Once again you lot have wrote in to the site in your droves, covering all kinds of topics and issues concerning Newcastle United. The response to our articles has also been overwhelming. We’ve read through them all and as promised, here they are, published on our pages.

RE: “Truth Or Dare”

A good article, well written, and I totally agree with your arguments. Unfortunately some of us could see this coming 14 months ago before spending the £50m. Whilst we need to get rid, we also need to have the Chairman’s commitment of where he wants the club to go, then appoint a manager who he considers can deliver - the sensible (least risk) approach is one with a track record of success at the level to which you wish to aspire aka Chelsea with Mourinho (after previously finishing 2nd & SF in CL). Otherwise it is just a lottery.

We were lucky in appointing Keegan but what’s the chances of another - sorry but I’m not a gambler. I had no problem in getting rid of SBR (who I believe over achieved with the players he had) but wanted someone to take us forward and upwards, the least risk being with a proven manager at that level. Souness was never going to be the answer, aka the 3-0 Blackburn (H) game last season in hindsight the sign of things to come. We are now in a position where Souness is used to managing his EPL teams, hence if FS has higher aspirations (which he should) he needs an action plan on how to get out of this position which should be dependent on who he intends as the next manager. It may even involve “writing-off” this season, but it is so important now to get the right man. - Toon Fan

RE: “Truth Or Dare”

Excellent article which sums up our current situation perfectly. He has to go and the sooner the better. - Jimmy Hindmarsh

RE: “Truth Or Dare”

Brilliantly put, nothing more to add… except send it to Freddy and tell him this is how not some. but the majority of fans fell. - Tony Watson

RE: “Truth Or Dare”

HTT you two faced hypocrite, you were defending him a few weeks ago and now you want him out? Stick to your guns and stop talking shite. - Ant

RE: “Truth Or Dare”

I have never had my eyes sticked to such an article as big as this. Well written! - Rohan

RE: “Truth Or Dare”

What a brilliantly written article. Much as I’d like to wish that Souness could be the man, he clearly isn’t, and you’ve hit the nail right on the head. Well done. - Toon Fan

RE: “Truth Or Dare”

Superb article, couldn’t agree more, he has spent the 2nd most in Europe, and produced dreadful football. We are a far inferior team than when he took over, and had he not had huge amounts to spend, he would have had us underneath Sunderland. The man was, and always will be clueless. - Dave Balmer

RE: “Truth Or Dare”

After reading the article “Truth or Dare” I have got to agree totally with what has been said here, as like all true fans all we want is results and success but whilst ever Souness is in charge I just cannot see it ever happening as much as I would like to believe it and hoped he could turn things round for us. You look at the signings he has made, some good in Emre, Parker, Owen, Solano, some so so in Boumsong, Luque - although in fairness we haven’t seen much of him and the shite that is Moore, not seen him dont wish too. And then Babayaro.

Never the less when was the last time you can honestly say you watched us play a team off the park by actually playing the ball on the GRASS not twenty feet in the bleeding air looking for old man Shearer to knock the ball on? Don’t get me wrong here Shearer is God to an extent.

You watch Arsenal and the control movement, pace and one touch football, it’s a dream to behold, so how come with us with a team full of international players, why oh why cant we pass the fucking ball Mr Souness to feet?

I travel from Chesterfield to every home game as I am a season ticket holder plus the odd away game here and there and I cannot remember the last time I got a buzz or excitement about the club whilst traveling up and down the A1 or train, and it pisses me off. But I wont give up the duty I hold of supporting the TOON. It’s my duty and I will see this manager out and the next and all that follow.

