The Newcastle United Blog

108 responses so far ↓

• 1 ronaldeano // May 5, 2008 at 20:25

  They are superior because of the 500 million plus that Abramovitch has spent.

  We would be in the same position as Chelsea if Abramovitch had decided to buy Newcastle instead!

• 2 Mson // May 5, 2008 at 20:26

  what i react most to is that KK seem to have giving up hope of make a top4 side of NUFC

  QUOTE FROM AFTER MATCH:

  Kevin Keegan said after Newcastl’s defeat by Chelsea today: “I was thinking, ‘what have I got to do next year to get near them’ - and the truth is there’s nothing I can do at all. The fans have to know that.

  “I haven’t got enough money and I wouldn’t be able to get the players anyway, so I will soldier on with what I’ve got and maybe add one or two, maybe three depending what’s available.

  “I was looking around thinking, ‘who can I bring on’ and I’m seeing Shevchenko and Lampard coming on and Joe Cole thinking about coming on.

  “Maybe the owner [Mike Ashley] thinks we can bridge that gap - but we can’t.”

  source: http://www.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=684817

• 3 Leo // May 5, 2008 at 20:29

  ive never heard keegan be soo negative after a game, he seems really depressed maybe ashley has told him he isnt getting any money

• 4 michael // May 5, 2008 at 20:35

  1. Geremi was awful today. Slow, wasteful and clumsy. His free kick opportunity was awful both times he took it. Compared to Butt and Barton today he was a liability we couldn’t afford.

  2. When Vids went off Smith showed that he doesn’t offer anything to the team which has been apparent all season.

  3. Abdoulaye Faye was excellent. Muscled Drogba out kept him in his pocket.

  4. Marking from corners!! Nicky Butt lost a standing still Ballack for the goal, and Steven Taylor was caught out badly by Terry just prior. Chris Houghton will have been taking notes.

• 5 ronaldeano // May 5, 2008 at 20:36

  @Leo, KK will get money, just not ’stupid’ money to buy has beens like Sheva or Henry

  Abramovitch wants to do that cos he is the 3rd richest man in the world, it dosent matter to him

  MA is a very good buisnessman, he dosent want do do that, even though he is a billionare…

  He is not as rich as that Russian tosser!

• 6 daiv // May 5, 2008 at 20:36

  Well KK made a massive mistake bringing on SMITH. Hes totally useless. You can’t blame Smith for KK selecting him. You blame the manager. How can he think Smith is worthy of a place? Unbelievable.

• 7 american pie // May 5, 2008 at 20:36

  OMG!!! OMG!!! why is SMITH playing????
  i feared the worst when he came on and I was right!!! He couldn’t make a single right move.
  PLEASEEEEEE GET RID OF HIM KK!!!

  Conceded the first goal-couldnt handle ballack
  and why the hell was he playing on the floor lying down????

• 8 ronaldeano // May 5, 2008 at 20:37

  @Micheal, for once i agree with you mate!

• 9 daiv // May 5, 2008 at 20:38

  I don’t want to hear KK being honest. I want hope and optimism. KK talking the team down is not what I want to hear.

• 10 michael // May 5, 2008 at 20:38

  Those quotes were from Sky Sports.
  He was really commenting on how good Chelsea’s squad was. He said he didn’t have enough money because chelsea had spent money every year.

• 11 Greg P // May 5, 2008 at 20:47

  I can’t see why everyone is so negative, we were beaten by one of the best teams in Europe and Smith and Geremi were poor - but we’ve known that all season. Geremi has the odd good game but not many.
  The first half was decent and we’re not going to challenge for the top 4 next season. It would be stupid to think its that easy otherwise Spurs/Villa/Everton would all have broken through.
  We need to build a squad to re-establish ourselves in the top 8 and take it from there.
  The one thing today proved was that we need someone who can stand in for Viduka, and that has to be Crouch.

• 12 daiv // May 5, 2008 at 20:49

  I’ve watched NUFC home and away for 46 years.(I don’t go away to top 4 cos I’m tired of always losing and it costs too much). Season ticket holder living in the south. KK is being totally negative and its not good. He’s saying that unless an Abramovitch comes to NUFC we’ll never win the league. MA IS tight. How depressing are KKs comments today?

• 13 ronaldeano // May 5, 2008 at 20:50

  Agree Greg p, Crouch would be a good buy at this moment in time. Viduka is always injured, and Crouch would fit in nicely in the current system

• 14 michael // May 5, 2008 at 20:51

  Newcastle need to sign 3 first team players this summer. Probably another 3 in Janurary and every transfer window thereafter. It’s how Chelsea and United do it, and how Keegan used to do it.

• 15 daiv // May 5, 2008 at 20:51

  Greg P
  SMITH can stand in for Viduka……as long as Smith is standing in the Antarctic with no boat.

• 16 Just Joe // May 5, 2008 at 20:51

  I really think a lot of you are over reacting and taking the things Keegan said out of context.

  He didn’t say he wasn’t getting any money, only that he wouldn’t have enough to compete with the likes of Chelsea and Man U.
  All he is doing is reducing the expectations of stupid fans and board members who will soon start demanding a top 4 finish next season. It is unrealistic!

  If Keegan thinks we only need a few extra additions, then so be it. We have to trust him. It worked out for us after the January trasnfer window didn’t it…?

