New Newcastle manager!!!!!

[Dow Jones]

Joking, are you?

These are my own words love. I am a wise man, bordering on arrogance.

[SallyAnne]

Less of it, Yoda!

These are my own words love. I am a wise man, bordering on arrogance.

[crack_ho]

Whats the deal with Mike Ashley?
Is he a real billy-no-mates trying to compete with Whelan?
Attempting to buy beer for all the Newcastle fans at half time and wearing a shirt when he has no prior connection with Newcastle. Did he grow the belly to fit in too?

[shaunbhoy]

Had to laugh the other day when this was being debated on Sky Sports and they were running through the possible candidates. Jeff Stelling asked Matt Le Tiss if Gordon Strachan might not be a good outside bet. Matt said "Why would he move to a smaller club?"
As for Keegan, heart on his sleeve and all that but I can't help thinking "Modest little man with much to be modest about" when it comes to his managerial abilities.

[SallyAnne]

Whats the deal with Mike Ashley?
Is he a real billy-no-mates trying to compete with Whelan?
Attempting to buy beer for all the Newcastle fans at half time and wearing a shirt when he has no prior connection with Newcastle. Did he grow the belly to fit in too?

I'm not really sure. He reckons he's always been a silent fan of newcastle, and is now loving the chance of being a proper fan.

I was impressed with his decision to not only sit with the crowd, but also to ride in the fan's coach's to the derby game - he didn't have to that, and I doubt it was for publicity (being in the crowd alone would have been enough for that - he could have limo'd or helicoptered there!)

I dont really know what to make of him other than that really. We needed shot of the previous owners/chairman though, so I guess the grass is still very much greener at the moment.

[ControlG]

Walkin' in a Keegan Wonderland

Great night last night. There was a smile on everyone's face in the city. The queue for tickets was like nothing I've seen there before.

We seemed a bit nervous in the first 5 minutes and, to be honest, Stoke should have scored from a chance in this time. Once England's Owwn scored there was no looking back. Rennie got some stick for the sending off of Emre (trying to spoil the party) but seeing the challenge later on TV it was probably justified.

IMHO the reason for us blowing the 12 point lead was not down to Asprilla but more the signing of Batty. Keegan changed the midfield by removing Lee Clark which lost us some of the thrust we'd previously had.

We have a good set of players to fit into the Keegan style of play. Milner and Duff can fulfil the wide roles. N'Zogbia is a great attacking midfielder. If he wants a 'Batty-a-like' then Nicky Butt can fill that role.

We should be able to score freely if we get Viduka, Martins and Owen on their game.

Taylor and Beye have been playing well in defence. All we need is a couple of full backs who like to get forward. (It was funny watching Carr last night trying his heart out to be an attacking full back - he looked knackered) At a push N'Zogbia can fill one of those roles and let Emre into midfield.

I strongly believe that there have been problems with the player's motivation (evident very much during Big Sam's tenure) and also the style of football. We seem to have forgotten that Shearer isn't there anymore to hoof the long ball up for him to hold up (According to Radio Newcastle last night Given only booted a long ball 3 times during the game!). Sort those two out and, although we haven't a team to challenge the top 3, we should be heading in the right direction.

If we don't then it will at least be exciting.

Roll on Saturday

[Dow Jones]

Sam Allardyce=poof?

I thought I'd seen it all with MacLaren standing in a suit and tie and holding an umbrella at his last game with England. Reminded me of the film when the orchestra played when the Titanic was going down. Then I saw Sam running (more like dancing) at one of his last games with Newcastle with his short (looked like ladies') coat and his pink scarf. Contrast this with Mourinho who always looked rough and his (cheap-looking) trademark coat that turned out to be an Armani. A good manager needs to command his players like a good PM his team, so you've either got it or you haven't.

[Mr Maginka]

KEE...... GAN!!!

I love all these doom stories from all you so called football experts - .... anyway as you support another team you don't have football in your blood . I suppose it's easy to say he'll fail, after all everyone else since him has - bar Bobby and he was someone with the club at heart. It may not happen over night but he will make us a force again.... Trophies? well I hope so...

Welcome home bonny lad

[Sausage Surprise]

I think it's fecking hilarious - stupid fat geordies living in the past.

Then again I would....I'm a mackem

Edit... I did not say flipping nor did I say f***ing - what a strange profanity filter.

[stackpole]

All Keegan's appointments start with a fanfare, plateau at the "exciting promise" stage, drift towards failure, and end up with him walking off.

But all the geordies want is someone who loses 4-3 instead of losing 1-0 so they should be happy with him.