I was more than willing to give Souness his chance even though I didn’t want him but having watched the Everton game I’m afraid that was the last straw. We just do not play as a unit simple as that so sort it Mr Souness or else FUCK Off and let someone else put a smile and buzz back into my footballing life. - Martin Booth (Chesterfield Mag and proud of it)

RE: “Truth Or Dare”

Can’t agree with you more, problem I have is that some of Souness’ assistants should be looked as part of the old boys network rather than offer something in coaching, and in some ways stifles new techniques and ideas. To me, sack Souness and bring a new broom in. There is a need to look at continental systems and structures and I believe that is the key to future success and especially starting from the junior levels, cut the old boys network. Claudio Ranieri is the man I’d get I don’t think he did much wrong apart from being in the wrong place at the wrong time, given even half the level of support that Souness has had we could have success pretty quickly. I believe a foreign coach could shake up the old fashion ways pretty quick and bring success. - Marz

RE: “Truth Or Dare”

Howaythetoon I couldn’t have put any better. Despite the talent we have we look clueless on the pitch at times. You know you’ve got a winning manager when things are not a 100% and he can still get the win. This is definitely not the case at St. James’. Buyout the rest of Souness’ contract and spend the money on a manager. We’ve got talent, let’s see it harnessed so we start playing like a real Premiership club. Please don’t tell me it’s going to take relegation before Mr Shepard sees the light? - Dilip Vishwanat

RE: “Truth Or Dare”

I Bloody agree, spot on. - Nick Barret

RE: “Truth Or Dare”

I think you’ve got the gist of what I was feeling as the match dragged on. A sick, hopeless gutted feeling and I wasn’t so much mad at the ref for his inability to control the match and the handball. It was the feeling that we were going to lose and hey, we’re kind of getting used to losing now aren’t we? The tradition of losing is back and the only victories we get are derived from the odd counter attacking negative football over sides like WBA and Blackburn. One Word: MEDIOCRITY!

While Souness has been going on about how the dressing room atmosphere is rosy and all, and taking the team on regular trips to Spain to boost team morale, are we really seeing results on the pitch? let’s not go on about our team deserving to be in Europe and ‘up there’ simply because we have the players and a divine right as a big club. heck, we aren’t even playing like a team. we don’t show character on the pitch, as you’ve mentioned the last time we came back from behind was a European match against some minnow.

This is where questions should be asked about the coaching staff, specifically Souness’ ability to forge us as a proper team. He’s had one and a half seasons, including a full pre-season with Emre and Parker to work things out. He’s gotten rid of the bad eggs and the mediocre players. He’s had financial backing, he’s had our support. Result: A team stuck in mediocrity, playing the worst football I’ve seen the team play in 8 years.

It’s time to for Shepherd to come out and admit that he’s made a bad choice in employing Souness, hardly a manager to take us forward from the European football SBR was at least able to bring, even when we weren’t playing at our best. Hands up those who seriously think we can qualify for the Uefa Cup? - Peter Tan

RE: “Truth Or Dare”

I feel somehow you have got inside my head re your article on GS. It is absolutely spot on. I have been saying this since I knew he was coming here and all I have got from other fans is “Give him a chance” etc. etc. Well, how much longer do we give him a chance with all the money he has spent? Please send your letter to FS in case he does not read it on here. Well done for speaking the truth!!! - Homer

RE: “Truth Or Dare”

I thought this was a brilliant article… I really like Souness and want him to be a success and really backed him since he made the super acquisitions in the summer. I still hope and possibly think that he can turn it around and get top 7 which still isn’t good enough for Nufc. But you are spot on about the tactics thing, yes he may buy good players but as Ranieri showed at Chelsea you need know how as well as just good judgment of players and by saying ‘my players dont need tactics’ just proves that Souness doesn’t have the know how. And although I feel sad in saying this maybe it’s time to part with Souey and possibly look to bring in a technically gifted coach and tactician such as Ottmar Hitzfeld or Paul Le Guen (ex Lyon manager) - Jake

RE: “Truth Or Dare”

Spot on, I agree with everything you say, he’s spent the money but lacks tactical coaching skills, the defence need to go back to school just to learn the basics, it’s a disgrace. Everytime we have a lapse in concentration the opposition score, although we should have had a penalty at Everton and also against Chelsea. - Harry J

RE: “Truth Or Dare”

I cannot agree more with Howaythetoon, his comments hit the nail on the head and effectively sum up our problems. Souness has spent well, excluding Faye perhaps but yet still we cannot string a decent performance together. Appointing Souness was a mistake, a mistake we should have rectified last summer before allowing spending to commence. This mistake we should not make twice with the fast approaching January transfer window. His time is up!! - Michael

RE: “Truth Or Dare”

I can’t help but agree with you on this one. I was demoralised, to say the least, when he was appointed manager. But the fact was, he was and there was nothing any of us could do about it. As much as I disagree with Souness though, I have backed him since day one, because he’s the manager, and I want Newcastle to do well. Granted the likely hood of that happening is minimal to none at the moment, but in the signings we made over the summer, I was overcome with optimism. How can a team with this many good players, all pulling in the same direction, do badly - “We’ll be up fighting with Man United, and Arsenal soon” - I said. Well, they showed me, and Everton’s performance summed up everything we already knew - we’re clueless.

