As ever in Toon world there has been lots to talk about and Newcastle-Online.com readers have hammered our inbox over the weeks, with Faye, Shearer, Shola, Souness, the Mackems, Owen’s signing and just about every other conceivable topic having been touched on in the latest installment of our Mailbag feature.

RE: “Newcastle Need Players Like Amdy Faye”

Because he’s a water carrier and left alone by the crowd, will do an excellent job for the Toon… So, get off his back. That’s to all the Boo Girls who get to see the lads every other Saturday, un-like me, exiled in the London. - Punk Skunk

RE: “Newcastle Need Players Like Amdy Faye”

I like Amdy Faye, he’s a good player. But not good enough for a club of Newcastle’s calibre. - Nern

“Three Letters, One Word, A Very Clear Objective!”

I agree that anything, less than 3 points against Birmingham will be a total disappointment. I expect another 3-0 victory and expecting a draw against Chelsea, even a win if we can get a goal in the last minute. - Style

“Three Letters, One Word, A Very Clear Objective!”

Another great article. I recently agreed to an article on here regarding Alan Shearer and how he seemed to be over the hill a little. Well as he normally does he came back and scored 2 in 2 games just to prove us maybe a little wrong, but hey I’ll say it again if it means he’ll get another 2 in 2 games.

Good Article on the Brum game tomorrow, nothing less than 3 points will be very disappointing to a side which is really struggling and has a very full medical room. I feel 2-1 tomorrow will be the result (to the Toon of course), but as you say a defeat or even a draw will have us back to square 1 going into the international break and with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge after the international break, a win tomorrow I feel will be 1 of the biggest results of the season, and I don’t feel I am exaggerating by saying that!

The last thing we want is to get beat tomorrow, lose at Chelsea and then head to Everton at the end of november (not in a good position but still a very hard game) then go into December and have to face Arsenal, Liverpool, Charlton and Spurs, so a win tomorrow is HUGE! All the best! - Steve

RE: “Newcastle Need Players Like Amdy Faye”

Very good article! Keep up the good job! - Tony Bergström

RE: “Newcastle Need Players Like Amdy Faye”

I certainly agree with the overall thesis of this article, teams do generally need squad players and to my recollection no team has really succeeded without them; especially in the modern game which has such a busy schedule (Bar obviously Chelsea who seem to be breaking all the rules nowadays).

I also think that all players should be encouraged by fans if they are seen to be putting in the effort for the cause and am very opposed to the booing of Amdy Faye. In all honesty however I do not think he should be at this club, his job title after all is a professional footballer and while he may satisfy the criteria of a professional he is far from a footballer.

Keeping the egos down and the sprits up is the job for the manager and we shouldn’t have to pay the likes of Amdy faye to do his job (I’ll not get on to that lump we have in charge, although let us not forget it was him that brought the wonderful Amdy Faye to our hallowed turf).

I am not saying I want a team of galacticos at Newcastle, I obviously want talent at the club but also players who can do a job in the squad as well as on the pitch. The thing is I believe that we have many players at Newcastle that do a job in the dressing room, you don’t have to be crap at football to be a calming professional influence off the pitch (If that was the case I’d be banging on the door of AC Milan offering my services).

Players like Shay Given, Nolberto Solano, Scott Parker and Michael Owen are all excellent footballers and model professionals and no-one can tell me they wouldn’t get on the pitch ahead of Amdy Faye (even if we have to give Shay the holding role in midfield).

As for squad players, Lee Clark, Martin Brittain, Robbie Elliot and Steve Harper along with many others I’m sure wouldn’t utter a word if their name wasn’t in the starting eleven. In the end it comes down to fact that this is a football club, our trade is football and we employ footballers.

In any other line of work if you are bad at your job you lose it, why should football be any different? Amdy Faye IS bad at his job, he can not play football at this level and nothing he does off the pitch can make up for that. Sorry Amdy but you have to go! - Ben

“Newcastle Need Players Like Amdy Faye”

Like fuck he is. He’s shite. End of. Well, not end of. You expect me to feel sorry for a professional footballer? Get a fucking grip you cretin. I don’t want a shit player to ‘balance’ things out. What absolute nonsense. Fletcher is being hounded out of Man U, Cygan hated by Arsenal fans. Did the great Man Utd side of the 90s have any shit players to balance things out? STOP ACCEPTING MEDIOCRITY. - [BSP]

RE: “Newcastle Need Players Like Amdy Faye”

So we should embrace the not-so-good players because they bring harmony to the dressing room? Unfortunately those players end up having to play when the “good” ones are injured or suspended. I think this season has already shown us what a squad half full of “average” players can do.

An “average” front line kept us off the scoresheet for too long. An “average” defender can lose you a goal a game. An “average” midfielder will give the ball away half a dozen times a game, and then not get back to cover. Personally rather than an “average” guy who “knows” his place, I’d rather have “talented” guy who is prepared to “fight” for his place.

When was the last time an “average” team won a competition” Surely it’s the managers job to ensure that the team is balanced? On Amdy Faye - I haven’t seen him play a single game yet where I turned round afterwards and said “That Faye looks like a good player”. My sister could work hard in training but that’s no reason to let her start.

Be honest! At Newcastle Faye, along with a few others, is just a stocking filler. He’s not a real preside, he’s just a tangerine. Something you turn to when the batteries have gone flat on all the good toys.

In the real world respect is not automatic. Players, like anyone else, have to earn respect. In football they do it by turning in good performances. Why should Faye play by different rules to the rest of the world? - Rob Brown

RE: “Newcastle Need Players Like Amdy Faye”

Howaythetoon you usually write interesting articles but you’re talking crap on this one pal and I suspect you know that. It’s admirable defending Faye, but the truth of the matter is that he isn’t good enough on the pitch. Of course he shouldn’t be booed, no-one in a B&W shirt should, I agree with this. But if we continue to sign and play players of Faye’s limited ability we will never win things. Keep off the drink marra. - Kev (Elswick)

RE: “Newcastle Need Players Like Amdy Faye”

You have go to be joking, surely, no? Amdy Faye is crap mate and nothing will ever change that. I hope we get rid of him in Jan and get that Argentinean player, at least he can pass the ball. Sorry but you’re wrong. - Luke

RE: “Newcastle Need Players Like Amdy Faye”

Utter bloody bollocks! - Joppa

RE: “Newcastle Need Players Like Amdy Faye”

I’m lost for words! I suppose this is why I love this site. It’s… err… different! - Mike Woods

RE: “Newcastle Need Players Like Amdy Faye”

Good stuff. We should be behind everybody who works hard for the team. Keep it up Souness, I think the club is finally headed in the right direction. Thank you for having the balls to get rid of Bellers & Robert and showing them for what they were, nothing but spoilt arseholes. Howay the lads. - Les Robson

“Newcastle Need Players Like Amdy Faye”

WHAT A LOAD OF ABSOLUTE DRIVEL. Whoever wrote this load of rubbish should read it, trying to forget they wrote it. “He’s not a good player, but he’s good enough for Newcastle”. “He isn’t good enough for the first team, but he wasn’t bought for that”. “Need players like him in our ranks to balance things off the pitch”. “Deliberately left out because of his fragile confidence”. “Need average players to balance things up”. These are the type of statements (not taken out of context) made throughout the article, the fact that he’s rubbish pales into insignificance compared to this article as they saying goes, “on paper he’s great” maybe we should forget about playing 90 mins on the pitch and decide a game in the dressing room. - Dave Lambton

“Newcastle Need Players Like Amdy Faye”

Here, here!! I think Faye is poor and, like most, don’t rate him - although I would and have never booed our team or any player. But you’re right! - Toon Fan

RE: “Newcastle Need Players Like Amdy Faye”

I don’t mind Faye as a player. I think his contribution is under-rated as he isn’t showy and, for some reason, his face doesn’t fit. Having said that, your article is absolutely ludicrous. Talk about damning someone with faint praise. Either he is good enough to play for us or he isn’t. I think he has a role to play. You think his role is that he isn’t good enough, but balances things off the pitch. Bizarre! - Guy Dunn

RE: “Newcastle Need Players Like Amdy Faye”

I don’t agree that every club “needs” poor players in it’s ranks but I’m totally behind you with stay off the lad’s back remarks. This will never help and it totally pisses me off when I hear our own “greatest supporters in the land” giving stick out like that. Get behind them when they’re on the pitch and you never know they may surprise you with an inspired performance. Look at what happened against the Makems. With a bit of proper support behind them they looked a different team - not world beaters but gave 110% and that’s all you can ask for. - Cheeko

RE: “Souness Has Got One Thing Right…”

I don’t doubt that the players Souness has brought in support him (ala Emre’s reaction when he scored) but if you speak to the ones that were already here, they hate him, if you speak to people who work for him, they hate him. I will accept all of the above if it brings results, but in Souness’s time he has spent more than any manager in our history, after inheriting the 5th best team in the Premiership, and has got beat more times than he has won. Get rid of him. Never has the Premiership been so weak and we are wallowing around in mid table. - Dave Balmer

RE: “Souness Has Got One Thing Right…”

Yes I enjoyed this article and I think it is true, I have never been a fan of Graham as a manager. However it is about time that we got off his back and give him a chance, it is obvious that the players back him, look at Emre when he scored against Sunderland. It is also apparent that Big Al also gets on well with him, something he did not do with Sir Bobby (although I do respect SBR and the way he was treated was disgraceful, I do think though, his time was up and the wheels were starting to fall off).

