O/T: Can Life Get Any Worse for a Newcastle Fan?

[DavidPayne]

Newcastle has become a joke. A sad parody of itself.

Can anyone tell me the last player they bought and improved?

Can anyone tell me a Newcastle player who has not been injured for at least three months at some point in the past 5 years?

Why can Lampard play in every game for 5 years and Newcastle can't keep Ameobi, who doesn't move, fit?

They're a mess. As for Keegan. He killed off the youth team too and wanted to sign Signori when an idiot with one eye and glucoma could see they need a centre-half.

[mark thompson]

Newcastle has become a joke. A sad parody of itself.

Can anyone tell me the last player they bought and improved?

Can anyone tell me a Newcastle player who has not been injured for at least three months at some point in the past 5 years?

Why can Lampard play in every game for 5 years and Newcastle can't keep Ameobi, who doesn't move, fit?

They're a mess. As for Keegan. He killed off the youth team too and wanted to sign Signori when an idiot with one eye and glucoma could see they need a centre-half.

About spot on David, did they buy Nzogbia though ?

[jameswilson]

Newcastle has become a joke. A sad parody of itself.

Can anyone tell me the last player they bought and improved?

Can anyone tell me a Newcastle player who has not been injured for at least three months at some point in the past 5 years?

Why can Lampard play in every game for 5 years and Newcastle can't keep Ameobi, who doesn't move, fit?

They're a mess. As for Keegan. He killed off the youth team too and wanted to sign Signori when an idiot with one eye and glucoma could see they need a centre-half.

About spot on David, did they buy Nzogbia though ?

What?

Its clear from looking at him and his name that he's a Geordie lad isnt it!

[Wales]

Newcastle has become a joke. A sad parody of itself.

Can anyone tell me the last player they bought and improved?

Can anyone tell me a Newcastle player who has not been injured for at least three months at some point in the past 5 years?

Why can Lampard play in every game for 5 years and Newcastle can't keep Ameobi, who doesn't move, fit?

They're a mess. As for Keegan. He killed off the youth team too and wanted to sign Signori when an idiot with one eye and glucoma could see they need a centre-half.

About spot on David, did they buy Nzogbia though ?

I tried writing a response and N'zogbia being the buy was the only answer I had. Harper for injuries, but he's not first team. Aint many players been there 5 years.

[Poncey]

Even Venables has turned them down.

[BunglesFingers]

Mike Ashley looks abit like Wayne Hawaii 501 Mardle the darts player

[DavidPayne]

Exactly my point. No continuity.

Once Allardyce was in place, and given Ashley's desire to make them more self-sufficient, remove the high earners, invest in youth and reduce the injury culture. Allardyce was perfect.

Look at the longevity he squeezed from Campo, Speed et al.

Look how he managed to get motivation from Anelka, Diouff, the Nigerian fella.

Look how he made good on Kevin Davies, nurtured Nolan and bought shrewdly.

Allardyce with a touch more financial clout had the business model to make Newcastle work, in the way Everton do under Moyes. A blue-collar club, sensibly run with tradition, good support and the ability to break the top four and regularly finish in the top 6-7.

Keegan left a great legacy off the pitch in how he galvanised the support behind the team, I was there when they got 18,000 for one of his first home games against Millwall, but on the pitch he left a good team but one with no youth coming through and on incredible wages.

They had another chance under Robson, but listened to the mood of wankers like Jenas and Dyer and listened to the notion he'd lost the dressing room, and sacked him after 4 games.

They've been spiralling ever since.

Under Robbo they had two top 4's finishes if I'm not mistaken, a man who loved the club with a network of contacts, great respect and a solid squad.

Reap what you sow.

They need to accept there is no QUICK fix. Unless an Arab oil baron buys them they have to find a new reality. They cannot, regardless of the fans, buy there way back into the top 4. They need a top-to-bottom man like O'Neill, Allardyce or Moyes. Someone who will employ good staff, find hungry, ambitious players, nurture the youth team, get a solid balance on the pitch and instill the right ethics of respect and hard-work into the club.

