Really moralistic piece in the Mirror, apparently the 2 French lads were also out on the Toon this week, photographed leaving some nightclub in the early hours.

Shock horror. The players aren't actually banned from going on the Quayside (yet), they didn't do anything wrong and is it unusual for players to have a night out when there is no mid week game? No. Also, they might actually live down there - so what's wrong with going to your local I ask?

Of course the Mirror decides this is evidence that Bobby can't control his team. This is getting ridiculous now. Do the players have to turn into monks?

-- Anonymous, February 13, 2002

Answers

SuperKev was on about the SAFC team being in the Baja the other night. Are they in the report, too?

-- Anonymous, February 13, 2002

This is also in the Mail this morning.

No Lynda, they don't have to turn into monks, but it would be nice if they showed even a modicum of common sense at the moment. There must be tabloid reporters swarming round the Quayside like a rash at the moment so why can't they just:

a) Stay away from there for a couple of weeks

b) Go to the offy and take a few cans home if they must have drink

c) Ring up "Dial-a-Tart" if they want some female company instead of going and looking for it down there.

d) Stay bloody well sober and celibate for a couple of months until we've won the title then they can all get as pissed as they want and screw as many lasses as they want for as long as they want.

This sort of behaviour is playing into the hands of the scum of the earth (aka tabloid journalists). It is also showing a total lack of respect for the club, manager and fans. Will they NEVER learn.

-- Anonymous, February 13, 2002

Btw - in the Mail it is Distain and Bernard - so it's probably all tosh!!

-- Anonymous, February 13, 2002

Just thought - are you sure it says Robert in the Mirror Lynda - I thought he'd gone back to France to see his poorly lad again.

-- Anonymous, February 13, 2002

Jacko, I think Robert said they were training every other day so he may still be in Newcastle..

-- Anonymous, February 13, 2002

Probably is Bernard actually, i just read it quickly.

-- Anonymous, February 13, 2002

The press sh*t stirring again. Why don't they check out a few of the nightclubs in London? Probably plenty of cockney players out on the lash. BTW din't John Terry get arrested for GBH/ABH a few weeks ago, funny how that never got much coverage.

-- Anonymous, February 13, 2002

Terry must have got some coverage because I heard about it from about 5 different sources & I'm on the other side of the world.

-- Anonymous, February 13, 2002

BTW, Shepherd says in today's Journal that there is no Quayside curfew, partly because it would probably end up as a human rights issue and partly because you can't really tell Alan Shearer to stay away from the Quayside having done nothing wrong and you can't just ban a select few as it would look unfair..

-- Anonymous, February 13, 2002

FOOTBALL'S CHEEKIEST CHAIRMEN

By Philip Hornsey

Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd mounted his lofty steed in spectacular fashion on Tuesday after occasional midfielder Jamie McClen joined Craig Bellamy as an acquaintance of the local constabulary.

"Newcastle United has once again found itself in the media spotlight for all the wrong reasons," raged the Toon bigwig. "We are extremely disappointed and concerned that another one of our players has let the club and his team-mates down by his actions."

A noble gesture, we're sure you'll agree. But isn’t this the same Freddy Shepherd who, along with Douglas Hall, was forced to resign from the Newcastle board after a tabloid newspaper caught them in the company of prostitutes, branding Tyneside women 'dogs' and insulting the team's star player?

It seems Freddy knows all about bringing the game into disrepute. Which got us thinking. What if the chairmen of other clubs were to 'Do a Shepherd'?

Presumably we could expect something like this…

Elton John, Watford: "I would like to publicly condemn my manager Gianluca Vialli's dress sense, which makes him look really gay."

Doug Ellis, Aston Villa: "I am disappointed that although my players have untold millions in the bank, they are reluctant to put their hands in their pockets."

Peter Ridsdale, Leeds: "This club deplores its employees whoring themselves to the media whenever a microphone is put in front of them."

Mohammed Fayed, Fulham: "Once again, I have asked my team to refrain from criticising the royal family, politicians and government officials in public."

Charles Koppel, Wimbledon: "It is important that our supporters understand that we are their local team. Without the goodwill fostered by community spirit, a club is nothing."

Sam Hammam, Cardiff: "I would politely ask the fans to stay in their seats during the match. There is nothing to be gained from moving around the stadium."

Rupert Lowe, Southampton: "Football is a working man's game. It is not a sport for public schoolboys, hooray-henrys and upper-class fops."

Ken Bates, Chelsea: "The trend of sacking successful managers simply because they are going through a bad patch must stop. It is certainly not something Chelsea would ever do."

Steve Gibson, Middlesbrough: "It disturbs me to see teams that habitually flirt with relegation signing players that are over- priced, over the hill and only over here for the money."

Bill Kenwright, Everton: "Cheese? At the end of a tunnel? What the f*** are you on about?"

-- Anonymous, February 13, 2002

Damned if he does, damned if doesn't. Damned if I care.

When tabloid sh!t-stirrers stop raking up old stories, stop being holier-than-thou and stoptrying to knock down anybody who even looks like getting some succes, then I might give a to$$.

-- Anonymous, February 13, 2002

I agree with you Screacher. I just wish our lads would have a bit more sense that to do their job for them!

-- Anonymous, February 13, 2002

If I were paranoid, I might think the press are getting desperate to stop the title bid of a (generally) well-behaved team playing exciting football in a clean and fair manner because that team doesn't wear red and/or isn't from London.

Of course that's nonsense. ;-)

-- Anonymous, February 13, 2002

We're naturally very sensitive to NUFC news, but the press in general probably just have orders to dredge up any scandalous bits and pieces - the bigger the club the better. It's an editorial dream as the audience is huge - the fans of the club to try and find out what's going on, and fans of other clubs to wallow in schadenfreude. Even non-footie fans can bask in self righteousness thinking it confirms everything they thought about football and footballers.

-- Anonymous, February 13, 2002

You're right, Pete: Barthez and London nightclubs have been daily news for about three weeks. I mean, leaving a London nightclub at 3am, smoking and drinking hours before a training session in Manchester..

-- Anonymous, February 13, 2002

Thinking about it, the most flabbergasting bit of journalistic exaggeration is this business of calling Jamie McClen a Newcastle "star"???!!!??

-- Anonymous, February 13, 2002

Just goes to show how lax they are at checking facts. ;-)

-- Anonymous, February 13, 2002

I noticed the McClen story in the Mail had a big graphic on it with "YOB WATCH"

Very subtle that one, I bet NOBODY at the Mail has ever been drunk outside before, as they are all perfect. Stupid tossers.

On a side note, a woman who sits close to me at the match went to the same school as McClen and said he's a "horrible, arrogant little so 'n' so". I could never have guessed!

-- Anonymous, February 13, 2002

Aye journalists don't drink.

-- Anonymous, February 13, 2002

Summed up to perfection Mr Miller. End of story (well for me anyway)

-- Anonymous, February 13, 2002