Ken

6 points from playing Derby twice ? perhaps venture as far to look even slighlty better than the worst 2 teams in the league ? We are ninth. Arenal lost to Middlesborough. Spurs have lost to innumerable teams beneath their payscale this season Nobody is happy with this result, but christ on a boke changing manager won't fix a God Damn Thing. I don't like agreeing with Fish usually, but he's spot on. Far too many people expect us to be back in the top six straight away this season and it's quite simply not the case. We're not a top six side, we haven't been for a long, long time and anyone believing we can get there this year is a moron. We harp on about 'planning' and getting in a manager who can build a club and when we do, because his first six or seven months aren't off the wall people want to fucking get rid. Give me a break Why don't we give someone sufficient time to build Newcastle United into a club we can be proud of rather than acting like spoiled fucking children when we don't get preferable results against team that we probably should be beating. We've got a manager who has shown that he's more than capable of building a club from top to bottom and we're not willing to give him the time. Keep doing this and we'll never be anything more than a mid table side with delusional ambitions. Agree 100% with these sentiments. We are not a good team, Sam Allardyce took over a squad of rubbish and being 9th atm is a fair achievement. Rome wasn't built in a day and neither will NUFC.

How the hell do you know for certain that Ashley will spend Abramovich style money on the squad? Nobody knows that Sammy, probably not even Chris Mort. Sure Ashley is rich but that does not equate to us spending like Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester Utd. Fish is right, people's expectations are so off the planet it is a joke. I'm no fan of the way the team is playing atm, but ffs we are 9th, and when you consider the squad of players we have this season, 9th is actually good. The teams above us deserve to be above us quite frankly because they have better squads. There are one or two below us who arguably have better squads than us as well. The team is playing ugly. There's no doubt about that and it is our luck that Derby decided to play with a bit of determination and flamboyancy that flustered the side. It was a shame Alan Smith didn't pick up a yellow card to give him a "rest" in our next game because obviously Allardyce will refuse to drop him, David Rozenhal is weak and not up for Premiership football, we have no pace at all except for N'Zogbia, Martins' control is pathetic but there aren't any other options atm, there is nothing on the right hand side by way of pace except for Beye who is playing well enough but the team has too many grafters in it. The fact Derby outplayed us shows how inept our midfield is atm, and for Allardyce to say we outplayed Derby is completely daft. To think Nicky Butt is one of our best shows how shit we are as a squad of players. That is the reality of the situation. Allardyce needs to bring in players. It's that simple. He needs to bring in some pace. At the very least an AM, and striker that can spark the side a little. If he does not do this, or more importantly isn't allowed to do this in January, then his future is sealed and he will be sacked at the end of the season imo. One positive about last night was the return of Duff. If he can stay injury free, then N'Zogbia at LB and Duff at LM could be a very dangerous proposition for opposing teams the remainder of this season. That, Beye's form and Viduka saving our arses were the only positives out of a very forgettable game.

Yep, his defensive style of football should be well suited. He'll also keep in line players who have big egos as well as the big salaries. I'm all for the appointment.

Goji juice. Pretty expensive but it works. From the Himalaya mountains where those people take it daily and 70 year olds can walk ten miles without raising a heart beat. Supposed to be good for your skin, sex drive, sleep, endurance and strength. Being a student it may be out of your price range but getting it in dry berry form and sprinkling it over a bowl of cereal works too. If you can afford it though, get it in liquid. I take it and I can vouch for its effectiveness.

Arshavin = Pedro?..bring him in!!!

It's great to know he has the backing of the players and admin, but his longetivity in the job will depend on the next 6 games. If the crowd get on his back again, he'll be oot the door. Here's hoping he has the lads revved up, and ensures that the performance against Arsenal isn't just a one off.

I'm quite happy to see him go. Apart from his woeful injury record, I think the style of play under Allardyce doesn't suit Owen and vice versa. If he stays with only 12 months left on his contract he won't be worth much either. He's lost his legs, but is still a pretty good finisher and pops up in the right places and runs the channels nicely but who will thread that ball to him? He can't gain any momentum with a decent run of games and it's a shame but if Sven is keen, then let him go. He'd need replacing though.

If this were to be true and Capello were to be installed as Newcastle manager then many Newcastle fans will be in for a very rude shock. While his pedigree cannot be questioned, his negative tactics will be a disappointment. And if you think Sam Allardyce loves playing players out of position, then just wait and see what Fabio Capello will do.

