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Post by thehalftimeporkpie on Aug 27, 2015 11:48:33 GMT
Where do we start and what do we discuss?
The list is endless! A decent performance, although against lower league opposition the other night, isn't hopefully painting over the cracks!
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Post by thehalftimeporkpie on Sept 8, 2015 9:28:55 GMT
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Post by safcrob on Sept 16, 2015 16:28:17 GMT
Did you see that the other day, Newcastle players having to walk to Upton Park, that really tickled me as there is no love lost between me an the barcodes
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Post by thehalftimeporkpie on Sept 19, 2015 21:05:13 GMT
It seems anyone up in the boardroom is subject of an attack tonight.
Carr's signings aren't good enough. McLaren isn't getting the best out of the players. Ashley appointed them both.
What on earth can be done, to turn things around?
I asked Mark Douglas (from The Chronicle), about the transfer policy. Is it down to Carr to spot a player, pass the details on to Charnley and then try to sign them? Does McLaren then work with the 'talent' imposed on him?
Or does McLaren tell Carr about the type of player he wants?
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Post by thehalftimeporkpie on Sept 20, 2015 16:12:39 GMT
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Post by thehalftimeporkpie on Sept 23, 2015 22:58:31 GMT
Cards on the table time.
It was the 1986 World Cup what did it. I got the bug from there and have enjoyed playing and watching football ever since.
Growing up in a non-football family, it was looking in the paper one Sunday, that a team grabbed my attention. I loved looking at the stats, the attendances, the tables etc, but seeing one name and asking the folks if that was 'our Newcastle' (and getting an answer back to say it was) made my mind up. Fancy 'our Newcastle' having a football team. Everything in the papers was from down south. Everything on the telly was from down south.
I was hooked.
Even when the likes of Waddle, Beardsley and Goddard had buggered off, I was still hooked.
When Gazza diddled off, it didn't matter.
So what if I didn't like Gordon McKeag, or thought Willie McFaul looked like our milkman.
Relegation in 89. It didn't matter. Not in the grand scheme of things.
Books, match programmes, The Pink, The Chronicle on a Thursday (or whenever I went to see the Grandparents) and taped games on the telly. I would break my neck for a live game! Anything and everything to do with Newcastle, I wanted. I was never keen on my 50/50 Brazil/NUFC bobble hat and scarf though.
For years it was bad. But I hadn't experienced any highs, apart from the 89/90 season - that started so well.
Keegan came and went and came back, all in a whirlwind few days back in 92. There was the last gasp victories against Portsmouth and Leicester and then wham! The fortunes of a sleeping giant went onto overdrive. Fantastic stuff. The stuff dreams are made of. Fans appeared from nowhere, but everything that was going on, on the pitch was positive. Players giving a toss. Players showing flair and excitement. And winning! Apart from the Swindon 5-0 in a cup game, I hadn't seen victories like it.
So close to a Premier League title. European nights. I was still hooked.
Even in the dark days of Dalglish, Gullit and Souness, I was hooked. Robson may have brought the glimmer of hope back. The glory nights came back temporarily - but ultimately it brought a new false dawn, to that new generation of black and white support.
Since Allardyce came and went, I can count my trips to SJP on a match day, on two hands. They include the Bobby Robson and Steve Harper games and a Youth Cup game last season. It all came to a juddering conclusion at the Liverpool game, when Allardyce lost not only the team, but the backing of 52,000 Geordies.
I still support them. Still want them to win/succeed and still look out for the score in the paper. I just don't break my neck when they're on the telly. If I asked if Mick Lowes did the radio commentary, it would probably show how much attention I pay to the radio broadcasts. I certainly won't be rushing back to SJP.
Why? Why the apathy and lack of interest? I am not sure I could sum it up in a sentence or even a concise paragraph. All I know is - I ain't hooked. The passion, the excitement just isn't there any more. Newcastle United doesn't give me the shivers it once did. Apathy towards the players, the owners and the management? Definitely. It is as though the soul has been ripped out of the club and a tatty, sports logo has replaced it.
If I was a "Jonny come lately" supporter, I could maybe justify my lack of interest in the club in a different way. Having seen the dross served up under McFaul, Smith and the caretakers in between, I am not sure a supporter of almost 30 years can be called a "Jonny come lately".
