Award Winner Comes Recommended

'....Quite a lot of character and good body without being too heavy or tannin-y'

'This wine was awarded Regional Spain Rioja Under £10 trophy winner. Rioja, situated in Northern Spain, is without doubt Spain’s finest wine region and Bodegas Berberana is renowned for its production of good Reserva and Gran Reserva wines. Carta de Oro Reserva is generously full and deliciously fruity with creamy-rich black cherry fruit. characters and toasty-oak.'

Sainsburys £8.99

Pyscho for nowt?

An interesting story in the news today claims that Stuart Pearce is working for Manchester City without having signed a contract.

He feels that as he cost Man City nothing to sign he should be free to move for nothing, like wise should they wish to sack him there would be no expensive compensation to pay.

Im not trying to push his chances of the Newcastle job as I don’t think he would consider breaking his non contract for a move to anywhere else then Soho Square.

I do think it is a refreshing stance given the position taken by many in the game today.

Psycho has since signed a contract though the terms for release are not known.

Aint technology grand...(Skype)

Skype is a natty bit of software I’ve known about for a few years but I haven’t taken it too seriously in the past, mainly as I haven’t had a need for it, this has all changed in the last week or so.
If you don’t know what it is I’ll give a simple explanation for you. A techie will tell you that it is a VoIP solution, I say its a sooped up version of MSN, take your pick.

You have all the basic MSN features that people use:

• Real Time Text communication
• Audio communication
• Video communication
• Free of charge

Then you get the really good stuff, Skype is also designed to interact with the Global Telephone network which means that they can offer a customer (for a small charge)

• A telephone number (the call will be routed to your PC or VoIP phone wherever you are in the world, at no extra charge to anyone)
• Free Voicemail
• Competitive call charges (1.4 pence per minute to uk landline, 1.6 pence per minute to uk mobiles)

I already have my copy of the software, so MSN style conversations are free to anyone that joins me. I will contacting people i like before my travels to let them know what my details are. If I don’t contact you assume the details were lost in the post :-)

GWIP.

Still not interested?

5 games
4 wins
1 draw

7 scored
1 conceded
4 clean sheets

Confidence and Show-boating from everyone, even Bramble!

But as we’ve heard all season we cant judge the manager till all his players are fit...

Still don’t fancy the job Glen?

Toon Manager - Your Say

www.icnewcastle .co.uk are running a pole throughout theis week to see who ahould be the next Toon manager. Each day the person with the least votes will be removed fromt he list. Go and make your choice.

Sign the Petition

Click on the title to be redirected to the Hitzfeld for the toon petition. The popular support is shifting from O'Neil to Hitzfeld with the likes of SuperMac giving the German a ringing endorsment. Add your name to the list and send a message to Freddie.

Time not going to waste

Unfortunately Mickey Owen isn't able to add to his ten appearances in a Black and White shirt at the moment.

For anyone wanting to keep up with his demanding schedule he has his own blog, including regular video diary, which is running up to the World Cup.

Alternative Valentines

Thanks to John for the link.

Click Here

Freddies Options

A simplistic look at some of the candidates for the top job.


Martin O’Neil - Available

A bookies favourite for all jobs that have been made available since he left Celtic, even Alex Ferguson has had to watch his back if the papers are to believed.

Now considering employment again after taking time to be with his sick wife, he is believed to fancy another crack at club management before taking a more removed role in international football.

He is well respected within the game and has topped every poll to date with the fans.


Ottmar Hitzfeld - TV Contract until Summer

There is a growing following for the German coach, with many papers suggesting he is in the running.

Due to finish a self imposed sabbatical from the game after this summers world cup, like O’Neil NUFC would not have to buy out an existing contract.

He has a faultless CV and can claim to be the only man to manage two teams to victory in the Champions League (Not even the special one himself has managed that yet)

Undeniably one of the best managers in the world today.


Sam Allardyce - Bolton Wanderers

Proven he can manage and attract some of the world’s biggest players (Hierro, Okocha, Campo) he does so on a budget. That has got to be a big plus in the eyes of the Newcastle board.

Despite his success with Bolton he doesn’t have the experience at the very highest level that some of the other candidates have and Bolton are doing everything they can to tie him down, including offering him a big budget for next season.


Ralf Rangnick - Available

Had a successful spell with Schalke before walking away as a result of the ‘Politics’ within the club, He is looking for a return to management and has recently claimed he wants the honour of being the first German to manage in the Premier League.


Sven Gollum Eriksson - Soon to be Available

For some reason he would appear to have friends on the Newcastle Board.

He was a successful club manager and has a strong record with England.