Source: The Times As Newcastle United begin a series of matches that have the potential to shape the course of their season and determine the future of their manager, a “desperate” Sam Allardyce received vigorous public support from the club’s two longest-serving players. During the build-up to this evening’s Barclays Premier League match at home to Arsenal, Shay Given and Steve Harper, the goalkeepers, offered their unequivocal backing. With Allardyce admitting to insomnia as he attempts to reverse his team’s stuttering form — they have grasped only one point from the past 15 available — speculation continues to thrive on Tyneside. Reports that the manager faces the sack in the event of defeat by Arsène Wenger’s team said to be inaccurate, but the club’s ambition to avoid short-termism is being undermined by poor results. After the visit of Arsenal, Newcastle play Birmingham City, Fulham, Derby County and Wigan Athletic before facing Chelsea away on December 29. Allardyce still retains the favour of Mike Ashley, the club’s owner — the two men enjoyed a jocular conversation last weekend at Ewood Park, where Newcastle lost 3-1 to Blackburn Rovers — but the goodwill has been overshadowed by suggestions that the Newcastle dressing-room is in open revolt, a notion that Given and Harper were quick to counter. While the goalkeepers were part of a three-man delegation that discussed a series of concerns with Allardyce last week, they denied that their meeting amounted to “player power”. “Sam Allardyce has the full backing and support of every Newcastle United player and we are all working together as one to bring success to the football club,” Given and Harper, who sit on Newcastle’s players’ committee, said in a statement. “Many issues are openly discussed between players and the manager, as is commonplace at any club — this is sensible and constructive communication.” Related Links While Allardyce’s scientific methods and tactics represent a drastic change of approach for most Newcastle players, Given and Harper said that they were “absolutely furious” that their talks should be interpreted as confrontational or insurrection. Yet Allardyce would be better served by a venomous display against Arsenal this evening. Newcastle’s previous two home matches have brought heavy reversals and the 3-0 defeat by Liverpool two weeks ago provoked considerable abuse for Glenn Roeder’s successor. “We are all uncomfortable with the situation at the moment,” Allardyce said. “We are all getting a little bit desperate.” As far as the manager is concerned, “judgment comes at 38 games, not at 14” and, while Arsenal may appear irrepressible, a glamorous match offers the possibility of redemption. “I know there are a few fears and trepidations because results are not going right, but these are the games when you should produce your best,” he said. “With a big crowd, against a big team, go and show what you can do.” If some fans are hostile and more are suspicious, their relationship with Allardyce is still new, still raw. “I’ve been here with Bolton and battered Newcastle and got beat 1-0,” he said. “Fans are only interested in winning, like us all. I don’t know where that perception comes from that Newcastle fans would rather lose 4-3 than win 1-0. I think it is all a myth.” He rejected accusations that his tactical approach is overly pragmatic. “If you don’t weigh up the opposition, then you can’t set your stall out to stop their strengths,” he said. “They’ll expose you and you’ll end up losing more and more. Who wins most games? Arsenal. And who has the most clean sheets? Either Arsenal or Manchester United. The only way to win a game of football is to concede less than anyone else.” Balance is elusive because impetus has been lost since Newcastle embarked on a five-match unbeaten run at the start of the season. “We’re behind schedule because we’ve suffered a number of defeats which could have been avoided, we haven’t drawn the sort of games we were capable of drawing and not won the games we perhaps thought we should have done,” Allardyce said. “It is a period that is difficult for us. We did not expect it to happen for as long as it has, but it has. There are many different factors we could point to which have not helped our cause, but, sooner rather than later, we will get the victory which will settle us all down.”

I've said it before, and I'll say it again; Sam Allardyce to stay. People who think Alan Shearer is the answer because of a gut feeling are having a dream and a laugh. And if the bad run continues under Shearer, what then? Demand he be sacked and fantasise about Mourinho being the manager next season? C'mon now, anybody who thought the club was going to finish any higher than 9th or 10th this season (and were being serious about it), need a reality check. Allardyce needs at least the whole of this season, and then see how much he's progressed the club, not only on the table but everything within the club, which was an incredulous shambles before he took the job on. If the players still look clueless by season's end and we finish equal or worse than last season then look for a change. Hopefully Mike Ashley has grapefruits as balls and ignores the boo boys...for now. Thankfully the players have backed him, (which is all that matters rather than people here with big dreams typing out gut feelings and impatient vitriol) and hopefully the club can move forwards again (after the expected loss to Arsenal of course).

