As usual, about as much negative feedback as you can take and more after a depressing result. Same as after a terrific result, we're all of a sudden world beaters and we'll qualify for Europe.

We'll get beaten by worse teams than Charlton this season, and we'll beat better. That's the nature of the team, and in the length of my memory at least, that's the way its always been.

The timing of the La Manga trip may be unfortunate given today's result, but so be it.

No answers to today's problems. My views are well documented, just not often. We're a mid-table team playing good and poor football very inconsistently. It happens. It has always happened. It is to be expected.

Live with it, many of us have for decades. Is your life any less poor for the great feeling you get when the lads surpass your expectations? No. Are you really going to cut off your ties with the club or top yourself on the basis of being disgusted with one performance, one result?

Take the rough with the smooth. Get on with it. Have high hopes for the next match. Shit happens. Its how you deal with it that counts.

-- Anonymous, February 11, 2001

Answers

Bog off and let us wallow in self pity for a little while if we want to.......I will probably agree with you tomorrow night, but tonight it sticks in my bliddy throat.

Yes it happens, yes it always has happened but no, it shouldn't need to be expected.

The very least I expect when they cross that white line is that they give their all.....not the spineless worthless cr@p we witnessed today.

-- Anonymous, February 11, 2001

ITK.....Ditto

It's not the defeat but the manor of it!

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2001

Or even "manner" . Must get some sleep.

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2001

Why should you, we haven't.

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2001

0930 hrs - Monday 12/02/01 - log report - Star-Sh-t - Scotland, >>>

If another alien football fan, be it Rangers, Celtic, Aberdeen , Hibs

says to me again "Your team were sh-te yesterday Bill " I will bliddy

deck em, at least ne mackems here , had my influential way with

supervisors , they know how I feel on that score , hire in Geordies and Smogbusters only,what goes round,comes round,sumfink like that eh

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2001

"Shit happens; it's how you deal with it that counts". Bok, I've been supporting the Toon for 35 years, and apart from very brief periods, we've been largely sh*te. However, when the day arrives that I can just laugh it off and say "well, shit happens", that's the day I'll hang up the b&w scarf, for ever.

I happen to have always believed we have the right to expect a good team, and certainly nothing less than one that is prepared to sweat blood for the privilege of wearing the b&w shirt.

I will NEVER, ever accept the crap served up yesterday as being in any way shape or form acceptable for Newcastle United. So do me a large favour - don't tell not to get uptight about it, and not to criticise such a pathetic performance. Why is it not acceptable - because we expect to be, and indeed should be, the very, very best. That's why kidda!

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2001

Woops , got a bit uptight there!

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2001

That was a very bold statement.

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2001

Bok, I hear what you are saying, there are bits of Jonno in your post, but I must agree with Clarky`s views, Is it just me but apart from the esteemed Jonno are the golden oldies on here becoming more militant in their views and expectations?, fuelled by the KK years maybe !! and knowledge of the past,

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2001

"there are bits of Jonno in your post"

relatives and the police have been informed

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2001

Nobody deserves to go that way, well not Royal Mail anyway. Is it registered post?

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2001

Just dug up my old 'cold water' thread as my views a few weeks back mirror Bok's here. Have a look. If Barton, for instance, has a blinder next game all will be forgiven by those slaying him here. If we win a game, everything'll be rosy, you'll all go on about Europe and when I say 'but remember Charlton?' I'll get told to shurrup.

Get some perspective boys and girls. Otherwise, here's an idea:
Write a paragraph saying "We're shite. Lee Speed and Barton want shooting. Bobby needs money now! Shearer coming back won't make any difference!! There's no spirit!!!"

And another one saying:
"We're looking really good! Lee Speed and Barton are the backbone of the side! Maybe Bobby doesn't need to spend after all! Imagine how great we'll be when Shearer comes back!! The spirit in the side seems really good!!!"

Save both on your PC's, then depending whether we've won or lost the last game, just cut'n'paste the relevant paragraph.

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2001

From the Bobster>>>have the police been informed>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>. Bliddy guy has gone all pc since wedlock - see Heathrow incident--

Daily Toon Exclusive, Bobby is a Grass , BB`s community informed

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2001

bliddy snitcha....

;))

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2001

Min - snatch, more like

Wherever there's a cry for help in the midst of villainy, I'll be there...

One man can make a difference...if he has a car that talks and a red wobbly light at the front...

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2001

aye, gav mentioned yer tight shorts at your stag do n'all.....

;))

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2001

is THAT what you've been trying to do with your hair? The Hassellhoff? ;)

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2001

I'm sorry but Warren Barton nevers has a GOOD game. He has less bad games, but really really when did anyone say 'that guy is pushing for an international place' ?

Gary Speed scores the odd goal, and that's great, but similarly would we be discussing whether Svensson would be contemplating giving him a game if he was English ?

The problem with us is that shit has happened and it is still here. Until we get rid of the shit then it will continue to happen.

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2001

the shit being some of the 'senior' pros macbeth? I'm in total agreement.