They don't need a foreign manager, he will only be interested in the short-term, you need someone with a strong vision, who can work within restrictions, who can spot freeloaders but he must have the 100% faith of the board to see the job through.

I think Ince and Hughes had that potential, I think the fella at Bristol does too. Allardyce had it and O'Neil HAS IT - As does Moyes.

You know what, aside from the unfortunate appointment of Wise. Ashley is probably the best owner for Newcastle right now. An Arab magnet could come in and buy 8 superstars for 200million. But would the club still belong to the Geordie, without a Lee Clark or a Robbie Elliot or a Stve Howey or a Shearer or Beardsley as a key member of the team, will it have the same heartbeat. Wont it become something else.

Villa have a chance of being different, a buoyant youth team, a brilliant man-manager and a sensible owner.

I really like Villa's progress, style and ethos. I'd like to see them break the top4 this year.

[DavidPayne]

Why did Newcastle buy more foriegners? Is Wise so astute he knows the European circuit that well? He's a novice.

Had I been Newcastle manager I'd have done the following.

1 - Flogged Owen - £9m
2 - Flogged Barton - £3m
3 - Loaned Senderos, because he's brave, hungry and has a point to prove
4 - Bought Kevin Nolan - £8m, because he's hungry, always fit and about to blossom
5 - Bought Sami Hypia - £2m, because he can head ball, has a point to prove and is vastly experienced
6 - Bought Emile Heskey, £4m, because he leads the line, brings in other players well and would have been the perfect foil for Martins.
7 - Given Peter Ramage a new contract, because the kid is a trier and loves the club
8 - Bought Jason Koumas - £6m

....wheres that Football Manager disk.....

[Captain Hook]

David, you would not pay £6m for Koumas mate because he's too inconsistent and disappears on the big stage. Nolan is only worth around £4m and Heskey is is Heskey

I'd splash out on Dean Ashton, Senderos is fair enough and perhaps someone like Sidwell or Bullard inm idfield to give it a bit of grit.

They have some god players there, even with that injury list.......need to get the best out of them.

O'Leary, Venables and Hoddle are not the answer. They need a ball-breaker, not someone who will molly coddle them at this stage. They're still picking up massive wages and need a kick up the arse.

[Captain Hook]

GOOD players, sorry.....

Manchester City will have all the GOD players

[mark thompson]

David, you would not pay £6m for Koumas mate because he's too inconsistent and disappears on the big stage. Nolan is only worth around £4m and Heskey is is Heskey

I'd splash out on Dean Ashton, Senderos is fair enough and perhaps someone like Sidwell or Bullard inm idfield to give it a bit of grit.

They have some god players there, even with that injury list.......need to get the best out of them.

O'Leary, Venables and Hoddle are not the answer. They need a ball-breaker, not someone who will molly coddle them at this stage. They're still picking up massive wages and need a kick up the arse.

Heskey is a very underrated player, lots of supposed fans slag him off because they know nothing really about the game, every manager he has played under have loved him, When England hammered Germany 5-1 Heskey was the key, When we beat Argentine i think 1-0 Heskey was the key and when we beat Croatia they were putting 2 men on Heskey which gave Walcott bags of room.

[BunglesFingers]

There are probably a few managers out there thinking ...'Do a few months at the Toon, get abuse from fans as team is not in top six, board gets edgy, fans demand champions league, board in crisis talks, I leave by mutual consent, stick 5 or 6 million compo in the bank followed by a few weeks golf in the Algarve...'

[Captain Hook]

David, you would not pay £6m for Koumas mate because he's too inconsistent and disappears on the big stage. Nolan is only worth around £4m and Heskey is is Heskey

I'd splash out on Dean Ashton, Senderos is fair enough and perhaps someone like Sidwell or Bullard inm idfield to give it a bit of grit.

