I'm now totally convinced that BR has two complete teams - one the real NUFC and a second replica team - that he alternates.

Fortunately, it was the real Toon teams turn tonight, and they comfortably demolished a weakened and weak Ipswich team. We were never in any danger, although naturally we had to concede the usual comedy goal to rather spoil the party.

We played some lovely stuff in the 1st half, creating numerous chances and putting four good goals away, including Alan Shearer's 99th and 100th goals for the Toon. Fantastic achievement - congratulations and thanks Alan.

Sylvain Distin fitted effortlessly into the middle of defence, and although never under any concerted pressure, I thought he looked very impressive - strong in the air, and used his pace to make numerous interceptions.

Lee and Speed controlled the midfield throughout, and Solano had his best game for ages including laying on both goals for AS. Laurent Robert took his goal well and was much livelier than on Saturday and much more involded in the game.

MOTM? Probably Nobby Solano, although Distin pushed him close.

-- Anonymous, November 27, 2001

Answers

Alan past it?

-- Anonymous, November 27, 2001

...and so it's only cost us 150,000 quid a goal (not counting his salary)- well done Alan, no offence meant ;-)

-- Anonymous, November 27, 2001

Not suprisingly one of our red and white friends has pointed this out elsewhere. Still 100 goals is decent enough for a player whose had so much time out of the game.

Still no one has told me where Bellamy was.

-- Anonymous, November 27, 2001

Glad you spotted I was only being flippant Lynda, I'm busy preparing a full "Cost - Benefit Analysis".

-- Anonymous, November 27, 2001

I'll look forward to seeing it Bud!

-- Anonymous, November 27, 2001

Lynda - Bellamy was offically unavailable due to a virus - I'm sure he was rested. However, he wasn't on the bench.

Bud - as to the cost of Shearer's goals, perhaps we could net out the income derived from three visits to Wembley that his goals were massively contributory to. We might also care to consider the cost of AS's goals with that of some of our other big signings like Sylvia Maric, Andrea Andersson, Duncan Ferguson, JDT, etc, etc, etc.

-- Anonymous, November 27, 2001

I still think players like Shearer, Robert and Lee could have been rested. Hope this wont effect how we play on Saturday.

-- Anonymous, November 27, 2001

hmmmm......just seen the goals

not wishing to sour a lovely evening but does anyone else seem a tad concerned by the reaction of Robert and Shearer after Alan scores his second. Lolo hardly looked chuffed and eager to congratulate Big Al.....

-- Anonymous, November 27, 2001

Well done, and thanks Alan. Some great ones and some, well, not so great. But 100 for you r club is a tremendous effort. Forget the cost of each goal. As Clarky says, there's a lot more than just the number of goals. More than anyone else in the recent past, Shearer has epitomised the true Geordie hero. I'm trying to think of others elsewhere who fit that mould....................Adams at @rse? Hoddle (spit) at Spurs (or should that be Campbell)?? I don't think so!

As for MotM, has to be Shearer for his golas and overall contribution (well, OK, 'cos he scored his 100th). In reality, Nobby had a hand in every goal whereas Shearer only had a hand in three. But it would be wrong to take it away from Shearer who I felt did more than anybody else on the park tonight.

-- Anonymous, November 27, 2001

clarky, I'm well aware that it's not just the goals, my cost per goal remark was just some futile mental arithmetic - I'm a big Shearer fan.

Heskey, who I don't rate highly, has hardly scored for L'pool / England (also at great expense) but he's just starting to show some value esp. as a foil for YMO and his other smaller / lighter team-mates. Shearer's been doing that for years, except his smaller / lighter team-mates were incapable of capitalising on that, I also remember the dozens of games he (Al) had to play as a lone striker receiving little or no supply / support. If Shearer had been playing for Manure (sic) his goal tally (IMHO) would undoubtedly been closer to 200.

As for the money wasted by TSM and TDM on pieces of $h!t, more than enough has been said :-(

-- Anonymous, November 27, 2001

min, I noticed that too. I thnk Robert was pi**ed off that Shearer nipped in front of him to stick it in. I'm not bothered with Robert any more. He's cack. Can't even cross the ball over the first defender. Give me Luax2 any day.

Thought Distin was fantastic... interesting choice for Bobby on Saturday! Elliot was.... Elliot. Shola was looking good.