Yes we have got rid of the trouble makers and replaced them with professional footballers. I always remember when Clarkie and Andy Cole spat the dummy with KK. KK’s quote at the time was that no player was bigger than the club. Under GS I think we are returning to those days, where the players are not bigger than the club, maybe that is why Big Al gets on with the manager.

I only hope that we could play the same style of football as we did under KK, but… ah! we still never won nowt. I wish Graham Souness all the best in the future, because his future is the club’s future.

Lets give him credit for what he has achieved to date, there are signs that there is a little light at the end of the tunnel, players like Michael Owen, Luque and Emre can see it, or they would not be there. He has given the young players like N’Zogbia, Taylor, Ramage and Chopra, a chance and they have rewarded him with good and in some cases outstanding performances.

Lets start to think positive about the manager and get behind him, not to stab him in the back, but to support him and maybe some of that positive vibes will influence the players on the field as well. Good Luck Graham. - Regards Jim Coyle

“Souness Has Got One Thing Right…”

I believe in Souness. He has transformed the team spirit by getting rid of worky tickets Bellamy and Robert. This act was very brave considering the risks to his own position. He moved out O,Brian - a good character but not good enough performer.

He has recognised N’Zogbia’s talent on the training ground and given him his chance. Babarayo is now starting to try because of pressure from Ramage who has also responded to his opportunity given by Souness. Emre is an excellent buy and makes the whole team play.

Parker is an excellent buy and he showed what he was capable of when allowed to cover more ground and influence our attacking play (at WBA). Salano is an excellent buy and is providing really penetrative passes from just inside the right touchline.

Owen - simply first class. Taylor is really coming through under Souness. Bramble will be successful. On the dodgy side: Boumsong has not justified his cost and needs to improve considerably if he is not to let us down and prevent the team’s progress.

Souness may have to be very brave in his selections for central defence. Faye has not performed even in his very limited role. Ameobi stops all of our forward moves by failing to hold up or control the ball - all progressive moves come to a halt when he becomes involved. This CANNOT go on, he must undergo intensive training on this aspect of his game and his infuriating habit of scuffing his shots.

He must improve quickly or go. Assuming Boumsong improves and if Souness makes the right decisions on Ameobi and Faye I feel that the team is on the brink of success through playing inventive attacking football. As I said at the beginning I believe in Souness. By the way - Well done Freddy Shepherd. - Nick Reid

RE: “Souness Has Got One Thing Right…”

I feel what you have written is spot on, where I think I differ to a lot of the Toon Army is that I want Souness to succeed and stay in his job long enough to achieve that. He get`s a lot of stick, I know he didn`t do a lot at his previous club but they perhaps didn`t support him like we do with money, look at his buys. Parker, Emre, Owen, Luque, Nobby and yes even Boumsong who I feel will turn out to be just fine. My only issue is poor old Chopra never get`s a decent run to prove himself, Shola performs every few games but otherwise is not great so why not give Michael a chance? Other than that lets hope Graeme get`s us into the Champions League and makes us a consistent top 5 team once again… He deserves a chance to progress the team he has created. - Tim Claridge

Dear N.O

I have been a Newcastle supporter for years. I’m happy to see my team win a match but also feel sad when they lose a game. I am glad that they are all back as ‘1 powerful’ team now. Good to see Shearer and Owen paired together to go for for goals. Knowing this is the last season for Shearer but hopefully he will change his mind to continue his run for Newcastle just like Sheringham. GOOD LUCK! - Lyn

“A Challenge To Shola Ameobi”

Don’t get carried away with Ameobi. He exerted himself because it was a derby match, no other reason. He will be back to his usual useless self next weekend. - Homer

Dear N.O

Hi, just writing in to say I really enjoy the referee previews you do before the matches, I think it’s a good feature of the site and I look forward to reading more. Keep up the work with the site, my first port of call every day. - Joan Stevenson

RE: “Ameobi’s Second Goal”

Am I the only one that noticed that Ameobi’s 2nd goal actually missed him and came off the defenders head? Checking the angle from the keeper’s right clearly shows that it carried on traveling down until it was past his head. It then changed trajectory at the point where his forearm and the defenders head are side by side.

OK, so it could have come off his arm. 3 things wipe out that idea. 1 Look at the way the ball heads into the goal - whoosh, his forearm wasn’t in any kind of position to get a result like that. 2 Listen to the sound, there’s a thud that sounds like a head making contact 3 Look at the reaction of the defender as the ball rockets into the net.

Tell me that’s not the reaction of a Mackem mug who just gave us the lead in a derby. Poor lads keeping VERY quiet about that one. Sorry Ameobi’s head was nowhere near it. Even with 2 goals his performance did not rate a 9.

Don’t get your hopes up on the strength of this one performance. You can only be disappointed! He has made 2 statements recently that he’d probably have been better keeping to himself.

1 ‘I’m a 20 goal a season player’ and 2 ‘I obviously have a mental problem that I need to get over’.

If we get our midfield sorted out to the point that he’s scoring 20 a season, rest assured that someone else in his boots would be scoring 40. Plus its not mental, its skill. I would love to be eating these words at the end of the season, but something tells me I’m fairly safe. - Rob Brown (Bahrain)

(Ed: Aye, Rob - it did come off the Mackem defender, but we’ll give Shola that one…)

RE: “Souness: Time To Drop Shearer”

No drop Souness, and give Shearer the player manager job. - Steve

Dear N.O

Ha, loved the “merchant banker” pic of that tosser who gave Wor Al a bloody lip. My thoughts exactly. Keep up the good work lads (& lasses…?). - Paul

RE: “Souness: Time To Drop Shearer”

Reading this after watching Shearer’s match winning performance at Grimsby, what a joke. He’s still doing the same thing he has always done - score goals. Even with a groin injury, the man shows why he has been at the top for so long, and to add to this the shear professionalism shown with what he had to contend with tonight with that brain dead disrespectful twat of a Grimsby captain, only highlights the importance of Shearer to our club. - Dan Cambridge

RE: “Souness: Time To Drop Shearer”

No, drop both as both are a ticking time-bomb for Newscastle. - Erven

RE: “Ref watch: Mark Halsey’ History Of Refereeing Toon Matches”

David Moyes wasn’t in charge for the 2-1 defeat of Everton. - David Copeland

(Ed: You’re quite right, it was Joe Royle. We’ll show Paul Mosley the red card for that.)