I wasn’t expecting a glorious victory over the Toffees, but, I was expecting one nonetheless. And if it comes down to missed penalty opportunities to score, then how come we can’t score from open play. We had enough chances, but between Ameobi’s selfish shooting, and Shearer’s tired legs, we never looked like a team made up of nearly £80 million pounds worth of talent. We can moan all we want about the penalty that never was, but the fact is we were terrible.

Solano was in the middle of the park more than on the wing, which is a shame, seeing as he’s a winger. N’Zogbia looked bright, and is one of our better players this season. Emre worked hard, but looked clueless as to what to do with the ball, a side-effect of no strategy. And Parker battled hard, but seemed to pass backwards more often than trying to go forwards. You can’t create if you don’t push forward. The defence was more solid than against Chelsea, but we were cut open way too many times by Beattie, who isnt the fastest of players - just imagine if that had been Henry latching on to that ball in the 80th minute, the scoreline would - and should - have been much worse. And as you’ve said, all this comes down to is tactics.

Most of our players would walk in to most teams in the Premiership, and they would be a success. Why cant they be here? Souness: My patience has finally begun to falter, and whilst I will still back him until the day he gets the sack, it is time for a change, a manager who is passionate and can bring the best out of the players. Steve Bruce? Maybe - but look what’s happened to Birmingham this season. Shearer? Maybe, the passion would be there, but maybe he should spend a season or two at a lower club, to get some experience.

Who then should be the replacement? I’d hope Freddie Shepherd is writing up a list of candidates, in the eventuality that a replacement is needed. So, thanks for straightening Newcastle out, and thanks for the fantastic transfer business, and feel welcome to become a director of football, but management? Leave it well alone Souey, time to bring in a proper manager. Oh, and if he makes signings in January of the calibre of the summer transfers, then I’m all for it, Bridge, Nihat - both would be good signings. - Alister Barnes

To Newcastle-Online

We are all disappointed with the way Newcastle are going, it may take another year now for at this rate, we will not reach our zenith. We will have to make a study of the training staff, as they may be responsible for some injuries. The training ground will have to be naturally made, star players should not train with unorthodox methods, that can hurt them. Disruptions on the pitch should be stopped too. Where is the unity, why is Mr Souness persevering with Ameobi? Where is Chopra, Sir Bobby at least had “insight'’. He would put on three fresh attackers at once, where is the coaches flair, foresight? Does Souness like players to crawl to him for a game? Maybe Chopra is not a yes man, then it is the manager’s problem. Where is the talent Mr Souness, stop crying foul, ok, get on with the job. Why are you relying on Owen to get Newcastle out of the mire? What is wrong with Shearer, and the defence? Shearer and Chopra combination? Owen and Chopra, not Ameobi? He needs an attitude fix. Lots of questions, not many answers. - Quentin Dunn

RE: “Truth Or Dare”

As time passes I have to agree with you! We are all waiting for everything to “click” with “his players”, sorry to say it looks like it will not happen. There have been too many false dawns at Newcastle, and this looks like the latest one. It looks like if we do not make a change now or soon we will be on the slide again and loose more ground and credibility (if we still have any to loose). I believe Hitzfeld is still available, and should be an excellent appointment, after all Manure were after him according to the Sunday rags a few weeks ago to replace Ferguson. Better get in there fast before he is signed up by someone else. - Arty H

RE: “Truth Or Dare”

Spot on - tactically we are clueless. We have class in midfield and Bramble and Boumsong just hoof the ball up to Shearer… - CB

RE: “Truth Or Dare”

I agree with many of your sentiments but my concern is should we release Souness, just who comes in to replace him? We all know who FS would like in charge, but Shearer is too young and needs a few years away from the club, a clean slate. If things don’t improve quickly though, that question could soon get answered. - Andy Thompson