  I’m still confident there will be money to spend although we might need to temper our imaginations a little in terms of the caliber of player we will attract.

  Since this is my first post, I’d just like to say thanks to “Ed” for the coverage you have provided this season. Think you’ve definately taken over as the top NUFC news page now.

  Right, let’s keep the faith but not get too carried away ha!
  JOE

• 17 ronaldeano // May 5, 2008 at 20:52

  @ daiv, KK is being realistic mate

• 18 Gooderz // May 5, 2008 at 20:56

  A lot of people seem to be missing the key phrase of ‘next year’, or paraphrasing to get headlines (like they’ve never done that before).

  The fact is with no European football we won’t get the best players, so topping the table won’t happen next year and Keegan has already said this.

  I’m backing what Chris ‘Penfold’ Mort has said in that ’sufficient funds’ will be available for the right players and that the majority of our players will have many years in them so in 3-5 years we could be reaping the rewards, and more youngsters coming through behind them.

• 19 ronaldeano // May 5, 2008 at 20:57

  Well said Gooderz!

• 20 Scott H11 // May 5, 2008 at 20:58

  We played ok but Geremi was a disgrace, Their quality showed in the second half, our back four played well even though i’m not a fan of Taylor, Martins was outstanding.

• 21 daiv // May 5, 2008 at 20:59

  Ronaldeano,
  KK is being realistic because MA is not coughing up. It may be a tactic to get MA to take his hands out of his pockets. Money talks. MA is being tight. He spent £9M last summer if you include our sales. That was one of the lowest in the Prem. NOT GOOD ENOUGH. He needs to spend large or sell up. I’ve had enough of him sitting on his hands playing the court jester in the stands.

• 22 ronaldeano // May 5, 2008 at 20:59

  There will be a ‘big 5′ in 3-4 years time and NUFC will be in it!

• 23 ronaldeano // May 5, 2008 at 21:01

  @daiv, i would love it if MA spent 100 million on players in the summer, but its not going to happen. I hope im wrong like!

• 24 Just Joe // May 5, 2008 at 21:04

  Daiv to be fair I don’t think you can accuse MA just yet. Nothing has been said to indicate there will be no money available out so I’m not sure where you are getting that from…

• 25 M. Stockley // May 5, 2008 at 21:08

  its the fact that players need replacing and we have a small squad how it is, so is it gonna be crap replaced with more crap in the summer or keep the crap we already have. we have lots ofgood players but there are about 6/7 that are not goodenough and if zoggy does leave we need a decent replacement

• 26 scottish mag // May 5, 2008 at 21:13

  keegan has just made some more comments at the press conference about how newcastle will try to win the second division in the prem by finishing 5th because no one will ever get into the top four nd how the prem will become the best but most boring league because it will be the same every year,

  he also said he hasnt spoken to ashley yet and doesnt but expects MA to back him in the summer.

  also did anyone hear KK say that he had just talked to SWP and he wasnt even in kit, saying he would walk into our team( he would) maybe this is a hint to us and SWP that we are interested and that SWP would defo get first team footie if he joined us.

• 27 M. Stockley // May 5, 2008 at 21:18

  swp would be a great signing!

• 28 ronaldeano // May 5, 2008 at 21:20

  Agree Stockley. He made a mistake going there in the first place, just like Sidwell, Ben Haim etc

• 29 Michael // May 5, 2008 at 21:23

  Admirably pragmatic from Keegan, in stark contrast to his fantasist following on this forum. Firstly michael, you need to stop impersonating me here, differentiate yourself by some means, I cannot allow for people to think I am as soft as they are.

  Keegan is right, the top four are out of reach in what is becoming an increasingly hard club in which to enter. Notably Chelsea United Arsenal and Liverpool are four of the bigger clubs in European football and their form in the premier league attests this; More so, is the lack of strength in depth the Newcastle united side have and of course a manager bereft of tactics.

  I think that became increasingly obvious, particularly today. Suddenly he can no longer rely on the continued trio of Martins Viduka and Owen, if one goes missing it caves in like a deck of cards.

  While I praise him, unreservedly for his fantastic run under which he put us, we must look at ourselves in the mirror and forget about that now. The season is over and better now than beginning next season that we reconsider who must go and who must stay. Before this run people on this very forum said we need a wholesale change, a few wins and people said about 3 or 4 signings, “Butt” is world class and other such bombast. The realities must be addressed and not overlooked in this euphoria that has since come.

  A wholesale clearance is still needed, starting with Martins. While good, we could get a very tidy sum for him and reinvest in several players. Strength in depth is the core to premier league success and the very delicate nature of our success was ruptured today with Viduka coming off at half time only for us to go and concede two goals and be under enormous pressure when we had the better play in the fist half. Our team is delicate and that was exposed today.

  I welcome the debate.