RE: “Souness: Time To Drop Shearer”

With all respect to the writer of this article. Pure bollocks. Once we forget to pay respect to our heroes, friends and footballing soulmates., then we forget what ever got us to watch football. I have enjoyed watching Mr Shearer since I was a little boy and he bagged 3 against Arsenal on his debut. Mr Shearer still inspires me, and a whole lot of youngsters. This is his last season as a player, he is still good enough. So pay him respect! Give him some time, he`ll deliver as always. Alan, keep working hard, as you always have done. - Regards Marcus Røsand (Larvik Norway)

RE: “Souness: Time To Drop Shearer”

Dropping Shearer, I do see your point I have to say. I can bet my bottom dollar you will get lots of replies stating your article as rubbish but as much as it really hurts me to say (as it did you), yes I think the God of Tyneside is over the hill and on a downward slide and Newcastle United are suffering badly because of this. I hope I’m wrong in saying that and I hope this hernia operation sorts him out. I’ve had a season ticket at Newcastle for 14 years now and I’ve seen Shearer play at his peak; he is a shadow of what he used to be! But as I say I hope I’m proved wrong and hope this operation sorts him out. But I have to say I do agree with your article. - Steven Edgar

RE: “Souness: Time To Drop Shearer”

Mate you should be ashamed of yourself to say such a thing, Alan Shearer took Michael Owen to this club, him and Owen have 3 goals in 3 Appearances together. Ameobi made Alan look bad in the Derby, but Shearer can jump up and lay on the ball for the striker. Granted he is far from his best but he for one season has a new role and that is to play off Michael Owen. You will see the partnership get a lot of goals from this and with Nobby, Emre, Luque, Dyer and Parker in the midfield Shearer will bang them in. For christ sake man Alan has been struggling with a hernia problem, wait until he recovers and he will make you eat those words! - Decky

RE: “Souness: Time To Drop Shearer”

It pains me to say it also as he has been our saviour on so many occasions but I believe you are right, give Ameobi a chance and Chopra. They need a run in the team. - Decky

RE: “Souness: Time To Drop Shearer”

As much as it sadness me to say this I have to agree. I would love to see young Chops and Owen have a go at it, with Owen attracting all the attention it will give young Chops the chance to shine and I am sure he will shine given the chance. - Yaphet Tilahun

RE: “Souness: Time To Drop Shearer”

I do, sadly sort of agree with you. Shearer is my favourite player ever and hearing he was carrying on last season made me so happy I nearly shed a tear. We do need him in our team to make up the numbers and his influence, although not physically anymore, he is vital for our team and my god we’ll miss him when he goes.

In some ways, however painful as it is and it really hurts me to say this, Shearer is no more than a statue, a shadow in the midday sun of himself, he still has some, minimal impact but he adds next to nothing to our team and we’d do better with letting a young player like Chopra, Ameobi or even Walton have a go at fitter, younger and faster Premiership players as Shearer isn’t up to it anymore.

Let him get the record then stick him away in the reserves and let him spend more time taking coaching courses! I’d love shearer as manager, with his passion and knowledge of the game and he knows more how the players work and what they’re like than Souness does as he plays with them not watching them.

Shearer is past it and using my head not my heart he is a bench warmer at best now, but he is still a massive legend in Newcastle. Football is a game where players that are past it get in the team only because of there statue e.g. Roy Keane and Bergkamp, but even these contribute more than Shearer.

Shearer is past it now because of his style of play, Sheringham can play for a season or two more because he doesn’t play an energy sapping game like Shearer does. Bring in Ashton or Kuyt for a new target man. - Edd

RE: “A Challenge To Shola Ameobi”

I could have written the above article, most of us season ticket holders and some of us have to travel 700 miles in a day on home games, would like to see Shola delivering on a regular basis, come on Shola justify our belief on you. - Vassilis Koukoulis

RE: “A Challenge To Shola Ameobi”

I really like this guy, the potential is there, but not on a regular basis. I hate when people are jumping on, jumping off Shola’s bandwagon, or anyone’s for that matter. (Freddy’s, Souness’, Boumsong’s, etc.) I really like Ameobi as a player, and have said it all long… yes I do get frustrated with him, but you get frustrated with every player, including god, Shearer.

At this current time, the pace of the Premier League has got past Shearer, so I would be playing Ameobi in front of Shearer. Luque in front of Ameobi. But I’m hoping no one is jumping on and off, say if he plays a bad game this week (against West Brom) .

People will be saying, sell him to Southampton etc etc, but in my opinion, Shola is a very good squad player, looking at our list, we are thin of squad players, besides the likes of Faye and Elliot, who have been getting regular gigs of late, due to injuries.

I do wish Ameobi all the best, and hope he can keep up this form, the sliding, tackling, running and finishing display he showed against Sunderland, was the best striker’s performance for a Newcastle player, I’ve seen for quite some time. - Shane Knapp

RE: “A Challenge To Shola Ameobi”

I couldn’t agree with more with everything you just said. Shola has been awful for the best part of 18 months but he does have talent without a doubt. And he seems to have character. After his terrible performance against Wigan he started the game against Sunderland terribly, the real low point being when he left the ball behind on a forward run. He was taking some serious stick from the crowd at this point. However instead of letting his head drop he gave a performance to be proud of and lets hope he keeps it up in the future. Well done Shola. - Aaron Gales

RE: “Souness: Time To Drop Shearer”

You are quite clearly insane! Enough said. - Craig

RE: “Souness: Time To Drop Shearer”

While your article does make alot of sense and Shearer has produced nothing this season, with the exception of a few goals in the InterToto and one at Ewood Park. I still firmly believe that we are still in for a final Shearer flourish. And I must say that I read alot of articles stating more or lese what you just said, however that was back in 1998. Since then I think Shearer has gave us almost 10 amazing years. - Yehia El-Katib

RE: “Souness: Time To Drop Shearer”

I asked my brother when he came back from the UK and started watching the Premiership that I wanted a team to follow. He suggested Newcastle. So I said yeah why not. The pain and joy that simple decision has cost me over the years… ha ha.

The reason I started watching football, indeed Newcastle, is Shearer. But the reason I watched last week was Emre who is a brilliant buy. Even with Nobby and the much awaited reunion taking place Shearer was in no danger of scoring so take him off, get his hernia fixed, use Owen and Ameobi/Chopra for a while. Chops is a quick speedy fella and will link up nicely with the boys. We are not a one man club and Shearer is a weak link if he’s carrying an injury. - Charlie.

RE: “Souness: Time To Drop Shearer”

I’ve totally got to disagree with you there. Yeah sure he isn’t as mobile as he was 5 years ago, but he still wins nearly everything in the air, he’s had a slow start so far but Newcastle have as a whole. I think now that players are starting to come back it’s going to be of great benefit to Newcastle and Alan especially with players like Nobby back, because they play well together.

Parker and Emre both look as if they want the ball all of the time, and the former reminds me alot like Gary Speed - although looks better technically. If we drop Boumsong at the back we will probably half the goals we concede as well.

Shearer will still get at least 10 in the Premiership. When Owen plays, the opposition will play the defensive line alot deeper because of his pace - just like they did when Bellamy played. Alan Shearer was absolutely top class against Man City a few weeks back and I’m sure he’s going to pull more performances off like that throughout the season. Do not fret. - Dave Poole

RE: “Souness: Time To Drop Shearer”

This was far too harsh an article on a great player. He’s not useless, he’s not a bad player, he’s injured, pure and simple. I would like to see Owen or Emre play when they are injured with a hernia - they wouldn’t be able to. Get off his back, and leave the guy in peace. Get behind the team and Captain, not slag them off. - Lydia

RE: “Souness: Time To Drop Shearer”

Oh, sweet music!! What you’ve said - very tactfully - is well overdue. Dropping Shearer would be the best thing for the team/club - and don’t let him near team selection in any form for a few years either! Shola is the under-performing will o’the wisp that he is because he hasn’t been given a chance to play his own game (Euro ties excluded). If anyone would complement Michael Owen’s selfish style, it’s a confident and regular Ameobi. Keeping the once-great Shearer in the team only risks further holding back - and losing - both Ameobi and Chopra. The bullet needs to be bit, now. - Fireman

RE: “Souness: Time To Drop Shearer”

Definitely we’ve got to stop Shearer bullying and dictating everything to the detriment of the team. Dyer, Luque, Ameobi are all quick, skilful and mobile. We don’t need to keep pumping long balls to a striker from a previous era. - Toon Fan

RE: “Blue Murder: Are Chelsea Killing Football?”

Jeez coming from a Toon fan. I forgot that you play such great football recently. Being a neutral and supporting my woeful Leicester team, I don’t think Chelsea are killing the game, I don’t think they play boring football and I think a lot of people are jealous. Italian & Spanish Giants have spent millions and millions before Chelsea started.

Madrid paid 38 million for Zidane etc etc… So stop crying over spilt milk. Fact is Mourinho is a very good coach he took Porto to titles and Euro success with no money. Now he has money he can buy who he wants but its not like he’s bought genuine world class players like Zidane, Ronaldinho, Henry etc… he’s bought wisely with youth and formation in mind. Great coach, good team. Mourinho for Leicester… I wish! - Leicester Fan

RE: “The Derby: Our Individual Rivalry”

I am a die hard Newcastle supporter, who can’t afford a season ticket. I sit in my bedroom every Sat, 3pm, and listen to BBC Radio Newcastle. Here, usually alone, I go through one of the best and worst experiences anybody can go through in 90 minutes, there is no rollercoster like it anyway, not even at Alton Towers.

I would never change my black and white, and I’m proud to be a Geordie! Following Newcastle every game, minute by minute, I don’t know how I haven’t got a heart condition - and I’m only 23!

