Christmas Tree

In honour of the kings first game i'll go for 3-1

You can't tell me that the rollercoaster of the last 18 months hasn't been exciting!!!! This is football you know not chess or tiddlywinks. Relegation is just as much part of football as anything else. Or did you all prefer those dreary non entity seasons we've experienced over the years. Gut wrenching to get relegated, exciting heading for promotion. If you don't enjoy relegation and promotion you should find a new hobby.

You are aware that this sterling job Ashley has done, is put us into our lowest league position for nearly 20 years ? And one of the most exciting periods of the last several years but hey ho.

In seriousness Leazes, I'm not sure what you mean by accept lower standards. I wasn't sure we had a choice on the matter or could effect it. Even for those of us who have so far boycotted by our wallets, it's still your team, good or bad

They said they've made mistakes and want to put them right. Its not confession, they are not going to go through each mistake by name and apologise for it to tot up the number of hail marys.. Be gracious enough to accept the apology. All owners / boards are here to make a profit, however Ashleys probably the only owner who so far hasnt. Appointing Shearer would have been a disaster imo With regard to the rest of your post I agree with Oz and find it very emotional and invalid. Appointing Hughton has created stability. His mission was promotion and he has bought / loaned the right players to achieve it You have no idea what will happen come June.

Source? Various accadacca threads for starters

Yes

Your whole statment is massively flawed. The old regime didn't live within their means. As a fan i was over the moon with Owen's arrival, but adding 10m debt a year meant it was a risk we simply couldn't afford to take. As custodians of the club there job was to rationalise the risk/reward, but they run it like fans, getting carried away with the hype - and rather than minimising the risk by loading his contract with clauses if we didn't make Europe they bent over and took one from his agent. People who critise the old regime don't come to the match thinking its monolpoly viewing players like financial assest. They were just sick of players like Kieron 'f**kin' Dyer picking up £80k a week.... I'd love to hear you justification for Dyer being on £80k a week, as we gave him that knowing he was a sick note! Also, I think our views of Ashley's business model is also incorrect. I dont see his aim to make us into profitable entity, just a self sufficent one. He brought in more players in January than any other club. Ok, Best may not live up to his name, but he's a player that fits our needs perfectly and you have to be a realist, there were no better players availible. Maybe Victor Moses, but his agent made my blood boil, the goon was constantly on Sky Sports bigging him up spouting rubbish about Real Madrid being interested link. Under the old regime we would have taken one from his agent to get him. Sure Ashleys made mistakes, but I truely belive he is learning. Unlike some stick in the muds on here I see myself as a quite reasonable fan. Frankly there is nothing in what you say that is unreasonable and a lot of truth in it. The problem is, as usual some what it to be black and white when there is shit loads of grey. They'll come round (except Leazes) eventually, just like the majority of fans already have and just like the doom mongers from earlier in the season already have. People have slowly woken up to the fact that the Halls and Shepherd were much better than they thought at the time, despite constantly disagreeing with me when I tried to tell them. I don't expect some of the Ashley supporters to admit that he has dragged the club massively downwards, even when it becomes even more obvious, say by the middle of next season when our bargain buys are struggling to stay up and we do nothing in January to help the situation other than bringing a few bargains and loans. You're right, I won't come round because he won't succeed. However, if he EVER does qualify for the Champions League, then I WILL admit that I was wrong, and give due credit for it, unlike some. i hardly think that's the case. just because ashley's reign so far has been worse than shepherd's doesn't change the fact that shepherd was incompetent. Leazes, you are like the bloke who blames his new wife for his ex wifes infidelitys. You are fighting your Newcastle Online battles infront of a different audience who dont give a shit. You really need to (if not already) sign back up under a new name......Leazes's nephew and get it all off your chest... then simply move on.

