online http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/foo...icle4688249.ece

At least Keegans approach has shown us exactly where we stand