Dear tf,

I wish you lot would dry your eyes, really. Martin O'Neill, nah, come on, we can do better. What’s wrong with Glenn Roeder? What has Glenn won? Nowt. What has MON won? some mickey mouse trophies in a shite league. My guess is that 90 % of us could be manager for Celtic and still win a trophy. Glenn has done well, we always talk about continuity and the desire to have people in the club who care and who feel the same passion, (well almost) about our club. Looking back at the Liverpool set up in the 80's, they had a back roonm staff; after Paisley went, they had Evans, Moran, yes, exactly, not exactly world famous as fuck coaches were they?

They were people who cared for Liverpool and had the clubs interest at heart. With that in mind, I for one support the appointment of Roeder, and I agree with the role for Craig, Clarky, Big Al eventually, Wharton, Pedro et al.

Surely this is what we need to stabilise the club with a line up in the background of people able to take the club forward. Freddie Shepherd should bankroll Glenn in the same way he did with Souness, and hopefully we can get some decent players in with the help of Alan to attract them.

Clear out the deadwood, get shot of Dyer, Boumsong, Babayaro, Luque, Bowyer, and get Milner back, and sign a world class forward, Ruud Van Horsey heed, or Torres; and a centre half to bring on Titus and Taylor. Failing that, bring on Pedro and Gazza. At least they would try.

Coops.


Dear tf,

I am writing to let you know that I am a regular reader of your website and it is set as my homepage. Right, that's enough arse-licking, time to make a point.

I read last week you lads were going to try to question the LMA and you had set a deadline for a response which, in all honesty, I and probably yourselves didn't expect to be answered. Still, you were speaking on behalf of all NUFC fans and I believe you did the right thing. I think it goes to show how much contempt the people in charge of the game hold the supporters with. We are nothing but the people who turn up to put money into peoples pockets. I understand the LMA don't get money directly from fans through gate receipts or shirt sales, but these so-called football men have come to represent the people at the top of football. I can't (can) believe no-one at the LMA had 10-15 minutes to spare to answer the questions. In all truth they probably didn't even look at them. I'll bet you lads didn't even receive an email telling you why you were being ignored.

After reading what happened and your questions, I decided to actually mail the link you provided so that the LMA will once again be asked questions of. I have sent an email to the link you provided, containing the questions you asked and also a link to the page. I know they're all ignorant wankers but we as fans should be able to ask questions of an organisation who oppose the appointment of the man who NUFC's chairman wants to appoint as manager of NUFC.

I have sent the e-mail to the LMA, and also to yourselves. It is titled "Questions" and I have mailed yourselves as a Bcc so you may have a read. Anyway keep up the good work on true faith and also the website. Pissed Off.

Eric Clark


Dear tf,

I've just read the questions you sent to the LMA (Loud Mouth Arseholes) and have to say I'm surprised they haven't responded to them or at least issued some sort of blanket statement saying how great they are, as they seem to love that sort of thing, they could even at least have pointed you in the direction of their "support the chief executive" link on their website which, alludes to the view that most managers were against GR being appointed, so they must be right, but they obviously have no time for the supporters of NUFC so chose to do nothing.

After last week's shameful, yet hilarious 'war of words' © Evening Chronicle, with FFS I would have thought they would have leapt at the chance to get involved in a school yard argument with true faith by answering every question in the classic 'you supporters haven't worked in the game so what the fuck do you know' style, but for some reason decided against that, why? Probably because they know you lads won't turn up on SPN or ring Alan Oliver and start spouting shite about having a scrap, being working class, dictionary definitions or whatever, unlike some people, so it wouldn't really serve their self-publicising agenda to enter a dialogue with supporters.

The most telling thing is the fact that such great managers as Souness and Wilkinson have got the Pro-Licence firmly stitched to their swimming towels. Showing there isn't a correlation between being a good or even competent manager and holding the license as the limited success they have had in their managerial careers came before they had the coveted badge and since then, well we all know how shite they are, highlighted by the fact that their profiles (hilarious by the way) can be found in the available managers section on the LMA website.

I've sent a copy of this email to the LMA and, even though I don't expect a response, I'll let you know if they get back to me as to what the justification is for the tagline on their website, "Football's Greatest Minds", a pretty grandiose statement I'm sure you'll agree.

Adam Forster


Dear tf,

Hi I realise that you have already posted a page of tributes for "big al" on your site, but here's a poem i wrote about shearer that was inspired by the sunderland game, most specifically his goal that preceded the premature ending to his career. it's not much, but it's heartfelt and a toast to the greatest striker of the last generation--if not more...

cheers, Dave, Gangneung, So. Korea.

the familiar silhouette

the hand raised aloft in

exultant celebration

the familiar silhouette of

our Geordie hero

the sports definition of

courage and loyalty

a testament to

the fruits of diligence

an example of

uncompromised toughness.

though the body yielded to

that most covert of thieves,

the character remained

typically unwavering.

howay! The lad in

the famous 9 shirt

Whose overt talent

terrorized all who opposed him.

let's raise an Ale in toast

to the Lion of Gosforth,

who nevermore will roam

the plains of Gallowgate…

except forever on the

steppes of our grateful memories.


Dear tf,

It has been obvious from the day Owen signed that the media outside of Tyneside hates the fact that he plays for NUFC. They were stirring it up trying to unsettle him before the ink was dry on his contract, which supposedly contains a £12m get out clause. If there is in fact a clause of this nature then it would be yet another stunningly inept bit of business by Freddy Shepherd.

Being a toon fan marooned in the Big Smoke I frequently see suited-up stiffs dramatically ruffling their Evening Standards on the tube where I catch glimpses of brazenly anti-toon articles. They are essentially tapping him up with ridiculous stories such as the one I read yesterday, “Owen for Arsenal”. It had zero fact, just quotes from Wenger circa 2005, in which he states his ‘admiration’ for the player. Naturally this means he will be leading them out at their new stadium.

This situation really does boil my piss. The negativity that has accompanied Owen at NUFC since the get-go points to a petty jealousy from the ‘Big 4’ sycophants in the national press (and nauseating web-sites such as football365.com) who are determined to engineer Owen away from the toon. They see it as an affront on their beloved London clubs (Arsenal Chelsea, Man U) and Liverpool that England’s boy wonder chose Newcastle. We all know he preferred Liverpool, but he is a big boy and he choose the toon so let’s just get on with it eh?

It seems to me that, as a symptom of the damaging Souness rein, it is ‘open season’ for NUFC in the media at present, where unveiled criticism and sniping from journalists and fellow professionals prevails. The Roeder – LMA situation is a case in point.

As for the ‘clause’, Shepherd has outright denied the existence of it, so why does it keep cropping up? Whether or not Owen will capitalise on this clause (if it exists, sigh…) remains to be seen, but it would be shoddy in the extreme if he upped sticks after one injury-ridden season. He seems like a decent fellow, and the right thing to do would be to reward the people who pay his obscene wages by staying and doing what he does best, finding the onion-bag with regularity. I personally think he will stay, and so will the infuriating jealousy from the national press.

Iain Durie


Dear tf,

Please offer my congratulations to the writer of the 'Viva Hate' article (22/May/06).

Absolutely 100% cast iron truth - made me laugh and want to cry at the same time. I do not wish to be associated with a set of fans who, for example, wreck a Portuguese restaurant because their team lost to Portugal 2004, a set of fans who sing songs about the Falklands War, 2nd World War and pathetic colonial shite like Rule Britannia, a set of fans who whistle
fucking dambusters man.

