Not much happening today so not much of a report!

What do you say when you find yourself alone with Alan Shearer? I think I wished him good luck for tomorrow but apart from that my mind is a blank (no change there some people might say!). I asked Gary Speed about his neck injury. He said it was much better and he should be OK for tomorrow. Kieron Dyer drove in much too fast, closely followed by Shay Given. I asked Rob Lee what position he would be playing tomorrow - "no idea!" Lua Lua arrived in a taxi which didn't stop. A few others drove straight in but Glass, Gallacher, Griffin and Nobby all made the effort to stop. Also Daniel Cordone who still hasn't learnt any English!

I headed over the rather muddy ground to the training pitch where a number of players were jogging round. Goma and Bassedas were both there but no sign of Speed or Shearer. They came out later and spoke to Bobby and Paul Winsper (fitness coach) but didn't take any part in the training. The rest of the players were doing the usual stretching and passing the ball while the keepers were practising at the other end of the pitch. They divided into two groups for a sort of 6 a side game without any keepers! Can anybody identify a young lad they call Skippy? He was the only one I didn't recognise - the rest were regular first team players.

The yellow plastic men were then brought out (and we thought Ruud had taken them home with him!) and set up for Nobby and Daniel to practise free kicks. The rest of the players drifted off but Bobby and Derek Wright (physio) were speaking to Alain Goma for a while, presumably asking how he was feeling. He looked OK so hopefully he will play tomorrow.

-- Anonymous, November 25, 2000

Answers

What do you say when you find yourself alone with Alan Shearer?

Hmmm - after last Saturday, I could think of a few choice words. Not that I'd expect a lady to utter such things, you understand.

Your timing is impeccable Steph (not). No sooner had I posted my Teampick off tpo YBR then you gave us the rundown on the latest injuries. However, I am a man of my word (ahem!) and won't change it - well, not for the next 7 hours or so.

-- Anonymous, November 25, 2000

What do you say when you find yourself alone with Alan Shearer?

"Aakjsdafgasdndasfjkasdflkahjsdfkjasdilrefhkvn. Hi." Well, that's what I said....or what it probably sounded like to him. ;-))

About these yellow plastic men.....how are they at defending free kicks? What about defending themselves against pointed sticks? Will they play tomorrow?

Off to change my team pick...

-- Anonymous, November 25, 2000

Ciara - I think that's probably what I said as well! ;-)

-- Anonymous, November 25, 2000

Yeah, but you're a Yank, Ciara. You all sound like that! Ouch..........

-- Anonymous, November 25, 2000

.com reckon Shearer won't be playing. Somehow, I doubt it.

-- Anonymous, November 25, 2000

Should be a good test of Jonno's theory that we can perm any two from Axel, YKD, Amoebi, Gallacher, Bassedas, Coppinger, and Glass and do just fine.
Also a useful work out for the theory that we do better when Al's not in the team.

To be honest, if he's not absolutely 100% I'd prefer he didn't play, whatever the outcome.

-- Anonymous, November 25, 2000

I've just seen that at the .ocm site as well......it'll be interesting to see what happens......they are always knocking mistakes on the .cock site so it would be fun to see Biffa get it wrong.

Talking about the .cok site getting things wrong, Clarky, things have got worse........on the top of the news page they flag a competition for tickets for the Liverpool game......if I win them today I would struggle to be there for Kick off......but when you actually click through to the comp, it actually links to the one for last week for tickets for the Makems game.......

-- Anonymous, November 25, 2000

Yeh - I'm afraid I haven't got round to writing to the Club yet Ken, but I will - real soon.

-- Anonymous, November 25, 2000

Thanks for the training ground report Steph. By rights I should have been able to be there myself this week - hearing you talk about chatting to Shearer, et al, is compounding my miserey - but I guess your reports are the next best thing to being there!

Keep `em coming!(:o)

-- Anonymous, November 26, 2000

Galaxy,

Real shame you can't make it this weekend - however when you do get up you will have to make it a long weekend to fit in a trip to the training ground!

-- Anonymous, November 26, 2000

Hello, are you slim woman with the long hair that take mucho cuadros? I speak a little English. How are you, Fuck the Mackems.

-- Anonymous, November 26, 2000

Don`t worry Steph - I shall be bringing my tent, and will be looking to you for advice on the best place to pitch it!!!

Danny Boy - Teehee!!!! (:o)

-- Anonymous, November 26, 2000

Steph

what did he look like, Height, age, skin colour,what position did he play, was he left footed? any other distinguishing features? Come on "slim woman taking many pictures", we need to know.

With Newcastle returning from Melbourne last week after trying to buy the club, do you think they brought Skippy back with them?

-- Anonymous, November 26, 2000

Galaxy,

You can pitch your tent in our garden - its not very big but I'm sure the tenty will fir in! ;-)

Rik

Young lad, probably english - looked a bit like Gary Caldwell but not him!

-- Anonymous, November 26, 2000

oops! Sorry for typos - just back from the Strawbeery!!

Danny boy - lovely to be called slim!!!

-- Anonymous, November 26, 2000

Thanks for the offer Rik, much appreciated - but I was thinking more along the lines of camping at the training ground!(;o)

-- Anonymous, November 26, 2000