The month of December has once again been a topsy turvy time in Toon world. Following the Wigan defeat Newcastle have went 3 games unbeaten, giving us lot plenty to write about and you lot plenty to talk about. As ever, you’ve pounded our inbox and as promised, here are your views, published in full.

RE: “Referee Analysis: Phil Dowd West Ham 2-4 NUFC”

So wasn’t the hand ball worthy of another yellow for Ameobi? - Hammer Dave

RE: “Just An Illusion”

Brilliant, a Geordie Charles Dickens. There’s not really anything anyone could describe better. - Terry, Low Fell

RE: “Match Preview: West Ham United Vs NUFC”

Sorry but your fans are seriously over hyped and your team is pure shit, you have one thing about your team, the partnership of Shearer and Owen, you need to dump Souness now and get some decent players because if everyone is honest, we well and truly outplayed your lot. - Rich Bates

RE: “Just An Illusion”

Nice to see a brave article. Well written. Not trying to be too clever with the wording too As so many on here use big words to sound better. Its funny how people that slag off these players for no effort can`t come to terms with basic physics. Would they expect Lennox Lewis to move as freely as the hitman Hatton or Kahn? Titus is about 6ft 5 or something silly, I know he towers over me at 6ft and he is about 15 stone at least, I think. Yet they expect him to look as active as Owen. His dad, his brother Tes and him are naturally massive, I can tell you that he is a naturally big lad… it’s not pies!

The pace he can run at is from sheer hard work and effort and I know he loves NUFC with a passion. If only you could have seen his face in the players lounge when he scored against Mallorca in Europe a few years back. That’s why I defend him so aggressively. For someone his size to get back from match fitness is a real struggle compared, say to the more agile players, and I think he takes allot of unfair stick. Titus also has a heart of gold and I know how much it hurts him the way some fans treat him, it really does effect his game as I have mentioned so many times. He isn`t concerned with the money… he loves the game, he was probably happier on £6,000 a week at Ipswich where the fans treat the players like family. Anyway good article. - Rebellious (Marc)

RE: “Referee Analysis: Phil Dowd West Ham 2-4 NUFC”

What a totally biased report. What you failed to mention was Boumsong throwing himself theatrically, and comically, onto the ground as he had lost control of the ball and it ran out for a throw to West Ham. The linesman who was less than 1 yard away shook his head and awarded the throw to West Ham. Mr Dowd inexplicably over-ruled his linesman and awarded a free kick to Newcastle. From that free kick Fletcher fouled Ameobi and from the resulting free kick Newcastle went 2-1 up. How convenient you should fail to report that. All other bookings were rightly justified in my opinion. - West Ham Fan

RE: “Just An Illusion”

Cracking read mate. I agree with you about Ramage. He’s not the most gifted but he’s certainly committed to the cause. I also saw Chrisy Waddle in a Toon shirt and he looked lazy, yet I don’t think he was. Le Tissier was a lazy so and so but very talented. - Dave, Gateshead

RE: “Referee Analysis: Phil Dowd West Ham 2-4 NUFC”

I’m enjoying these articles, shows another side to the match and you learn about all the different characters of the ref. I never used to take any blind notice of them before unless they sent one of our players off or made a bad decision but I find myself watching them more now thanks to these articles. Keep up the good work. - Jimmy Simpson

RE: “Behind Enemy Lines: A West Ham United Fans’ View”

The Hammers fan was a little cocky, not surprised as they’ve done well, but Mickey Owen and Shearer done the bizz for the Toon. so they aren’t ‘happy Hammers’ anymore. Good read, thanks. - Melanie Foster

RE: “Just An Illusion”

Top-class article! Agreed with every word, only you forgot to mention two other players who give their all week in week out… Shearer and Given. - Gary Humble

RE: “Referee Analysis: Phil Dowd West Ham 2-4 NUFC”

Good thoroughly worked analysis. Phil Dowd did a good job. Being a West Ham fan we could really have used a ref like him when we played at Blackburn. - Lasse Vrangbak Mortensen

RE: “Referee Analysis: Phil Dowd West Ham 2-4 NUFC”

The clumsy foul on Ameobi? do you mean when he fell over his own feet just after he should have given a foul to West Ham when he instead gave a throw in to Newcastle. Dowd had an awful game including missing an off-side for Owen’s goal. - West Ham Fan

RE: “Toon Player Ratings Vs West Ham (a)”

Agree in the main with everything that was said with regard to the ratings of the players against West Ham. However - have to disagree with the suggestion that the defence play too deep and should move up 30-yards. That would be inviting disaster. We have shown time and time again that we don’t have defenders with the sufficient speed and finesse to mop up successfully if we allow the opposition the chance to get up the wing and around the back.

Keeping them where they are crowds the middle, making it more difficult for the offense, and also allows more efficient use of Given as a sweeper. In all honesty we just don’t have sufficient consistency at the back to allow our defence to work properly, so at the moment it’s probably better to just pack the defence. I agree that we don’t have the width in midfield. There are just not enough balls getting in from wide. Not only for Owen, but that’s what Shearer has been lacking. I think Shearer himself is probably providing the majority of the service for Owen. - Rob Brown

RE: “Toon Player Ratings Vs West Ham (a)”

Yes good report and player ratings/comments pretty much as I saw it. I wouldn’t say Scott Parker dominated, but he was the stand-out central midfielder on the day. Glad to see a decent English player get back on track after spending wasted time in Chelski Reserves. In only his second Prem start James Collins did OK I thought. Comedy time; Roy trying to catch Owen off-side for his third by running out of his goal, excellent. Lets hope that extra 1 goal dropped on our goal difference is not significant.

