Toon fans, would you like your thoughts to be featured on Metro.co.uk?

Posted on August 13th, 2013 | 90 Comments |

NUFC Blog on metro.co.uk
NUFC Blog on metro.co.uk
As some of you may already know, I am currently the Newcastle United blogger for metro.co.uk, the website for the free newspaper distributed in London and several other major cities throughout the UK.

Anyway, I want to prepare a piece over the next few days for my Metro blog which features the thoughts of my fellow Newcastle United fans about what the coming season might bring for the club, whether it’s about Alan Pardew, how well you think we will do in what remains of the transfer window, where you think we will finish or whatever.

As it won’t be an epic piece overall as it is word limited, so it would be great if you could keep your entries to around 50 words. To give you an idea, the paragraph preceding this one is 58 words, so something slighly shorter would be fine, or about the same about the length if you absolutely must, but definitely nothing over 60 words please. If you don’t have Microsoft Word or something similar with a word counter and can’t be bothered to count the words one by one, you can find an online word counter here.

You can just submit your thoughts via the comments below if you want to, or alternatively, send them in by e.mail using our contact form. If you could put the nom de plume you would like to be known as in the piece before your thoughts, whether it’s your real name or a nickname, that would be great. Also, no swearing and nothing libellous please. Due to the word limitation I mentioned above, I can’t promise to include all of them but if I am inundated with good ones, I might just do two pieces instead of one.

Finally, although this for for the website, I have been told that sometimes my work will be used in the newspaper itself, which has a circulation of over 1.3 million!

Many thanks in anticipation, WT.

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90 Responses

  1. I’m cautiously optimistic about the season. If our key players (Cabaye, Ben Afra, Cisse, Coloccini) stay, and stay fit, we honestly have a team good enough to push for Europe.

    Pardew needs to field strong teams in the cups this year because, on our day, we can beat anyone and the fans are desperate for some silverware – roll on Saturday.

  3. We have the squad capable of having a good Season, Shame we don’t have the Manager, To realise this!

  5. Joe Sharpe says:
    August 13, 2013 at 12:35 pm

    “Ha Ha, Ben Afra – I’ve just pulled a Kinnear…”

    Joe, as I’ve mentioned on here several times already, Kinnear’s no worse than Bobby Robson was in that regard. Bobby had “Sacha Distel” (Sylvain Distain), “Lauren Bacall” (Laurent Robert) and “Carl Cort” (Shola Ameobi) playing for him, not to mention “Pep Gladioli” when he was managing Barcelona (though he got Ronaldo’s name right). There were a few others that I can’t remember too.

  6. Yeah ! But that was SBR’s. schtik,pretending to be this old guy, who couldn’t remember names, with a Yogi Berra like “no body goes there any more, as it’s too crowded” lines.

    However beneath it all was a shrewd mind, that could deal with any number of ego’s and believe it , he had plenty of them in his sides.
    Whereas I cannot recall SBR ever lay blame on his players, or talk in sound bites, like this guy.
    As he was much too smart for that.
    Face it he had the fans eating out of his hand , leaving them with the impression he was a kind old grandfather, but check out his career stats, now there was a pretty decent and well travelled and respected manager.

  7. Well looks like BSA just bought an old fashioned winger to supply Carroll, back to route one I guess ?

    The market seems to be heating up, with probably some last minute big time deals about to be done.

    It’s my opinion we should go with who we got and play Gouffran behind the striker, or if that doesn’t work, then HBA or even Marveaux, rather than making a poor decision and regretting it.
    Give us time to figure out who we should sign up front, as there is a possibility Remy may not be with us next season.
    Though I’m not adverse to bringing in a winger, as poor old Cisse certainly didn’t get much support last season.
    Either Sinclair or Jr. Hoilett could do a job, plus I believe they would be considered home grown, to facilitate the fair play thing.

    Wasn’t impressed by the Belgian guy, looked ok in an inferior league, but for the PL ? Nah !

    Look we have done well in signings during the winter window and if another striker is needed, we should have a better knowledge instead of bringing in a desperation move.