Your whole statment is massively flawed. The old regime didn't live within their means. As a fan i was over the moon with Owen's arrival, but adding 10m debt a year meant it was a risk we simply couldn't afford to take. As custodians of the club there job was to rationalise the risk/reward, but they run it like fans, getting carried away with the hype - and rather than minimising the risk by loading his contract with clauses if we didn't make Europe they bent over and took one from his agent. People who critise the old regime don't come to the match thinking its monolpoly viewing players like financial assest. They were just sick of players like Kieron 'f**kin' Dyer picking up £80k a week.... I'd love to hear you justification for Dyer being on £80k a week, as we gave him that knowing he was a sick note! Also, I think our views of Ashley's business model is also incorrect. I dont see his aim to make us into profitable entity, just a self sufficent one. He brought in more players in January than any other club. Ok, Best may not live up to his name, but he's a player that fits our needs perfectly and you have to be a realist, there were no better players availible. Maybe Victor Moses, but his agent made my blood boil, the goon was constantly on Sky Sports bigging him up spouting rubbish about Real Madrid being interested link. Under the old regime we would have taken one from his agent to get him. Sure Ashleys made mistakes, but I truely belive he is learning. Unlike some stick in the muds on here I see myself as a quite reasonable fan. Frankly there is nothing in what you say that is unreasonable and a lot of truth in it. The problem is, as usual some what it to be black and white when there is shit loads of grey. They'll come round (except Leazes) eventually, just like the majority of fans already have and just like the doom mongers from earlier in the season already have. I don't know that it's the majority, but a hell of a lot are simply apathetic towards Ashley because we are top of the league (that's the 2nd division. A lot of folk, I reckon, have forgotten that fact). If we do struggle next season, I have an inkling that that apathy will soon diminish. However, I sincerely hope we do finish mid-table or higher next term. We both know thats not true. Simply alot of fans are just enjoying the matches. We all know theres tough times ahead if we get promoted but basically theres fuck all we can do about it so we might as well enjoy a game at a time. Being NUFC, who knows what next year will bring.

We were either going to walk this league or collapse and I'm pretty certain that was the general view of the 'doom mongers'. I don't share your opinion that Mike Ashley is doing everything with NUFC's best interests at heart. Naughty naughty How so? Being a contrary fucker I could be wrong......But I dont recall saying "Mike Ashley is doing everything with NUFC's best interests at heart". Feel free to link if I did as I do talk shite from time to time.

Saw them on tv the other night. I haven't seen them since, but two goals struck me as shit goalkeeping. I may go and watch them again from the link up there /\ Tut give them credit snakey! They can only beat whats infront of them! I totally agree. But if a goalkeeper lies down before you have kicked the ball, even my old aunt would know how to score a goal. Carrolls 1st was an unstopable header...very few keepers at any level would of stopped that if any! Carrolls second, the keeper charged out to close the angle but stopped halfway...was still a very composed tidy finish. Lovenkrands the keeper was gash like but again a very composed finish...how many times have we seen players hit the keeprs legs or blaze over from that position? The run and through ball from routledge were immense.

Is anyone else a bit worried by the fact they had to selotape a piece of paper to it with an arrow and the instructions with how to turn it on? As for the webcam, I'd be so tempted if I was down there to suddenly pop in front of it, waving my arms around and shouting 'Help! Help!' Just for the craic like. can I draw attention to the tie the bloke with the wrench is wearing? Xmas wrapping paper? And bloke with arms folded.....Gotta be Leazes Mag saying......."If Shepherd was running this.........."

We were either going to walk this league or collapse and I'm pretty certain that was the general view of the 'doom mongers'. I don't share your opinion that Mike Ashley is doing everything with NUFC's best interests at heart. Naughty naughty

Your whole statment is massively flawed. The old regime didn't live within their means. As a fan i was over the moon with Owen's arrival, but adding 10m debt a year meant it was a risk we simply couldn't afford to take. As custodians of the club there job was to rationalise the risk/reward, but they run it like fans, getting carried away with the hype - and rather than minimising the risk by loading his contract with clauses if we didn't make Europe they bent over and took one from his agent. People who critise the old regime don't come to the match thinking its monolpoly viewing players like financial assest. They were just sick of players like Kieron 'f**kin' Dyer picking up £80k a week.... I'd love to hear you justification for Dyer being on £80k a week, as we gave him that knowing he was a sick note! Also, I think our views of Ashley's business model is also incorrect. I dont see his aim to make us into profitable entity, just a self sufficent one. He brought in more players in January than any other club. Ok, Best may not live up to his name, but he's a player that fits our needs perfectly and you have to be a realist, there were no better players availible. Maybe Victor Moses, but his agent made my blood boil, the goon was constantly on Sky Sports bigging him up spouting rubbish about Real Madrid being interested link. Under the old regime we would have taken one from his agent to get him. Sure Ashleys made mistakes, but I truely belive he is learning. Unlike some stick in the muds on here I see myself as a quite reasonable fan. Frankly there is nothing in what you say that is unreasonable and a lot of truth in it. The problem is, as usual some what it to be black and white when there is shit loads of grey. They'll come round (except Leazes) eventually, just like the majority of fans already have and just like the doom mongers from earlier in the season already have. People have slowly woken up to the fact that the Halls and Shepherd were much better than they thought at the time, despite constantly disagreeing with me when I tried to tell them. I don't expect some of the Ashley supporters to admit that he has dragged the club massively downwards, even when it becomes even more obvious, say by the middle of next season when our bargain buys are struggling to stay up and we do nothing in January to help the situation other than bringing a few bargains and loans. You're right, I won't come round because he won't succeed. However, if he EVER does qualify for the Champions League, then I WILL admit that I was wrong, and give due credit for it, unlike some. Leazes, you sometimes come across as reasonable and sensible, but sometimes I can only imagine you are part of the Shepherd family. Its not about the Halls and Shepherds, thats history. Ashley has dragged the club down, he's now dragging it back up. Well, even the Westwoods, Seymours etc got promoted after being relegated. So what ? To be continued......... After the pub