His save from an Owen header a couple of minutes earlier was awesome. Very strange but I went home not at all fed-up. When you put in 110% having also played mid week, and you come off second best to two English strikers and to a team that plays the game; no diving, play acting, bad tackles, you have to just say well done. Also very strange but did not begrudge the biggest away following to visit Upton Park their celebrations. - Steve (West Ham fan)

RE: “Toon Player Ratings Vs West Ham (a)”

I love how you give detailed reviews for each player. How much of each game do you see? Reviews from different sources are so different, it’s hard to know what to believe and what conclusions to draw. Lets see Luque at Anfield. - Steve Walker

RE: “Toon Player Ratings Vs West Ham (a)”

As usual, an excellent summary of the performances in the West Ham game. However, I would like to take issue over one of your comments about the ref. You said, “He did give West Ham a penalty but it was a penalty, despite no real intent by Ameobi.” Regarding handball, the law (Law 12) states that “a direct free kick (penalty if in the area) is awarded if a player handles the ball deliberately” Despite the comments of commentators and “expert” summarisers, it is not enough for the ball to come in contact with the hand, there has to be clear intent. Sometimes, it is clearly ball-to-hand, but Ameobi’s yesterday did seem to involve some movement of the hand towards the ball and so it is understandable why the ref would give it, even if it is difficult to understand why Shola would handle the ball in that situation. - Alan Riley

To: Newcastle-Online.com

If Bowyer goes in January and Faye is at the African Cup of Nations we need not only a top-class left-back and centre-half but also a midfielder. Get Huth and Bridge on loan, but who else? The West Ham win was adequate, but a top team would have nailed us. - Rob Paterson

RE: “Toon Player Ratings Vs West Ham (a)”

Agree with your assessment Phil Dowd’s performance in the West Ham v Newcastle game. Certainly one of the best, if not the best that I’ve seen in a Newcastle game this season. Good show. - Paul Mosley

RE: “Toon Player Ratings Vs West Ham (a)”

I love these player ratings, I don’t get to see many Newcastle games so I rely on these ratings to keep up to date with as the radio doesn’t tell you the whole story. I’m so pleased for Boumsong to have played so well after reading on Icnewcastle about his personal problems. Good luck Boom. HTL! - Martin Anderson

RE: “Toon Player Ratings Vs West Ham (a)”

Must congratulate you lads on your West Ham features, top read and my first port of call for stuff like this these days, after using Soccernet they aren’t a patch on you lads. Keep up the good work. Roll on the bin dippers. - Mark S

RE: “Who The F*** Are West Ham United?”

I am a West Ham supporter. That was an excellent analysis of our side, the best I’ve read so far. - Paul

RE: “Referee Watch: Phil Dowd”

I thought Dowd was a new ref, his name isn’t familiar. Lets hope he has a good game and gets nothing wrong then. Good report Paul Mosley. - Scott (Wales)

RE: “Who The F*** Are West Ham United?”

Good write up, very well researched, enjoyed the read. And in answer to your opening statement, the PRIDE of LONDON. - Warren Marler

RE: “Who The F*** Are West Ham United?”

I am a season ticket holder at West Ham and thought your comments were spot on. After the match good luck for the rest of the season. - Christopher Walker

RE: “Who The F*** Are West Ham United?”

I thought the article was fantastic. I’m a Hammers fan, but never have I seen any form of write up and intensity of detail in a pre-match article than here. Well written, informative and good to read. I learnt a few things myself too!! - Steve

RE: “Who The F*** Are West Ham United?”

This is the most intelligent appraisal of an opposition side I have ever read. I can’t disagree with a word of it. - Stuart Emery (West Ham fan)

RE: “Who The F*** Are West Ham United?”

Are you going to do this for every match? I think you should, blinding read and very informative. - Mick

(Ed: We will try Mick, aye)

RE: “Who The F*** Are West Ham United?”

As a Hammer myself, I found this article to be an excellent read. Thanks for restoring my faith in the opposition.- Andy

RE: “Who The F*** Are West Ham United?”

How refreshing it was to read your article, it was full to pussy’s bow with concise, well researched and unbiased comment. So often opposing websites feature boringly tired bollocks, deep seated vitriol best reserved for the most neanderthal of fans. At the risk of jeopardizing your role at N-O.com are you a closet Hammer???? Quality work A+ - Kev Bowers

(Ed: We are starting to ask the same question ourselves, Kev)

RE: “Who The F*** Are West Ham United?”

Just the greatest team in a confused and messed up Premier League. - Hammers Fan

RE: “Scott Parker For England?”

Parker - the new Captain? The Premier League is “the place to be”, according to the majority of top class football players. England is the new Italy. Premier League clubs (and not just the top 10) spending zillions on galactico’s, we are seeing players leave top continental sides, and sign for clubs such as Middlesbrough and other ’smaller’ clubs. A big part of it is the money the Premier League teams can pay a player but also because it offers an amazing physical challenge to play in England.

Other than one or 2 clubs who can field 11 Pro Evolution players and manage to play excellent short passing and counter-attacking football, the rest are just frantic point chasers. The Arsenal game at SJP showed just why the like of Wigan and Bolton are doing well. If we played like we played against Arsenal in Europe though we would have had 2 sendings off at least.

Scott Parker thrives on the leniency of the English game, epitomizing the way the Premier League is perceived around the globe. But maybe Sven is right to be at least cautious about including into his team. But to not have him in the squad that leaves for Germany would be a crime against our own ‘Bulldog’ reputation. Against the African teams, the Columbians, the Germans and the unknowns, Parker is the player needed to sit beside Gerrard or Lampard.