His salary would be difficult to manage given the state of the clubs finances and his personal life would outstrip most of the ‘personalities’ we’ve had at this club in recent years – perhaps with the exception of Tino. I would also question his ability to handle the unique nature of the fans at Newcastle.


Claudio Ranieri - Available

He’s available so I suppose he’s bound to be linked by the media.

A largely uninspiring spell at Chelsea (despite the Millions) led to his departure.

I wonder if the man dubbed ‘The Tinkerman’ by the British press would find his resources too limited.

Stuart Pearce - Man City

If I had my way he would never have been allowed to leave the club. There isn’t a manager around the embodies the passion and spirit that fans expect from every player in every game.

His first spell at management with Nottm Forrest suggested he has what it takes to be a great boss, he is now proving that with Man City

A non starter as he wouldn’t be allowed to leave.


Paul Jewell - Wigan

Nobody can deny what Wigan have achieved this season has been remarkable, with limited budget they have played with commitment and a fearlessness that a lot of people would like to see from Newcastle.

Despite being able to bring the best out of players, Paul Jewell lacks experience and Wigan are unlikely to want to let him go.


Alex McLeish Rangers - Available in the Summer

Rangers have announced that Alex will be leaving in the summer.

Despite things going a little pear shaped recently he has led Rangers to the latter stages of the Champions League


Outside Bets


Steve McClaren Mick McCarthy / Boro Sunderland, Soon to be Available

Following the recruitment policy at Newcastle of signing managers that are about to be pushed Steve and Mick must be an outside chance…..


Ant & Dec - Saturday Nights may be busy…

They have experience of entertaining on a weekend…


Steve Bruce - Brum

Please God no……

All Change

Well its been a busy few weeks at St James Park.

Freddie, with the threat of relegation looming, has axed Graeme Souness after less than 18 months in charge. With questions still being asked (about his appointment, not his sacking) the search for his successor begins.*

Big Al has finally reached the 201 mark, confirming himself as the greatest striker to wear the black and white shirt and in the process bringing about the biggest cheer since the Keegan era. Hopefully the faithful will continue with the vigour showed against Man City and help the club try and restore some pride from what has been a truly appalling season to date.

With a little luck ( and a display of commitment that has been lacking in recent months ) the lads will get some momentum going, starting with the Villa this Saturday.

* It has been suggested that if we fail to find a new boss with the relevant qualifications, within the twelve week limit imposed by the FA, that Freddie will promote Tommy Craig to manager for the final two games of the season. This would allow us to appoint someone during the close season.

Next manager for the Toon!

It has to be Hitzfeld, go the the website and read ALL the dossier then tell me of someone who is available and better qualified.

Freddie are you listening?

Offside rule for women

The Offside Rule explained for girls:

You're in a shoe shop, second in the queue for the till. Behind the shop assistant on the till is a pair of shoes which you have seen and which you must have.

The female shopper in front of you has seen them also and is eyeing them with desire.
Both of you have forgotten your purses.

It would be totally rude to push in front of the first woman if you had no money to
pay for the shoes.

The shop assistant remains at the till waiting.

Your friend is trying on another pair of shoes at the back of the shop and sees your dilemma.
She prepares to throw her purse to you.

If she does so, you can catch the purse, then walk round the other shopper and buy the shoes.

At a pinch she could throw the purse ahead of the other shopper and, *whilst it is in flight* you could nip around the other shopper, catch the purse and buy the shoes.

Always remembering that until the purse has *actually been thrown* it would be plain wrong to be forward of the other shopper.

Not being female i couldnt say if this helps, Cant harm though can it?

Thank f**k for that

Souness Sacked

Freddie has finally decided to axe Souness. There are already people asking why he was not sacked during the transfer window, that way atleast any incoming manager would have the chance to deal his way out of trouble.

I have always said that souness should be given till the end of the season - not because i held out much hope of him turning things around, but so that we avoid the problem of feeling presurised into taking any manager that wants the job.

While his position was at risk, and has been for a long time, i dont think there were many people who thought we would be in this position now. With relegation a distinct possibility Freddie had to act now rather than wait till the end of the season.

With hindsight, Souness should have been pushed long before now but by the same argument he should never have been employed in the first place.

The media will have a field day (or month) linking managers to the job. I hope Feddie installs a caretaker manager until the end of the season so that the club can settle and ensure we play our way out of the relegation fight. I dont hold out much hope that he has lined up a big name boss to get us out of trouble.

I do wonder though if this is the result he wanted when Freddie announced that Newcastle should move thier news coverage from the front to the back pages....