  8. There has been speculation, that Wor Joe is after Pardews job and if I were Pardew I too would be concerned, as we never know what to expect from Ashley.
    I mean who would have believed a cab would have been called so suddenly for Llambeezy, as he and Ashley looked like the chuckles brothers seated to-gether at St.James’.
    What was that about.
    Thing is Ashley is so much of a control freak and possibly a bit paranoid, that we may never get a decent manager, being who would he trust to tell him, yeah he knows his stuff, hire him!
    I recently saw a list of possibilities, guys apart from Poyett who you wouldnt want to see in charge of Blythe Spartans, never mind Newcastle.
    And if Kinnear, who lets face it for all his protestations he is in touch with the modern game, has failed to prove it, looking like he is, desperate to find a position, which were it not for Ashley’s ignorance he would never have found.
    Again I’m gonna repeat myself in stating, it’s just so obvious that this club needs someone, to take over the role that all of the top clubs have, a GM with a track record, who can advise on both growing the brand name and explaining the financial side of both players worth and other money matters, who can work well with a preferably youngish manager, who has proven to be both innovative a student of the modern game and give them both the leeway to promote the club both financially and on the field.
    But untill that happens, there will be the usual chaos, caused primarily by an owner who just won’t let go or delegate responsibility.

  9. my thoughts

    We are a mess, Pardew is tactically clueless, Ashley refuses to spend anything and super Joe refuses to keep our transfer news private. We will be in a relegation scrap and probably go down when Pardew gets the sack and JK steps in.

  10. Chuck (I don’t want to wind you up because I know you wont reply anyway): but what’s the point of lamenting the fact that Ashley is cheap and in the next breath saying he shouldn’t bring in a player because it might be a mistake? Most of us have said the squad seems to have quality but lacks depth, so I would say getting in a new striker is a priority. We know we are one injury away from relying on Shola especially since we have loaned an already injured player in Remy. Ashley obviously has the cash personally and the extra TV money is being spent by just about every other club.

    All teams make mistakes in the transfer market, look at Liverpool again, but Carr has been lauded for his astute business. The stated transfer policy of the club is supposedly to have a list of targets and if someone doesn’t want to come/is too expensive to move on. Seems to me that is what they are doing, except I really think it is leverage for Gomis.

    Anyway berating Ashley for being a cheap-ass one minute and then saying he shouldn’t buy the next seems a bit contradictory. And does every team really have a DOF/MD?

  11. Here’s a question for everyone, Is Mike Ashley sanitizing St James’ Park, And weeding out any opposition against him?
    He destroyed the singing section, Because of taunts against him.
    He created the supporters club, So only season ticket holders can get tickets for away games.
    He seems to be continually increasing the family section, Probably to populate the stadium with youngsters, Who don’t know any better.
    You only have to look at the easy time Pardew has had of things, Despite how bad the performances have been!

    In the past Pardew would not have lasted as long as he has, Without manipulation from some quarters.
    He would have been hounded out, long ago, Is this due to largely hand picked set of supporters, Who now attend games?

    The atmosphere has diminished over the last few years, Is this down to Ashley weeding out the dissenters?

  12. Worky, I cannot see any bad language in my post, And i’m being moderated, For some reason.
    It cannot be for saying w**d surely!

  14. Worky, I sort of have no clue how the season will go so I would be useless writing anything for Metro.

    From what I have seen of Pardew he is a momentum manager. When he gets off to a good start and he can play a fixed team it seems to go OK and he can create a feel good factor. If things go against him, he can’t turn it around. This goes for during a match and a season. If we have a bad start it will spiral out of control. Pardew says he has total say on footballing matters but I am not sure how long this will last if we are not playing well.

    Pardew needs to change his ways and get away from hoofing if we are to have any chance of a mid-table finish. He is in uncharted territory though as I don’t think he has lasted this long in a job before. We will see if he can adapt, especially with Uncle Joe looking over his shoulder. He gave an interview to the Evening Standard today where he pontificated on everything football. In it he said there was no conflict (of interest?) with Uncle Joe. Yeah, right :)

  15. OK, before I start: clearly define “libelous”…lol…

    Chuck @ 7: think of it logically. If Remy plays well here, he’ll command a big fee/wages that AshleyCo won’t pay. If he plays poorly, why would we want him? Either way, I’ll wager right now that Remy is not at NUFC to start the 14/15 season.