RE: “RIP George Best - Football Legend”

I remember nicking off Physics, at school, one Friday afternoon towards the end of 68-69 Season. Me and my mate, Bawny, hitch-hiked to Old Trafford to watch the European Champions, Manchester United play Newcastle. We slept in Bawny’s kid brothers wigwam somewhere crossing the Pennines, pre M62. Up front ManU had Best, Law and Charlton. The score at half time was 3-0 and by full time 6-0. With shirt tucked in at the back and out at the front (every kid used to copy his one arm raised high and head hung low after scoring a goal) Best scored a hat-trick. We’d been tonked by the best team I’d ever seen and Best was the best of ‘em. It’s a privilege to have seen him play. - Paul Burr

RE: “RIP George Best - Football Legend”

Gaz, I appreciate your kind and objective comments. I am a lifelong Toon fan and bring my sons over a few times each season, as far as work and financial commitments allow. George is the only player from these islands I would rate above ‘Big Al’ in terms of passion, commitment and technical ability. Giggs, Beckham?… not in the same room as him. I am glad you mentioned The Legend on your website… and am as amazed as I am disappointed that there is even a debate about having a 1 minute silence for George. The ‘Geordie Nation’ should do better. Never forget the Belfast Boy. - Tim Hanley, Lisburn, Northern Ireland

To Newcastle-Online

Oh dear, my Newcastle team… another defeat to Everton this time. What happened? What is happening to the team? Watching them playing, running around and belting the ball up front, going for their own style? It’s quite a sorry state to see them playing like that. Poor old Given not ‘given’ many support from defenders and poor old Shearer just has to wait for the ball to get onto his foot or head to go for goal. But where are the support from his team-mates and where are their fighting spirits?

Where is the teamwork? Wish I see them play the way like Chelsea, Manchester United or Arsenal in each match. Wish I see my team have more stronger and powerful defenders, midfielders and strikers that prove worthy of the club and for their supporters who not only watch ‘live’ at the stadiums, but on tv, radios or even the internet and supporters not only local but overseas too.

We are happy ones when Owen joined the club and happy for some good players there too. But something the team lack is so-called ‘teamwork’. The January transfer window will be opening again and I just wonder if the chairman and manager will invest in a few more stronger, valuable and experienced players?

But hopefully also give more chances to those young ones like M. Chopra, P. Ramage, S. Taylor to play in the 1st team with their great team mates like Shearer, Owen, Emre, Solano, Given… You never know they may become the future shining stars for Newcastle.

We have a saying “practice makes perfect”. We hope to see someday sooner than later Newcastle United will go top of the table and qualify into the Champions League. We are still your supporters and we hope we will see the very best from the team performances in each match. Chin up Newcastle players!! We love you!! - Emil, Singapore

To Newcastle-Online

I’m a great fan of Newcastle. Soon the January transfer window will open and hopefully the manager will bring in some good strong defenders and maybe a powerful striker to partner Owen. So disappointed when watching the match played with Chelsea last week. I think we should give Michael Chopra more chances to play and who knows the two Michael’s (Owen & Chopra) can partner up, and bring in more wins and goals. - Emily

Dear N.O

I am very saddened and disappointed with the comments you make in regards to the tackle on Joe Cole. Such a tackle could be career threatening or god forbid life threatening as he fell vertical onto his neck. Rivalry is good but to support in glory such a tackle goes against all that I believed NUFC fans were about with the heritage and passion they hold and bring to the footballing world. I’m sure if such a tackle was delivered to a Newcastle player then attitudes would be very different. I’m very disappointed with this site to act and bask in such an inappropriate manner. - Robbie

(Ed: It was a fair, clean tackle and it was fantastic to see. More of it please!)

Dear N.O

Its official. I’ve now been a Newcastle Fan for 30 years. Not to the day, you understand, but 30 years it is since I changed the pigeon hole of my allegiance from Elland Road to St. James’ Park. Up to 10 years of age I just loved football in general. I was allowed to stay up on a Saturday night to watch “Match Of The Day”, the first ten minutes of which was usually spent fiddling with the vertical hold trying to sort out Jimmy Hill’s chin. Then there was Sunday afternoon and “Shoot”. More football. At that age I believed that matches were 30 minutes long, no professional footballer ever put a pass astray, and no striker ever missed the goal by more than a foot. High-lights, they called them.

