On the Eve of the new Season...

[Summerteeth]

Big Sam's out: http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=496793&cc=5901

[godsshoeshine]

beat me by 15 minutes
 
 cant say i feel good about it...but its for the best that he goes. dont have the foggiest who's going to replace him though  

[Frank Gallagher]

Originally posted by god's shoeshine:
  beat me by 15 minutes
 
 cant say i feel good about it...but its for the best that he goes. dont have the foggiest who's going to replace him though      

KEVIN KEEGAN!!!!!  

[godsshoeshine]

honestly the only names i've even heard are shearer and jose, and maureen isnt happening

[godsshoeshine]

scratch uncle al: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/n/newcastle_united/7180147.stm

[Frank Gallagher]

Do you realize that since 1997 the magpies have had a new manager every 1.8 years on average(6). What manager of quality would take that job with those statistics?
 
 Shearer didn't win squat in 10 years as a player up there and I doubt he would fair any better as a manager, although the Sunderland derby would be interesting with Keano as I doubt they're on each other's christmas card list. I think Jol is your best candidate if he's interested.
 
 Bottom line is this, unless you have an open checkbook like morono had at chelski (I could've brought success to chelski with that kind of money) a manager needs at least three years to build a team. He has to get shot of the dead weight and bring in players who fit into his gameplan. You can't dump a manager with a bunch of players he had no choice in selecting, very little money and give him 4 months to bring success.

[godsshoeshine]

i agree on shearer, the whole idea is really silly
 
 sam is gone not because newcastle isnt winning. he was fired because the players HE bought were disappointing (enrique, rozenhal, dukes, smith hasnt been great either) or just a disaster (joey barton). he was fired because of negative tactics (playing for a tie at scumderland? seriously). he was fired because of insane team selection. he was fired because he wasnt the chairman's choice in the first place. he was a poor choice by an even poor chairman
 
 jol i think would be a fine choice

[vansmack]

I nominate God's Shoeshine to manage the Toon at Old Trafford this weekend.

[godsshoeshine]

i'd play 4-4-2 with zogs and milner on the correct sides.  

[Frank Gallagher]

I hope they put Smith on the field because he'll get a standing ovation from the OT faithful...oh, and Butt.
 
 It wouldn't surprise me if toon pull out a result this weekend because they'll have that siege mentality...I hope not, but stranger things have happened.

[godsshoeshine]

i'd be really really surprised if smudger or butt were not captain, let alone playing
 
 the buzz has 'arry in all but a done deal. not sure how to feel about that

[Frank Gallagher]

Originally posted by god's shoeshine:
  i'd be really really surprised if smudger or butt were not captain, let alone playing
 
 the buzz has 'arry in all but a done deal. not sure how to feel about that

Might work out just fine because he seems to have a knack of putting a quality team together from a bunch of less than average players.

[godsshoeshine]

plus he believes in attacking football, so its not all doom and gloom. should be interesting if ashley opens up his check book for his own manager

[vansmack]

Saturday, January 12
 
 9:30am Middlesbrough v Liverpool (Set)
 10:00am Arsenal v Birmingham City (FSC)
 10:00am Chelsea v Tottenham Hotspur (Set Xtra)
 12:15pm Manchester United v Newcastle United (FSC)
 2:30pm West Ham United v Fulham [Set delay]
 4:30pm Everton v Manchester City[FSC delay]
 6:00pm Aston Villa v Reading [Set delay]
 
 
 Sunday, January 13
 
 8:30am Sunderland v Portsmouth (Set)
 11:00am Bolton Wanderers v Blackburn Rovers (FSC)
 
 
 Tuesday, January 15
 
 3:00pm Liverpool v Luton Town (FSC)
 
 
 Wednesday, January 16
 
 3:00pm Manchester City v West Ham United (FSC)
 
 No word on whether or not Newcastle will be on PPV on Wednesday.

[godsshoeshine]

how does that work? can i buy it when i get home or do i have to buy it in the afternoon and dvr it? does that even work