  16. The fans will stick by the team,and when Alan the parrot gets the sack two or three games into the season,we can watch attractive football,Maybe even sexy football…

  17. worky-you can refer to me by my handle.

    The hierarchy has done little-even less than usual-to pique my interest or raise my hopes. Always excited for a new NUFC season but Ashley & Co have made this club not feel like NUFC. Still, I have faith in the squad (though not the manager). Let’s play the games.

  18. sampdiago says:
    August 13, 2013 at 5:48 pm

    “and when Alan the parrot gets the sack two or three games into the season,we can watch attractive football,Maybe even sexy football…”

    Aye, if Ashley sacks Pardew some of us will cling on desperately to that thought, until he unveils someone like Phil Brown or Peter Reid. :-)

    Seriously though, thanks for the contribution, and to you too, tunyc.

  19. I’d like to think that management changes at the top of key clubs could help Newcastle at the start of the season. We haven’t generated enough squad depth during the transfer window to cope with injuries. Look for more managerial buck passing when we start losing due to a depleted squad.

    There you go worky – 51 words.

  20. GS says:
    August 13, 2013 at 5:33 pm

    Worky, I sort of have no clue how the season will go so I would be useless writing anything for Metro.

    “From what I have seen of Pardew he is a momentum manager. When he gets off to a good start and he can play a fixed team it seems to go OK and he can create a feel good factor. If things go against him, he can’t turn it around. This goes for during a match and a season. If we have a bad start it will spiral out of control. Pardew says he has total say on footballing matters but I am not sure how long this will last if we are not playing well.”

    GS, if you let me edit that down to more like 60 words, that would be a great little assessment!

    Ditto Pete (apart from the length bit). Thanks!

  21. I’ve just been listening to “the Lending Game” on Radio 4, about Wonga’s sponsorship of Newcastle United. At one stage they were interviewing financial director John Irving when a female press officer (probably Wendy Taylor) halted the interview in the middle like a North Korean apparatchik when the subject of Papiss Cisse came up.

    There was also a very small part about their partnership with the Evening Chronicle through the “Wish Sport” appeal. As John Irving suggested in his bit on why the club chose Wonga, they don’t just want to sponsor the club, they want to be involved in the local community on several different levels.

  22. That’s the reality of the situation, Sack Pardew and the celebration will be short lived, Then you are waiting to see who the next mug is!
    “The stooge is dead, Long live the stooge”!

  23. Worky: whatever you want to do.

    @21:

    level 1: take all their stuff back.

    Level 2: send the boys round.

    Level 3: send our customers to a Dickensian poor house.

    level 4: send our customers to Dickensian debtor’s prison.

  24. Joe: the season hasn’t started yet and he is boiling your p*ss :) I’d get the old blood pressure checked if you plan on attending a game.

  25. GS says:
    August 13, 2013 at 10:30 pm

    “Worky: whatever you want to do.”

    Cheers GS, it was quite astute, for you ;-)

    GS says:
    August 13, 2013 at 10:32 pm

    “Joe: the season hasn’t started yet and he is boiling your p*ss :) I’d get the old blood pressure checked if you plan on attending a game.”

    I was thinking the same thing, GS. I’d even say he was reaching AndyMac levels of rage now.

  28. In that interview with the Standard, Pardew says Kinnear doesn’t go to the training ground. This directly contradicts Joe when he said he would be down there giving his input. Kinnear never took this back or any of the other stuff like he had final say on transfers and would advise Pardew on tactics.

    Maybe Joe overstepped his bounds, maybe Pardew got Joe to back down, maybe Ashley clarified the roles. I haven’t seen anything to suggest any of this happened except Pardew’s spoutings which could be just wishful thinking. The man has an ego the size of the moon after all.

  29. Phisix says:
    August 13, 2013 at 11:05 pm

    “How long left of this transfer window do we have left to sign players Worky?”

    Phisix, right at the end of this month, ie midnight on the 31st August.

  30. Worky @26: yeah, but all the groundwork was laid by Brendan Rodgers :) In fact, if Brent was still there it would have been 50-0.

    I am sort of amused by the Suarez situation. Tw@t versus tw@t.

