Ggazette says that:

GARY Speed has warned Newcastle United that they are heading for mid-table mediocrity again unless they shake off their 'win one, lose one tag'.

The Welsh midfielder was part of a Magpies side that could have gone level on points at the top of the table had they beaten Fulham at the weekend - but instead slipped down a couple of places after the 3-1 reverse at Craven Cottage.

And he couldn't mask his frustration at another wasted opportunity and the inconsistency that has dogged Newcastle this season. It left Speed admitting: "If we carry on as we are, winning a good game and then losing a game then we'll end up in mid-table again. "It's up to us as players to get together and say: "Look, mid-table is not good enough."

"You couldn't knock the effort or commitment at Fulham, but we have to be mentally stronger when we are defending. The first goal killed us, and from then on I thought we were poor."

The loss extended Newcastle's winless run in London to a staggering 27 games, and it's back to the capital on Saturday week to face Charlton Athletic at The Valley.

But Speed insists: "It's nothing to do with London. It doesn't matter if our next match is in London or Scotland. I don't care. "We got ourselves back in the game at Fulham and then had to concentrate when defending a set-piece. But we didn't do that. "I'm not pointing at individuals, I'm talking about concentrating and defending as a team, and unless we do that we won't achieve anything."

Meanwhile, David Beharall has joined Oldham Athletic on loan until the end of the season. The 22-year-old will link up with former Magpies' coach Mick Wadsworth at Boundary Park. Darlington are also hoping to land centre-half Gary Caldwell on a temporary transfer, while Blackpool are keen to take his brother Steve on a second loan spell.

-- Anonymous, November 20, 2001

Answers

a pillock?

-- Anonymous, November 20, 2001

They're all pillocks, pet!

-- Anonymous, November 20, 2001

If one more player says that we have to be more consistent, I shall spontaneously combust. On a lighter note, one of my favourite Colemanballisms is Bryan Robson saying "If only we played like that every week, we'd be more consistent".

-- Anonymous, November 20, 2001

It's nearly as long since we won a game in Scotland as it is since we won in London

-- Anonymous, November 20, 2001

Thank you Gary Speed - WE KNOW THAT

-- Anonymous, November 20, 2001

Talk is cheap. How many players have talked about the need to defend better/as a team for how long? How many times do the coaches or Steve Harper scream 'no free headers' in training yet nobody seems to pay attention? Shut up, pay attention and DO something about it. On the pitch. Starting Saturday.

-- Anonymous, November 20, 2001

Our next game is a home, that's neither London or Scotland so it's back to the drawing board.

-- Anonymous, November 20, 2001

Ok, starting next Saturday then. when we play Charlton. In London. The team who scored 4 goals last night, with three of them coming from Kitson. god, we're doomed aren't we

-- Anonymous, November 20, 2001

? ;-)

premature send. oops.

-- Anonymous, November 20, 2001

If we could depend on our home form, and even scrape a few draws away from home, but we can't even depend on what should be a guaranteed, nailed-on certain home win against Derby. How many bets on Derby "kickstarting" their season against us on Saturday? Mind you, there'd probably be a minor revolution if we did get beaten by a team that the Smogs turned over 5-1.

-- Anonymous, November 20, 2001

this from a player who has probably been the worst of the lot on the pitch for us the whole season so far. Maybe of you could learn to pass a bliddy ball properly Gary we might not be looking to replace yer crap ass.....

-- Anonymous, November 20, 2001

hey Sparxx Gary Speed does more work off the ball than any other player I've seen, probably since Geoff Numpty in the 70s

-- Anonymous, November 20, 2001

Er, Ciara - Kitson scored three goals against Charlton. Maybe that should give us some hope.

-- Anonymous, November 20, 2001

ROTFL! DOH!!!

-- Anonymous, November 20, 2001

hells bells and buckets of blubber!.. I dream of mid-table mediocrity!!!!!!

-- Anonymous, November 20, 2001

The players spouting this stuff are, of course, subliminally saying "it's got nothing to do with me!"

As someone else has already said - "just shut yer mouth and get down to fixing it, 'cos we're sick to the back teeth of hearing it".

-- Anonymous, November 20, 2001

Chances are none of the players actually say anything - the appropriate hack probably trolls the gist off his hard drive. We keep doing it so they really have no need to talk to players, and we're none the wiser.

-- Anonymous, November 20, 2001

OOOoooh PB - tha's a bitch. Fancy saying that "the appropriate hack probably trolls the gist off his hard drive".

This was drawn from the International Shields Gazette. Sand-dancing hacks don't do things like that. Integrity there, man.

-- Anonymous, November 20, 2001

Aw. That's different then, te. Hadn't realised the source was so high class. I take it all back, and I'll wash out my www.mouth with www.carbollick.

Oh me of little faith.

-- Anonymous, November 20, 2001

Hey Macbeth....are we sure we want a central midfielder who does his best work off the ball???

-- Anonymous, November 20, 2001