• 30 geoffo // May 5, 2008 at 21:28

  Keegans negativity stems from his frustration that he couldn’t put on a better display for the fans and club he adores for the last match at SJP of the season. Once he’s had time to calm down and reflect, you will see the old positive Keegan return. This club has short and long term aims and I for one believe in the longer term we will break through, the infrastructure of this club is improving all the time , the fan base is there, the stadium, training ground, youth acadamy, Keegans emotions were heightened today after an emotional six months, but had we played and beaten the Mackems or Birmingham, Spurs today we would have gone away full of possibly unrealistic expectations, Keegan is a realist and knows what is needed, we may surprise a few teams next term we may surprise ourselves, but for once we are not buying into an unrealistic dream of sexy football and a champions league place. Football has changed, and it changed forever when Abramovitch paid inflated prices for the cream of European talent and effectively pulled up the drawbridge on the rest of us. However we can take inspiration from other European leagues where the stranglehold of the ‘rich untouchable’ clubs were usurped in the form of Valencia, Lyon, Deporivo etcetera who did the unexpected in their respective leagues. Keep the faith and look where we were with Alerdyce and the shite football we played, then look back over the last seven matches (excluding this one) and tell me we should stop believing, we won’t and Keegan won’t either but his belief I think extends beyond his tenure and THATS what’s frustrating, he would like it to happen while HE holds the reigns.

• 31 ronaldeano // May 5, 2008 at 21:28

  Sell Martins? Are you joking! His pace is frightening and he is young enough to learn how to be a better team player and how to stick the ball in the net.

• 32 M. Stockley // May 5, 2008 at 21:31

  Michael
  i agree we need a big clear out and its true we dont have quality in depth,but oba?
  cashing in on him would be crazy… today he once again shown his ability to excite, use his pace and look like a danger. who from the current crop would you like to keep ideally michael?

• 33 Michael // May 5, 2008 at 21:31

  Ronaldeano. That was not me buddy. michael is someone else. I am a bit more realistic and I doubt I would say anything with which you would agree.

• 34 ronaldeano // May 5, 2008 at 21:32

  Geoffo, Well said mate. Lets enjoy the fantastic attacking football that KK will bring next season, and hope that we will finish in the top 6. Then we can start talking about signing the world class players of this world

• 35 daiv // May 5, 2008 at 21:35

  Michael
  I agree that we can sell Martins if we get £15M for him. An exciting player but he does not score enough goals and is not a natural goalscorer. No simple poacher’s goals because he does not get in the box in dangerous positions.
  Agree we need back up for Viduka who is good but injury prone. Also he is a homer. I know because i go to home and away games. Crouch or Ashton woule be excellent buys.

  The attack and the defence is good enough for 5th. Maybe a top centre back would be good. Cuellar or Dunne.

  We are desperately short in midfield where we have no legs or vision. Butt and Geremi are too old and static. We need two world class players there. MA please cough up.

  Then we would be 5th!!!

  And KK stays. He is tactically not the best but give him the right players and he can achieve anything. He gets the best out of good players. MA needs to back him. Put up or shut up MA.

• 36 Michael // May 5, 2008 at 21:36

  No doubt, Michael Owen, Faye, Beye, Butt definitely these four. Viduka was free so no need to worry too much about him. We need cutting edge footballers and Keegan should take a leaf from Mark Hughes who who bought a diamond in Cruz. Where were we when these players were subject to commerce?

• 37 ronaldeano // May 5, 2008 at 21:36

  @Michael, so there are 2 of you!!! The Michael i know talkes out of his arse all the time and has his mam bring him hot cups of coco before she tucks him in for his bedtime story!!!

  You should put a number next to your name in future so i know you are not the one i will call a “mammys boy”!!!

• 38 Michael // May 5, 2008 at 21:38

  Yes Daiv Crouch and Ashton would be Magnificent buys. I know Ashton is prone to injury but So was Cruz before Blackburn bought him bu look at that return on investment. Healthy, no?

• 39 Michael12 // May 5, 2008 at 21:39

  Ronaldeano@ Indeed henceforth, I am known as Michael12.

• 40 moe // May 5, 2008 at 21:40

  kevin keegan is a great manager, but i believe that our owner has the funds to buy the players that would get us into the top 4, but he just doesnt want to pay, i mean we could have a squad better than liverpools.

• 41 Michael12 // May 5, 2008 at 21:41

  @Ronaldeano. Henceforth I am now Michael12.

• 42 M. Stockley // May 5, 2008 at 21:43

  moe, its attracting the players to be better than liverpool though mate.

• 43 michael // May 5, 2008 at 21:45

  Firstly Michael with a capital M, I am not impersonating you. I’ve been on this forum for over a year now, and when I first noticed you about Janurary I didn’t get bothered by it, because my life’s not that sad. TTFU big lad.

  If I was signing players SWP, Gudjohnsen, Riise would be the three at the top of my list. If we got those three we could challenge for the top six no problem given the current squad.

• 44 geoffo // May 5, 2008 at 21:48

  Daiv, can’t believe the antagonism towards Ashley already. The guy has put us on a sound financial footing AT LAST, no more Shepherd and Hall milking the club dry. He will put up the neccessary funds, but who can we realisticly get? the top players, the Messis etcetera are earmarked by the reigning top clubs, so we will have to be shrewd and pragmatic and hope we capture players who go beyond expectations, remember Flamini almost went to Birmingham a couple of seasons ago for two million! Stop slagging off Ashley and again look at where we were end of last season.

• 45 M. Stockley // May 5, 2008 at 21:48

  riise is shit

• 46 Leo Smith // May 5, 2008 at 21:50

  http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/newcastle_united/7384247.stm

  Have a look at that. It’s a much more balanced article and actually includes all the quotes from all parties.

