Money doesn't buy you everything...

[Rooky9]

I very much enjoyed reading this quote by Newcastle United's Chairman Chris Mort

"It is frustrating that Modric, like (Jonathan) Woodgate before him, should take less money than we offered to move to the bright lights of London, and European football with Tottenham next season. "

 

[X] Bright lights of London
[X] European football
[X] World class Manager
[X] World class Defender (Woodgate) and Midfielder (Modric)
[ ] Stephen Carr and Damien Duff
[ ] Defeatist cretin of a manager (Keegan)
[X] lolololol @ the barcodes.

Hmmm. I don't think there is any doubting that Newcastle have to battle against geography to get hold of players, but I think its all the more credit to the clubs stature that we do manage to get the names that we do. (not that I want to start a whole debate about the quality of any of them). I'm not sure how much of it is the bright lights, as a footballer there is surely only so much of it you should let yourself do entertainmnet wise. I think Heathrow plays as much a factor as the bright lights.

There is no bigger fan of Woodys ability as a footballer than me, even though as a person he is a complete Wa*&er and has absolutely no general inteligence. The fact of the matter is that although he has world class ability he isn't a world class defender. He just doesn't play enough games to be and I think the injuries he has had to date will prevent him from ever matching his ability.

Damien Duff - an example of not choosing Spuds and moving north. I don't think there is much doubt that at the point he signed he was still within touching distance of his top form. For whatever reason he now just looks very average, and doesn't fit in with the new formation.

Nem, can you set out some sort of criteria for Keegan be worthy of being a decent manager in your eyes? Finsihing in the top six? Beating Spurs? Finishing higher in the league than spurs? Or do you actually want him to win a cup (which would involve managing to avoid Arsenal/Man U/Chelsea or playing them at home, or over two legs v their reserves, or at Wembley where anything can happen)?

[seven2unsuited]

I dont know how Woodgate can be classed as world class after one season without injury. I will go so far as to say he could be, that's about it. I could have been good. A lot of people could have been.

Ramos is a very good manager. Definately better than any Spurs manager in memory. I think he's world class but I doubt most people will agree as generally over here if you didn't do it on these shores it doesn't count and if you did and press don't like you, then in a year or two it wont count either.

even christian ' i came on the tube' gross?

Ultimately he will always be remembered for that PR gaff. But his training methods were advance for their time and he has proven himself at Basel.

But those days were dark indeed.

wanna swap dark days? macari.... brady......venglos......

I would swap venglos for barnes here.  Dr Jo did bring lubo and pumped them 5-1

[action man]

woodgate isnt world class and it is a travesty imo that he was ahead of carragher in the england pecking order.

[cambo]

woodgate world class? geez piece, hes a quality defender-wold class? no where near it

[Acidmouse]

A fit Woodgate is as good as they come, shame we wont ever know if thats the case. While I am a huge fan of his ability and watched him over 100 times live until he plays 3-4 seasons without problems we cannot class him above a very good premiership player.

[Horneris]

Woodgate is one of the best in the world when fit.

He was miles better than Ferdinand at Leeds (and thats not just me being biased because Ferdinand now plays for Scum).
He was just incredible and i got to watch him for 3 seasons.

Also, Spurs will finish 6th next season, Newcastle will finish 8th or 9th.

[Newportlad]

Woodgate is IMO an international class defender.  If he could keep injury free, then yes, he would be World Class.

Keegan was just being honest when he said that they couldnt make top 4.  Everyone knows it, but he's honest enough to say it. 

[Nem]

John Terry, Rio ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, Kolo Toure ,Jamie Carragher. There is 5 off the top of my head that anyone who has a clue would not need a second to choose between them and jonathan 'mr potential but can't string 2 games together' woodgate.

You can continue to call Keegan all you want but i'm confident who will be watching the better football next season and we will finish above spurs next season.

I will bet any amount of money you want at evens that Spurs finish above Newcastle next season.

[Nem]

Nem, can you set out some sort of criteria for Keegan be worthy of being a decent manager in your eyes? Finsihing in the top six? Beating Spurs? Finishing higher in the league than spurs? Or do you actually want him to win a cup (which would involve managing to avoid Arsenal/Man U/Chelsea or playing them at home, or over two legs v their reserves, or at Wembley where anything can happen)?

I do not like the guy. I see straight through him and he is a coward. I will never rate him as a manager, he was a great player ldo, but he is a massive failure as a manager.

If he qualifies into the ECL with Newcastle I would say that is a great achievement - but this is simply not going to happen, as football has moved on since 1996. He has already lost his players' confidence with that pathetic outburst the other day. You would never hear Moyes, Ramos or Oneil say what he said as they are winners and they have belief.

[dan]

John Terry, Rio ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, Kolo Toure ,Jamie Carragher. There is 5 off the top of my head that anyone who has a clue would not need a second to choose between them and jonathan 'mr potential but can't string 2 games together' woodgate.

You can continue to call Keegan all you want but i'm confident who will be watching the better football next season and we will finish above spurs next season.