All teams have their ups and downs, however, there are definitely more downs than ups! Here is where Newcastle and Sunderland’s similarities begin. Ok, Sunderland tend to win the Championship every now and again, being promoted to play against the big boys… a big high!

However, they then usually go onto experience the lowest of all lows… being relegated… AGAIN! Big ups and very big downs!! (will they be having a relegation parade?!)

The general derby expectations are as follows: we expect to beat Sunderland, and Sunderland expect to be beaten! This is why Sunderland fans hang onto a win like it’s their last! They treasure it more… remember the months of ‘2-1, we beat the scum 2-1′?

When Newcastle are victorious, we love it, but we don’t hold onto it… we have bigger fish to fry! In past years, beating Sunderland would take us closer to Europe, or even the title! For Sunderland, beating Newcastle took them from 20th to 19th- not that much to celebrate!

However, being brought up in Hebburn (45% Newcastle 45% Sunderland, and a few Man Utd ‘fans’) the derby brought bragging rights, and any footballing arguments would live on ‘who won the last game’. You had no come back!

I have good friends who are Sunderland, and better friends who are Newcastle! No doubt we will fall out on Sunday, and probably for the week to follow! I look forward to a great game, and hopefully, I will have the bragging rights to win any argument coming my way until near the end of the season.

Also, can you imagine, going to the Stadium of Light, beating them, and effectively putting them back into the Coca Cola… only at Alton Towers eh!! Howay the Lads!! - Carl Haynes

RE: “The Derby: Our Individual Rivalry”

You have the courage to put your neck on the line in the Toon/Mackem battle. I agree with you. How many people out there work with a friend that supports the other team? Myself, I’m Toon all the way but have worked in Sunderland for a while and have many friends there.

This derby is what we have been waiting for. A lot of people laughed when Sunderland got relegated but I bet they secretly wished they stayed up just for the next derby and the rush of the match, the pre match banter with their work colleagues (months in advance!) and the worry of ‘What If?’. I think the black and white have a secret respect for the red and white and hopefully visa versa. But on Sunday… - Justin Barkby
RE: “The Derby: Our Individual Rivalry”

Well my dad’s from Seaham and was always a Mackem but my Grandad (mums side) was a diehard Toon fan. My first experience of football was during Supermac’s era and from the first trip to St. James’ I was Black and White through and through. My brother 3 years younger succumbed to the dark side and so followed 30 years of antagonism though never to the extent of violence. (Not far from it at times though)

Older and wiser I always look out for the Mackems score and if we have won I don’t really have a problem if they do too. If we lost however I get a sense of morbid satisfaction if they lost as well. Weird but it really doesn’t seem quite so bad.

They are a strange lot for sure but now I’m in Nottingham and away from the daily rivalry so long as we do better than they do I’m quite happy to see them doing well. My wife is 2 weeks overdue our first child (a boy - whoop!) and looks like the little bugger has made his first mistake in arriving late.

Hospital 8.00am Sunday morning for induction! No Premier Plus, no phones working… arrrghhhh I’m hating it already. Still - hopefully I can tell him he was born the day we spanked the Mackems. I look forward to reading everyone else’s thoughts on your article and keep up the good work. - Scott Wilkinson

(Ed: Hope all went well with the bairn, Scott.)

RE: “The Derby: Our Individual Rivalry”

With the Trafalgar celebrations triggering a wave of introverted hand wringing about the British/French rivalry, it seems apt to point out that the most intense and fearsome rivalries are between people of the same ilk. Freud calls it “the narcissism of minor differences” where people will accept huge differences as irrelevant but interesting, even quaint.

Yet the more similar people find themselves are the more they strive to draw lines between them, and then find ways to prove they are better than them. We could talk at length about hunter gatherer peoples competing for resources, but let’s concentrate on what it means.

In our civilized society competition is good. All the biggest teams have big local rivalries and grow stronger by it. It focuses the mind - Manchester, Liverpool, North London, Glasgow, Milan, Istanbul: all have big rivalries that keep the fans interested, returning, THINKING about their team. Apathy is the enemy of greatness, and a derby is a wonderful way to combat it. - Ben Cockburn

RE: “Ref watch: Rob Styles’ History Of Refereeing Toon Matches”

Nice read, thanks for that. Ref’s get too much blame in my opinion as they are only following the rules of the geriatric buffers who set them in the first place. - Toon Fan

RE: “Sympathy For The Devil”

A well thought out review as the club stands today. Souness is no tactician and this can be seen week in week out, his change round and repositioning of players during a match is poor. Despite the many injuries which the club has to carry, we need a top class manager very soon to guide the team, as you are so rightly proposing. - Alfred Reynaud

RE: “At Ease Soldiers & Listen Up…”

A cracker, lets hope its taken on board, I travel back on Friday, 3,500 miles but who would miss the chance to see those from the dark side put in their place. - George

RE: “Sympathy For The Devil”

Here, here! Best, most realistic & thought out article I’ve read four yonks well done for not following the sheep down ‘Doom Monger Alley’. Keep it up & KEEP THE FAITH!. TOON, TOON! - Punk Skunk

RE: “Sympathy For The Devil”

What a load… Are you Souness’ Publicist? Which team would you prefer the one that finished fifth, attacked teams and scored goals, or the one that finished 14th, goes to Wigan and looks for a 0-0 draw, erm say the first one. Souness has destroyed morale at the club rather than build it (ask the players!), he has no clue tactically, he cannot spot a player only buying established players which is expensive and cannot be done for ever.

He has spent more than any manager in our history and produced a team which is just above relegation. He is a failed manager, and out of his depth here. Plus he has absolutely nothing in the community or on radio to endear himself to fans who didn’t want him in the first place. A disastrous appointment which has taken us back 6 years. - Dave Balmer

RE: “Sympathy For The Devil”

I more or less completely agree with this article. Although I think Ambrose has the potential to create chances and do a consistent job, therefore we should have kept him. But yeah, give Souey a bit more time and if nothing is being produced by February go for Martin O’Neill or Otmar Hitzfeld.

Also under Souness N’zogbia is flourishing much like a young Damien Duff at Blackburn. Charles N’zogbia is the real deal. I wouldn’t mind too much if Luque played just behind Owen with Zoggy on left. Emre and Parker in middle and Nobby on right. Maybe Dyer on or centre if he starts producing the performances that caused Sir Bobby to describe Kieron as having 4 lungs and 2 hearts!! - John-Boy
RE: “Sympathy For The Devil”

Stephen you are so spot on it’s scary. Sadly Shepherd could front up as chairman of the BNP. Hence we will never have the likes of Hitzfeld or Le Guen. We’ll just get average Geordies or similar, by virtue of birthright. While our beloved club is in the grip of an insidious, self interested ”untouchable” like Shearer (who dictates dark age Wimbledon style football), our chairman is a xenophobe and Shearer apologist and our manager a tactical pygmy, what chance do we have? At least I have the comfort that others are now starting to see the bigger picture, if albeit unable to do a damn thing about it. Cheers. - Nick Dryden

RE: “Sympathy For The Devil”

Like the article about supporting the team better and ensuring a welcome for the unwashed from down the road. A very good read and points of view that I totally agree with. - Colin Rogerson

RE: “Sympathy For The Devil”

A well written article with some interesting points. I don’t think that Kluivert was ever in line to partner Al, more to replace him: Shearer was, at that time, contemplating his life as a pundit/manager. And Bernard for Babayaro is still, for me, the world’s worst swap. I read the most recent book by SBR and placed enormous significance on the passage about what Jenas said post-sacking. I believe that JJ was at the club for SBR and once he had gone, JJ lost heart.

To reinforce this point, I have yet to hear world-class players publicly exhorting their colleagues to play for Souness, yet many examples are there for SBR. Also, to call Dyer a door opener is stretching credibility somewhat. He’d probably break his hand trying. To paraphrase Winnie: never, on a field where football is played, has so much been owed to so many by one man. £80Kpw is a joke and a pretty sick one at that.

Look at his peers from his England U21 days (Gerrard & Lampard) and tell me that he has fulfilled his potential. Not bleeding likely. I cannot disagree with the signings of Parker or Owen and although we have seen too little of Luque and Emre to be certain, I have confidence.