Your whole statment is massively flawed. The old regime didn't live within their means. As a fan i was over the moon with Owen's arrival, but adding 10m debt a year meant it was a risk we simply couldn't afford to take. As custodians of the club there job was to rationalise the risk/reward, but they run it like fans, getting carried away with the hype - and rather than minimising the risk by loading his contract with clauses if we didn't make Europe they bent over and took one from his agent. People who critise the old regime don't come to the match thinking its monolpoly viewing players like financial assest. They were just sick of players like Kieron 'f**kin' Dyer picking up £80k a week.... I'd love to hear you justification for Dyer being on £80k a week, as we gave him that knowing he was a sick note! Also, I think our views of Ashley's business model is also incorrect. I dont see his aim to make us into profitable entity, just a self sufficent one. He brought in more players in January than any other club. Ok, Best may not live up to his name, but he's a player that fits our needs perfectly and you have to be a realist, there were no better players availible. Maybe Victor Moses, but his agent made my blood boil, the goon was constantly on Sky Sports bigging him up spouting rubbish about Real Madrid being interested link. Under the old regime we would have taken one from his agent to get him. Sure Ashleys made mistakes, but I truely belive he is learning. Unlike some stick in the muds on here I see myself as a quite reasonable fan. Frankly there is nothing in what you say that is unreasonable and a lot of truth in it. The problem is, as usual some what it to be black and white when there is shit loads of grey. They'll come round (except Leazes) eventually, just like the majority of fans already have and just like the doom mongers from earlier in the season already have. People have slowly woken up to the fact that the Halls and Shepherd were much better than they thought at the time, despite constantly disagreeing with me when I tried to tell them. I don't expect some of the Ashley supporters to admit that he has dragged the club massively downwards, even when it becomes even more obvious, say by the middle of next season when our bargain buys are struggling to stay up and we do nothing in January to help the situation other than bringing a few bargains and loans. You're right, I won't come round because he won't succeed. However, if he EVER does qualify for the Champions League, then I WILL admit that I was wrong, and give due credit for it, unlike some. Leazes, you sometimes come across as reasonable and sensible, but sometimes I can only imagine you are part of the Shepherd family. Its not about the Halls and Shepherds, thats history. Ashley has dragged the club down, he's now dragging it back up.

Your whole statment is massively flawed. The old regime didn't live within their means. As a fan i was over the moon with Owen's arrival, but adding 10m debt a year meant it was a risk we simply couldn't afford to take. As custodians of the club there job was to rationalise the risk/reward, but they run it like fans, getting carried away with the hype - and rather than minimising the risk by loading his contract with clauses if we didn't make Europe they bent over and took one from his agent. People who critise the old regime don't come to the match thinking its monolpoly viewing players like financial assest. They were just sick of players like Kieron 'f**kin' Dyer picking up £80k a week.... I'd love to hear you justification for Dyer being on £80k a week, as we gave him that knowing he was a sick note! Also, I think our views of Ashley's business model is also incorrect. I dont see his aim to make us into profitable entity, just a self sufficent one. He brought in more players in January than any other club. Ok, Best may not live up to his name, but he's a player that fits our needs perfectly and you have to be a realist, there were no better players availible. Maybe Victor Moses, but his agent made my blood boil, the goon was constantly on Sky Sports bigging him up spouting rubbish about Real Madrid being interested link. Under the old regime we would have taken one from his agent to get him. Sure Ashleys made mistakes, but I truely belive he is learning. Unlike some stick in the muds on here I see myself as a quite reasonable fan. Frankly there is nothing in what you say that is unreasonable and a lot of truth in it. The problem is, as usual some what it to be black and white when there is shit loads of grey. They'll come round (except Leazes) eventually, just like the majority of fans already have and just like the doom mongers from earlier in the season already have. I don't think there's anyone on here who could be classed as being a 'turn-coat' on this matter. There were loads on here forecasting relegation etc at the start of this season.....Doom mongers. Now your still coming out with claptrap like "refusal to admit he's done wrong"..... The blokes come out and said he's done wrong and that he wants to put it right, which he's doing.