  People are over-reacting horribly here! Keegan has said that there’s nothign he can do to catch the top 4 NEXT YEAR (I love selective journalism). He’s right. We won’t be able to attract the best players here over the summer so we won’t be able to catch Arsenal et al in one season. If we get European footy next year that’ll give us a leg up and we can maybe try and catch Liverpool (who imo are there for the taking!). Everton came pretty close this year and I wouldn’t say we’re that far off them. We beat them earlier in the season!

  Ashley will definately support Keegan this summer, you can be sure of that - why else would we offer £8m for Woodgate or £15-20 odd for Modric? The money’s there, the stature sadly isn’s at the moment. A bit more strength and a bit of luck in the transfer market and we’ll be pushing for 5th as Keegan says.

  As for today’s game I thought first half we were excellent. We had two incredible oppurtunities which Owen really should have scored, and they had barely anything. We made them look ordinary. Second half, without Viduka (definitelythe turning point) they could come at us, and even then they only scored thanks to two mistakes from Smith. Also, the free kick was an incredible dive - barely any contact at all! Excellent base to work from next year - compare this to the eg Wigan (a) performance and you can’t help but smile.

  In terms of targets, I think the following are the sort of players who we should/could be targeting:

  LB: Riise, Shorey
  CB: Cuellar, Dunne, Metzelder
  CM: Van der Vaart, Deco, Arshavin
  RM: Bentley, SWP
  ST: Crouch, Gomis, Ashton

  Not saying we’ll get them all, but if we tried for Modric I think we’re aiming pretty high - you may as well!

  So stop all this pessimism and look on the bright side. This summer will be great, Ashley will spend big, and we’ll start next season in a great position to challenge for Europe. Viva la Kevolution!

• 47 BILLY - B // May 5, 2008 at 21:50

  I have just seen the full Keegan interview and understand what he is saying. Unless Mr Ashley is going to invest at least 200 mill. there is no way that we are going into break into the top four. So i wonder what is Dennis Wise all all about. Why take on someone at top wages to look for possible playing talent but then not provide the the money to buy them? Michael your off your head sell martins. if there is any ambition at all in the club we must keep our best talent at any price.

• 48 M. Stockley // May 5, 2008 at 21:52

  geoffo, people are only worried ashley is being niave, its not an attack on him, he’s done alotfor the club… but if he doesnt want splash cash where its needed, were gonna be a mid table team, not because kk isnt capable but because we dont have the quality to compete and certainlynot the depth. he needs to atleast communicate with kk.

• 49 ronaldeano // May 5, 2008 at 21:52

  @Geoff, MA deserves a medal for getting rid of that fat, thieving slimeball Freddy Shepherd. I recon thats why Keegan came back, because that shithouse is gone!!!

• 50 daiv // May 5, 2008 at 21:52

  Lads,
  Don’t you just hate Chelsea and their money. I hope Man U beat them for the League and the Cup. At least Man U are a proper club, British and have financed themselves. Chelsea are financed by a Russian ………..

• 51 michael // May 5, 2008 at 21:54

  Riise is a 27yr old attacking left back who has been consistently good in the premiership for the last 5 years. He’s good enough to win a CL he’s good enough to get near the top six. Newcastle’s ambition has to be to crack the top six next season, to attract the players the following season, who can challenge for the top 4.

• 52 ronaldeano // May 5, 2008 at 21:55

  Conman daiv! A Russian fookin conman!!!

• 53 michael // May 5, 2008 at 21:56

  Totally right deano.
  Keegan was always the best option, but he would never have come back while FFS was occupying the boardroom.

• 54 M. Stockley // May 5, 2008 at 21:56

  wayne bridgeis much better

• 55 michael // May 5, 2008 at 21:58

  Also moe, if it is that easy how come Man City aren’t in the top 4.

• 56 ronaldeano // May 5, 2008 at 21:59

  @micheal, KK would NEVER have left in the first place, he just couldent stand the stench of that fat prick no longer! Its took 11 years for him to get out of the toon, and now the king is back!

  Good times ahead!!!

• 57 michael // May 5, 2008 at 21:59

  Stockley
  On today’s evidence Bridge wouldn’t get in ahead of Jose Enrique.

• 58 Eamonn // May 5, 2008 at 22:00

  I was at the match today and I think it’s looking good for next season. Chelsea are Champions League finalists and we ran them close in the first half. KK is only playing down our expectations so MA will dig deep this summer.

• 59 michael // May 5, 2008 at 22:01

  Totally agree. Now the chubby’s have left, we can get back to the men of vision, and watch the Kevolution take hold. I expect that we will climb the table by 2-3 positions every year from now on.

• 60 M. Stockley // May 5, 2008 at 22:02

  michael,
  jose enrique is a great young lb,but my point on the whole bridge is better than riise. its just the truth dude.

• 61 michael // May 5, 2008 at 22:04

  I just think KK tells it like it is. He’s not playing mind games like Sam or Souness and that. He’s just genuine. That’s why we love him, and why he hated Shepard so much. I never frogave fat freddy for that, despite how much money he pretended to plough into the team.

• 62 ronaldeano // May 5, 2008 at 22:05

  Just think about all the extreemly BAD decisions that fat prick made over the years….

• 63 ronaldeano // May 5, 2008 at 22:05

  THE GREEDY FAT BASTARD!!!!!