One English manager you failed to mention was Curbishley. I could see him passing the ‘big club’ test and I think he’d do well for us. I would still prefer Otmar Hitzfeld though. Good comment about the fat one, although it’s hard to see him leaving, It requires a 75% vote to get rid of the standing chairman and he has over 25% of the shares. - John Gilbert

RE: “At Ease Soldiers & Listen Up…”

Great piece, thought it was rather inspiring, especially the part “smarten up soldier fall into formation” bet you were proud of that. Even though I am a few miles away from being able to hop on a bus for the game I’ll definitely be glued to my television hoping its not a repeat of the 1st half at Wigan. - Chancy Cooke (Cape Town South Africa)

RE: “At Ease Soldiers & Listen Up…”

This article is one of the best I have read of late. After reading this if anyone who supports our beloved club is not gnawing at the bit for 1.30pm on Sunday, to lift our lads, then they need a red & white shirt for Christmas. I will be there in the heavens on Sunday after queuing for 6 hours on Thursday morning for a ticket, it is my first Derby match, and I am hoping that the atmosphere I grew up to know as ELECTRIC rears it’s head at St. James’ once again. Come on the lads! - Dave

RE: “Entertaining The Idea Of Football Graeme”

This is one of the best articles I have ever read. Shearer is and has been killing us for a long time. We always look far better when he’s not playing. Take out the hoofed hopeful rubbish to an aging target man endlessly backing into people and with Owen and Luque up top, we really could be a fluid and fluent attacking force. Shearer’s days are long gone and we simply have to take off our black and white spectacles and admit this. If Shearer wasn’t a Geordie, he wouldn’t still be damaging us on ridiculous wages and clinging unhealthily close to the chairman’s coat tails. - Nick Dryden

RE: “Entertaining The Idea Of Football Graeme”

I always remember that horrible players agent Eric what’s his face, always smoking big cigar, his argument was that football is entertainment, and should be reflected in players salaries. He would argue that people pay a fortune to go and listen to the likes of Frank Sinartra, so why not football, because of the entertainment link. My argument against this was, and still is, whether it be Sinartra or anyone else, I for certain would know what I’d be getting, as apposed to football your not always guaranteed to be entertained, and in Newcastle’s current state almost never, the game from a managers, chairman’s, directors point of view must always be results first, entertainment second…. even if its for their own protection. - Thai Toon

RE: “Entertaining The Idea Of Football Graeme”

Well said, a balanced view! Rather than the usual miserable, moaning, pessimistic shite I hear generally from fellow Mags! Howay the lads! - Punk Skunk

RE: “Dire Straits - Money For Nothing”

That’s quite possibly the best thing I’ve read all week on this debate. I agree entirely with your sentiments. - Toon Fan

RE: “Blue Murder: Are Chelsea Killing Football?”

What a load of crap, talk about being jealous from a team who buy Chelsea cast offs you must enjoy paying to watch your team lose week in week out. - Dave (Chelsea fan)

RE: “Dire Straits - Money For Nothing”

Top scorers this season, most shots at goal, the team with the lowest percentage of long ball passes. Go on have a guess. Yep Chelsea. Not exactly a boring long ball team is it, because if they are then what are the other 19 teams, but then do you watch Chelsea or do you take your lead from the media? - Jim (Chelsea fan)

RE: “Blue Murder: Are Chelsea Killing Football?”

Your article begins to lose its credence when one considers one important aspect: Chelsea is a team in development. The manager of CFC has had just one year - yes, one solitary year - to build his team in the image he requires. Even the most shallow of observers would normally understand that after one year at a new club, in a new league, a manager would be only a slight distance into his team development.

Even with unlimited funds available, the manager cannot expect to have had all the best players in the world at his availability in just one year. If Ronaldinho had been available, do you think he would not have been approached by Chelsea? With his arrival at Chelsea (for example) do you still think Geremi would be Chelsea’s best passer?

The great thing for Chelsea fans is that if such a player as Ronaldinho was available, Chelsea could afford him. And despite your ludicrous assertions against Mourinho, the manager would definitely welcome him warmly. Mourinho’s “style” would suddenly be seen as x-percent more attractive, simply by having Ronaldinho in the side.

Yet, without a Ronaldinho or a Maradonna or a George Best available to him, Mourinho in his one solitary year as a manager in the Premier League, has chosen players from those who have been available and has begun to fashion his side. Yes, BEGUN. And the result has been the smashing of almost every Premiership record, the winning of Premiership title, the League Cup and a Champions League Semi-Final.

In the process, NOT ONE CURRENT MANAGER OF ANY TEAM IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE HAS EVER BEATEN MOURINHO IN A PREMIER LEAGUE GAME. Never. Not once. Hard to believe isn’t it? Can you name any single current PL manager who has EVER beaten Mourinho in any single PL game?

What’s the matter? Are you tongue-tied? Yet you have the nerve to suggest that this Premiership novice, after a mere one year, should not receive his due plaudits, but rather, should be criticised for not providing more entertainment for fans of other clubs up and down the country.

Well, I suggest you contact your own managers and plead with them to provide you with the entertainment you seek. Most of them will have had a lot longer than one year to provide their own fans with football they can enjoy watching. If they’ve failed to do so, don’t blame Jose Mourinho.

Given a reasonable amount of time, Chelsea will be boasting the best players and best quality of football this country has ever seen. It will be the kind of fare that supporters of other clubs can only dream of…. and be jealous of… and seek to denigrate, as you have done with your FEEBLE article. - G.Wright (Chelsea fan)

RE: “Blue Murder: Are Chelsea Killing Football?”

Top scorers in the league, two per game to none given away, how does that compare with the amazing Arsenal at the minute… I’ll tell ya - shadows them out of the picture that’s where. Champions, and we will be for a long time to come. - Nick (Chelsea fan)

RE: “Time Newcastle United & The City Honoured The Great Hughie Gallacher”

An excellent little article which echoes sentiments that I am sure any die-hard Newcastle fan will concur with. Whilst it is true United had the likes of Appleyard, Shepherd, Peddie and Harris, etc. Wee Hughie was indeed the start of something very special at Newcastle. Of course we have his goals, but you cannot forget the mans leadership abilities and his unreserved passion and devotion to his adopted Tyneside.

Of course we also have his arrogance and swagger, but that all adds up to making Hughie the personality that he was. I couldn’t agree more with the author when s/he intimates that Freddie Shepherd, and Newcastle United, are glad to feed off the name of Hughie Gallacher (and have done so for 80 years) but because he had the audacity to speak out against the club at one stage they will not honour him in a manner to which he deserves. Any campaign to get Hughie recognised formally will receive my 100% support. Well done to Howaythetoon for bringing this matter to the fore. - Ken Scott

RE: “Steve Bennett’s History Of Refereeing Toon Matches”

Are there a few games missing from this list?? Notably the Dyer v Bowyer game, which despite the boxers problems He also had refereed the Fulham game after where he apologised during the game to Stephen Carr for a penalty given in the Villa game and failed to spot a blatant foul on Shearer before they went on to score 4. I also disagree with the fact Mr Bennett didn’t do anything wrong in the his first game in charge against us, away at Birmingham in the Carling Cup where we lost 2-1. His namesake and Brum keeper Ian Bennett was let off with a yellow card after fouling Shearer outside the box when he was through on goal. Mr “Didnt See it” has been far worse than mentioned in the report above. - Andy Joy

RE: “Kieron Dire?”

I have two concerns regarding Dyer and amazingly you didn’t even mention one word on the subjects: firstly he is injury prone (I thought it was ironic that after his fight with Bowyer it turned out he was injured for the full period of his ban!), and secondly should we have extended his contract on what are pretty high wages? - Toon Fan

RE: “Football, Boring? No Way!”

Good sentiments, but a touch illiterate. - Jon

RE: “Negative Tactics To Blame For Attendance Slump, Not Ticket Prices!”

The culprits are UEFA and FIFA by constantly buggering about with interpretations of the offside law and tackling etc they have achieved the opposite and made the game even more defensive. By making it harder to catch teams offside and tackle the only answer to protect your goal is to clog up midfield and stick more men behind the ball. - Glenn

RE: “Match Analysis: Past, Present & Future”

Good article, and for the most part realistic. I would take issue with you on your assessment of Taylor. He was, in my view correctly, sent off as his second yellow card could easily have come two or three ill judged fouls earlier. The problem is that he commits too many fouls like this and will be sent off again unless he smartens his act up very quickly.

His positional sense is poor, especially defending set pieces, and the world seems to have overlooked that it was his appalling error that led to fulham scoring against a couple of weeks ago. Don’t get me wrong, I think he has some potential, but at the moment he is a below average Premiership defender. Just because he is a home grown talent does not mark him out for favourable treatment. I dread to think what would have been written had Taylor’s last two performances been put in by Titus Bramble who is a far, far better all round player than Taylor at the present time.