-- Anonymous, November 28, 2001

Brilliant for Al to get 100 up - absolute chuffed! As for goals vs money, well you get what you pay for generally. And as he averages about 18-19 goals a season with us (that's inclusive of the assorted lengthy injury periods) I think that's amazing. Well done Alan, and thanks

-- Anonymous, November 28, 2001

how many goals has shearer scored this season?

-- Anonymous, November 28, 2001

I didn't want to focus on negatives after such a smashing performance.

I thought Steve Harper looked nervous and seems to be suffering badly through not playing regularly. He is a super keeper, and I really feel he should look to move on to avoid wasting his career as Given's deputy.

Robbie Elliott was again a weak link. He lacks the confidence to get forward, and his distribution is very erratic. I also thought O'Brien looked uncomfortable at RB, so my thoughts on playing him there with Dabs and Distin in the middle may not work. Neverthless, I thought we looked much more secure with Distin's ability to get to high balls.

To end on a more positive note, Shearer gave another masterclass in centre forward play - I hope Shola was taking notes.

-- Anonymous, November 28, 2001

PS. Shearer, and perhaps Lee, should certainly have been subbed at HT with us at 4-0.

BR comments in this morning's Journal that he wanted to bring AS off at HT, but said he was desperate to continue to try to get his hat trick. Frankly, I find this a pathetic admission from the Manager. What the hell difference does one more meaningless goal make, when he could have been injured, rather than being kept fresh for a very important game at the weekend?

I despair.

-- Anonymous, November 28, 2001

When a player is so hungry for goals, it's difficult to bet against them getting the hattrick after 2 up. I think if he'd only got the 1 YBR would have taken him off if it was still 4-0 at HT.

-- Anonymous, November 28, 2001

I agreed with Shearer getting MotM but found Shola the most inspiring player on the night. He unlocked them 3 times simply by changing that deceptive pace of his from lolloping to sprinting and challenged for every high ball. He didn't get clean headers on many of them but the intent is there and the rest will come. As it was, simply by challenging he was making sure that Ipswich weren't in control of the ball even when they won it. Leaps and bounds from the young'un and he has to be given more time in the side.

Distin oozed confidence and for once we could watch a player calmly putting a ball into touch because he didn't doubt his ability to deal with a bloody throw-in. Excellent prospect.

The cameras were telling fibs if the impression was that Robert did nowt. He played really well and he and Nobby have an understanding even if nobody else does. They crossed over a couple of times, further bamboozling the markers they each warranted, and there was no irony when he was applauded off this time. I was taking a gander from the top of the Milburn for a change and some of Robert's passes last night were as good as any I've ever seen. He was stroking the ball at perfect pace and length for the recipients to take it in their stride instead of fighting to trap the thing. A completely different player to the bloke we saw on Saturday.

O'Brien was titanic when he came on. Still Bobby's best signing.

-- Anonymous, November 28, 2001

Robert was ace. He needed that goal and Bez said on the highlights that Lolo is 300 times the team player that Ginola was. He just didn't know the significance of the goals for Al. Solano was ace as well but I thought Distin was MOTM by a mile. Shearer had a wonderful game - and Shola was good, too. I thought Harper showed signs that he is falling behind Shay - give him more games, Bobby. I actually thought Dabs had a poor game but it didn't really matter on the night. The other thing is, O'Brien didn't look that comfortable at right back although he did his usual good things. Having said that, he's a centre half, so why would he be 100% convincing at right back? I think our demands are sometimes a little too high! Elliott was, as usual, cack.

-- Anonymous, November 28, 2001

You're right Clarky, this cloning research must be a lot further advanced than everybody has been led to believe.

Don't see how Bobby can leave out Distin or Shola on Saturday, Especially Distin. He never put a foot wrong. Might mean Dabs has to be demoted to get the best lineup.

Bobby definitely has a big selection problem looming, but I daresay he'll welcome it.

I think Lualua should have been brought on sooner, just to give the kid a chance to settle down. He was still tearing about like a BAF when the final whistle went.

I'd have been a lot more concerned that we lost it a bit in the second half if we'd only been 2 up. Should have gone for the jugular.

Beggars can't be choosers, but, and the first half was worth the ticket money on it's own.

-- Anonymous, November 28, 2001

I thought these stats on Shearer were interesting. Not a bad goal to game ratio!