They have some god players there, even with that injury list.......need to get the best out of them.

O'Leary, Venables and Hoddle are not the answer. They need a ball-breaker, not someone who will molly coddle them at this stage. They're still picking up massive wages and need a kick up the arse.

Heskey is a very underrated player, lots of supposed fans slag him off because they know nothing really about the game, every manager he has played under have loved him, When England hammered Germany 5-1 Heskey was the key, When we beat Argentine i think 1-0 Heskey was the key and when we beat Croatia they were putting 2 men on Heskey which gave Walcott bags of room.

So I know nothing about the game because I think Heskey is overrated....?!

You have only mentioned two good games! The guy gets paid tens of thousands every week, and while he is not a bad player, he is certainly not a great one.

[mark thompson]

David, you would not pay £6m for Koumas mate because he's too inconsistent and disappears on the big stage. Nolan is only worth around £4m and Heskey is is Heskey

I'd splash out on Dean Ashton, Senderos is fair enough and perhaps someone like Sidwell or Bullard inm idfield to give it a bit of grit.

They have some god players there, even with that injury list.......need to get the best out of them.

O'Leary, Venables and Hoddle are not the answer. They need a ball-breaker, not someone who will molly coddle them at this stage. They're still picking up massive wages and need a kick up the arse.

Heskey is a very underrated player, lots of supposed fans slag him off because they know nothing really about the game, every manager he has played under have loved him, When England hammered Germany 5-1 Heskey was the key, When we beat Argentine i think 1-0 Heskey was the key and when we beat Croatia they were putting 2 men on Heskey which gave Walcott bags of room.

So I know nothing about the game because I think Heskey is overrated....?!

You have only mentioned two good games! The guy gets paid tens of thousands every week, and while he is not a bad player, he is certainly not a great one.

Think you will find I mentioned 3 good games, Every player gets paid 10's of thousands every week now thats not the question, If you watch a game very closely not just where the ball is going, or waiting for your favorite player to get on the ball Heskeys movement and reading of the game is second to none he holds the ball up brilliantly, why do all the strikers he's played with love playing alongside him because he creates so many chances for them with his unselfish play !!

[Poncey]

Sorry Mark, Heskey is over-rated.

If he could hit a cow's arese with a banjo, I'd agree with you. But he doesn't score enough goals. He's a big lump that holds up the ball okay (he's hardly Mark Hughes). However, it's a sad state of affairs when we have to pick him for England.

I see Cappello's point in that England need a big CF to accompany Defoe/Owen/Rooney, but I'd prefer a fit Ashton who knows what a goal is (Heskey has scored 1 goal in 444 minutes of Premier League football).

My Nan could do better, and she's dead.

[Captain Hook]

Mark - Favourite player?! And who would that be as my team are in the Blue Square Premier and I'm not English?

Unless you're Alan Hansen you can wind your neck in...

Heskey is paid as a striker and his strike rate is shite. If he was so good why has he gone from Liverpool (mixed reaction from Kop fans at best) to Brum to Wigan? He gets in the England team because you have so few target men. In fairness he does a decent job, but he is not as good as you're making out.

Strikers love playing alongside him because he does the hard work. Simple. Newcastle have Viduka, Martins and Owen up front, when fit. Would you take Heskey over Viduka?

"His reading of the game is second to none"...do me a favour. Are you related to him?

[DavidPayne]

I'd take Heskey over the current injury-prone, fat, uninterested 32 year old Viduka every day of the week.

Heskey has been a premier league striker since he was 19. And is always in demand.

He would be the perfect foil for Martins or Owen.

However, I would get rid of Owen in January for a fee and invest in some defenders, Hypia would be topof the list despite his lack of pace.

He's an organiser, hard-as-nails and has a point to prove.

He'd be my number one target in January - 18month contract. He'd make a big difference.

[Captain Hook]

David - I disagree about Hypia and Heskey.