Then came the 71-72 season and Leeds United. You have to understand that we lived in a tiny village in Northumberland and it was easier to get into Scotland than it was Newcastle. I’d never been to the big city so geographical convenience wasn’t a factor. Anyway. How could you not support Leeds? They were the only team in the League with little yellow Tea-Bags on their socks with the players number on them. Cool, or what? Oh, and they won the FA cup that year, but I’m sure that wasn’t a factor of major influence. I was 10 and wasn’t going to be swayed by thing like titles, when there were numbered sock Tea-Bags to be considered.

The Leeds love affair didn’t last very long. On Boxing day in 1973 I went to my first football match. Newcastle put up a good show but came out on the”wrong end of a one goal thriller” as I’m sure I’ve heard someone much more match savvy than me say. I was, however, as a result of this Leeds victory, hooked on the Toon. I can’t remember the Paul Madely goal - don’t even think I saw it. Can’t remember much really apart from the moment of realisation that I was supporting the wrong side.

The ball went out for a Leeds throw right in front of me. Okay 12 rows in front of me if you want to get picky, but that didn’t matter because my hero Allan Clarke came across to take the throw. As he put his right foot onto the line to take the throw the most memorable event of the whole fixture occurred. The owner of a big booming Geordie voice immediately behind me made everyone aware of his doubts as to “sniffer’s” sexual preference. This was followed by the two rather large Yorkshire gentlemen (read “steamrollers”) in front of me turning round and lurching straight through me to further discuss this issue. I was hauled to my feet by the “boomer”, discussion over, back to the match.

Despite this little upset in the stands, something about that first visit convinced me that there was only one team worth supporting. Think of it as a pilgrimage. This was all back in the days when there were 4 divisions that were sensibly named Divisions 1-4. There were no seats to get in the way of, well, basically, anything. Stands were stands, and not seats. I’m pretty sure the weather was a good 15 degrees colder then too.

Almost 20 years ago following the Toon became a little more difficult for me when I took a job in Saudi Arabia. Since then I’ve lived and worked in different places around the Middle East, and it’s from the sunny climes of Bahrain that I’m penning this article.

Yes, I’m an overseas fan. Wow, even from here I can hear you screaming “scum of the earth” and things like “you’re no better than a Manchester United Fan”. But give me a break, here. I still do my best to support “our” team. I have the last half dozen shirts folded in the wardrobe. I know all the words to “I could have been a Mackem”, and in the last 18 months I haven’t missed a single league game, home or away. Now I bet that surprised a few of you!

4 years ago I had a seriously overpriced satellite system installed just to watch the football, much to the disgust of the wife. She was even more disgusted when I’d still nip off down the local sports bar whenever the Newcastle matches were being shown live. Atmosphere is everything. As a result of too much atmosphere only 2 of the shirts in the wardrobe actually fit now. The last match I attended was when we beat Swindon 5-0 in the FA Cup.

That was the one where half of the Swindon management were either suspended or fined for “financial irregularities”. Apparently, at the time it was considered highly irregular from a financial point of view to accept your salary after an arse-kicking like that. So I am one of these people who just sit at home in the armchair watching the match on satellite TV, and then I actually have the nerve to call myself a fan?

Newcastle United are in the fortunate position that they have a lot of fans like me. Fans who can’t get in to see their team because nearly 53,000 seats are taken almost every other week. Fans who continue to buy the merchandise even though they can’t get into the game. Fans who can actually only dream of getting to see a match live.

They say that the over-exposure of the game on TV is killing attendances. They may have a point, otherwise how else could we explain why we have so many empty seats on a regular basis? Only 52,302 for a local derby? That’s 24 down on the Chelsea match. No doubt those 24 selfish bastards stayed at home to watch on TV. It makes you wonder if the people who are spouting these theories have even been to a football match; have ever been passionate about a club.

The internet helps keep me up to date too. It seems that Newcastle have sacked 28 players, but bought 43 replacements this month. There are more players injured than are on the books, and the entire football playing world is currently in transfer talks with us. Thank goodness the internet is a properly policed resource which is protected from abuse by unscrupulous hacks.

