Sorry, but I find Freddie Shepherd's labeling of Distin as Mercenary to be laughable. I have no idea of what Keegan is paying Distin, but if the reports are accurate and he's in line to make twice as much money, then he'd have to be an idiot to turn that down. After all, it's not as though Newcastle management has never made a decision based solely for monetary reasons. I don't think it's reasopnable to expect anybody to take half the salary they could be earning just for the thrill of playing in the Champions League. Maybe I'm unique, but I wouldn't do it.

-- Anonymous, May 21, 2002

Answers

people are only mercenary when they take other people's money rather than your own

-- Anonymous, May 22, 2002

Ya, we should just keep our mouth shut and get on with it. We'll get our laugh when Keegan gets fired and City goes down to Div 1 again.

-- Anonymous, May 22, 2002

Southpaw - the best information we have available, and it may not be accurate, is that the Toon offered him £18kpw and that he has signed for £25k with Citeh. Assuming he has signed a 4 yr contract that amounts to a not insignificant difference of ca. £1.4m.

I tend to agree with you that Shepherd's squealing has a hollow ring to it - he should know that the vast majority of footballers are mercenaries at heart: Distin owed no loyalty to the Toon and has simply elected to take the £1.4m in cash rather than what in reality is only a guarantee to play in two CL qualifiers - entirely his decision to make.

Criticising the guy in the media and implying he is joining a lesser Club in preference to one that "is already established in the top 4 of the PL" is sheer arrogance, and imo reflects badly yet again on the Toon. We wouldn't pay the guy what he felt he was worth, AND was able to get from someone else - fine, let's move on fcs.

-- Anonymous, May 22, 2002

Sudden, you said "when Keegan gets fired..."

hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha....

nice one mate... but we all know he'll have quit long before that happens!

-- Anonymous, May 22, 2002

Unless they'd already agreed a deal last year and SD changed the rules when he realised he'd shown in a good light and could try for some more.

ie he used us to showcase himself while always planning to rip us off. That's mercenary.

Mind you its a big boys world now so good luck to the lad - FS is just as much a shark I suspect when things get tough. I also don't think he was being arrogant - we are as at May 20th a better positioned club that City for exactly the reasons FS says.

-- Anonymous, May 22, 2002

Josh - so you would reasonably describe us "established as a top 4 Club" would you, given our recent past? You don't think this is just a teensy weensy bit arrogant? Do you think Ipswich would have have been tempted to so describe themselves this time last season?

-- Anonymous, May 22, 2002

Haha Sparxx, thats right, solly solly

-- Anonymous, May 22, 2002

But surely "established" means you have proven that you deserved to finish there?

If we were top 4 after 3 months we wouldn't be established, but if we finish the season there then I would tend to agree with FS here.

-- Anonymous, May 22, 2002

IMO "established" means finishing there regularly, and certainly more than once. Doing it once doesn't qualify as being "established" - as Ipswich have highlighted very clearly.

-- Anonymous, May 22, 2002

There is an established three

IF we were to hang on their coat tails next season,me for one will be happy.

-- Anonymous, May 22, 2002

If you take established as meaning there or thereabouts for a few years then I agree we are not there yet.

All depends on how you interpret it I suppose.

-- Anonymous, May 22, 2002