Gerrard can play on the left and get forward, parker can sit deep allowing Lampard to bomb on and with Beckham on the right England would easily dominate opposition midfields. Alan Shearer offered Michael Owen the Captain’s armband whilst giving him a chinese burn to join Newcastle… How fitting it would be if he was to hand the black armband to Wor Scotty.

The lad has all the characteristics the Geordie public crave. Commitment, power, heart, bravery, professionalism and genuine talent. I for one would be happy to see it happen. Before I go, my quick prediction of January activity regarding the Toon. IN: Wayne Bridge, Sylvain Distin, Joaquin OUT: Elliott, Bowyer, Milner, Babayaro Giving us…

Given, Solano, Boumsong, Distin, Bridge, Joaquin, Parker, Emre, Luque, Shearer, Owen. Squad: Dyer, N’Zogbia, Taylor, Ramage, Bramble, Carr, Ameobi, Chopra, Harper, Faye, O’Brien. Well it is Christmas… - Dev

RE: “Match Preview: West Ham United Vs NUFC”

Enjoyed the match preview. I would like to see more for our money with Luque as he is a class player so he has to prove it and not just take the money. - Jim Hall

RE: “Who The F*** Are West Ham United?”

That was a bloody good report! Are you a scout!? I’m a bit worried now, agree with most of it accept our defence have been excellent they are often left a bit exposed on their own though because of the midfields attacking approach! - Richard Vickers (West Ham fan)

RE: “Who The F*** Are West Ham United?”

Excellent article and web site. Always had a soft spot for you Geordies, you go through the same torments as us and I’ve got friends up there. Good luck, but not tomorrow… - Jim Davis

RE: “Match Preview: West Ham United Vs NUFC”

Only read this article because it came up on my ‘Newsnow - West Ham’ page, but thought it was a very well put together and unbiased preview of the game tomorrow. The only element I’d disagree with is that I’m obviously looking for a 2-1 result for the Hammers, but I’d be as surprised/shocked/confused if a Newcastle website was predicting a loss for their side as I’m sure you would if I wanted anything other than a home win! Let’s hope its a good game and, as always, fair play to the Newcastle fans for coming all the way down to join us at Upton Park tomorrow. Shame about Sunderland, eh lads? All the best. - Dave Snowden

RE: “Match Preview: West Ham United Vs NUFC”

Yossi Benayoun is West Ham’s main threat. With 2 goals and four assists he can pass the ball around very well and always looking forward. He has quick feet and will try and deceive the Newcastle defence with his arrange of tricks and flicks. Despite his figure and size he can tackle back and head, he also has a long throw. - Hammers Fan

RE: “Match Preview: West Ham United Vs NUFC”

This is probably the best site I have seen for the Toon, coverage is fantastic and the articles are well structured, informative and a joy to read. Keep up the good work. Howay! - Paul C

RE: “Who The F*** Are West Ham United?”

Nice piece - refreshing (as a West ham fan especially) to read a well balanced overview of one’s opponents without the usual fanzine “we’re the best” bull. May the best team win - truly! Cheers. - Richard Tovell

RE: “Behind Enemy Lines: A West Ham United Fans’ View”

I’m a West Ham fan and agree with the majority of what Keir wrote but I have to say that the way the media portray Newcastle fans is spot on, at St. James’ earlier this year it wasn’t so noisy but you weren’t playing good football. I think Newcastle have turned it around now and with the win against Arsenal the fans will be on the up, they are just as passionate as us and I think this will bode for an excellent atmosphere when tomorrow comes. Be aware that the best atmosphere at Upton Park comes in the Bobby Moore Lower which is the opposite end to where your fans will be sitting so you won’t get the best of it but in the Centenary Lower and Dr Martens the fans always make a decent amount of noise. Hammers to win this one, 2-1, Zamo and Harewood, good luck for the rest of the season. - Richard Bates

RE: “Behind Enemy Lines: A West Ham United Fans’ View”

Well I think he has spoken frankly about the two clubs rightly, but I think he is wrong about Owen. He would make the difference because he is hungry at the moment for goals as that is what a striker like Owen needs to punish defences like the Hammers. I say instead of West Ham winning 3-2 I say we will win 3-0 with Owen and Shearer getting the better of that sloppy defence we saw against Everton on Wednesday. - Adrian Wright

RE: “Behind Enemy Lines: A West Ham United Fans’ View”

The site is an excellent concept, and this an excellent response, with which as a WHUFC fan of XXXX years, I fully agree with, except Newcastle will click in style one day - could be Saturday. - Michael Green

RE: “Who The F*** Are West Ham United?”

What an excellent article; as a hammers fan it was a happy revelation to read a rival’s opinion and analysis of our team that was both fair comprehensive and pretty accurate. I think, as any Hammers fan could tell you, the vast majority of goals conceded have been down to the frailties of Tomas Repka rather than our central defensive pairing who, in my memory have rarely been at fault. On paper our squad may be tiny but there are capable substitutes for every position bar perhaps Etherington; we do still have a quality selection of youth players (currently we have the captain of the England under 16’s (James Tomkins) under 19’s (Mark Noble) and the England under 21’s (Reo Coker) but perhaps most importantly this season Pardew has invested in two physios and a sport scientist, who he reckons are the best of the best.