Having read the reports of tonight's defeat to Sheffield Wednesday - I asked myself, whether my love for the club would ever come back. The honest answer - probably not. Certainly not any time soon. I imagine it to be like the missus having a fling and you stick with it, for the sake of the kids. There might be that little part of you who still cares. The other part? Well it just wants to stick two fingers up and tell the one you once loved, to f*** off!
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Post by thehalftimeporkpie on Nov 6, 2015 7:46:33 GMT
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Post by thehalftimeporkpie on Nov 10, 2015 9:06:57 GMT
Reports today, indicate Matthieu Debuchy is unhappy with life at Arsenal. This follows an injury plagued spell and the emergence of Hector Bellerin.
In a twist of fate, Charles N'Zogbia has suddenly found out that he is in Remi Garde's plans at Aston Villa. N'Zogbia was frozen out under Tim Sherwood, prior to his sacking.
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Post by thehalftimeporkpie on Nov 17, 2015 10:32:16 GMT
Just reading that Gael Bigirimana has re-joined Coventry City on loan, until January.
Not sure what has happened to the fella, who was thrust straight into the 1st team following his move to Newcastle, from the Sky Blues a few years back. Pardewed?
He was supposed to have had a mystery illness and didn't pull up many trees when he went to Rangers on loan last season.
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Post by thehalftimeporkpie on Nov 26, 2015 16:20:45 GMT
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Post by thehalftimeporkpie on Dec 1, 2015 12:13:01 GMT
Gazza has been in the news today.
The Mail (and several other papers) have been running a story surrounding the build up to the Raoul Moat stand-off a few years back.
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Post by thehalftimeporkpie on Dec 10, 2015 12:43:32 GMT
Lee Ryder and The Chronicle are running a story about Debuchy possibly coming back to Newcastle.
Erm.... aye!
Didn't Tino mention his love of the toon recently? Seeing as we are struggling for goals someone needs to get an article written up!
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Post by thehalftimeporkpie on Jan 5, 2016 15:25:05 GMT
Things have been quiet on the 442 front over the last few weeks - due to family needs and Christmas goings on.
One thing that I thought we should write about/comment on, was the unfortunate death of Pavel Srnicek.
Pav definitely falls into the 'cult' hero bracket as far as I am concerned. To be honest, he is way ahead of anyone else and has been for a long time.
In the days of foreigners in English football usually coming from the continent or Scandinavia, I must admit to being a little confused with the purchase of a goalie from what was then Czechoslovakia. Even more so, with my various pronunciations of his surname.
Early memories involve listening to an away game and the tones of Charles Harrison seemingly repeating the lines 'Srnicek has dropped it again'. Or words to that effect.
Needless to say, the big fella grew in stature and confidence and although never cementing his place in the starting XI, he certainly fought off the competition time and time again. Just off the top of my head, I can recall Tommy Wright, John Burridge, Shaka Hislop and Mike Hooper all leaving well before Pav did. The latter two came and went during Pav's time at the toon.
I can always remember Keegan sending Pav off during a training day at Maiden Castle, after a seemingly innocuous tangle with one of the Appleby's. Nothing in it, but Keegan wasn't happy - sending Pav to the showers. I never understood the decision. There was certainly nothing malicious in it. Whilst Pav may have been annoyed or embarrassed - the crowd of people there were certainly behind him.
His apparent love for Newcastle seemed to grow over the years and when he came back for the initial short term cover spell, I was over the moon. The atmosphere and reception given to him for those final few minutes at home to Spurs, was incredible. Even if he did mess up his first goal kick! Given was in goal that day and I am sure he could have managed for those final few moments, with whatever injury he had that day. I am convinced the substitution was one of those favours we often see in testimonial games.
Moving on to more recent times, getting his autobiography was definitely a priority.
The unfortunate events to follow his trip back to Tyneside, to promote the book was gutting. To then hear about the circumstances and the irreparable damage, even more so.
To then read through his twitter timeline and see comments he made prior to his cardiac arrest and the plans being made for a trip back to Tyneside in May along with the comments he made about the future, in his book - Poignant is the only word I can think of. Pav's restaurant will have to wait for another day.
RIP Pav Pavel is a Geordie.
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