We all do what we can to follow our club. My Brother-In-Law spends the week working his proverbials off for the privilege of being engrossed in the ultimate black and white St. James’ experience for 2 hours. Me? I just invite a few mates around, crack open a case and shout myself hoarse at the screen. I get to see all of the action from 6 different angles. I get to see the goals again and again and again. I even get a commentary where 2 people I’ve never heard of spend 110 minutes trying to convince me that they’re watching a different match.

On top of all that I’ve got one of those new-fangled DVD recorders that allows you to play every incident back immediately and with such clarity that everyone in my house knew that, against Sunderland, Ameobi was just a one goal hero. This was within minutes of him scoring the goal. Then fast forward at 2X normal speed, with the commentary, until you catch up with the match again.

I also get to pull all refereeing decisions to pieces because I can play them back and forwards, freeze frame them and zoom into various parts of the pitch. So that’s how being a fan in Bahrain actually works. We are almost totally technology dependant, with just a minor requirement for hops thrown in. Personally , I’m jealous as hell of the Brother-In-Law. It would be nice to try and get back more often to actually watch the games live, but the petrol would cripple us. - Rob Brown

(Ed: A fantastic read Rob, thanks for sending your e-mail in. Keep them coming.)

RE: The Halcyon Days: Where Did It All Go Wrong & Where Next For Newcastle United?

It all depends on your point of view of the “halcyon days”, mine are of the Milburn era. I started as a 10 year old boy, it was truly a great time. At least they were trophy winners, and I’ve got a sneaky feeling Souey will end the drought. - Mark Bond

RE: “Sympathy For The Devil”

Nice article with some very valid points. I too believe that up to now Souness has achieved what was required to get Newcastle back on track. I disagree with a couple of things though, so here we go. I think Boumsong has been rumbled. He arrived an unknown quantity in the Premiership, and as a result it took a few games for clubs to figure him out, but now I think they’ve got him. He’s slow on the turn, so all the opposition do now is sit a few yards short, draw him out and turn him, get him on his back foot and go round him. I don’t think that’s going to improve with time, unless we can speed him up a bit.

As for Babayaro - he’s the one who’s surprised me. To begin with he looked out of his depth, but he’s starting to tick. He appears to be a Bernard clone - playing the same kind of game with the same drive to get up the left hand side with the ball. Going into such depth about the players brought in I was very surprised that nothing was said about the youngsters.

We have the building blocks of a championship winning team in the likes of Taylor, Ramage, N’Zogbia and Milner. They are a bunch of kids who are going out and giving world class players the runaround. I’d like to see Taylor’s arms taped to his sides for a while though, and maybe if we got him off the red meat, we could keep him on the pitch a bit longer, but he’s certainly got what it takes. I can’t wait for him to score his first goal for the boys and see how he goes on from there.

Lets try to get back on point for the finish. Souness is the type of person, in football and in real life, that you either love or hate. He doesn’t take crap from anyone. There are enough 4th officials that can vouch for that. In working with big Fred he probably has the partner from hell - which makes any achievement a bit special. Personally I think we need 2 more forwards.

Ameobi isn’t in the right class, and Chopra isn’t there yet either. I think there’s time for the latter, but not the former. Has Alan Shearer lost his edge, or has his support disappeared? Has his role changed? He seems to be playing a bit deeper, so that when he gets the ball he’s got too much to do to get it into the net. Is a change of tactics responsible for his loss of form, or has he reached his sell-by date. Can’t comment there, but either way he’s not performing so something has to change.

We seem to have enough midfielders - at least until the next training facility change. I’m interested to see how Moore turns out at the back. We still lack someone solid in the middle with a wise head. As the screaming hordes of opposition are teeming up the middle there’s no-one that you can look at and say, “don’t worry, We’re OK, Big Gus will sort it….” So it seems that we have a good team, but we’re still 3 players away from a good squad.