I will bet any amount of money you want at evens that Spurs finish above Newcastle next season.

And me 

[Rooky9]

Nem, can you set out some sort of criteria for Keegan be worthy of being a decent manager in your eyes? Finsihing in the top six? Beating Spurs? Finishing higher in the league than spurs? Or do you actually want him to win a cup (which would involve managing to avoid Arsenal/Man U/Chelsea or playing them at home, or over two legs v their reserves, or at Wembley where anything can happen)?

I do not like the guy. I see straight through him and he is a coward. I will never rate him as a manager, he was a great player ldo, but he is a massive failure as a manager.

If he qualifies into the ECL with Newcastle I would say that is a great achievement - but this is simply not going to happen, as football has moved on since 1996. He has already lost his players' confidence with that pathetic outburst the other day. You would never hear Moyes, Ramos or Oneil say what he said as they are winners and they have belief.

Coward - he's walked back into what is seen (wrongly in my view) as the toughtest job in EPL. He left Man City by joint agreement, when deciding not to renew a contract, and stepped down at the time he should have with England. I can't think of him doing anything cowardly.

If he gets Newcastle 5th within the next 3 years that wouldn't be a great achievement?

On his 'outburst' - You say its not going to happen, I say its not going to happen, so does everone else. Him saying it really doesn't make a blind bit of difference to the current squad. Footballers are stupid, but they are not that stupid. Him saying it is not going to suddenly going to make something click, realise that we're not that good and their performances drop off further. Every member of that Newcastle squad will be well aware after this season that there isn't enough quality to be where the club wants to be. The fact that those three managers won't come out and say it doesn't make them winners. They will know they can't challange, they are just too 'cowardly' to come out and speak their mind. Everton being so close to Liverpool is only as a result of Benetez managing the gap efficiently to push on the CL front. They will be nowhere near next year if he learns a bit from this year.

[The Baron]

Everton being so close to Liverpool is only as a result of Benetez managing the gap efficiently to push on the CL front. They will be nowhere near next year if he learns a bit from this year.

Everton are by far and away the team given least credit for their achievements. They're seen as bruisers when they actually play decent football.

I fancy them to finish above Spurs and Newcastle next season right now. The transfer window may change my view but I doubt it.

[Rooky9]

Everton being so close to Liverpool is only as a result of Benetez managing the gap efficiently to push on the CL front. They will be nowhere near next year if he learns a bit from this year.

Everton are by far and away the team given least credit for their achievements. They're seen as bruisers when they actually play decent football.

I fancy them to finish above Spurs and Newcastle next season right now. The transfer window may change my view but I doubt it.

I think they are certainly favourites to finish above both next year, they are a more established group of players that have had a small number of additions rather than big changes like Newcastle and Spurs have done. I'm just saying the gap will be bigger next year than this, especially if Rafa doesn'y rotate as much next year. Everton were awful at St James', they are one of the sides I have seen least of this year though. They may play decent football with Cahill and Arteta but without them?!

[The Baron]

Everton being so close to Liverpool is only as a result of Benetez managing the gap efficiently to push on the CL front. They will be nowhere near next year if he learns a bit from this year.

Everton are by far and away the team given least credit for their achievements. They're seen as bruisers when they actually play decent football.

I fancy them to finish above Spurs and Newcastle next season right now. The transfer window may change my view but I doubt it.

I think they are certainly favourites to finish above both next year, they are a more established group of players that have had a small number of additions rather than big changes like Newcastle and Spurs have done. I'm just saying the gap will be bigger next year than this, especially if Rafa doesn'y rotate as much next year. Everton were awful at St James', they are one of the sides I have seen least of this year though. They may play decent football with Cahill and Arteta but without them?!

They wont be favourites over Spurs. No way. Not with the London based media hype of the EPL and the transfer window.

How would Liverpool play without Gerrard and Torres? Or Arsenal without Fabregas and Adebayor? Man U without Ronaldo and Rooney?

I think Everton still have decent players in Fernandes, Pienaar, Anichebe and Yakubu to cause all teams problems. Of course they wouldn't be the same without Cahill and Arteta.

Everton's only problem is their squad size. If they had a sqaud the size of ours they'd have run us very close this year, they just looked tired.

[celtic]

I dont know how Woodgate can be classed as world class after one season without injury. I will go so far as to say he could be, that's about it. I could have been good. A lot of people could have been.

Ramos is a very good manager. Definately better than any Spurs manager in memory. I think he's world class but I doubt most people will agree as generally over here if you didn't do it on these shores it doesn't count and if you did and press don't like you, then in a year or two it wont count either.

even christian ' i came on the tube' gross?

Ultimately he will always be remembered for that PR gaff. But his training methods were advance for their time and he has proven himself at Basel.

But those days were dark indeed.

wanna swap dark days? macari.... brady......venglos......

I would swap venglos for barnes here.  Dr Jo did bring lubo and pumped them 5-1

good shout. had managed to wipe out barnes from my memory.....