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2001

Buff

The olduns are getting more upset. Keegan is to blame, if he hadn't come along we'd still be delighted with a top half finish , of the First Division. We have seen that there can be better, now we want it to happen again, and again.

It is a hard battle for me to keep Ben interested. He loves the day out with his dad, but he doesn't like the idea of losing all the time. Worse his best pal is Celtic thro and thro and it's very difficult to argue against Celtic at the moment.

I have long disliked Barton and Speed because I don't believe they are classy footballers. I worry about the team formation when Shearer plays. Dabizas has no consistency. Marcelino is poor beyond belief. Dyer and Solano are hot and cold. Lee is too old.

I've always liked the idea of other sides coveting our players. It is worrying when it happens, but nice to know someone thinks one of our players will strengthen their team.

Dyer and Solano may well be players other sides would desire, on their hot days. Outside of that not one of our players is being talked about as a transfer target. No one looks at us and thinks "they're good".

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2001

talking of getting a grip - i'm ALL in favour of the idea of playing Stevie Caldwell from now until the end of the season.

the POTENTIAL partnership of him and Hughes versus the CALAMITY of MARCY, the misfortune of Goma and the injury proneness of Dabs demands it.

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2001

Absolutely min. Without a shadow of a doubt and if one of them gets injured why not bring in Gary Caldwell or Beharall.

Unless Goma, withdraws his transfer request and commits to another couple of years.

BTW, Goma and Marcellino have not gone to La Manga but have gone home to see their families on the instructions of Robson. You'd think the emphasis out there would be training on defensive duties. Are we to assume that these two won't be involved in the next few games?

Whilst on the subject, (Apologies to Dougal) but Aaron Hughes is not going to be out defensive leader no matter how many times somebody tells him to shout a bit more. Get Steve in there, foul mouth or not something has to be done.

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2001

Agree with your comments Mac , this is such a civilised and smashing

forum to discuss football , both now and in past years , I get this

feeling that some of us , myself included are itching to dig up past

posts and coming out with "I told you so" (particulary in regard to

the senior pros), if it gets to that stage we are in trouble, as a

forum and as friends , I hope it never does , just a gut feeling.

Mac >> Ben and Celtic >> the kids gotta go with the flow and

his wee feelings , schoolyard can be a vicious arena. My grandson was

not 6 months when I had him decked out in Black n White sleepware,and

all the other regalia, his father is Celtic daft and I encroached,none

of my business , isolating a wee un at tender years from his natural

enviroment in my case to boost my ego is wrong. You must agree that

under Tommy Burns Celtic played great stuff, never won nothing ,revert

to stuffy football under Cloughies Clone and they will win the lot???

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2001

DB, no need to apologise re your opinion of Aaron although I disagree. I was reading some of Softie's old reserves reports of games that Hughes captained and he is praised in some of them for being so vocal etc. Maybe losing some of the older lads in the team will help him assert himself again.... The other thing is, we are putting mad pressure on Steve Caldwell - he had some good games for us but needs to be given time. Remember he was also thoroughly skinned in a couple of games, too. WE shouldn't be looking to individuals to carry the team.

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2001

I am so glad I didn't see the game yesterday. It was much better getting chewed out by her for some previous discretion.

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2001

Hughes would have the confidence to tell Caldwell if he was making a mistake and Caldwell would have the bollocks to shut back, something we're lacking. I don't mean arguing, just good communication whether it's complimentary or not.

I refer everyone to the suggestion I made some weeks ago.

Buy a big house in the country with half a football pitch worth of land. Griffin, Hughes, Caldwell and Quinn live there and any spare time for the next twelve months is spent on the pitch practising or watching videos of Dixon, Adams, Bould and Winterburn!!!

They could still be out back four for the next decade!!

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2001

There are teams which win through the sheer brilliance of the players. There are more teams that win because there are subjected to a rigid discipline based on defence and quick counteratttacks. No one can gainsay the brilliance of the Keegan team, but it had no solidity at the back. It only knew how to attack and there was no discpline or a Frank Brennan and Joe Harvey to block the opponents. The current team had a modicum of brilliance that shines intermittently, but lacks any discipline. I have seen boys teams better organized at the back than ours was on Sunday. If we really think that the Quinns/Speeds/Acunas/Bartons etc are going to win any honours, there are a number of structures I would like to sell you!

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2001

Buff- I get this feeling that some of us , myself included are itching to dig up past posts and coming out with "I told you so"

I plead guilty. See above.

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2001

Dan, I plead guilty also to walking the line, we are not a good team, but neither are Sunderland, they fight and scratch for there fans, say no more, said enough

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2001

Dan, I like your suggestion that there is no half way house. You're dead right we are ether shit or we are brilliant , there's no middle ground.

Mac, If I lived in Dunfimline at the moment with a kid who's friends were all Celtic fans, I think I would be tempted to take the bairn to Celtic games and just come down on your own for Newcastle matches that didn't coincide with Celtic games. After all there are a number of people on here in the likes of Australia, New Zealand, Holland etc that support there local team as well as Newcastle.

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2001