This club is in chaos and the answer isn't an inconsistent striker and a Finnish defender whose best days are behind him.

He may do a job in the centre if you put a fresher pair of legs next to him. Any suggestions?

TBH They need a whole new defence....

[Poncey]

Heskey has been a premier league striker since he was 19. And is always in demand.

Not quite true. Since 2004 only one man has seen value in him, so that's merely his opinion. There's hardly been a rush to his signature.

Looking at the stats:
Team Caps Goals
England 48 5
Wigan 65 13
Birmingham 68 14

I'd be disappointed if that was my main striker (which at Wigan and Birmingham he was/is) that I'd just paid £6m for (twice).

[Old bones Ian]

Xisco the Spanish kid is a good prospect, but what must he be thinking at the moment. He signs for a preniership club, then gets told the manager might not of wanted him, the manager gets sacked/walks away. The fans are going mad, the club is up for sale.

Welcome to Newcastle Xisco.

In fact Newcastle have a good line up of strikers, with Martins, Owen, Viduka, Xisco.

[mark thompson]

Heskey has been a premier league striker since he was 19. And is always in demand.

Not quite true. Since 2004 only one man has seen value in him, so that's merely his opinion. There's hardly been a rush to his signature.

Looking at the stats:
Team Caps Goals
England 48 5
Wigan 65 13
Birmingham 68 14

I'd be disappointed if that was my main striker (which at Wigan and Birmingham he was/is) that I'd just paid £6m for (twice).

He's never been a prolific goal scorer nobody ever says he was did they ? So whats your point with your silly statistics that you just looked up, Heskey is the perfect foil for a more natural scorer like owen or defoe someone of that nature he never had that at Birmingham or Wigan, look how many goals Owen scored when he was partnered by Heskey when they played for England STATTO

[Captain Hook]

Heskey has been a premier league striker since he was 19. And is always in demand.

Not quite true. Since 2004 only one man has seen value in him, so that's merely his opinion. There's hardly been a rush to his signature.

Looking at the stats:
Team Caps Goals
England 48 5
Wigan 65 13
Birmingham 68 14

I'd be disappointed if that was my main striker (which at Wigan and Birmingham he was/is) that I'd just paid £6m for (twice).

He's never been a prolific goal scorer nobody ever says he was did they ? So whats your point with your silly statistics that you just looked up, Heskey is the perfect foil for a more natural scorer like owen or defoe someone of that nature he never had that at Birmingham or Wigan, look how many goals Owen scored when he was partnered by Heskey when they played for England STATTO

He is a big lump who holds up the ball - that's it. What else is he good at?

Heskey's no longer particularly quick, not much of a passer, is ok in the air and doesn't score many goals. He's a C-rate Mark Hughes.

And I'm still amazed England fans hold on to that Germany win and clasp it so close to their hearts. It was quite a while ago now guys....

[Captain Hook]

Then again I still hold our win over Germany close to my heart and it was bloody years ago

[mark thompson]

Heskey has been a premier league striker since he was 19. And is always in demand.

Not quite true. Since 2004 only one man has seen value in him, so that's merely his opinion. There's hardly been a rush to his signature.

Looking at the stats:
Team Caps Goals
England 48 5
Wigan 65 13
Birmingham 68 14

I'd be disappointed if that was my main striker (which at Wigan and Birmingham he was/is) that I'd just paid £6m for (twice).

Also you say 6million as if thats a lot of money in football nowadays, 6million doesn't buy you a great deal so to get Heskey for that amount is a bargain

Shevchenko 30million plus
Marlet 11million
Rebrov 11million
Vianni 12million

do you want me to go on ???? they all cost nearly double if not more and none of them had nothing on Bruno !!!

[Captain Hook]

Shit I forgot you're a Leicester fan and he probably is the best player you've had since Gary Lineker!

fornicating hell son, he was ok with you but move on, that was 10 years ago....

I might start taking thje piss out of Steve Guppy, you'll go mental