Well done, Al. And Shearer claimed that Saturday's lone starting striker Andy Cole should be given another chance to prove his worth - despite another goalless game in an England shirt. "I think he's gone seven or eight games without a goal and the longer he goes without a goal the more the pressure mounts." But he added: "I thought he did very well - it is a very difficult role to play." Woo hoo.

-- Anonymous, September 04, 2000

Answers

the temptation must be hard to resist...

-- Anonymous, September 05, 2000

Dunno about everyone else but I thought Coley did really well...especially in the first half...he faded a bit in the second but that was inevitable after he put so much effort into the first...I hope he keeps the shirt...

-- Anonymous, September 05, 2000

However well Cole does for his country, I'll never forgive him for his "sad Geordie b**tards". Please god, may I never be so ungracious.

-- Anonymous, September 05, 2000

I won't be forgiving him for that either Bobby...but that's not what I was saying ;)

-- Anonymous, September 05, 2000

I know, mate, but it colours everything he'll ever do again until he apologises to the 1,000s of Mags who sang his praises during his stay with us (after all, he was a NUFC great).

-- Anonymous, September 05, 2000

As one who has supported his inclusion as AS's successor, I must be in minority of one - I didn't think he played particularly well against France. In fact, to be honest I thought he looked a pale shadow of the instinctive finisher that used to play for us.
Neverthless, he is still the best alternative to Big Al and deserves an extended run to settle into international football, and hopefully prove his worth at that level.
I actually believe his participation in the SGB chants was just an indication of careless immaturity and didn't take it that seriously. He's a better prospect for England than the most of the other pretenders to AS's crown, and I wish him well.

-- Anonymous, September 05, 2000

Cole chanting against us?

I missed this when this happened, but its often been referred to in passing. Can anyone fill me in on the details? Cheers

-- Anonymous, September 06, 2000

It was after a victory against us at Wembley. I had thought it was the FAC Final, but that now seems too recent. I guess it must have been the Charity Shield game. Anyway, AC was picked up by a roving mic with a group of the sad manure tossers singing "sad Geordie b@st@rds, you're only sad Geordie b@st@rds........"
I've always felt he made his peace with the Toon Army at Pedro's Testimonial.

-- Anonymous, September 06, 2000

clarky, I agree over AC performanceas being OK. The area he seemed weakest to me was holding the ball up for the midfield and Scholes.

Whenever he got a long ball to run onto it was 1 or 2 touches and then a shot. Overall though I would rate his performance 6.5 - 7

-- Anonymous, September 06, 2000

Anyone see his goal last night? something else eh ;))

-- Anonymous, September 06, 2000