As a result we have only lost one player to a soft tissue injury (Sherringham and his calf); Carrol and Nigel Reo-Coker both sustained bone injuries and both on international duty. Having sustained so few injuries and being top of the fair play league has meant we have been able to field our first eleven for most of this season. I think that helps enormously and our fortunes in the New Year may well be closely allied to our ability to continue to play from our first choice players. Perhaps the Toon should look seriously at their medical and conditioning team. - Kevin Mousley

RE: “Who The F*** Are West Ham United?”

Nice article but the title is a bit inflammatory! Glad I read it though. - HH

RE: “Who The F*** Are West Ham United?”

This is the best article I have read in relation to West Ham this season. As a West Ham supporter for 39 years I have got used to opposition supporters giving their views in varying degrees of abuse and when I came upon “Who the F*** Are West Ham United” on NewsNow I thought it was another one slagging us off. I was surprised to find an honest, precise and intelligent article and it is a credit to your site. Some West Ham sites I know would do well to take a leaf out of your book and show the same approach. Good luck for the rest of the season (after Saturday!). Regards - John Nobe

RE: “Who The F*** Are West Ham United?”

You surprised me, I enjoyed this article. - Bald Hammer

RE: “Who The F*** Are West Ham United?”

As a hammer I have to admit that’s a very detailed and very fair picture. You should add though that another big strength is the team spirit of a young and hungry group of players who all feel they have points to prove. And a very big weakness is still defending set pieces. Still think we’ll win if we can keep Owen and Shearer down to a few chances… - Charles

RE: “Who The F*** Are West Ham United?”

Fantastic article, well observed and well written, I’m a West Ham fan, and was very pleased to see an intelligent article rather than a cliched attack like most other sites do. Good Luck on Saturday, hope you score one less than us!! - Adrian Harvey

RE: “Who The F*** Are West Ham United?”

You will be crying in your brown ale come 5.00 pm tomorrow after we take another three points. - Happy Hammer

(Ed: We drink TOON ALE at Newcastle-Online.com and the only tears, were of joy)

RE: “Scott Parker For England?”

Parker is not a dirty player so wouldn’t get booked. There is a difference from being dirty and hard tackling. Shearer’s tackle on Campbell was dirty. Parker is a very good tackler and wins nearly every one of them. Every team will have a holding player that tackles hard so “don’t take parker to Germany because he wins tackles” is bollocks mate, silly article. - Dave

RE: “Newcastle United: A Winter Summary”

Interesting comments from Richard Huggan but when I’d finished reading his article all I could remember was an out and out hatred of Souness. I found his comments on some of the players a bit off the mark too. I think Solano will settle into his role and impress immensely. I haven’t seen anything of Luque yet that suggests he’s any better than 10 other players at St. James’s. As for the Sick note business, obviously something is wrong somewhere with the training and it could be more than the facility.

Now onto my favourite Newcastle punching bag - Bramble. Anyone watching the Arsenal match must have been close to tears in the 93rd minute. The ball came back to Bramble who, with twenty five seconds to go played the ball square across the back, missing an advancing Henry by only a yard. What was he thinking? 4 months ago I made a prediction that if Bramble continues to play in the first team he will cost us games. He very nearly cost us on Saturday, and it will happen again, without a doubt! - Rob Brown

RE: “Scott Parker For England?”

Aye! With brass knockers! ‘Netball’ (lol) - good analogy marra! Bang on! - Punk Skunk

RE: “Football & Technological Advancement”

Bravo Archie but I think you were a bit unfair on Hawkeye, it’s a cracking piece of technology, it could be used in footie to see if an Alan Smith foul mouthed tirade was heading towards a ref’s ass or not. - Gary Baldi

RE: “Football & Technological Advancement”

Just a point, moving the ball forward for dissent was done away with the season before last, that’s why you don’t see it now! - Michael

RE: “NUFC 1-0 Arsenal: Where The Game Was Won & Lost - Match Analysis”

The superb win over Gunners seems to have erased the fact that we have underachieved the whole season under Souness. Optimism is nice, but I’ll wait and see what has happened when we reach New Year. Despite the good performance against the Gunners, Souness still has to go. I’ll hope for the best results while he’s still here but hopefully he will be replaced soon. I’d also like to comment on Parker’s excellent performances since he signed, and especially against the Gunners. Never have I seen a player with such a winners-instinct, determination and attitude like Parker. He’s about to become a legend at SJP. If his attitude spreads to the whole team, there is no limits for us. - Thomas Jensen

RE: “NUFC 1-0 Arsenal: Where The Game Was Won & Lost - Match Analysis”

I was there at St. James’s stuck up in the skies and Newcastle jumped on the Bolton bandwagon. They know Arsenal don’t like a physical game, they know Vieira has gone, so they get aggressive and it works. Arsenal are managed by an idealist who complains about rough stuff and says football should be entertainment. Well, that’s naive. It says nothing on a football ticket about entertainment. Never has done. Not in 1888, 1948, 1971, or 1998.

I want to see my team win. Football is about players, and professional football is about winning. Yes, of course Arsene’s teams have amazed us with their beautiful football. They’ve taken three titles off Man United by playing stylish football with phenomenal athleticism. But the formula has been rumbled. And Arsene is still doing what Tony Adams begged him not to do. He is still playing both Pires and Ljungberg away from home. When neither is the player he was. And playing those two with Fabregas-Gilberto is suicidal. It’s madness.

It’s a strange brand of self-defeating stubbornness. I cannot figure out why he does it. Is he the radical cleric of attacking football? Thousands of people are in awe of Arsene and bow down to the ayatollah and say, “Arsene knows!” Who will tell him: “Switch it around, put Kolo in there, put Lauren in there, buy two 26-years olds who can tackle, don’t persevere with what you have done in September, October and November and half of December because it cannot work. It is killing the club. Forget about the Champions League, that is a ridiculous fantasy, it’s irrelevant!