• 64 M. Stockley // May 5, 2008 at 22:06

  10 million for boumsong or souness is probably my favourite…..fat prick!

• 65 michael // May 5, 2008 at 22:07

  Stockley
  I don’t agree. I haven’t seen much of Bridge as I don’t watch the Chelsea reserves, but on that performance today he’s not. Riise reminds me of Beresford which is why I like him.

• 66 michael // May 5, 2008 at 22:10

  I was on the trophy4toon.co.uk forum yesterday and I counted up the money spent by all the managers since Keegan Mk.1 era. Did you know that Souness spent 47 million pounds on players. Poor Roeder only got to sign 2 players (Oba and Duff) which cost money, and contrary to popular belief Big Sam spent 25 million this summer.

• 67 nate dawg // May 5, 2008 at 22:12

  qoutes from keegan after game
  “We are a million miles away from that,” said the 57-year-old.
  “This league is in danger of becoming one of the most boring but great leagues in the world. The top four next year will be the same top four as this year.

  “What I can
  say to the Newcastle fans is that we will be trying to get fifth and we will be trying to win the other league that’s going on within the Premier League.

  “We should make a run at that providing the owner backs me - I have no proof of that yet but I have no doubts he will.

  “If I can get three or four players in to what I have got here and we have that bit of luck you need with no injuries to key players then we might be able to win the second division of the Premier League.”

  No talking

  Keegan went on to reiterate that he does not anticipate a repeat of the problems he encountered during his first reign at St James’ Park, when then chairman Sir John Hall did not come up with the cash he felt he had been promised.

  However, his revelation that he never speaks to Ashley - if his words were not tongue-in-cheek - could well alarm the club’s supporters.

  He added: “It’s definitely not that. What I am saying is the holidays have changed, the destinations have changed.

  “My enthusiasm is the same. I love this club. It is not about brochures.

  “That was because Sir John Hall promised me money and then when I asked for it, it wasn’t quite there. That’s when I said ‘It’s not like the brochure’. Nothing like that is happening here.

  “I get on great with the owner (Mike Ashley) because I never talk to him. That’s better than some managers at the moment. No communication is good now.

  “He will support us, I don’t think there will be a problem there. But it will be getting the players, that’s always the biggest challenge.

  “Sometimes it’s just getting them to come to you when they have got three or four alternatives - and if they are really good players they have got three or four alternatives.”

  Uncertain future

  With the future of Michael Owen still very much subject to conjecture, Keegan’s assessment of the club’s potential has perhaps come at an awkward time but the Toon chief insists he is only being honest in his appraisal.

  And he remains confident that the club could yet thrash out fresh terms to keep the England international in the North East.

  Asked what Owen’s response would be if told fifth was the target next season, Keegan replied: “He will say: ‘It’s a damn sight better than we have done this year, gaffer’.

  “I have never said to Michael ‘Stay here and we will get Champions League football’, or ‘We will win the league’ so I am not misleading anybody there.

  “If we finished fifth it would be a massive achievement for this club next year, considering

  dunno why but that makes me feel a a bit better, sounded a bit calmer and spoke alot of sense, hope to god ashley backs him

• 68 M. Stockley // May 5, 2008 at 22:12

  riise cant tackle though son… i mean we all love a attacking full back but if you cant defend its useless

• 69 ronaldeano // May 5, 2008 at 22:13

  I wouldent give that conman 47 pence to spend! He sacked Robson and apointed that bent tw*t? Thats when all our troubles began

• 70 M. Stockley // May 5, 2008 at 22:15

  i loved in when souness said he’d jump at the chance of a return when fat sham was sacked, what a knob.

• 71 daiv // May 5, 2008 at 22:15

  Michael
  The defence is fine. They are not world class but there are no weaknesses. If we sell Martins we need a replacement. We should be focussing on the midfield where we are weak and need two quality replacements.
  Nzog is a traitor and we should sell him. Not good enough anyway. A head down dribbler who is a pain in the a….
  Milner is a winger who cannot cross a ball
  Butt, Duff and Geremi are either too old or static or……. well they are not good enough…. to sum it up. We lost the game today in 2nd half in midfield where the more mobile players at Chelski overran Butt and SMITH. Don’t get me blogging on Smith. Useless. Inept and more…..

• 72 michael // May 5, 2008 at 22:19

  He never said anything that he hasn’t been saying all along. Apparently there aren’t any board meetings at SJP anymore either. MA sacked them all cos they were costing us too much money. Just right too the fat cash sucking pigs.

  We’ve a new guy in for “hospitality” today and obviously the 3 recruitment boys. Aside from that who do you need? Mort looks after everything else so why pay Fat Fred and Desperate Doug?
  So Keegan doesn’t speak to Ashley? So what? The team designed to get him players he wants have his list and he’ll have his proof of backing when we sign those players. And he’ll be happy as a pig in the proverbial when we do.

• 73 michael // May 5, 2008 at 22:24

  The midfield is rubbish at the moment. Possibly due to the reluctance of Big Sam to sign people who are capable of passing the ball well.
  Bobby Robson once admitted that Jose Mourhino had told him that Geremi runs like a 40 yr old. You could se his point today. Smith is bad, but the fact Geremi still believes he’s a dead ball specialist after this season proves to me that he is worse.