Bramble, however, has to contend with two factors that Taylor doesn’t, as far as Newcastle supporters at large are concerned; firstly he is not from the region, and secondly, without putting too fine a point on it, he’s black. If Titus was a white lad from Whitley Bay, he would not have been made the scapegoat for so many of the teams failings, in my opinion, which is a pretty sorry state of affairs. Taylor, however, is afforded the privilege of exempt status when it comes to criticism. Only my own views and no criticism of anybody in particular. - Alex Wright (Gosforth)

(Ed: It’s preposterous to suggest Bramble gets stick because he is black… ridiculous!)

RE: “Michael Owen’s Move - The Truth”

Love it, love it a lot. Howay the lads!!! - Jacob

Dear N.O

Well I was amazed at the poor standard the Newcastle team set in our performance against Blackburn, Boy if we’d played like that against Chelsea or Liverpool the scoreline would’ve been in double figures instead of three nil to us. The ref was a shocker some very poor calls and appeared to have preconceived ideas about Alan Shearer’s style of play when it came to jumping for a ball. Taylor was unfortunate to be booked and I think there should be an appeal on the basis that there was minimal contact - there were worse tackles which went unpunished and the fact Bellamy actually made a meal of it. - Merv

RE: “Pleasantly Surprised”

Good article - enjoyed reading it. Twice in fact. I do however, get more than a little ticked off with the continual bombardment of the likes of Shepherd and Souness. We do have short memories. Give Souness the chance that decency would dictate he should have. Understand that we have injury issues. Give him a bit of breathing room. As for Freddy - he is a fan, but he is also there to make money. 16 million for Owen would suggest that he expects to recover it by the end of Owens contract. He has to be working balls out to get us the talent and people should give him credit for that (as stated in the article) One point of interest. 16 million for Owen and was it 200 grand for N’Zogbia? Plus what kind of money do you have to pay to put together decent training and medical staff? For the 3rd week of the season we must have the worst injury record in the premiership. Surely someone somewhere is screwing up when it comes to either training or physio? - Rob Brown

Dear N.O

The Keegan Factor: I am approaching 30 years of actively watching Newcastle Utd and it is with that perspective that allows me to pass some comments on the current setup at St James’s. Keegan is missing. I realise this needs some clarification, so bear with me a while. In the 91/92 season of the then second division, Newcastle were in freefall despite a complete transformation behind the scenes. New money had taken over the reins of an old and well established club…

Back in the season 1991-92, the former Spurs and Argentinean World Cup winner Ossie Ardiles was finding it hard to come to terms with the pressure of rebuilding an ailing Newcastle United having taken over from Jim Smith as boss. They had Newcastle slumped to bottom of the Second Division table for only the fourth time in their history.

Ardiles had to do something special to halt a slide that was sending Newcastle United into Division Three in what was their official Centenary Year. At the same time, actions off the football field were creating headlines with Sir John Hall’s Magpie Group making a sustained bid to control the club.

Sir John Hall, the Tyneside entrepreneur and property developer, eventually gained part control of the Magpies which resulted in a boardroom restructuring in November 1991. However, at the very first meeting of the new management, United fans witnessed a shock coup. It was a move that came about because of the horrendous economic plight of the club.

Sir John noted, “We are haemorrhaging money at the rate of between £600,000 and £700,000 a year in interest charges. The financial position is such that we have reached a point where I couldn’t sit on the sidelines any longer”.

United’s worsening position needed drastic action, and very quickly. Newcastle needed Sir John’s financial muscle and business acumen. He took on the biggest challenge of his life, to transform United into the one of football’s super-clubs with his enterprise and drive. In the coming months the Cameron Hall empire would overhaul the club from top to bottom. He was one step away from a complete take-over and rebirth of the Magpies.

For the next few months a power struggle developed as the old regime battled to counter Sir John’s dynamism. Eventually the Magpie Group succeeded, and Newcastle United never looked back. In the dressing-room Ardiles had little to offer in attempting to reverse his side’s flagging fortunes. The board recognised they had to make a change and rapidly to have any chance of saving the club from relegation. Following a low point in an away fixture against Oxford during February 1992, a game in which the black’n'whites lost 5-2, Ardiles was sacked and immediately replaced by Kevin Keegan - out of football since leaving the Magpies back in 1984.

When Keegan took over at St James Park it was a sensational appointment which captured the whole nation’s imagination. Installed as a consultant-manager until the end of the season, he had one job - to save the club from relegation. Failure would almost certainly result in the club going under. That was unthinkable, but a real possibility.

The former England skipper inspired his players and by the time of the do-or-die confrontation took place at Filbert Street, Leicester at the end of the season, United had been on a roller-coaster of emotions as they fought against the drop. Keegan used all his motivating skills to gee up his team for the final contest against promotion chasing Leicester.

He noted, “We need a result, but we’ll get it, survive and take-off”. And Newcastle did exactly what the manager predicted. In a white-hot atmosphere Gavin Peacock gave United a first-half lead, but Leicester rallied and grabbed a late equaliser to the agony of the massed United support. However Peacock was always a menace and Newcastle immediately hit-back in the dying minutes as United’s star-man forced defender Steve Walsh into an injury time own-goal to give the Magpies a deserved 2-1 victory. Three points which guaranteed Second Division football and with it, the Magpies’ future. United’s triumph in adversity was the turning point in Newcastle’s fortunes.

The above, in quotation marks, comes from the official website. © Paul Joannou, Club Historian to Newcastle United FC.

But allow me to elaborate, what Newcastle Utd had at that time was a man of vision, Sir John Hall, himself a natural leader and winner, was holding the reins of a horse who was determined to win, a thoroughbred, with a pedigree of winning second to none. Hall directed and Keegan delivered.

Compare that to todays scenario. Shepherd, a man with decent business acumen born from a scrapyard mentality allied with a manager who achieved similar results, as a player, to Keegan. Well, not quite. The difference? Shepherd is similar to the guard dog of any scrapyard, efficient in his job, even excelling at it at times, but has no vision, no creativity.

He was taught to do one job and can’t shift his function this late in life. Old dogs, new tricks. The players? Keegan, an enthusiastic character who was inventive and creative with a never say ‘lost’ attitude. He rescued so many games as a player and had a similar record with Newcastle as manager. Souness on the other hand was the typical dour Scot who never gave much away. Like a current nemesis, Roy Keane, who incidentally has done much in our favour by exhibiting an inability to control his emotions.

Souness may be good at identifying weak points within a team, he may be good at identifying the targets needed to replace them, but from what I can discern, he will never be good at motivating them to play. Similar to Dalglish it seems, who now spends his days playing golf. So let us return to the title of the message: The Keegan Factor.

Was he a good manager? Probably not, long-term suggests his tactical awareness was apparently not up to scratch. Though the same can be undoubtedly said of Souness that’s not an argument. For to be fair to Keegan he never had the opportunity presented to him again as was manifested by Sir John Hall.

When he left Newcastle, on a point of principal which I personally applaud, he ended up at Fulham under a despot who wished merely to utilise him. Keegan could always be accused of naivety, but Christ would have called it innocence. He did though, as pointed out above, employ the current manager of Fulham to the post underneath him.

Keegan has always had the ability to recognise talent. He was also instrumental in Stuart Pearce taking over at City, and Pearce was the strongest heart I ever saw play in black’n'white, but I get ahead of myself.. Then came the England job. Perfect appointment again. Just the wrong politics behind it. Condense the oligarchy of English football into St James’s and you have almost a perfect parallel.

These people don’t actually want to succeed, they don’t have the vision or enthusiasm to succeed. They just want to maintain their control, whatever happens. You can see the same situation developing in the governing bodies of football. FIFA is beginning to make insane decisions. Corruption, whether it be economic or purely of thought will have it’s moment; it is always inevitable, and messy.

Then came City, the Manchester variation, where, it seemed he merely vegetated. I really am not qualified to speculate on what happened at City, and perhaps that is the point of this article. For like his position at Fulham, I think he identified the right man for the job and put the gears in motion, he oiled the wheels. Keegan could never be a politician, and for that he has my eternal admiration.

What Keegan could do was identify shortcomings and find the solutions. That is a skill in itself, albeit a undervalued one. It also comes with the prerequisite that those holding the reins have the belief and desire that the ‘horse’ can make a difference. Unfortunately I see an extremely bleak future for Newcastle under the current ‘coachman’ and ‘horse’.

Neither has it within them to provide a solution, even in tandem. The xenophobic attitude of Shepherd can perhaps be taken back to Ardilles, and ignoring Dalglish… a Scot, can then be firmly laid at the door of Gullit. Who is, apparently so traumatised by his time at Newcastle that he never misses an opportunity to verbally denigrate Shearer. (There may be something to that, I don’t know.)

