Off-line for 5 days and on return phew, the forum`s really going for the jugalar, lot of good points, opinions and that`s what its all about. It saddens me to see by the tone of their postings that a few of the senior pros (pit/clarky) appear to be at the end of their tether at the lack of progress of our team. This in itself is the most worrying aspect cos apart from the hurdy-gurdy years of the early 50`s I ask the question `What have Newcastle done for us` and I thought we were conditioned to all this, the hopes, fears, but we want and expect so much more now. So where does Buff think we have gone wrong, IMHO that (a) Keegan/McDermott (b) Dagleish/McDermott (c) Gullitt/Clarke (d) Robson/Wadsworth. I have never reached the dizzy heights of management in the workplace or even at football ,but I can assure you that any man/woman that worked beside me, would be there on merit, if they were a yes boss person, they would be history They are all at it, the largest closed shop in the country, okay got a job at Newcastle, bring you in, yeah thanks boss,

The Board, agree with Jonno, Fred has made funds availible.

Major Problem in my view is the ineptitude with money availible to purchase players that will fit into a pre-designed formation taking into account their ability, fitness, physical attributes in relation to existing players, can they mix, in short a football business plan Do you know why Shearer/Speed play most weeks, not on performances, this senior pro idea , rubbish you are either doing it or your not, No my friends, most goals are scored from penalties/set-pieces/ cutting to the by - line, crossing etc, not that many from flowing intricate passing moves, Shearer and Speed play cos without them who have we height wise, Goma? . Bad planning, bad buying ., to quote RG, `Domi does not need to tackle `, he can jockey his man, eh!!!! a full back who cannot tackle, come back Parky`s Skinner Normanton of Barnsley fame. What some of you are saying about Shearer, the rest of the country have been saying for 2 years, are they wrong,are we right?.

Cliques. I would not be surprised at a senior pro - South /amer Youth divide, body language suggests something amiss. Finally, Ginga, enjoyed your piece, the problem started in late 60`s when graduates started entering polis force, the 6 foot odd thick as a plank but carrying a boatload of common dog fexk aul polis left and we were left with deep thinkers. good on here aint it!!

-- Anonymous, December 01, 2000

Answers

Another cracking stream of consciousness posting, buff. Like ee cummings on, well,'e' I suppose.

Problem as I see it? As I said a day or two ago I think the problem is, ta-da: we're not very good. You can't polish a turd, and while said turd may fertilize a rosebush, it won't happen overnight. To reiterate another point I made the other day, any folk on here who get up in arms when we lose two games on the trot presumably still think we're challenging for the championship. Accept we're a top-half team with an outside chance of Europe and you might be able to take pleasure at our successes and feel less pained at the defeats (except the Mackems of course). Ambition and optimism is fine - beating yourselves with the stick of disproportionate expectation is pointless.

-- Anonymous, December 01, 2000

Hell TGJ, can't you just accept that some of us like beating ourselves with a stick? Some folks are just kill-joys.

-- Anonymous, December 01, 2000

Dan, You are right, all the pontification above, it comes to one thing WE ARE NOT GOOD ENOUGH, but one has to embellish and one has to invite counter opinion on here, or there would be no forum.

-- Anonymous, December 02, 2000

Dan,

I can readily accept being beaten by better, more talented football teams - I've been doing it for over 35 years. However, what I can't tolerate is a lack of total committment by a team wearing B&W.

I've said elsewhere that I believe deep down we just aren't good enough to compete in the top half of the PL - however there are a number of players, including very well paid young ones like Dyer and Domi, who are just not doing the business.
That means we are still way too reliant on the old pros who are becoming increasingly criticised because they aren't able to sustain the level of performance they showed at their peak. However, IMHO these guys are burning their @rses for the cause, and much of the criticism being directed at them is grossly unfair.

-- Anonymous, December 02, 2000

Clarky - yes, but what bothers me is that what some people take to be a lack of commitment may actaully be a lack of ability. That, for instance, some players (mentioning no names, cough cough, Barton cough cough) give the ball away might have more to do with their lack of vision and speed of thought than whether or not they're 'bothered' about the game.

Buff - agreed, sir. But before any useful debate, one has to recognise certain basic truths. Imagine you went on the Coventry board, for instance, and they were asking why Strachan hadn't paired Bellamy with Ronaldo, or whether Coventry had blown their championship challenge by drawing their last two games. That's a more extreme eg of what I think sometimes goes on here.

-- Anonymous, December 02, 2000

On the Coventry board - nah Bryan Richardson would not tek me., in all seriousness I know what you are getting at Dan, I posted in 5 mins last night with work going on all around me and probably did not as usual make myself clear. Two weeks ago I started a thread on why we as "Geordies" have the urge to create instant hero`s, without the new superman having to earn it. Every year since the Keegan era we have been told, that only 3/4 players short of a team that would challenge for honours, money has been availible , high profile bosses have been employed, for what I ask?, we are going backwards. We buy ad-hoc to fix a problem , this is criminal , there is no plan, we are going backwards which you sometimes have to in order to progress, not Utd , short term fixes , over a year ago when I said that Gullitt would be judged on his center backs, 6 of, now 2 of???? Bliddy midfield, Lee is getting the sympathy vote, Speed kept in for his height and goal ratio, can Dyer/Nobby play in the same team Acuna/Bassedas, win or lose give them 5 games together, if Glass is picked, if Glass does not get injured, give him 5 games and not moan about unbalance. Why do they not play the Worthy Cup, pre-season, initial rounds on league basis, clubs can play,on loan players, trialists etc etc, it would be a minimum of 4 games if clubs were knocked out and in my thinking would be more use than these "its not a holiday in the sun" friendlies, its bonding, !!!crap, lets bond at the Riverside, SJP , why go abroad. Get it sorted out pre-season and believe me Newcastle are the worlds worst at this , this is the plan, this is where we are going. this is what we are lacking , this is the squad that will repay the faith of 52,000, might not win the biggie, but guarantee you will get committment and value for money. It is not that difficult you know but to the inner sanctum of Football People they `laugh in our face to our opinions`, why should say Clarky have to write that `a lack of committment` in a b/w shirt was evident in the latest game, I believe him . Lack of committent - hit em hard - , your not getting pay rise this year, at times I feel, whoa lets start all over again and tell these so called stars that "We are the People We pay your Wedge", we demand loyalty, hard work the time you are at Our Club, written into every contract, signed by every player and all staff. Finally tell em to stop kissin the badge, wise to that by now

-- Anonymous, December 02, 2000