• 74 daiv // May 5, 2008 at 22:31

  Michael
  Geremi and Smith are both very bad. But Smith is unbelievably bad. Two top players to replace them would transform the team. The defence and attaack are fine. The midfield is woeful.

• 75 M. Stockley // May 5, 2008 at 22:39

  here here
  barton is a keeper tho imo!

• 76 geoffo // May 5, 2008 at 22:46

  We made great strides under Robson AND broke into the top four! We just didn’t build on that achievement, there was no long term strategy, Freddie was an ignorant self serving, narrow minded, parochial, proffesional Geordie who couldn’t se beyond the tyne bridge. We have huge cause for optimism and remember it wasn’t that long ago Everton finished fourth in recent years, it is possible, but quick fix, trophy signings aren’t the answer, we’ve had our fill of that. KK knows it is the midfield area and defence that needs looking at and lest we forget we have invested hansomely in young talent in the likes of Tozer, Kadar and young Lua Lua, all great prospects who could well be lighting up the prem next rem, albeit in cameo appearances.

• 77 Michael12 // May 5, 2008 at 22:46

  What we need is a good free kick and corner kick taker. These are opportunities to score goals and should not be wasted by Geremis efforts or lack thereof.

  Indeed while it is prudent to point out that the defense has played well, I think it is prudent to point out that it is more down to the fashion at which we go about playing football. The less pressure on a defense the less likely they are to concede a goal.

  Owen is good in this new found position but I cannot imagine he would continue to be happy playing there. Particularly when he does not get a goal. We need a Rud Van Nistelrooy or a Santa Cruz or Berbatov. Born finishers, forget the fancy stuff in midfield it comes to nothing if we cannot finish off. Owen had two or three great typical Michael Owen chances today but they did not come to fruition. Better luck next time.

  Keegan, while I despised him when he first arrived, I have warmed to him and now change my spots. It is still widely percieved that tactically he is mistaken and he is still not a learning manager. This said, it must also be noted he is positive, motivational and less brutal than managers of the modern age.

  He is good enough to take Newcastle into the top half of the table but not the top four.

• 78 Fernando // May 5, 2008 at 22:48

  it’s alright as long as we don’t lose to stoke with 3 ameobi goals next season or lose to sunderland with 3 chopra goals and lose to spurs with 3 jenas goals and lose to west hame with a goal from dyer a goal from parker a goal from bellamy.

  as long as the team turns up like today play decent show up and earn their wages it’s ok.

  and we get rid of players that don’t fit their pay grade like alan smith. s’ok. won’t be too bad. there’ll be equal no. of bad and good nights.

  hopefully we can win against everton to bring back some cheer to this realistic mood.

• 79 IrishMan // May 5, 2008 at 22:51

  M. Stockley, As I said, I do not like Barton - he gives away far too many stupid free kicks.

• 80 Toon_Ksk // May 5, 2008 at 22:51

  I sense abit of pessimism. It’s suppose to be exciting times ahead.

  The players we have are decent players, not as crappy as some made out.

• 81 Fernando // May 5, 2008 at 22:51

  if i was keegan i’ll focus on bringing just one player to score 30 goals next season. i wouldn’t care about any other position. don’t think about the fa cup don’t think of the carling. ill rest my players for the premier league. ill put my basket on one player and one competition.

• 82 M. Stockley // May 5, 2008 at 22:52

  is anyone a smith fan? he is bollocks but i still see a few 17 smith shirts at st james’ park.

• 83 M. Stockley // May 5, 2008 at 22:53

  and irishman im saying i dolike him so obv our opinions differ.

• 84 Fernando // May 5, 2008 at 22:53

  pray for another shearer, pray for an outstanding extraordinary player who will only play for newcastle united that’s the only way.

• 85 M. Stockley // May 5, 2008 at 22:55

  fernando… center foward position isnt the top priority… we could do with another striker and sell smith to the circus but we need a midfeild first.

• 86 najikhin // May 5, 2008 at 23:00

  fernando, why dunt we just lose to wigan with a hattrick from Titus Shamble? hahahaha!!!
  just kidding guys.. come on! cheer up mates!

• 87 Leo Smith // May 5, 2008 at 23:11

  http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/newcastle_united/7384247.stm

  Have a look at that. It’s a much more balanced article and actually includes all the quotes from all parties.

  People are over-reacting horribly here! Keegan has said that there’s nothign he can do to catch the top 4 NEXT YEAR (I love selective journalism). He’s right. We won’t be able to attract the best players here over the summer so we won’t be able to catch Arsenal et al in one season. If we get European footy next year that’ll give us a leg up and we can maybe try and catch Liverpool (who imo are there for the taking!). Everton came pretty close this year and I wouldn’t say we’re that far off them. We beat them earlier in the season!

  Ashley will definately support Keegan this summer, you can be sure of that - why else would we offer £8m for Woodgate or £15-20 odd for Modric? The money’s there, the stature sadly isn’s at the moment. A bit more strength and a bit of luck in the transfer market and we’ll be pushing for 5th as Keegan says.

  As for today’s game I thought first half we were excellent. We had two incredible oppurtunities which Owen really should have scored, and they had barely anything. We made them look ordinary. Second half, without Viduka (definitelythe turning point) they could come at us, and even then they only scored thanks to two mistakes from Smith. Also, the free kick was an incredible dive - barely any contact at all! Excellent base to work from next year - compare this to the eg Wigan (a) performance and you can’t help but smile.