  32. I looked to see if I could find something to back that date up but couldn’t. I think I heard it on Sky though.

  33. Sept 2nd is a Monday so that makes sense and will give Sky a chance to wet their pants when there isn’t a full league schedule.

  34. GS says:
    August 13, 2013 at 11:10 pm

    “In that interview with the Standard, Pardew says Kinnear doesn’t go to the training ground. This directly contradicts Joe when he said he would be down there giving his input. Kinnear never took this back or any of the other stuff like he had final say on transfers and would advise Pardew on tactics.”

    GS, Kinnear did say that he would have the final say on transfers, however he stressed early in the clearest possible words that he wouldn’t be involved in tactics or selection, but added that he would give advice IF Pardew asked for it.

    Kinnear said that he would be involved with finding players, whereas Pardew said that Kinnear’s role would be strictly financial in an interview before that one with the Evening Standard. According to Pardew, he would be finding the players with a bit of help from Carr, they’d hand a list in to Joe and he would tasked with selling them to Mike and getting them “over the line.”

    If Kinnear was in Belgium looking at a forward the other night then Pardew’s talking shite again. I think he’s he’s talking shite anyway. All he has to do is open his mouth and the shite just pours out.

  35. Worky: Kinnear did say he would look at our “style of play”. I thought that was a reference to long ball and setting up in the famous Pardew 9-0-1 formation, and therefore tactics. It is certainly interfering with on-field matters. Just my opinion and Pardew is saying Kinnear has no say in this now (I don’t believe him).

  36. GS says:
    August 14, 2013 at 12:17 am

    “Worky: Kinnear did say he would look at our “style of play”.

    Well he should look at the style of play if he’s looking at players for the team, GS. The pronlem is that it’s Pardew’s style of play though.

  37. More Pardew spouting:

    http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/newcastle-must-scare-opponents-again-2161220

    It is strange that he did all of this analysis and didn’t come to the conclusion that he had anything directly to do with our failures. He then flatters himself by bringing up the most successful managers of the past 20 years and compares himself to them. I know they are people to admire and have done things that Pardew should aspire to. However, he is doing this in a more crude way, to puff himself up and say just watch I am like Mourihno or Ferguson.

    The Mirror journalist is almost taking the p*ss out of Pardew by putting his remarks in quotes. That’s what I think anyway.

  38. What I was saying @37 is that Pardew’s ego makes him flatter himself. He sees his direct peers as Mourihno and Ferguson when they should be Owen Coyle, Steve Bruce and Ian Holloway. In fact, it could be argued that even the latter 3 have achieved much more than Pardew and he should be aspiring to have careers as good as them.

  39. GS

    Perhaps I may not have conveyed exactly what I intended, which was yes ! In fact I think the reason for our not signing Gomis was personal,nickel and dime stuff compared to the numbers being thrown around by most clubs.
    IMO Ashley passed on a deal where he felt he was being squeezed by Gomis agent in a deal he thought was agreed on, the truth is IMO, the clubs owner just didn’t want to sell.
    There is more than meets the eye on those negotiations.
    But regardless, Ashley believes his own press in thinking he is something special as a deal maker and pulling out makes him some kindda tough guy negotiator.

    And yeah, there is no conflict in my opinion that if we didn’t sign him then why go for some questionable Belgium no body, when we have an abundance of midfielders who could possibly fill the second striker role .
    There is Gouffran , who has played in the role, HBA is another and what about Marveaux.
    If in fact none of those mentioned works, then line someone up for the Christmas window.
    In fact what we need are wide men, why I mentioned Sinclair and Hoilett, but then what do I know, having watched Cisse starved of any supply last season, by having a guy like Jonas a supposed forward play in a defensive role, hey why i don’t rate Pardew.
    Plus what I stated @ 8 # above is the real problem with this club and as long as it continues, forgot about any success either on the field or as far as improving the brand name .

    tunyc
    You very well may be right in regard to Remy, but I think he is a decent striker and decent strikers command decent wages, I hope following a successful season, he stays on a permanent basis.
    I think most fans will be happy with this guy and I’m not particularly upset about Gomis not arriving.
    But I certainly am not keen on bringing in any untried cheapass Belgium in a desperation move to fill the striker role.