As of 2006 - 195,900 regular force. Currently they have 5,250 active in Iraq and up to 7700 British troops have been committed to Afghanistan until 2009. It appears I was wrong, there are only 1000 Australian forces personnel currently active in Iraq and they shouldn't be there anyway. Anything else? Actually Australia has 1 600 military personnel in Iraq. Of those 1 600 personnel, 550 of them are combat troops. Fop is just being a pedantic bastard . Kevin Rudd wants the 550 combat troops to return to Australia by the middle of next year, while keeping the some other personnel in Iraq. Mainly ancillary personnel to protect diplomats, and those involved in transport and surveillance in the country. There are 1000 Australian military personnel in Afghanistan. Of those, 300 are SAS troops. Rudd wants to solidify this contingent as you correctly point out, because Afghanistan is the justified war sanctioned by the UN.

That's the spirit! Anyway in regards to the article, I think it's a pile of from the usual suspects.

Great post. I share the same sentiments. However if the club continues to slide, the players continue to look clueless, the tactics continue to be mish-mash, Sam doesn't bring anyone in in January other than DM's, and we finish lower than 9th or 10th then I would like to see these managers approached in the following order; Guus Hiddink Arsene Wenger Phil Scolari Rafa Benitez Gerard Houllier Jose Mourinho Mark Hughes Alan Shearer (but he will need a kickarse assistant to work with him). There's probably next to nought chance on the first three, while Houllier has a cushy job with the FFF he probably won't want to relinquish, Mark Hughes is loving life with Blackburn and just signed a new contract, and Jose Mourinho will not be managing in England again until after he has a go in Italy or Spain and I'd only have Shearer rather than the other suggestions on this thread which is why I put his name on my list.(McLeish or any Italian coach [other than Lippi] et al.)

90 % agree. Is the 10% the part where I say I want him to stay until the end of the season?

And Tulio Tanaka...

I was one of those who preferred Sam Allardyce over Sven at the time. Sven is a proven winner but needs money to achieve things. Fat Fred was chairman and Newcastle's finances were not the greatest. The club didn't have money to spend, and Sam had done wonders with very little money at Bolton as well as having the best injury record while he was there. I thought it was a match made in heaven. His tactics have got me completely baffled though, especially the last three games. I don't want to see any change, not until the season's over. Give Sam that time to put things right, but if not than he should fall on his own sword...

Yes so Australia has traded in a PM who bowls cricket balls like a tart for someone who...well...picks his ear and eats it. Wonderful stuff.

Yes, but it is better to options than have nought like we have at the minute.

Not very many options are there?..the same can be said about the current playing stocks though. For that reason I don't see why anybody would want to take the job on...oh wait, they get paid an absolute mega-salary to do so don't they. Gerard Houllier maybe, he's not doing much at the moment. Technical Director of French Football IIRC, but the constant scrutiny and purge by our media would turn him right off I would think. And like England's sad lack of playing talent, there is also a sad lack of English managers. What a sorry state of affairs. If Alan Shearer is keen, they should probably give it to him. Like Sammyb says, he wouldn't have anything to lose and it would be good to see what he can do with our sorry lot. He might be the fresh blood England needs at the moment. Jurgen Klinsmann and his epic journey with Germany in '06 springs up in my mind. He revitalised Germany and Shearer could do something similar maybe with England...

Sign him up. He was clearly the best defender at Bolton. He's quick enough, strong enough, can read the play very well. He'd be first choice at centre back if he came here. Bring him in Sam!

Exactly. Half brother wasn't it??? Means bugger all at the end of the day. Another case of jumping-to-conclusions me thinks here aye?

Problem is, iirc, he's only got one year left after this one on his contract. Shola gone?.?...Roeder you are a saint. While you are at it, use Delia's money to help us rid of Pattison, Ramage, Babayaro and Carr. Say 4m for the lot...

To put things in perspective we are better than we were last season. And that for me is what really matters at the end of the day. Plenty of improvement needed? - Yeah of course. Need more creative spark in midfield? - Without doubt. Tactics are a bit dodgy atm? - I concur. Players aren't settled and aware of their roles as of yet? - Yes true But these things take time. More than 12 games and with a transfer window just around the corner.

Anyway back to the topic without the necessity to lob cheap, abusive diatribe, Sam to stay. Bring on January and strengthen the squad even more and aim for the top half. Anything better than 9th or 10th should be seen as magnificent so that way high expectations are not met with complete disappointment and disgust if they are not realised. As has been said, stability is needed at the club. No point chopping and changing now, especially when Sam has laid the groundwork for improvement.

You have been watching a different player if your even thinking about he can't beat people. Hes great on the ball, he can beat people and has a great cross on him. No mate I haven't. Milner had been struggling the past few games. He looked tired and jaded. Just going through the motions. Probably why Sam took him out of the stating eleven for a couple of games. He had a decent game on the weekend though. Looked sharper and caused some problems for the Mackems' defence. Still think he could do with a bit of a break but alas he has to play for the under 21's on the weekend.