Newcastle's captain Alan Shearer, scored his 100th goal with the club yesterday in the Worthington Cup against Ipswich. Shearer has played 185 matches with the Magpies since joining in July '96.

Previously, he scored 130 goals in 165 matches with Blackburn, and 43 in 140 matches with Southampton. With England, he scored 30 goals in 63 matches.

-- Anonymous, November 28, 2001

So will Bobby play our best 2 centre backs... Distin and O'Brien on Saturday? I have a horrible feeling that he'll either play Distin at left back or go with 3 at the back with Dabs.....

-- Anonymous, November 28, 2001

OK it was only against a weakened Ipswich team in the WC, but I thought Sylvain Distin's performance last night was the most assured CB display I've seen in a b&w shirt since Phillipe Albert at his best.

Surely, he cannot be dropped for Saturday?

-- Anonymous, November 28, 2001

Clarky, I agree. Furthermore, Dabs could usefully be rested at this point: he played in the InterToto and IMHO has looked slightly shaky in the last couple of games (not to criticise because he's been ace so far). The other thing is, having Distin on the pitch may aid the process of brining Robert in to the match more. I'd play Bernard on Saturday myself as I think Robbie is getting worse by the match but I fully expect it'll be Robbie Cross to the Goalie Elliott who gets the shout.

-- Anonymous, November 28, 2001

1. Shearer not being subbed at HT - surely any manager worth their salt with Bobby's concerns/intentions as stated above would say, "fair enough, you've got 15 minutes to get your hattrick, then I'm taking you off"

2. Distin was excellent

3. I made the point about Robert's non-participation in goal celebrations weeks ago. One thing I will say though, every time I've seen him he's put in at least one solid tackle in our third. Also, if he wasn't fully fit on Saturday he shoudln't have played even an hour yesterday. I'd like to LLL to get a bit longer, so everyone can see he's NOT VERY GOOD.

-- Anonymous, November 28, 2001

gush gush gush.

calm down folks, the toon beat an ipswich resrve team crippled with injuries and knackered after playing loads of games recently.

sounds like speed & lee were able to dominate the midfield, is that how bad ipswich were?

i know you can't do better than win but c'mon bit of perspective here please. i don't want to administer the cold water but, i think i just did

-- Anonymous, November 28, 2001

George, do you actually support Newcastle or are you a Makem in disguise?

-- Anonymous, November 28, 2001

George, we gave an accomplished performance irrespective of the opposition. The lads deserve unconditional praise for that. They are more than capable of f....g up their next game but you do have to pause to admire a good performance.

-- Anonymous, November 28, 2001

what kind of disguise?

actually i'm just trying to stir up a bit of debate. i've seen a few games on the telly this year and it strikes me that many of last nights heroes vanish from the game when the opposition is a bit tougher.

shearer is completely ineffective when the team aren't dominating, solano and robert need a lot of space to do their stuff. and speed and lee can't get into the game against quality opposition. a team with the will and means to put pressure on the ball in midfield (west ham)have reduced us to sunderland like long punts up to an immobile CF.

like i said lets not get carried away

-- Anonymous, November 28, 2001

...hey gud, your'e entitled to your opinion. I certainly enjoyed it. ;o{I

-- Anonymous, November 28, 2001

What % of his goals are penalties? Bet it is quite high!

-- Anonymous, November 28, 2001

..... 0% against the mackems. But you probably knew that! ;o{]

-- Anonymous, November 28, 2001

Off the point but there were some little lads sitting next to Screach and me last night and they were simply ace: bawling and shouting, calling the referee names and generally really getting into it (one of them even enlivened a quiet moment by spilling his Bovril all over his trousers). The club really must do more to get the bairns in.

-- Anonymous, November 28, 2001

..... well there were 20,000 missed opportunities last night!

-- Anonymous, November 28, 2001

Soops, not as high as you would like to think, I imagine. Added to thousands of cleared corners, some sensational assists and some tremendous wing play, Shearer has made as big a contribution to the club as anyone could.

-- Anonymous, November 28, 2001

But as I have read somewhere and indeed know myself he has not helped put any silverware in the cabinet. Worth £15m then? Oh an dare you now better than Inter Milan? On a plus point for you your attendance was twice as big as Arsenal.Plus there was 6000 grimsby fans there! On the way to the theatre last night I saw the Ipswich coaches getting escorted in past the Angel.Both of them!!! And the front one seemed to be 1/2 empty!!!!!!!