  In terms of targets, I think the following are the sort of players who we should/could be targeting:

  LB: Riise, Shorey
  CB: Cuellar, Dunne, Metzelder
  CM: Van der Vaart, Deco, Arshavin
  RM: Bentley, SWP
  ST: Crouch, Gomis, Ashton

  Not saying we’ll get them all, but if we tried for Modric I think we’re aiming pretty high - you may as well!

  So stop all this pessimism and look on the bright side. This summer will be great, Ashley will spend big, and we’ll start next season in a great position to challenge for Europe. Viva la Kevolution.

• 88 geoffo // May 5, 2008 at 23:21

  Michael12, KK is not tacticaly naive. We finished third and second in subsequent seasons, he reinvented Man City, he put Fulham on the map again, you don’t achieve any of this by being tacticaly naive, your just buying the lazy media bollocks that’s churned out everytime KK’s name is mentioned. No doubt his latest prognosis on NUFC will be sensationalised and blown out of proportion, his words misconstrued and cold water poured onto the expectant Geordies. Put yourself in Roy Keanes shoes for a minute, they’ll be planning to finish at the top of the mini league at the bottom of the prem, I know where I’d rather be!!

• 89 scott9 // May 5, 2008 at 23:28

  guys everyone who is talking about van deer vart i think he would be an unbelievable signing but i think he is way out of our league and i thin k he will go to chelsea or inter milan

• 90 Fernando // May 5, 2008 at 23:41

  my point is we need someone extraordinary who wud want to be at newcastle no matter what, in the context of not being able to get good quality players to newcastle at the moment with nothing to offer those type of players. i’d sign up to play for newcastle but im not good enough.

  looking at today it would’ve been different had we had a bit of luck with our 3 shots on target in the first half.

  the only way to beat the top 4 in my opinion is that all of 16 other teams collude to break ronaldo’s leg, rooney’s leg, drogba’s leg, fabregas’s leg and gerrard’s leg. then we’ll all have a better chance of breaking up the top 4. I think cups are stupid distractions that empower the top4, all other teams should aim to break up the top 4 and put all their effort in the premier league in the next two years to redistribute the wealth and hence our welfare.

  if arsenal play their reserve young one’s in the fa and carling cup, you put ur reserve in too.

  but no all this is too big a risk for managers to take, this will never materialise because each team will free ride on another.

  i hope neither of them wins the champs league. but i hope chelsea spoil ronaldo’s season. i hope man you dun win a thing but that wud mean chelsea wins everything.

  those pathetic foreign leagues what are they doing, they’re slacking.

  forgive me for ranting

• 91 valle // May 5, 2008 at 23:42

  Fernando… Hate to break it to you, but could you see Shearer sign today?… Back then we had league and cup potential.

• 92 valle // May 5, 2008 at 23:46

  Btw, this made me feel better!… New interview with KK, he lays it into MA and CM a bit i think.

  http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11678_3525965,00.html

• 93 domtoon // May 6, 2008 at 0:48

  What Keegan is saying is unfortunately sad but true.

  However, do not underestimate the power of luck. All we need is one immense season with everything going out way from no injuries to other clubs going through unexpected turmoil (which I could see the potential for at Liverpool…) and we could break into the top 4. Without such good fortune though, I totally agree that the premier league is just getting silly now in terms of the gulfs between our players.

  With the team we’ve got and the way they’re playing, they’re not even halfway as good as they need to be to compete regularly for Champs League football. It will take a very long time and alot of money before we get there.

  Like I say though, I do think if we get lucky, and I mean very lucky, we could pull a shock or two out of the bag in the next couple of seasons. UEFA place for one would be fantastic.

  Here’s hoping.

• 94 nick toon // May 6, 2008 at 0:50

  we went out and laid down for chelsea 2day simple as that, ive never seen a kevin keegan team play lyk tht, we never once tried to attack them and if we had of in first half they could have been there for the taking, worst performance since kk came in and was very very disappointed to see it being last game of the season as we didnt even hav a go, was more like a fat sam performance

• 95 chrisbunton // May 6, 2008 at 0:55

  I agree with Michael, I’d sell Martins if we could get a good sum for him. He’s not as good as people think, the same people who had the Zog down as world class earlier this year. Martin’s doesnt do enough IMO, doesn’t score enough and doesn’t provide enough and is awareness is shocking….however that said he’s still one of our better players!

  My shopping list would be:

  Lennon
  Walcott
  Bullard
  Crouch
  Gudjonsen
  Deco
  Dunne
  Risse
  Henry
  Ashton

  If we could get 3 or more of these I’d be happy and it’s possible.

• 96 marcus owen // May 6, 2008 at 1:08

  To all nufc fans,

  Pls don’t feel too hard for yesterday game.It was not a game,it was just a show.A show that will make the final day the most excited day to be watched.

  After the final whistle,Grant hub kk and said “thank you for your helping hand”, then kk replied “you are welcome and i like chelsea more than man u”.

  This is why after the first half performance kk quickly brought in Smith.

• 97 ObaFan2 // May 6, 2008 at 1:33

  Why sell one of our best players when we are finding it difficult to attract players here because of the lack of European football etc.

  We are not a selling club, we do not need to sell to buy fgs ……….. We should sell the dross and keep the better players or the ones who want to stay and play well.