Focus on finishing second. Buy players now who can help you finish second. Buy players who can cover the injuries you will get after Xmas, or before. Arsenal needed Scott Parker at St. James’ Park. If Parker had been playing for Arsenal we would have won. Basically Arsenal have been living a lie all season. They’ve played some nice stuff and beaten weak opposition. But they have not beaten a good team all season. - Steve O (Arsenal fan)

RE: “NUFC 1-0 Arsenal: Where The Game Was Won & Lost - Match Analysis”

NUFC had an extra man… the referee. Terrible officiating and over tolerant of Shearer’s fouling. Gilberto was sent off for low level infractions while Shearer was kicking the shite out of the Arsenal players with red card worthy fouls. - Syd (Arsenal fan)

RE: “NUFC 1-0 Arsenal: Where The Game Was Won & Lost - Match Analysis”

As a long time Gooner (30 years) I like to hear the oppositions take on all our games, both good/bad, complimentary/critical, whether we win or lose (harder to take when we lose I hasten to add though). Have to say, your analysis of the game is spot on, your criticism is very accurate. A very astute take on both teams, tactics and managers. As with all Arsenal fans, I was not happy with the ref (at all) but it was not his decisions that cost us the game, typical Arsenal over indulgence, spinelessness and wastefulness combined with a full blooded Newcastle revival in the second half, the result, 1-0 to the Toon. Thanks, and good luck for the rest of the season. - Mad Biker

RE: “NUFC 1-0 Arsenal: Where The Game Was Won & Lost - Match Analysis”

I am an Arsenal supporter and fed up with all the “Shearer kicked us off the pitch” arguments, though I do think Gilberto was harshly treated and Shearer did get away with murder, robbery and assault in the game! Saying that, I would just like to applaud the writer of this article for writing a balanced argument, which I also think is very accurate. Wish you all the best for the remainder of the season! - Adam Holly

RE: “Michael Owen’s Move - The Truth”

As if Owen ever wanted to join “The Toon”. He only went there at the last minute because Chelsea, Man Utd, Arsenal and Benitez were not interested. I laugh at it how you’re basically admitting you basically took Owen against his will a bit like “sign for us or miss the World Cup”. He’ll have left as soon as “The Toon” have served their purpose. I must admit I thought the high of signing Owen would have lasted a bit longer and you might even threaten Liverpool for a top 4 finish. We’re currently second in the league, 7 successive league wins and no goals conceded in 10 and off to Japan for the World Club Championships! PS You can’t keep an unhappy player, how stupid are you gonna look when he doesn’t want to stay? Geordies = Scotsman without brains! - Dave

(Ed: “I’m loving it at Newcastle” - Michael Owen 2005)

RE: “Newcastle Need Players Like Amdy Faye”

Faye is a good player to have in the squad, he is committed, even if he plays poorly, but he has shown in recent weeks that he does have the talent to perform well, he just needs to do it consistently.- Toon Fan

RE: “The Halcyon Days: Where Did It All Go Wrong & Where Next For Newcastle United? (Part 1)”

A brilliant piece of writing which took me back down memory lane in a big way!! Having only found this website a week ago I’m am now a big fan and long may it continue. NUFC fans finally have a voice. Keep up the good work guys. - Olly Good

RE: “Newcastle United: A Winter Summary”

Right, I’m the same as any Toon fan, I am getting restless with results, but is Souness really the man to blame? Do you really think Graeme is telling his players to go out and kick the ball towards Shearer as soon as it lands at their feet? I don’t think so… I’m sure no manager would try and build a game plan around booting the ball up front to a knackered Shearer. How can you blame Souness for players giving the ball away, defenders making STUPID challenges in the dying minutes or Ameobi for being basically… shite?

Souness is not the one out there wearing the black and white shirt! All you Souness haters forget that in his first 2 seasons in charge, SBR finished a poor 11th in the league, before guiding us to 4th next time round? You criticise Souness for wasting 8 million on Boumsong, yes I know we got kicked in the balls there but how much did SBR spend on Hugo Viana? A player who we would probably pay someone to take him off us we’re that desperate to get shot of him. And HOW much on Titus Bramble? I rest my case. So have a think, it is really the best time sack a manager? Like that advert on the telly says “relationships get better with time” and if you look around at the managers who have been given time at clubs you will notice, success comes with time and continuity. - Craig Futers

RE: “Newcastle United: A Winter Summary”

An informed, concise, humorous article, worthy of a broadsheet. This guy hits the nail on the head regarding the up down saga that is NUFC. More please from Mr Huggan! - Andy Clarke

RE: “So Much To Play For”

People need to lay off Souness, at the end of the day he can only pick players for the team who are fit, at current we have 5 or 6 quality players injured. One, Luque, returning from injury. We cant expect him to find miracle cures for these constant injury problem, it’s just part of football. If anyone is to blame it’s the players, they are the so-called professionals who go out there in front of 52,000 loyal fans and don’t even give 100% but still get paid for it!! The players need to get behind their manager in the sense of performances.