I think we are also still 4 games away from a team that can play together. While I think Souness is almost there, give him the 3 players (January) and the 4 games (January too) and start assessing from then. If at that point we’re in the top 7 anyway, then things can’t be too bad, can they. Personally I’d say Europe this year, Silverware next. Top 2 in the league after that. - Rob Brown

RE: The Halcyon Days: Where Did It All Go Wrong & Where Next For Newcastle United?

Hmmm so are you a Newcastle fan or do you just like to regurgitate over old news whilst using the somewhat dubious theories to proffer your current, personal disdain for the present football club management. Of course football clubs buy names, that’s the business of sport, you can’t hope to win trophies without the best players, long gone are the days of playing with 16 home grown players. But what you fail to acknowledge is that there are only ever 1 cup winner, 1 league champion, 1 european champion, but we continue to follow & SUPPORT because that is what football fans do - you can not attach a critical balance, like some sort of contractual obligation, towards a football club, its management or Public support.

Those who do are pilloried as ‘glory hunters’ band wagon jumpers, fair weather fans, good time charlies. I have seen every home game since 1984 and have loved the experience of each and every one, maybe not as it was happening (bournemouth in the fog, the anglo-italian cup) but certainly looking back and I am thankful that I have had this as an avenue in my life to explore, experience and feel part of.

Why isn’t European ambition enough, what gives you the right to feel YOU are deserving of more - maybe you should take a long look at WHY you support the Toon - is it so you can gloat over the supporters of lesser teams when we do win something (a la Man Utd) or is it so you can be part of an experience, good or bad, which is collective and uniting. Your memories of past seasons tell a great tale of where were you when? Do you remember? I was there when? all experiences which go up to make the fabric of support and I doubt for one moment that on the day Alan Shearer was signed you were sat with a concerned expression pondering over the financial ramifications of the deal and whether it was done, only for fiscal reasons We will always be supporters, we will always have views, we will always disagree about one player or another, one manager or another, but we should also remember that it is only because of the football club that we have this to be a part of. - Toon Fan

RE: The Halcyon Days: Where Did It All Go Wrong & Where Next For Newcastle United?

Excellent article!!! Couldn’t have agreed more. - Syakir Zainol

RE: The Halcyon Days: Where Did It All Go Wrong & Where Next For Newcastle United?

Damn good piece, keep up the good work. - Les Robson

RE: The Halcyon Days: Where Did It All Go Wrong & Where Next For Newcastle United?

I’d just like to say what a great piece you have submitted. I am only a fairly recent supporter of the Toon, after many years supporting our own football codes here such as Australian rules. I found your piece quite informative and did help to explain why such a large club has had very limited success over the years. What I have loved about football though, no matter what code, is that there is always hope for the future. As long as people want to believe there will be better days ahead it can be so. - Allan

RE: The Halcyon Days: Where Did It All Go Wrong & Where Next For Newcastle United?

The KK years where great, we had a great team and where looking forward to some great years, but Shepherd and the Hall’s are happy to con the fans and the furture does not look as good. - Jimmy Scott

RE: The Halcyon Days: Where Did It All Go Wrong & Where Next For Newcastle United?

Great, well written intelligent article. As a Geordie fan from Australia who was not fortunate enough to be involved during the KK years it was a great read to learn a bit of history. - Charlie

RE: The Halcyon Days: Where Did It All Go Wrong & Where Next For Newcastle United?

A very interesting read with a different slant on the KK days, thanks I enjoyed it very much. - Paul

RE: The Halcyon Days: Where Did It All Go Wrong & Where Next For Newcastle United?

A brilliant article and great memories, but that is all they are. It’s not just Newcastle that have changed, the whole of football has changed. Whilst I will never forget the “Keegan” years, we have to move on. My grandad once told me that the 1920’s team were better than Keegan’s team. They are both dead now, so let’s look forward. For the next 5 years or so, Chelsea will dominate. We need to make sure that we qualify for the Champions League on a regular basis so that we have the funds in place to challenge Arsenal, Man Utd & Liverpool when Chelsea do finally drop away.

Football’s popularity is dropping, and clubs will need to survive on reduced TV revenue in the future. We have got the fan base and ability to generate as much money as any team (except Man U), that means we should be able to bring in top drawer players. What we need is a coach who can make them play with the determination of Wigan / Bolton, but with the flair of Arsenal. Souness is probably not that man, in fact I don’t know who is. It’s not been as much fun belting up & down the A1 as it used to be, but I still do it. One day we will win something. KEEP THE FAITH! and remember the past with fondness but, it’s not coming back. - Adrian Devine

RE: The Halcyon Days: Where Did It All Go Wrong & Where Next For Newcastle United?