Just seen the three goals and cant believe some of you lads who were at the match havent made more of them (unless I've missed it). A magnificent rocket header for the first, a Beardsley / Lineker one two for the second and a supremely composed chip for the third. Really, really impressed.

Your whole statment is massively flawed. The old regime didn't live within their means. As a fan i was over the moon with Owen's arrival, but adding 10m debt a year meant it was a risk we simply couldn't afford to take. As custodians of the club there job was to rationalise the risk/reward, but they run it like fans, getting carried away with the hype - and rather than minimising the risk by loading his contract with clauses if we didn't make Europe they bent over and took one from his agent. People who critise the old regime don't come to the match thinking its monolpoly viewing players like financial assest. They were just sick of players like Kieron 'f**kin' Dyer picking up £80k a week.... I'd love to hear you justification for Dyer being on £80k a week, as we gave him that knowing he was a sick note! Also, I think our views of Ashley's business model is also incorrect. I dont see his aim to make us into profitable entity, just a self sufficent one. He brought in more players in January than any other club. Ok, Best may not live up to his name, but he's a player that fits our needs perfectly and you have to be a realist, there were no better players availible. Maybe Victor Moses, but his agent made my blood boil, the goon was constantly on Sky Sports bigging him up spouting rubbish about Real Madrid being interested link. Under the old regime we would have taken one from his agent to get him. Sure Ashleys made mistakes, but I truely belive he is learning. Unlike some stick in the muds on here I see myself as a quite reasonable fan. Frankly there is nothing in what you say that is unreasonable and a lot of truth in it. The problem is, as usual some what it to be black and white when there is shit loads of grey. They'll come round (except Leazes) eventually, just like the majority of fans already have and just like the doom mongers from earlier in the season already have.

