Excellent summation of Toon's woes

[CrewToon]

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=391593&root=england&cc=5901

[colinh9]

Yeah, that about sums it up.

[Dirt McGirt]

10. European Union

Newcastle enjoy the status of being in Europe, to the extent that they always seem willing to enter the much-maligned Intertoto Cup. But they have seven victories in cup competitions this season (and another in a penalty shootout) as opposed to just two in the Premiership.

Once again, it would appear, they struggle to prioritise correctly; soon the £40 million premium for staying in the top flight, rather than the lesser rewards for progress through the interminable stages of the UEFA Cup, could seem more significant to Shepherd. But will it be too late by then?Add the Carling Cup with UEFA Cup.

[JayRockers!]

Yup.

Only one thing I'd question is...

"Did SBR have to go?"

I would have liked him and Shearer to both ride off into the sunset after 04/05. But it was obvious then that no replacements for Shearer, Speed, cover for Given (who I still fully expect to move every transfer window) and defenders were being bought.

Then again, SBR did start having some mental "moments" during the Bowyer/UEFA and Lua Lua Loan fiascos. So maybe he should have been shitcanned that summer.

F-it though. No use crying over spilt milk. Buy some actual strikers and defenders (and healthy keepers) in the Jan window, pick up 40 points from our final 26 games, Win Carling/UEFA Cup games (face it, it's all we have to look forward to this season) and send Roeder back to the academy in May and get a real manager in here.

Thx,

Jay!

[CrewToon]

I never understood why Speed was let go.

[JayRockers!]

I never understood why Speed was let go.
The article said it was to sign Butt.

I think Speed left because NUFC thought he was done. Then we signed Butt. I've always thought Speed had one (not three) seasons left in him.

I think the loss of Speed hurt more than the loss of Solano months before.

Thx,

Jay!

[JaredSS07]

SBR shouldve left the summer before he was canned. This article glossed over his transfer problems, like Viana, and lack of discipline.
It seems to me that the biggest problems with our club are:
poor choices in managers since SBR and Keegan;
too much money for managers to throw around, we need to make them be smart about their purchases instead of opening the checkbook each time;
and expectations that are too high. We need to have a couple years of rebuilding instead of buying stop-gap players that we think will get us back on top.