Souness has brought in top quality players in the likes of Emre, Luque, Owen and Nobby Solano. Everyone is looking for someone to blame and its not Souness, it’s the lacklusture performances by our players. Barring the likes of Ramage and Taylor who really know what it means to be a Geordie and to wear the black and white stripes and the honour of gracing the St. James’ Park pitch. Rather then chanting for Souness to leave at matches we should be putting on a united front and getting behind the manager as this, I think, will help the team’s morale as they will know that we are behind them rather then against them, which at current it seems as though we are! - Toon Crazy

RE: “So Much To Play For”

Agree with it all but how do you get this across to the fat one? Plus we need a manager who’s not afraid to tell Shearer he needs a reality check and should retire immediately. As long as the odious, xenophobic Shepherd holds the purse strings we will get lumbered with Steve Bruce or similar. We waste millions on players. I would rather give a fat contract to a competent foreign coach. - Nick

RE: “So Much To Play For”

Leave him alone. This club is ridiculous we haven’t won anything for a long long time yet still we call for a sacking after three back to back loses. Yes the performance against Wigan was probably the worst of recent times but there’s not a football manager in existence who can guarantee a good performance every time, it simply will not happen. As for the reason we haven’t won anything for so long, maybe we should look at ourselves and the pressure we bring to the club. This constant clamour for a new manager is with-out doubt a imitating factor on our challenge for silverware, and to bring another manager halfway through a season would make a bad situation worse.

Wait until the end of the season, look at how the performances have been with a fit squad, if there is still no improvement from the start of our season get Martin O’Neil in. To suggest we sack the manager and then scramble around to see who’s willing to take the job is just plain stupid. We’ve been changing managers for too long, maybe we should try patience for once. - Alex Goddard

RE: “Souness & United: The End”

Well it’s time to call it quits with Souness, he’s had a chance with or without his stars (and even then doubtful) we couldn’t win anything, a draw against Vila shouldn’t save him, it’s time to make the changes. Sack him now and it’ll give the new manager a chance to work with the squad to assess what needs to be done in the transfer market, any later and we’re killing our chance for Europe and not giving his replacement a chance. - Marz

RE: “So Much To Play For”

In the two years that I’ve been with my lass I’ve slowly got her to show a bit of interest in footie - it hasn’t been easy. And it hasn’t been helped by Souness, yet another two-bob charlatan trying to get by in the managerial role on the back of a solid playing career, and stripping Newcastle of any intent, passion or cohesion along the way. Apart from Bobby, and the early days of Keegan, we’ve been fed a steady stream of ‘name’ bosses who seem to have been bunged to screw up any chance of Toon glory. Transient oafs all hired by… the board. Maybe we NEED to be bought out? Ken Dodd could do a better job than Shepherd, at least you’re MEANT to laugh at Dodd… - Jamie Crawford

RE: “So Much To Play For”

I am a season ticket holder and shareholder, I have watched and supported Newcastle since I was 10 years old (1952) I have therefore just about seen it all. Without a doubt the best approach to football was by Kevin Keegan and we even messed that up, there is no need to go into detail except to say that his style of football was really worth paying to watch. The best footballer to play for us in my time was Peter Beardsley followed by Supermac, Tony Green and David Ginola. From this you should be able to judge the kind of football I appreciate so you should be able to understand the torture I am now going through when I go to St. James’s and watch the likes of Ameobi, Faye, Boumsong, Bramble etc.

I agree that Souness has done well by getting rid of the worky tickets and because of this and this terrible luck with injuries I have given him my support up until now. If after another two weeks there is no indication of improvement and by that I mean at least a change in style of play then I think that he should go. His biggest mistake has been to say that wingers were dead and then to prove his belief in his statement by playing Solano inside. Since Keegan, there has been 4 managers, Gullit, Daglish, Robson and Souness - they have all failed. Have you noticed the one common denominator during this time. His name is Alan Shearer. NUFC will never make real progress until his influence is removed from the club. - Nick Reid

RE: “So Much To Play For”

I said it after 2 weeks of his appointment: “Souness is a sergeant-major, not a general” Some good signings admittedly but the only good we will get from them is that it will help attract a good new manager. His sacking cannot come soon enough. - Jeaves

RE: “Truth Or Dare”

Absolutely love it! Brilliant! - Tom Birch

RE: “So Much To Play For”

Absolutely 100% spot on! The one thing I would add to our sense of utter hopelessness under Souness is his CV. So even with everyone fit, and even if we were confident and playing well he has nothing to suggest he can get success in the Premiership. Less than 25% of tournament wins in a 2 horse race in Scotland, the worst post war manager Liverpool have had, failures in Turkey and elsewhere followed up by a virtual sacking at the mighty Blackburn (who have probably progressed more without him or our money over the same period) before ruining us. Fred please do the brave and courageous thing - chop Souey now before it’s too late. Is anyone optimistic about playing Mansfield at home in the cup? - Graeme Dent

RE: “So Much To Play For”

We haven’t won anything for goodness knows how long. Souness needs more time, at least the rest of the season. Changing the manager’s not going to help, it’s the injuries that are the real issue here. When Owen plays we show real potential. Dyer coming back will give us that bit of extra pace that’s been sadly missing recently and Albert Luque must be better than he’s shown so far. I would say that all we need is a new centre half and another striker then with a few competent officials in charge of our matches, we’ll be pulling up trees! Keep the faith Howay the Toon!! - Toon Fan

RE: “So Much To Play For”

You have a very valid point that it would do no harm to sack Souness and wait till we have a manager in place. However it will be a backward step… the same process of clearing out current players as a new manager will inevitably want his own players, give him 2 years to gel, when it doesn’t immediately happen sack him! NO NO NO! Bobby Robson wasn’t a success when he came to us, yes he may have saved us from relegation but lets face it, it wasn’t going to happen - we had some class players there, Shearer, Lee, Speed, Duncan Ferguson. We gave him time and he delivered wonders. If we were to sack Souness who would we get in? That’s a valid point, Bruce is bollocks, O’Leary is not much better.

