I also don’t think they expect to win everything and I do not believe you have met many newcastle fans who have ever told you that they expect to win everything or even very much. Again, its another media myth, probably perpetuated by finding a couple of big fat shirtless geordies who will say anything to fit the stereotype on camera rather than listening to the views of the thousands of normal fans.

Obviously they (by which I mean Freddie Shepherd) have made mistakes in the past, and its quite nice for everyone to be laughing at them rather than us for their managerial mishaps (!), but I do feel sorry (if I stop to think about it, anyway…) for the fans who get it in the neck simply for being passionate and seeming to care about their team. And judging by the new library last week, Arsenal could do with a few more of them…

Big Sam Alladyce

Mark Hughes

???

Anyone got it yet, nor me - for all the grievances that my team puts me through, for all the cursing, peaks and troughs, for the pain she delivers to my love for her, I still feel blessed I’m not a newcastle fan.

While whining that Big Sam didn’t play the attractive Keegan-esque football demanded up north, despite the fact that he has no history of playing the game with any kind of football pedigree, watch as they welcome a new saviour, expect petals to be cast in front of his every step, cries of ‘watch us win everything including the scudetta’ will echo across the tyne.

The cheers on Hughes arrival at St James Park will not mask deep lying feelings that, actually, this is no match made in heaven, that in fact all that will happen is Big Sam part 2.

Those self declaring (deluding?) ‘best fans in the country’ should prepare themselves for more of the same, who can see it ending?

They deserve it for treating Sir Bobby with so little respect !

Paul Robinson was told he could leave Tottenham in a meeting with chairman Daniel Levy on Thursday.
Levy severely censured Robinson for his support of Jol, telling aides that he wanted the goalkeeper out of the club. Sporting director Damien Comolli was also firmly in the anti-Robinson camp, going to the extraordinary length of advising Steve McClaren to drop Robinson some months before November’s Euro 2008 qualifier against Croatia, in which the coach fatefully replaced him with Scott Carson.

Full article:
http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,2240124,00.html

Plus, he’s too mercenary. All players are mercenaries, more or less, some are just more vocal than others, and he annoys me. But we knew that when we signed him to be fair.

He should just be trotting out the cliche about welcoming competition for his place. He could still agitate for a move, he just doesn’t have to be so open about it.

Call down now - take a seat, perhaps a glass of water.

As for Chimbonda - he obviously doesn’t want to fight for his place, let him go.

We have Diarra, a good prospect, bleating that he cant get into a winning team, then asks not to be picked against spuds on wednesday cos his minds all f*cked up, compare that to Gilberto, last years best player, world cup winner, saying he knows it’s hard to get into the team but he wants to keep fighting.

Which player would you rather have?

I agree with WHS - there, I said it.
We do need to be a bit careful when looking at new defenders - ‘out for 6 weeks’ is something I have grown tired of reading!

As for losing Chimbondabonda - Can’t understand it - what it not to like about him??

I admire your loyalty, but maybe Robinson has just been found out ?

His reactions are simply too slow, though his instincts are sound, but for a player that seems to rely so much on confidence, are instincts enough ?

If you want to get into Europe, do you really need a keeper that has shipped a whopping 35 goals in 19 games, dammit that’s a huge number of excuses!

His bad times are behind him and since he left the company of Bowyer / Dyer / Bellamy et al you know he will never make the same foolish mistakes again, a consumate professional, a great defender, possibly one of this countries most accomplished.

Made from crepe paper though.

When boro got him on a freebie (or is he still on loan ?) I did think, wow, bargain, but he was crocked a couple of games later and that story continues.

You already have an injury prone defender, whatever the class, do you need another ?