  Zog wanted to go, maybe he still does.

  Maybe Smith and Zog were played today to put themselves in the shop window but it’d probably backfired in Smiths case.

  Apart from Man U,Chelsea and Liverpool, Oba could fit into any other team in the prem.

  Oba had a great first season with us and then BSA messed him around, being a good striker needs confidence and fat sham did his best to knock that outta him.

• 98 emre89 // May 6, 2008 at 5:25

  I can’t believe people can see that alan smith is the reason why we are doing bad in the second half. we started playing good when he wasnt in the starting line up against birmingham, and when he comes back in we looe again. he sucks so bad, and i hate alan smith. and he doesnt do even run, he walks around without breaking a swet

• 99 zhun // May 6, 2008 at 6:38

  from 7-8 players to 6-5 then 3-4
  finally JUST 1 or 2!!!
  what the hell is the board doing?
  are they joking with us

• 100 Craig Allen // May 6, 2008 at 6:45

  Yes, we lost to the 2008 champions league and 2008 premier league contenders with one game to go.

  Yes, it was naive to think we are better.

  It was the manner in which we conceded/played and the post match negativity that has me feeling a bit off this morning. That and the fact that I tossed the remote at the telly cracking the frame and breaking the remote (missus not happy) when Ballack rose between Butt and Smith easily to put that away.

  Whenever Enrique turned his back to the ball when he should be facing play at all times.

  Whenever we cleared (hacked) the ball only to hand possession back on the half way line.

  When we had what seemed like 10% possession for that entire second half.

  When I heard KK’s post match.

  Let’s go to goodison and at least try to finish the season on a higher note that at current. And yes, I feel we can be more competitive against the toffees and it’s not naive to think we can get a point or 3. Lift the players (and us) Kev. We all need it. Keep the comments positive, KK - we don’t mean unrealistic, just positive.

• 101 michael // May 6, 2008 at 8:08

  It’s really very simple. Keep your best players and buy better ones in. Do that every year (and let’s face it we haven’t done that for a long time) and your football club will improve every year. If you don’t believe me look at (in alphabetical order) Aston Villa, Blackburn, Chelsea, Everton, Man Utd. If you sell your best players you can’t progress as a team, like Arsenal, Fulham and Newcastle have found out. Replacing like for like just won’t cut it in the EPL.

  Unlike recent seasons at NUFC I don’t think anybody will be sold, not even N’Zogbia. I will be very gutted to see anybody leave given the lack of quality.

• 102 RAHUL // May 6, 2008 at 8:22

  why dont u people get realistic and see what kevin actually meant. all he was saying was that we cant compete with the big four on and off the field ie financially. money is available and all u sceptics lay off MA if it had not been for him NUFC was destined to become the next leeds show some gratitude. btw kev always had money available even in january but he was the one who did not buy anyone. CM has always come up with money and it is not his fault that woodgate and modric went for the bright lights of london and turned down lucrative offers, in both the cases we matched the players valuation and actually we were prepared to pay more in case of modric. lets face it we cannot compete with london and the only way is to get into europe even through the intertoto cup i am sure we will get there next season with good additions as the nuclues of the side is there. the last thing we want is pay way over the odds and bring in mercenaries with no desire to play for NUFC. and please ignore BIG SAMS comment of spending 60 million next season the fat ass is just jealous.

• 103 valle // May 6, 2008 at 8:36

  I agree that it would be foolish to sell Oba… We shouldnt have to sell to get whichever player you think we need, and a player like Oba would help attract young african players.

• 104 Mark // May 6, 2008 at 8:55

  100th Comment yeahhhh boy

• 105 valle // May 6, 2008 at 9:00

  Comment from the hatchet man

  “It is frustrating that Modric, like (Jonathan) Woodgate before him, should take less money than we offered to move to the bright lights of London, and European football with Tottenham next season, but these are the sorts of difficulties that should get easier to address once we build a squad that competes at the right end of the table.”

  There are not so many bright lights in London. Just bigger clubs and better teams.

  The sounds you can hear from the North East are that of punctured ambitions. And of Owen heading for a fast get-away.

  Pisses me off when cockneys call spurs a bigger club, the have never finished higher than 5 in the entire history of the EPL ffs!!!

• 106 HeronMag // May 6, 2008 at 9:15

  Newcastle United isn’t just a big club. It’s a local institution. A way of life.

  Cockneys have no idea man. Leave them to their pontifications.

  We all know how big this club is. That’s what really matters. There are so many clubs in London. There is only one club in the toon.

• 107 valle // May 6, 2008 at 9:19

  true… still… the arrogance MUST be punished… Take em all down next season KK!!!

• 108 steve // May 6, 2008 at 9:35

  Knew we were gonna lose as soon as I saw Smith come on - he’s a nice bloke who wears his heart on his sleeve but it’s worse than playing with 10 men when he’s on the pitch -
  reckon we’ll be ok next season though KK’s right when he says top 4 is prob out of reach for a couple of seasons (though I reckon 4th spot could be up for grabs - top 6 finish is realistic and we should be able to match Everton/Aston Villa etc with th eplayers we already have (bar Smith and Duff) - three or four signings should get us to UEFA spot

  WTF was Fat Sam doing SKY commentary for - did he say anything worthwhile (pub turns sound down during half time so couldnt hear the fat f**k

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