That was absolutely brilliant, I couldn’t take my eyes off that. I’ve been a Newcastle United supporter all my life (all 19 years of it ha ha) and never has an article shown that side of my, our club. maybe if KK hadn’t of been fighting agaisnt the board and worked with it as he had done for a long time, and the board didnt have £ signs in their eyes then Newcastle United Football Club would be getting the respect it deserves nationally and internationally.

I say this every season but good times are around the corner. A chairman who is a fan of the club, a captain who is a fan of the club, a top class stopper who wants to stay at the club and a manager who has full faith in what he calls his best 11. Souness has won a trophy at every club he’s been at, he could go from devil to god if his best 11 is exactly what he thinks they are. - Simon

RE: The Halcyon Days: Where Did It All Go Wrong & Where Next For Newcastle United?

Completely agree - great article. Although I may add that it went from bad to worse as we continued to sell off the KK players and bring in rubbish under the next few managers (Maric, Marcelino, Charvet spring to mind). And in hindsight Tomasson should maybe not have been offloaded so quickly. - Tony Wright

RE: The Halcyon Days: Where Did It All Go Wrong & Where Next For Newcastle United?

The most lucid and accurate summary of the last 10 years at SJP. Brilliant piece. I’m sure, though, there’ll be loads of readers who gave up after the Shearer section, bleating heresy and the like. These hero-worhsippers are as much to blame as anybody. Looking back at videos from time to time brings a tear to the eye. I, for one, have gone from life-long fan (since 1969) and season ticket holder, to just one more apathetic (in truth, mildly interested) ex-pat fan who no longer looks forward to the drive north from the midlands every two or three weeks. The season ticket was given up after one too many lame excuses from SBR (who was he kidding - two good years and then the downward spiral). I don’t miss it now but what I do miss is the way in which everyone interested in football always had a good word for NUFC - that died with the coming of Dalglish and it’s a crying shame. We really were everyone else’s second-fave team and now we’re just another ‘big’ club in a game ruined by hype and money. Those KK days were the real deal - absolutely no doubt about it. - David Atkinson

RE: The Halcyon Days: Where Did It All Go Wrong & Where Next For Newcastle United?

Hi guys, I just wanted to express my gratitude as a fan for this particular article. As an overseas supporter who only started following football and Newcastle just after Keegan left, this article provided me with a great deal more knowledge and insight into the Keegan reign and why it ended. Having knowledge of this situation is very important in understanding why Newcastle United is the club it is today. This article provides suggestions of both why Newcastle where so extraordinarily successful and why the club’s fortunes rapidly deteriorated. I imagine a lot of overseas fans like myself will learn a lot from this article. I think it is one of the most informative articles on Newcastle United I have read and I am very grateful for it. It points out some of what makes Newcastle a unique club and why it affects supporters so profoundly. I’m looking forward to part 2. Thanks again. - Hugo Lines

RE: “Souness Has Got One Thing Right…”

Good article, judging by Robert’s petulance at Portsmouth it must have been difficult. As for Bellamy, in any workplace you can not go up to the manager and say he is lying and think you are going to survive. If we could get a decent striker in January things should be looking up. - BIB60

RE: “Souness: Time To Drop Shearer”

What is wrong with the author of that tripe? Shearer is the heart and soul of NUFC and is just forming his unstoppable strike partnership with Owen, we need Shearer our ONLY trouble will be replacing him… (Scott Parker for captain?). - Matthew Green

RE: “Newcastle Need Players Like Amdy Faye”

You talk a lot of sense but if by your own admission he isn’t good enough to play for us then he shouldn’t be there. Every club needs players who will have to accept they’re not first choice but who can do a job when asked but NO club should want players who are happy about it because that is complacency and who wants players without hunger? Whilst Faye is with us we should support him so he can do his best but if you’re not good enough you don’t belong there. - Gracelino Camacho

Thanks to everyone who wrote in. Keep them coming.