Journal interview... Didn't realise it was three broken feet and ligament damage! Talk about bad luck ( or Kama) HITLER, Public Enemy Number One, Chairman Mao, the Antichrist. Joey Barton has been called many things since rising to prominence as a professional footballer - those four were his own choices - but right now there is one accusation that would cut deeper than any of them. Contemplating a return to a Newcastle United team that has made impressive but understated progress towards a Premier League return in his absence, Barton is desperate not to be seen as a 'distraction'. That is why it was with some reticence that the 27-year-old midfielder, consigned by his grisly past to have his every move scrutinised in forensic detail, opens his mouth after a 75-minute run-out for Newcastle reserves at a virtually deserted, windswept Victoria Park. He had told Newcastle's media department that he would not but, after seeing a clutch of journalists had turned up to see him play, felt it only polite to offer a few words on his return. As is always the case with a man who eschews the normal footballer's platitudes for eviscerating self-honesty, 'a few words' turns into five or six questions - and before you know it he has talked for 35 minutes about injuries, his desperation to make up for lost time and joking about how he left Manchester City three years ago because they weren't spending enough money. That was before posing for photographs and signing hundreds of autographs for young Hartlepool fans who had gathered to see what all the fuss is about. Barton understands the contradiction, but his life will never be simple until he is once again known for his football. Being judged solely as an athlete, he insists, can not come soon enough. 'I think people are sick of hearing me talk and babble on. I think they just want to see me do it,' he admitted. 'I wasn't going to speak after the Hartlepool game but you took the time and effort to come down to see me, so I feel it's only fair that I do. 'I just want to play football - I just want to be part of this football club. It's good times (for Newcastle) but I know it's going to be a long, hard road this season and next season and the season beyond. 'A lot of the stuff that goes with me is off the pitch. I just want to concentrate on the pitch - I want to be judged on the pitch. I think it's well-documented that my life has had ups and downs but there are a lot of players going through it now and I can sort of relate to it. 'It actually brings back a lot of bad memories for me and confirms my belief in what I'm doing to address certain things in my life.' Barring a couple of interviews to promote the Sporting Chance foundation, for the best part of six months he has slipped under the radar. In his absence, a pared-down United from the club he joined have climbed to the summit of the Championship. The desire to join the battle now he is fully recovered is keenly felt - especially given the way supporters have reacted to him. 'I love Newcastle United. The people around the city and the fans have been incredible with me. I really appreciate it,' he said. 'I don't deserve it with some of the things I've been up to since I signed for Newcastle. I don't deserve that backing but, for whatever reason, I've got it and I'm determined to repay them,' he said. 'I have a lot to prove to a lot of people who have stuck by me at this football club and in this region. That responsibility is not wasted on me. 'People think I take that support for granted, but I don't. 'I know that people have criticised me - and rightly so - and I know some people have stood by me. But I'm determined. I want to be part of this football club.' And what of the job Hughton and the rest of the squad have done over the course of the season? 'I think that team spirit has shone through this season - we could have easily downed tools,' he said. 'Everyone expected us to plummet like Leeds or Sheffield Wednesday did, but the lads got together and fair play to them. 'I think that is a testament to the bunch of men we have at the football club - on the pitch and with the backroom staff - that we're sitting top of the league. 'I've been in the background trying to support them but it starts for me, hopefully, on Saturday and then we'll take it from there.' With Barton, questions about his temperament often dominate the debate. But Newcastle fans have as much reason to care about the fitness of a player who has suffered a broken foot three times and a torn medial ligament as anything else. 'Not playing for six months is the worst. Fans say he's sitting on his a**e, picking up his money, but I tell you - it's a lot harder when you're injured than when you're fit,' Barton said. 'Being out there at Hartlepool, for me was fantastic. That's the light at the end of the tunnel for me. 'Being part of something great happening to Newcastle United was always my motivation, as well as the desire to prove myself.' So we come full circle to that desire not to distract, not to undermine team-mates who have performed so well in his absence. Can Barton - who believes he is good enough to get back in Newcastle's team - cope with being a peripheral figure for the run-in, despite being fully fit? Time will tell, but acceptance at the club he 'loves' depends on it. 'We've got some tough games coming up, but we won't take our foot off the pedal,' he said. 'That's the feeling I get from the camp, and hopefully I can add something to that. They've lacked me all season - maybe I can come in and freshen it up a little bit. 'Maybe I won't be needed, who knows, that's down to Chris Hughton, but I will put my hand up for selection. 'I want to play every game between now and the end of the season because I want to take a bit of the workload off getting this club back where it belongs.'

Hodgson would be the ideal manager for us under Ashley.

Strange film this to rate. First of all the music is very hitchcocky old school and just seems so out of place and annoying. The film is good but in a way you feel as though you've watched two films at the end. Given all the ingredients I feel I should have come away going wow, which I didn't. Maybe the wine didn't help.

Personally I think someone usually posts all relevant news on here very quickly. The yes gemmil orbit thread is usually up before the bodys cold.

Putting relatives etc to one side..... Freddie Mercury. I would have loved to see him in concert.

Most of has strange events that occur during a lifetime or our Dads have passed their stories on. Ghosts, UFO's premonitions???? Do you have any? UFO's When I was 12 (1977) a group of about 20 of us were playing in the park late one night when all of a sudden a large beam / spotlight shone down from above lighting the whole area up. There was no noise and helicopters were not even common place any way. Everyone ran in various directions until it dissappeared literally five seconds later. To this day we sometimes mention it but nobody can explain it. Guardian Angels When I was about 11 I was on holiday in Scarborough (yes I know) with my mam and I had been fishing on the harbour. I went off to get something at the shop and excitedly raced out of the shop and into the busy road. In ultra slow motion I remember turning to my right to see a large fast moving coach about to squash me. I suddenly felt something on my shoulder pulling me back. You've guessed it, I turned around and there was nobody there. Monster While driving alongisde Loch Ness with the family in the car, I happened to notice a nessy type head sticking out of the water and travelling quite fast in the same direction as us. I only got a quick look and there were trees between us and the Loch but honest gov, it was nessy. :icon_lol: