So where was I again? Oh aye, another week, same old same old. The sheer embarrassment that was the "Cardiff Capitulation". There'll be self-help groups for some of those affected by the shocking display of cowardice that certain well-paid excuses for footballers put in that day. I'm also led to believe that techniques used on Vietnam vets will be made available to help with the terrible flashbacks. Indeed as Paul Gilder in The Journal rightly asks, just when will the torment end? (Article) As soon as the medication kicks in I hope. John Gibson in the Chronicle writes of broken dreams - again. (Article) Meanwhile Alan Oliver puts it simple when he states that too many players were not good enough. (Article) Not only that though Alan, too many of them just didn't care. And that for me is the bigger crime.

One such individual is of course "Le Sulk Incroyable", Puff the Magic Left Winger, Laurent Robert. His actions of the last fortnight and Cardiff no-show have been well discussed. Alan Hansen in a "get stuck in to Johnny Foreigner" type tirade (Article) and Tony Cascarino's effort (Article) both at opposing ends of the spectrum of opinion. Personally I'm with Hansen on this one.

The other biggest Cardiff Coward was Nicky Butt with his man of the match performance, for Man Utd! He really plumbed new depths with this performance with his career quite rightly on the line (Article). To troop off and snub the fans, taking time only to shake hands with Sir Alex Ferguson (obviously to congratulate him on a job well done) was nothing short of scandalous. And his apology was simply not enough. (Article) I understand the Chronicle have been accused of being no more than a mouthpiece for the club for printing that article. Ridiculous really, if it's there to report then it has to be printed. Simple as. In fact I'd have been disappointed if they had not sought out an explanation from Butt. This concept that anything in print that people disagree with suddenly makes that publication "just a mouthpiece for the club" is one that is occasionally levelled at us here in the tf bunker (Ed: have we? 'kin hell!). And I don't see how we could EVER be seen as a mouthpiece for the club. We don't speak for anyone but ourselves at the end of the day. Bottom line for me is it's easy to snipe from the sidelines, if you want to make your views known commit them to print and stand by them afterwards. There's room for everyone's views, and it is the debate that results that is part of what makes football so special to so many. Even when you agree to disagree! There, I'm glad I got that off me chest.

The negative media reaction to the Semi-final shambles was pretty uniform. "Decline on Tyne" declared The Times (Article) along with an interesting player ratings section. (Article) The Telegraph bemoans Shearer's solo passion play (Article) whilst The Independent talks of a "lost souls XI" (Article) and the Guardian of a "black and white malaise" (Article).

One of the few players emerging with any pride from the Cardiff debacle was Jean Alain Boumsong. Once again his words are measured and thoughtful (Article) and demonstrate a level of professionalism we have rarely seen this season at SJP. Perhaps it is more of this kind of player Shearer wants to see brought in over the summer. (Article) and (Article) Or perhaps this is the first signs of Shearer calling the shots in preparation for further elevation through the ranks?

It wouldn't'; be a week in the media without out chairman being quoted either would it? Picking his words carefully so as "not to condescend" (yeah, like we'll never take anything you say without as pinch of salt with your track record Mr Shepherd) he praises the fans in advance of sending out the renewal forms. (Article). If he hasn't got the message by now though John Gibson, who has surpassed himself for me this week, fired him a warning about how much more can we all take. (Article) In fact after throwing a point away at Norwich in typically yellow bellied style I do wonder how much longer journalists will be able to use phrases like "they continue to follow their club regardless" as seen in this Times Norwich match report (Article) unless something positive happens over the summer to convince many supporters otherwise.

Norwich prompted another bout of "blame me", this time from Alan Shearer (Article) who did miss a sitter like. The most curious comments of all before and after the Norwich shocker came from the manager. In saying we'd win nothing with a team of James Milners, he seemed more than a little harsh in singling out one young player who has actually just got his head down and got on with it. (Article) The way he rather hurriedly clarified that comment suggests he realised that he was more than a little tactless. Perhaps he should have put his brain in gear before opening his mouth. Perhaps that is catching from the players?

We also got the same old round of excuses. Injury crisis', the ball is too round, the grass was too green, you know the ones. (Article) However another one of John Gibson's missives this week puts it once again plain and simple. No more excuses (Article). Keep taking the medication Gibbo, it seems to be working!

And so to the weekend. Saturday was all reaction to Bowyer's ban extension and further fine. (Article), (Article) and (Article). Shut the door on your way out Lee. Meanwhile Sunday brought three main stories.

Souness admitting in the Sunday Sun and The People (Article) that the season has been a failure. Nah? Really? You don't bloody say. Whatever next? The New World has been discovered? Or the earth isn't flat perhaps?

Meanwhile good old loveable SBR writing in his column in The Mail on Sunday (too cheap to put it on line so no link and you'll have to trust me on this one) that he "can't believe what is happening to MY team" Well talk about washing your hands of a situation. I mean who did sign Bowyer and let Dyer, Bellamy et al get out of control? Shut it or you'll lose more respect than you deserve to on Tyneside eventually.

Speaking of the Glamorgan Gob, the txt msgs from his "lost" phone have obviously sealed his fate and got him the move away from "the club he loves so much" (Article) I'm with 'Heeda' on this one. I've said it before and I'll say it again, he's brought so much of this on himself and we are all losers as a result. And until the culture that festers within Newcastle United is broken once and for all, we'll never be winners.
 

NM