I do know Newcastle needs a new broom that sweeps clean, just as it happened when Sir John Hall first took the reins of a ‘coach & horses’ plummeting into oblivion. To summarise, Keegan was no tactician but he was a motivator. Which is born of natural leadership that is inherent within the person, it cannot be taught.

Sir John Hall was a man of vision and direction who wanted to move the club forward. He found a man of similar passion whose ability was to motivate others. In short… The end is nigh: Shepherd & Souness Inc. - Ewan

(Ed: Fantastic e-mail Ewan, lad. Good to hear from you and do keep in touch.)

RE: “Time Newcastle United & The City Honoured The Great Hughie Gallacher”

Great article that, the program showed us Toon fans that are too young to have ever seen Hughie just what we missed, great player & and a great individual by all accounts. - Shaun Grey

RE: “Time Newcastle United & The City Honoured The Great Hughie Gallacher”

Excellent article and I agree with every word. Hughie Gallacher was without doubt a real Newcastle great and I cannot understand why his contribution to Newcastle Utd has not been acknowledged fully up to now. Why not build a statue similar in size to the one of Jackie Milburn and place them side by side? Alternatively why not name the East Stand at St. James’ after the great man? One way or another his contribution should be recognised in a long term way at St. James’ Park. - Paul

RE: “Chris Coleman - A Man Feeling The Pinch”

Excellent article on Fulham - one of the best I’ve seen recently - as you would imagine we get little press and what we get is often coloured by media dislike of our chairman. I guess my view on Coleman is that he was very lucky to get a Premiership club (albeit a small one) to manage but he is making his mistakes in the public view unlike the other Premiership managers who have managed in lower leagues first. He inherited a strong team missing motivation which he provided which lead to initial “relative” success now as you say he is an inexperienced manager with no money in a rich league - its a tough ask. His major flaw is tactics but as you see from Erikisson it does not always come with experience! - Mcgregor (Fulham fan)

RE: “Chris Coleman - A Man Feeling The Pinch”

Well, it could be interesting if they both get the chop, perhaps a straight swap could be on the cards. I know which club would be happiest, if that were to occur. - Hunter (Fulham fan)

RE: “Professor Tom Cannon Talks Crap - FACT!”

Not sure why this bloke’s comments have angered you so much. Your counter-arguments are quite convincing, but I think he also has some valid points. - Beardo

RE: “Michael Owen’s Move - The Truth”

One more thing - Liverpool owed Michael Owen nothing - he chose to leave Liverpool to win things - He went to Real and was on the bench most of the time and won nothing. Benitez had every right to be hesitant on bringing him back - if he can be disloyal so easily once before then why give the little bastard another chance? I’m glad we kept Cisse instead of bringing Owen back - He obviously feels he would “win” more at Newcastle so have fun. - Michelle (Liverpool fan)

RE: “Michael Owen’s Move - The Truth”

If Newcastle don’t mind a player joining them on second hand basis then who cares hey? Don’t try make Liverpool look bad by saying everything isn’t rosier on Merseyside - How would you know - do you have inside info on this? You have Owen Brilliant but remember Owen can’t be expected to be the one to get Newcastle out of shit - you need a new manager for starters. - Michelle (Liverpool fan)

RE: “Only One Winner In This Debate”

Yes Shearer is the one. Owen’s signing was great. I hope he can help Al get silverware in his last season. - Steve

(Ed: We all do.)

RE: “Only One Winner In This Debate”

Shearer didn’t decide to join us as soon as we came in for him, read his biography an get your facts straight. - Greg Wilford

(Ed: Who cares, he signed didn’t he?)

RE: “Only One Winner In This Debate”

A fantastic article. My family was forced to head south from the home-land in the late 1980’s so my parents could find work. I may have lost my Geordie accent (being only 10 when I moved) but I am still proud to call myself a Geordie, and ignore the (admittedly playful) taunts of the locals.

We are proud, and unlike any other area of england I feel. The coming home of Shearer as you rightly point out was a giant V-sign to all those who thought Newcastle was “some dump” in the north. A sign that the city was on its feet again. Proud again. I have friends in Sheffield who dismiss Newcastle as a city with nothing to offer, with no pleasantness to it. Yet those who go and visit always come back admitting how wrong they were, and how vibrant the place is. How amazing the city of Newcastle is.

Looking forward to their next visit and making plans for it. My return visits to Newcastle are always a wonderful experience and I try to come back (finance permitting) as often as I possibly can. Visiting where I grew up, pilgrimages to the home of our team, and a few beers round the big market and quay-side.

The signing of Owen was great and should herald a new area of success in Newcastle (although we’ve all heard that one before), but nothing stirs my soul quit like that day when Shearer came home. I can still clearly remember the “Shearer in newcastle move sensation” headline on teletext in the pre - Sky sports news days. The fans. The crowd. The Shearer signing wins! - Matthew Falmer

RE: “Michael Owen’s Move - The Truth”

This has been the best Owen article I have read. Very much enjoyed… thanks. - Daniel Johnson

RE: “Michael Owen’s Move - The Truth”

As a Liverpool fan, I was gutted at the way the Liverpool management dealt with the Owen saga. Disgraceful comes to mind. I think Benitez is too proud to realise that Morientes and Garcia will not cut it in the EPL, but instead of trying to offload them, he has offloaded the highest scorer last year, and tried to get rid of someone who really wants to play for Liverpool to fund the Owen move. What rot! Liverpool have done “fuck all” this transfer window. As for Newcastle, well done. You have really good buy, and good luck to you and Michael Owen. - Louis Sotiropoulos (Liverpool fan)

RE: “Michael Owen’s Move - The Truth”

Excellent and well scripted, although to a non-NUFC person it may (only may) seem a little bias. Still the sentiment is right, Newcastle 1 - 0 Liverpool. - Steve (Liverpool fan)

RE: “Michael Owen’s Move - The Truth”

In your heart of hearts all Toon fans know that Owen is not going to save you and you know if you have a shite season he will go. The reason Liverpool did not sign him was down to business, it did not make any sense to pay double on a player. - Ifty (Liverpool fan)

RE: “Michael Owen’s Move - The Truth”

Thank you for the informative article. Well done! - Greg Stone

RE: “Peace At Last As Warring Fractions Join Forces In United Front”

Exactly, there really is a sense of optimism, I expect us to fly up the league, and batter Fulham. - Toon Fan

RE: “Professor Tom Cannon Talks Crap - FACT!”

I don’t know how to take Sky’s coverage of the Owen transfer. After spending quite a few months dismissing the possibility they suddenly end up orchestrating the welcome party. Despite the obviously enthusiastic Jim White I got the impression that Sky did their best to demean the reasons for his arrival with snide comments being made amongst the stage managed hype. I watched Tom Cannon and laughed as the obviously bitter “professor” showed his financial acumen to be on a par with the average ten year old. It was good to read your article because everyone I know felt the same way about it and the fact the embittered idiot was speaking in a liverpool accent was not lost on anyone. - Mimo

RE: “Michael Owen’s Move - The Truth”

Best article I have read in a long time. Very interesting. Thank you. Still hasn’t sunk in yet! - Will Davidson

RE: “Michael Owen’s Move - The Truth”

I found the article very interesting and could quite well imagine a lot of truth in it. However much truth though, we got our man in the end. - Sandy Barber

RE: “Michael Owen’s Move - The Truth”

Soonds aboot reet. - John

RE: “Peace At Last As Warring Fractions Join Forces In United Front”

I have to agree totally with the author we may be second off bottom in the table and with not so much as a goal to our names but I’ve never been happier. no prouder to be a member of the Toon Army. There is nothing anyone has been able to say to get the smile off my face. We’ve have signed quality this summer. Parker, Emre, Luque Owen and Nobby are very high quality and would easily walk into most teams in the world. Nobody can say Shepherd is not good for this club the money he invests is second only to Chelsea. - Adam Dawson

RE: “Michael Owen’s Move - The Truth”

This article has to be the biggest load of rubbish I have ever read in all my life. Whoever wrote this utter nonsense needs to be hung, drawn and quartered. I’m not a Newcastle or Liverpool fan but one of my friends who happens to be a Geode pointed me in the direction of this tripe.

I am now dumber for having read this and my Newcastle supporting friend agrees with me. If you honestly think that Mr Owen is happy at the thought of playing the next 4 years with the Toon then god help you. I have nothing but respect for the people of Newcastle they are an advert for the Premiership with their devotion and support they have for their beloved “Toon”.