Fuck 'in - grrr - land' and all its pompous, yet at the same time, neanderthal posturing; its wank flag waving. Do I give a fuck that Rooney is injured, do I shite. There's only one team that matters. There, that's better. Cheers and HTL

Norman Riley


Dear tf,

This summer is so crucial for us to get right much as last summer was under our miserable previous leader. Glenn Roeder must identify the right people to bring to the club and Fat Freddy must provide the funds to elevate us back to top six. We need depth this is obvious to all that look at NUFC. The fans put the money into the club so there is no way Shepherd can say we have no money. Dirk Kujit looks good but needs to be researched CORRECTLY! I've heard Shaun Wright Phillips has been linked today and I liked the look of him before he took Jose's diving classes. It needs careful planning and I don't know if Shepherd has those words in his dictionary. Nicky Butt can fuck right back off to where he came from we can save his wages and get a bit of money for him, he can be joined by Boumsong, Luque, Faye and personally I'd say Steve Carr I don't think he's good enough. Michael Chopra will never be forgotten for that goal but to keep him on is probably a bit stupid he's not going to make it, if he was he would have a consistent run in the first team before now. Finally if we sell Michael Owen to Arsenal for 12m I will happily show my arse in Fenwick’s window because not even Shepherd would be that stupid - would he?

Cheers, Peter Mills


Dear tf,

Butt shouldn't be allowed across the Tyne Bridge after his semi final showing in 2005 against his good friends.

Andy G


Dear tf,

Yep. The silly season has arrived again and once more the press continue to pump out rumours/lies or just simply porkies regarding the comings and goings of players to and from SJP.

What is important is that whatever materialises it should be part of a firm plan by GR to ensure NUFC have a strong enough squad to make a real push for a top 6 place. Ideally that squad has to be in place in readiness for pre-season so we can be up and running and ready for a fast start for once. No being left at the starting gate as so often in recent years and being left behind to play catch up.

A point to consider. Who in the current NUFC squad was their most improved player last season. You got it - Charles N'Zogbia. Cost? Some £500K .A lesson there. Have a deep look at the French and Dutch Leagues. am sure there are one or two 'stars' to be unearthed at good prices.

David, Falkirk


Dear tf,

Morientes has just joined Valencia which leaves a place in the squad for another striker, I’m sure Owen's name will be mentioned but surely has to stay what do you reckon?

Wouldn't mind the number 9 shirt going to the guy who looks like a horse down at Manchester, for £10million it has to be worth a punt considering AJ is worth £8.5m!

Dyer been arrested over indecent exposure... I suggest we release him on a free and pay his contract up. Even if it means us fans have a raffle and pay his wages up ourselves. For a guy who is Three years off getting a testimonial and still having potential something has gone badly wrong!

Last thing... Shearer's testimonial... all the scarf waving and general continental feel... we have to keep that up during next season, that kind of behaviour has to be worth a few points :)

Ron Bon Huntingdon, Pegswood


Dear tf,

Robbie Elliot to be offered a contract extension

Nicky Butt welcome back

Lee Bowyer wanting to stay

I don’t know about you but these headlines, along with the appointment of Glenn Roeder as manager, scream of a club with no money trying to balance the books and fill out the squad with the same quality of players who gave us a season where Intertoto qualification was looked on as a success. Can we sink any lower from where we were only a couple of years ago? This is all down to the stupidity of the man in control – how can anyone make such bad judgements again and again? He let one of the worst managers we have had spend £50 million (or even worse, spent a big chunk of that himself) and we are left to pick up the pieces for the whole of next season.

I pity Glenn Roeder, he is a decent bloke and has done a cracking job (admittedly for only 3-4 months) but he is the Lee Harvey Oswald of NUFC. As soon as it goes tits up he will be hung out to dry by FFS and all the blame will be laid at our doors (‘the fans choice’ © FFS 2006). The chairman treats us like we are all idiots. Surely even the most ‘spin fed’ Newcastle United fan can see we are being shit on from a great height by this man. The two year contract even shows that FFS doesn’t really rate him, is wary of another pay out and that he is trying to re-group for the next manager (A sheet metal workers son by chance?). The result for us, the paying public, is another season of mediocrity and the worry that the only decisions made this summer will be of the knee-jerk variety when FFS sees season ticket sales are not going the way he hoped or when shirt sales are not what was expected.

I know that my bitterness is blatant and I feel I sound like a broken record but I am sick of this git. His smug smile and big dividend payments (for achieving nothing) make me sick to the stomach. I just want to see something to give me hope that we are not in another cycle of employ the wrong man, spend big, bollocks it up, sack him, get a cheap option to try and save money and then start all over again. We will never win anything doing this but over the past 10 years FFS has overseen this cycle once and seems to be doing it all over again – I just can’t see him ever running a successful football club – can you?