-- Anonymous, November 28, 2001

Worth every penny and more, Kev: his goals kept us in the PL for a couple of seasons when we were up against it which is worth way more than £15 million.

-- Anonymous, November 28, 2001

every signing we've ever made has failed to win us anything so they're all a waste of money, but then so is SuperKev !

-- Anonymous, November 28, 2001

But SuperKev won the European Golden Boot!

-- Anonymous, November 28, 2001

sk,
You'd have enjoyed the travelling support last night - all 60 of them - chanting "....you're gonna win f**k all", when the PL's bottom Club were 4-0 down after 30 minutes.

Made me chuckle anyway. ;o{]

-- Anonymous, November 28, 2001

My favorite story of away singing, well the response really, was when we played away at Forest their last season in the premiership. Toon Army singing "Going down, going down", Forest supporters responding with "So are we, so are we". :-)

-- Anonymous, November 28, 2001

Exactly 20% SuperKev. I remember 4 that he's missed: Blackburn Rovers in the League Cup, Sheffield Wednesday, Fulham and I can't recall who the other side was.

-- Anonymous, November 29, 2001

The Journal this morning carries a full page on his ton, and lists every game in which he scored.

They identify 19 penalties.

Interestingly, they have him scoring 69 of his 100 goals at SJP, and him scoring in 75 of the 191 (including 5 as sub) games he has played for the Club - a bit better than one every three games.

They also report the following:

scored and Utd won - 69%
scored and Utd drew - 13%
scored and Utd lost - 10%

-- Anonymous, November 29, 2001

nufc.com's breakdown makes it 20 pens as well. In the red corner you have the story-thieving local rag crap-peddlars and in the black and white corner you have two totals compiled by fans. Looks like a straight knockout against Alan "I can speak Dutch" Oliver :-)

-- Anonymous, November 29, 2001

Softie, didn't he missed a pen against Birmingham in the Worthy 2 seasons ago?

And Kev - I never knew that penalties didn't count as goals

-- Anonymous, November 29, 2001

Kev's just trying to avoid thinking about Sinclair and Hucthison (sic)...not to mention that Todorov hasn't scored this season ;-)

-- Anonymous, November 29, 2001

er clarky?

"They also report the following: scored and Utd won - 69% scored and Utd drew - 13% scored and Utd lost - 10%"

does that mean that in only 8% of Shearer's games he did not score, or has thet cockroach I 'drank' gone to me heed?

-- Anonymous, November 29, 2001

What does (sic) mean?

I have never been able to get an answer to that one.

-- Anonymous, November 29, 2001

sic either means "Softie's in charge" or "thus" ... indicative of deliberate mis-spelling? Dunno exactly as I learn all my Latin from doing crosswords

-- Anonymous, November 29, 2001

I always said the Sun crossword educates this country.

Cheers.

-- Anonymous, November 29, 2001

Times actually soops ;-).. Can't do the Sun one... not all that good on synonyms... ok at code breaking

-- Anonymous, November 29, 2001

It means thus, or "it is so" but when placed in brackets is used to denote that a misspelling or incorrect use of grammar is a direct quote and that the mistake is not that of the reporter. Hucthison was the dyslexic name on the back of Dirty Don's shirt in the derby at SJP this season. I apologise unreservedly for being an elitist twat.

-- Anonymous, November 29, 2001

Your elitist twat persona is all top show Softie.

If you'd really been one, it would never have occurred to you to aplogise to a bunch of thick twats like us. :-))

-- Anonymous, November 29, 2001

Please go around to the tradesman's entrance where the butler will convey my response to you. Vulgar fellow.

-- Anonymous, November 29, 2001

Pit Bill - just tell him to fcuk off - like what you usually does.

-- Anonymous, November 29, 2001

sic adv. (usu. in brackets) used, spelt, etc., as written (confirming, or calling attention to, the form of quoted or copied words).

Etymology L, = so, thus

-- Anonymous, November 29, 2001

as in:

"excuse me while i 'thus' into this park bin what was nearby..."

"i was so wankered, i was 'thus' into a bucket later that night..."

;-)

-- Anonymous, November 29, 2001

min, you're sick man!

;-)

-- Anonymous, November 29, 2001