I was looking at Soccer Saturday on Sky today and they were discussing Sunderland's current plight. Marsh gave his well worn opinion that no player would want to come to the North East - basically because it's not very nice, I think was his implication.

Has the soapy southern git seen the North East aside ffrom football stadia, hotel rooms and bars I wonder?

Does he know there are miles and miles of empty and unspoiled countryside, more history than you could wish for, fantastic architecture, great nightlife. 3 well respected universities (Durham, Newcastle and UNN) great coastline, good shopping, the majesty of the Tyne and all the bridges across it.......etc etc etc (I'll stop before I cry1) How does this compare with overcrowded and dirty London where you can't afford to buy a house unless you earn millions and the standard of living is sh*te!

What a tosser! Although if it keeps people like him away than so be it.

-- Anonymous, January 19, 2002

Answers

The man is a typical arrogant cockney prat who should not be given a platform for this ignorant, offensive bile. Just who is interested in his uninformed, unintelligent smarmy opinions anyway?

-- Anonymous, January 19, 2002

Does he know there are miles and miles of empty and unspoiled countryside, more history than you could wish for, fantastic architecture, great nightlife. 3 well respected universities (Durham, Newcastle and UNN) great coastline, good shopping, the majesty of the Tyne and all the bridges across it.......

Don't tell everyone Lynda - otherwise they'll all want to come.

-- Anonymous, January 19, 2002

He's got a point about players not wanting to go to Sunderland though!

-- Anonymous, January 20, 2002

I'd say the best advert for the North East is that Marsh doesn't like it. In fact, if I were the North East Tourist Board or GNER, I'd make up posters saying "Rodney Marsh - won't be found in Newcastle".

Separately, I note that the ITC say that there was nothing offensive about the WH Smith ads and that they were just a bit of affectionate humour. On that basis, I assume we can expect ads depicting some shifty looking Scousers standing next to cars without wheels, some drugged up Mancs toting guns and some jewllery laden Cockneys saying things like, "Called him on the dog and bone but he was up the apple and pears with his missus who has a boat race like the back end of a bus".

-- Anonymous, January 20, 2002

I thought the WH SMith's ads were excellent, the warm, affectionate, glad to see you, welcoming family, dressed in black and white were in stark contrast to the mean spiritied, cold southern types depicted by Lyndhurst.

Those same southern types don't have enough about them to recognise the dig being made at them, if they did, or they had any collective identity they woudl ahev complained to the ITC.

-- Anonymous, January 20, 2002

How about we all sing stand up if you hate rodney marsh at the next match, then again let's not give him the satisfaction. Heard Metro playing the audio of it this morning and I have to applaud the other people in the studio. Not sure who they were but they both defended us saying that up here were passionate fans, a good standard of living and good stadia, then Andy Gray pipes up to tell Marsh 'youre unbelievable', clearly unimpressed with what Marsh was saying about us.

-- Anonymous, January 21, 2002

Andy, I watched it. It was Frank McLintock who told Marsh he was Unbelievable. The whole panel were appalled to be honest. I think Marsh just has to say controversial things for a few reasons:

1. To hide his lack of intelligence and football knowledge. He's often shown up for his ignorance of what's been happening in the game - like Saturdays assertion that Manu still had to go to St James Park this season.

2. He thinks he's funny.

3. He's a tw@t!

-- Anonymous, January 21, 2002

oops, sounded like Andy Gray on the radio. Anyway, he thought Man U had to come to Toon did he. How easily they forget that their precious was beaten. I'd like to see him sacked for his comments and the fact he hasn't got a clue about football. I still think it was a change for the others to actually stick up for the North East.

-- Anonymous, January 21, 2002

Don't let it bother ya....he's a twat...remember his rants about Bradford definitely going down the season when they escaped? tosser had to shave his head.....

-- Anonymous, January 21, 2002