I would love to see Ottmar Hitzfeld but whether we could attract him is a different matter. We should also start to think about a replacement for Shearer, to blend in with the team, I would love to see Dirk Kuyt, he would be excellent and keep the physical aspect, if not then Sanli Tuncay is another very underrated player. I still feel we need a pacey backup for Owen, one could argue Dyer can fill it but he quite simply doesn’t have the finishing prowess of Owen. Nihat Kavechi would be a good bet, free at the end of the season as well. This could leave us with Tuncay, Emre and Nihat as 3 of our front 6, all Turkish - wouldn’t that be a turn up for the books! I still think we need a left back, possibly a young Swiss boy who I have seen or even Wayne Bridge, though he will cost a few bob! In addition, I think playing Taylor with Moore or Ramage would solve our centre defensive problems once and for all! Hope Souey reads this and agrees. - Jake

To: Newcastle-Online.com

Apologies for what I’m sure is going to be a long post, but the problems at our club is worth it! First of all, I thought the way Sir Bobby was treated by the club was a disgrace, he deserved better than that. However, it was the right time for a change but should have been made that summer, not in that undignified way. 4 games in, and for some reason nobody will ever understand, the ambitious Newcastle United appointed a man who had achieved next to nothing, with a background of poor teams playing awful football and hated nearly everywhere he’d been. Weeks away from the sack, he was appointed our manager! I don’t think any appointment has been so disappointing, the fans never accepted it.

However, as much as I disagreed, I was prepared to give him a chance and was hopeful that what he could do was sort out the off field problems. That he did, with Robert kicked out and unfortunately, the unsettling of Bellamy, although how we miss him now. Unfortunately he didn’t stop there, he sold Ambrose, Hughes, Jenas, etc for cut price. These were promising players, who have been great for their new clubs while we miss them in our squad.

Ok, we signed Owen (Shearer more responsible than Souness) which was great, Parker too and I hope Emre and Luque will be good. For some reason unknown to anyone, he spent the money from Ambrose AND Hughes on FAYE! NOT good enough for this division, let alone where we’re aiming to be. We also signed Babayaro, who is equally useless. Worst of all, he spent £8 million of the fans money on that useless idiot Boumsong who was free the month before, and who has been outclassed by every team we’ve played including Yeading!

Bramble continues to be a 1st choice, and our defence is the laughing stock of the English football world. EVERYONE sees it, but Mr Souness. I gave this guy time, 15 months of it. He had most of last season, all summer and a few months of this one. Yes we’ve had injuries, but not ALL the time, we’ve still been able to field strong teams from the best squad of players he’s ever worked with.

We were a consistantly top 5 team, usually top 4 under Robson with a squad that got us into the Champions League. We played good football for the most of it, had so many comebacks and were the entertainers again. So you can’t say that Souness had a hard job on his hands, he had a top 5 team! He just needed to improve it a bit. But from day one, he’s gradually ripped the club apart, got us playing the most boring, awful, and embarrassing football I’ve ever seen from a Newcastle side. He took a top 5 side and got them to 15th in the league!

He failed to get through in the InterToto cup, we’ve been appalling all season with the only victories being scraped wins by the skin of our teeth, often lucky with deflections and ALL against inferior teams we shouldn’t think twice about beating. We’ve lost to poor teams, struggled to beat poor teams. We only beat sunderland at home just, by one goal. We beat Birmingham with a deflected shot after being outplayed! We LOSE to Wigan’s B team when we played a VERY strong team. Just because Owen misses a game is no excuse for being outclassed. It is unacceptable, we are being humiliated week after week and it’s being accepted.

15 months and NOT A SINGLE SIGN OF ANY IMPROVEMENT!!!! Come on people, wake up! 15 months working with a top 5 team, with over £50 million invested and we’re the worst we’ve been since being in the Premier League. There’s no fight, no flare, no passing ability, no movement, no ideas, no tactics. We get picked apart from everyone we play… we’re easy to play against!

Non league teams want to draw us so they get through in the cup! Everyone in the country see’s we’re awful and there for the taking. I believe in managers having time, you can’t expect miracles and never expected us to catch Chelsea, nor do I for quite a while. But 15 months working with a top 5 team, and look what we are now. A joke. It’s inexcusable, you have to accept that the wrong man was appointed and a change is needed NOW!

It’s important not to make rash decisions, but how can the sacking of Souness be rash? We’ve seen what’s happened. Sacking the manager isn’t always the answer, but it is when you’ve clearly got the wrong one. It’s painful to see us right now, and we don’t deserve it. We must get into Europe this season. We need the money from qualification to buy new players, to keep the players we have and to attract new players. Nobody of quality will want to join a team that has finished bottom half 2 seasons running.

We shouldn’t be accepting this, we should be changing it now. It’s our money being wasted away right now. I like Souness as a bloke, he seems a nice guy, but that wasn’t a good enough reason to keep Sir Bobby and it certainly isn’t a good enough reason to stick with Souness. Can anyone really see signs of improvement since Bobby’s reign? I can’t, I can’t see ANY improvement or any justification for him still being here. We’re awful, we play awful football and we’re becoming what every other Souness team has become. What evidence is there that he’s the right man?

There’s the chance to get a top man in soon and salvage something from this season, it’s not too late but it won’t happen with the current management. Hitzfeld, Le Guen who got Lyon playing great football in the Champions League semi final that we would love at SJP. Another point I’d just like to make… Benitez and Jol have had about as much time as Souness. Liverpool are top 4, after winning the European Cup and playing exciting football. That’s improvement and they’re progressing.