Half of what is written isn’t factually correct “Rick Parry even saying he would finance the deal himself if that’s what it took. He never had any intentions of doing that”. Rick Parry? Liverpool’s CEO? Surly you mean David Moores Liverpool’s chairman? Where my I ask was Rick Parry going to find 16 mil from? His piggy bank?

Do you really deep down in your heart think that Michael Owen would be a Newcastle player if it wasn’t a world cup year? The truth is Liverpool would not pay double the money for a player they sold only a year ago and quite rightly to. Michael Owen was desperate to go back to Merseyside and even on Tuesday morning made a phone call the Rick Parry to see if any progress had been made to which Rick Parry replied “No”. Michael Owen wants to play for England so bad he couldn’t take the risk of having to sit on the bench until Jan at Real.

He would of joined Liverpool, Chelsea, The gunners and Man U before Newcastle but you were the only team to make a firm offer. He had to weigh up in his mind “bench at Real or upfront for Newcastle?” and seeing it is a world cup year he couldn’t take that risk.

It is fantastic news for Newcastle that they have signed such a talent but Mr Owen wont want to waste his career like Shearer has done and win sweet fa (well not while he has been at Newcastle). He left Liverpool to win trophies and for all Liverpool’s failings in the transfer window the fact remains he would have a better chance there than Newcastle. Hey they have won 2 trophies (one being for keeps) since the last time Newcastle scored a league goal.

Newcastle have bought well this summer but with a 2nd rate manager like Souness it doesn’t mean nothing you still wont get near the top four and Michael Owen will want champions league football sooner or later. I’m sure I read somewhere that Souness had said that Michael Owen had a chat with Shearer about when he had to make his decision to either join Newcastle or Man U and just look how that has worked out.

Shearer has won nothing with the team he loves and has never moved on in search of silver Michael Owen doesn’t love Newcastle and if you don’t win something soon (and I don’t mean the Carling Cup) he more than likely never will. I don’t expect you too reply or publish this as I can imagine someone with and with an impartial view wont get be taken seriously. - Ian Young (Liverpool fan)

(Ed: You sure you’re not a Liverpool fan? And fuck off with your patronising comments. He signed for us, deal with it!)

RE: “Michael Owen’s Move - The Truth”

Great article, things had just started calming (no impressions please) down on the 606 Liverpool message board, but this has got them all bitter and twisted and full of hate for everyone again. Keep up the good work. - Peter Barham (Everton fan)

RE: “Peace At Last As Warring Fractions Join Forces In United Front”

This article totally blew my mind!! I absolutely loved it! Every Nufc fan in Norway is thrilled about the new signings and we can’t wait to see Newcastle United play. - Jonas (Norway)

RE: “Professor Tom Cannon Talks Crap - FACT!”

Point of Fact: Tom Cannon is a dyed-in-the wool EVERTONIAN. - (Unknown)

(Ed: Even worse!)

RE: “Michael Owen’s Move - The Truth”

Fantastic article. I am sick of hearing how gutted Michael is of being “forced” to join the Toon from all of the whinging, sour grapes scousers. That’s crap, it’s those bastads that are gutted, and we’ll see how gutted Michael feels when his name is being chanted on a Saturday afternoon in St. James after a score. About damn time we had something to cheer about, but to hear all of the negativity from various journalists/commentators, the Toon Army may be alone in its celebration…perfectly fine with me, we’ll have our own party. And hope there is a bucketload more celebration to come for us! - Liam

RE: “Peace At Last As Warring Fractions Join Forces In United Front”

A superb and well written tome - I agree with every sentiment and cannot wait to see the results of the sterling efforts by Shepherd, Shearer, Souness et all - they deserve credit, support and our very best wishes for the efforts and not least their ACHIEVEMENTS!! - Geordie

RE: “Michael Owen’s Move - The Truth”

You’re really sad. The high point of your season is that you’ve bought someone who made it quite clear you were his last resort. As for us Liverpool fans blaming souness for our team’s demise where exactly or you in the league at the moment? How many games have you won? How many games have you scored? What did you do last season while we were lifting the european cup. Will owen score you goals - YES. Will owen win you trophies - NO.

Will he see out his four year contract - Highly doubt it. Do you remember the same situation when you bought shearer - Could of gone to united but didn’t, you gave him an over the top welcome. Did he get you goals - Plenty. Did he win you trophies - Not a single one. The similarities are all there and the out comes will also be the same. ‘Are you watching Liverpool’? - Yes we are. We will watch you enjoy ‘St. Michaels’ goals but we will also watch you enjoy more mid table meritocracy.- Danny (Liverpool fan)

RE: “Professor Tom Cannon Talks Crap - FACT!”

All I can say is thank God! I was hoping somebody would point out what a complete twat this Cannon guy is. I mean, I am sick of all the losers throwing their sour grapes at the club over this deal on football websites and in the press, but at least they are not hiding the fact that they are emotional about the issue. They hate this deal wither because they are jealous, or they dislike NUFC or they dislike Owen. This guy, however, is the biggest tool imaginable, because he is trying to dress his sour grapes up as some kind of “analysis”.

Reading through his comments I noticed not only that he has the grammar of a five year old (”that kind of spending requires Newcastle have to be” - er.. remedial English classes for Cannon?) but he says nothing in his entire comment to actually back up his claims. Your response just makes it even more obvious how pitiful this “analyst” is that he can’t drum up a couple of figures for such grand pronouncements.

The thing that gets me though, is that there’s a big issue no-one seems to have noticed: Yes we insult each others football clubs in the name of pride/jealousy/hatred/banter and that is part of the game… BUT are we forgetting that NUFC is a publicly listed company?

As somebody who works in the city I see how share prices can be moved by rumour, gossip and speculation. For this reason it is illegal to disseminate dodgy rumours that will move a share price.. this is called market abuse. With this in mind, can somebody tell me what the effect is of a “respected analyst” coming out in the media to say that a company (not covered officially by any street analysts) has taken an excessive financial risk and drawing parallels with a recent, high-profile case of footballing (near)bankruptcy?

I’ll tell you - he is scare mongering. Not only is “Prof” Cannon a sad arse for dressing his bile up as serious commentary, but he is treading a fine line. By billing himself (or being billed) as an expert, and scare mongering about the financial status of the club who’s to say people won’t take him seriously and have second thoughts about the share price of NUFC? All in all I think his comments are as irresponsible as they are stupid. - Dougy

RE: “Michael Owen’s Move - The Truth”

An excellent piece. Once we put the £16m on the table he was ours unless Liverpool emptied the piggy bank. Fact is Benitez never wanted Owen back, and their loss is our gain. Think of Owen as costing us Woodgate and Bellamy, then £16m doesn’t seem so bad. I’d hate to be a Fulham fan though, St. James’ will be a tough place to visit on 13 September. I’ll be there though, just behind the goal in the Gallowgate. - Laurie Mills

RE: “Michael Owen’s Move - The Truth”

Quality article mate, I agree 100%. Gonna mail this to all the Scouse gits I know. - Chris Reid

RE: “Peace At Last As Warring Fractions Join Forces In United Front”

Fantastic piece - you’ve summed up the whole week perfectly - I’ve printed this off and I have it pined up in front of my desk so whenever anyone asks why I support the Toon - it’s there in Black & White: “We are a crazy club, we live in a crazy City and we are crazy people. We have a crazy Chairman and a crazy manager and our new No.10 must also be crazy to come and want to play for wor lot. Beats being mundane and lifeless.” - priceless! - Andy B

Dear N.O

Running along, scoring for fun, walking in an Owen wonderland! Get in! I am chuffed to pieces that we have signed Owen! I don’t want to sound like Fat Fred and GS have just bought my support for another season, but they have restored a hell of a lot of faith! God I’m excited - Owen at the Toon! Come on! - Michael Gibson

RE: “Newcastle - Football’s James Dean?”

I write this as I wipe a tear from my eye… good stuff mate. - Toon Fan

RE: “Newcastle - Football’s James Dean?”

Top rant. Enjoyed every bit of it except any praise of Mr Robert, only Shola has a parallel ability to waste the ball. But what really tickles me about Souness, despite the fact I can’t stand Robert as he was a lazy little tinker…. if Souness wants to play with a very advanced winger, Robert would have been far better at that, with less tracking back responsibility. But Laurent should not have kept (apparently) slagging off everything Newcastle united to the French press both under Bobby & the current boss. But as I said, I enjoyed the read. - Chris Laker

Thanks to everyone who wrote in. Keep them coming.