Cheers, Ted, Durham

P.S. Kieron Dyer (allegedly) flashing his knob to a hotel waitress – how long do we have to put up with this over-paid, under achieving, blingy little fuckwit? Just get rid of the odious little c*nt (and take his sparring partner Bowyer with him)


Dear tf,

Bit worrying to see a lack of transfer activity at SJP, especially prior to the World Cup and that. Kuyt will probably shine in Germany, double his value and then sign for Liverpool or Man Utd, and we will be left paying over the odds for second best yet again!

I pray that someone has a successor to the Lion in mind, everyone knows he was retiring at the end of the season, and hopefully his replacement(s) have been identified. But the farcial drag with Roeder being appointed has no doubt disrupted this and I assume we are looking at another summer of false hope on the transfer front.

The 'top' clubs are all on the case now, Chelsea have got Ballack and supposedly close to grabbing Shevchenko. Two big names before the World Cup. Arsenal have got Rosicky, who will probably be their main summer spend before Wenger brings in numerous youngsters, all before the World Cup.

Even Spurs are in on it, signing Berbatov, he will probably become a star in the summer and will prove a steal. I admire Martin Jol and what he is doing at Spurs, there is a structure and a long term plan. SBR had it a couple of years ago, a knack of bringing in the best young talent. We were moving on, but now we are back to square one. Lets not dwell on the past then..

Dip your hand in Fatty. And quickly ..

Denzil


Dear tf,

I am only 23, and do not live on Tyneside although ever since I can remember I have been a Magpie, my mother's family indoctrinated me at an early age but I am proud to be a fan and have been avidly following them for as long as I can remember. I still love going to visit the city and one day want to move up there. Anyway...I am unfortunate in that the only two games I could get to this season were Wigan in the League cup and Man City away in the league, both abominable performances, I am bloody sure you'll agree. Despite the shit* I saw in these games, I have always tried to steer clear of being too negative about the structure of the club above and beyond the manager, Shepherd and Hall have money I can only dream of and maybe they really do know what they are doing its just Luque, Robert, Viana et al were unsanctioned mistakes. I like to think I am loyal(ish!) in that regard, managers get it ok but give chairman time. I know that these guys are very rarely praised by you, but this is my point, I fear my optimism may be crushed, and I had to write to you and vent some spleen.

I am currently working overtime and upon arrival I checked your site and some gossip sites. I see Dyer yet again has been allegedly caught with his trousers down; you'd think with e. £100,000 plus a week he could employ someone to help him with such unfortunate accidents. Anyway I also see that it is a consensus amongst many of the back pages that M O’Neil is to become either Middlesbrough head honcho or work for the scum from the slum.

So now to explain my change of heart. WHAT THE FUCK! I am seething, the anger and hate is boiling in me at this very minute. Much as I admire Roeder and I have defended him public ally, often after a bevvy or too but none the les he seems knowledgeable and likeable, steady, and a good manager. HOWEVER how is it possible that we, a club of Newcastle’s stature, financial backing, heritage, fan base and such like can not get the man yet the sodding Mackems can?

There is only one reason for this Shepherd and co. Sunderland and The beasts are not clubs where geography can be used as an excuse by O’Neil, family ties etc (which I respect if the same rule applied to all) and SURELY as far as footballing talent/potential and fan base we are FAR superior to either of those bumbling bunch of arrogant tossers. So my point, and I am sorry to ramble is: IF THE MACKEMS OR BEASTS GET O'NEIL-WHAT IS SHEPHERD'S JOB? WHAT HAS HE BEEN DOING?

He will have enabled the shitter bid to win through, the lesser club to gain the respected, well known and talented manager/motivator of men. Again I reiterate this is nothing against Roeder, I admire the man and do genuinely believe he can bring us success, people should give him a chance. BUT DEAR SHIT* I had to get this off my chest. If O’Neil goes anywhere else this summer ESPECIALLY SCUM/BEASTS we will truly know the score. Cheers for reading if you got to the end.

Tom, Sheffield