Martin Jol has Spurs playing good attacking football and are looking a good bet for Europe. Mr Souness… has got us playing the worst football I’ve seen of any team in the league and we’re worrying about staying up. Souness out, it’s time to wake up and stop messing around. We must change the management now! - Nick

(Ed: No need to apologise Nick, that’s what this site is for. A heartfelt rant)

RE: “So Much To Play For”

I bet we bloody get a point against Arsenal, keeping that feckless twat in a job for another few weeks. What will it take? I could do a better joke, I’m not saying that for impact and for anger, I really could. Identify players, OK. Choose a formation, 4-4-2. Done. And dump them on the pitch trying to get them to breed with the ball like two different species. If Souness isn’t out by next week, we are stuck with him. - Nick Barrett

RE: “Truth Or Dare”

So, so true. I don’t think I’ve ever agreed with a Newcastle United article so much in my lifetime. Lets all just hope Freddy reads this. - Adam Sim

RE: “Truth Or Dare”

Why the fuck can’t we play football? Souness is a fucking joke and his fanny friends, Al Murray and Dean Saunders are clueless. OUT, OUT, OUT. - JJkwick

RE: “Souness & United: The End”

In every match that Newcastle have played, we either lose or draw more than we win. The manager has brought in some good players but some good players he should have kept, he sold. Some players are not really good enough and should go but yet they stay. He has got some good midfielders and strikers but defenders? All these years, Newcastle’s main problem is in defending. Players who are often making mistakes time and time again when playing in a match should have long been let go but why are they still there in the squad while some players are not given the chance to prove their capability? Some players just run out of their positions to play any positions anywhere, is this football? January transfer window will be open soon and please get some good quality defenders and strikers to help Newcastle United. As a Newcastle United fan for many years, I hope some changes in this management and team come soon before it gets really worse. Perhaps I should say time to bring a more capable ‘powerful’ manager in before the season end. Thank you. - Toon Supporter

RE: “Souness & United: The End”

Come on Souey lad, keep fighting, and give the bairns a chance! I know you can do it, hang in there mate, once Dyer and Owen are back to give us some penetration we will be brilliant. - Jake Bernstone

RE: “Souness & United: The End”

You make some very good points my friend. I have followed the lads all over the country, even to the hate filled lunacy that was Millwall, and lived to tell the tale. Never have I been so heartbroken, as I was after the Wigan game. It was the total lack of pride in pulling on that shirt. I and my brother in law would give our right arm to have been out there on Wednesday night, and yet the lack of pride was what hurt the most. I’m writing this after the Villa game by the way. I guess we have to keep the faith. It could be worse. We could be Mackems or Smoggies. - Rob a Northumbrian Exile

RE: “Souness & United: The End”

We are all ‘die hard’ supporters of Newcastle United for years. It was a really sorry state to see our team under different managers all those years but then don’t come to see them at the top table or won at least a trophy. Jonny Hall’s article has spoke for us. We’ve had enough, the time has come for his departure. We watched and followed every games the team played but don’t see the results getting any better. Are we going to wait and see the best results for another half a year or another new season or just wait full stop? Something must really be done… Time is running out and it’s time to have a new change. A change of getting a coach from a European side would probably bring the team to even better results and success. Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool are doing well so why not Newcastle. We are faraway ‘die hard’ fans, and hopefully we don’t want more heartaches when we see the players feeling down, our team lost the matches and go down the table list. Actions speak louder than words and we hope the change will act fast. We understand how the team are going through now with the defeats but best of luck to all our beloved Newcastle United players and chin up. - Die Hard Fan

RE: “Souness & United: The End”

Hi there, as a lifetime Newcastle supporter, I like many other supporters was shocked to see Souness replace Sir Bobby. I believe that the type of manager that Newcastle requires now is a Sven/Mourinho/Capello continental style of manager, not the British passion and shout at everyone styleee. Looking at the quality of the squad they should be playing sexy football! - Richard Gee

RE: “Truth Or Dare”

I totally agree, I believed that Souness would in time turn the club round and become one of the best managers the club has had. Not so now, after the debacle against Wigan on Wednesday night where we seemed bereft of any ideas on how to break down a second team defence and where Shearer looked as though he would struggle to get into the Darlington team, it’s time for the Scot to go. Spend the money on a PROPER manager!! - John Harvey

RE: “Truth Or Dare”

I totally agree, never been convinced by the man, respect him as a former great player, but as a manager, i form sir bobby to souness regardless of great signings was a step backwards. and i urge all true newcastle fans even if we win on saturday to show souness our feelings and our desire for his swift exit. he is not good enough, bring on O’Leary O’Neill. any one with a tactical approach, how can a manager claim, tactics are secondary and effort alone is the only thing needed, purpose is the reason behind tactics, and I’m afraid to say and it tears me to say so, Newcastle Utd have no purpose, when the team kicks off! - David McLean

To: Newcastle-Online.com

Just logged on late this night after watching my other club AZ progress in the UEFA Cup, after a bad game, only to see NUFC lose out on the easiest way into Europe. What the hell is going on? I’m not looking forward to going to work tomorrow and face a lot of arseholes making fun of me for another poor result. Should Souness go? Should Shepherd go? Is there even a solution for such a problem? I’m just hoping things will be all right in the end, but the are making the road up there a straight nightmare!! Keep up the good work, super site, super info, super club. AZ & NUFC “RULE”. - Joris

Thanks to everyone who wrote in, keep them coming.