  40. Chuck man, I understand what you are saying but Pardew seems to have a reluctance to play Gouffran as an outright forward, preferring him as a winger. He will therefore play Shola if Cisse is injured. F@ck, he plays Jonas ahead of Gouffran on the wing when Gouffran looks far more dangerous and also has a good engine.

    I also have no idea if this Belgian is a nobody. I assume Carr scouted him and he was next on the list after Gomis. I did say I thought it might be one of Ashley’s negotiating tactics.

    Ashley has done desperation before when he tried to snatch Brian Ruiz from Fulham. I don’t think that worked out that well for Fulham so far :)

  42. what i did notice about the Belgian guy was he seemed to have loads of space on most of his goals to get the shot away easy,he aint going to get anywere near the same space in the prem

  44. the way they defend in that Belgian league,i could prob get 20 a season meself there lol

  45. Optimistic of a mid table finish barring injuries, first team 11 is on paper one of the best in the prem outside the top four/five. Sadly Pardews tactics/coaching seems to leave the players dumbfounded

  46. I think we have a good team and some of the best support in the world so if we can avoid injuries and maybe get 2 more players in I feel we could make top 6 but if we don’t get anyone in and maybe 2 injuries it could be championship next season for nufc that’s how important a couple more signing’s are going to be. From toontony.

  47. In coming fifth Pardew changed the team only when injuries forced him to. He stumbled on success by accident and next season threw it away. His innate conservatism and stubbornness were such that I could predict his team selection, formation and substitutions almost every game, so doubtless the opposition did too. And never a plan B.

  48. It’s been announced we have or are about to put a £5m. bid in for Alderweireld, however there are bigger sides than ourselves in the running it appears.
    No not Norwich.
    Decent player from all accounts, but would he walk into the side ?
    Or is this just more bullshit to keep (we the fans) us confused and distracted from the real issues regarding this club.
    If I remember right we had a deal done for Douglas, before Wor Joe put the kaybosh on it, for somewhere in the region of £4m.
    Or so they tell us ?
    Being we have only three decent CD’s either one would give us the neccessary strength in that department, as we don’t want to have to rely on someone like Williamson,, do we ?
    So a day later it appears the Belgian striker was a figment of some PR guys imagination and we can forget about him, more smoke and mirrors.
    It appears the same policy as last year, except with Joe added to the mixture, but nothing actually getting accomplished.
    Ignorance and chaos apparently rule at NUFC , ah well !

  49. Jasper

    I would substitute inate conservativism and stubbornness, with lack of tactical understanding and
    his penchant for playing the wrong people in the wrong positions, resulting In an unbalanced side.
    There is usually little cohesion in his lineups, but as you stated, the opposition can usually bet that Jonas will be the first name pencilled in, a winger who is yet to score more than two goals a season or put in a decent cross and they wonder why we are not scoring.

  50. Tony toon

    You want a couple more signings ?
    Look as long as we finish above the relegation level and make a few bucks, do you think Ashley cares.
    That should be obvious as far as our recent business in the transfer market is concerned.
    Whereas ambitious clubs are bidding tens of millions for players, Ashley is trying to chisel Gomis agent on his fee FFS !
    Even if we sign no one we will still survive and that appears is all Ashley is interested in, that and making a buck out of the club.

  51. Chuck says:
    August 14, 2013 at 12:23 pm

    “So a day later it appears the Belgian striker was a figment of some PR guys imagination and we can forget about him, more smoke and mirrors.”

    Chuck, some gadgie at Newcastle Station took a picture of Joe Kinnear there, claiming something like Kinnear told him he was off to Belgium on the Eurostar to look at a 6’2″ Belgian international hitman who was playing. Cue lots of Geordies looking through Belgium squad lists for a 6’2″ forward. They didn’t find one but the came up with someone who was 5’9,” then they came up with Jelle Vossen, who’s a couple of inches taller at 5’11”

    You’re disrespecting Iron Mike again. I’ve told you about that already.

  52. Judging by what i have seen so far, More time is required on the training pitch.
    We cannot string three passes together at times, Team spirit and togetherness, Is forged there.
    What do we do though, We go paint balling ffs, Like that is really going to help!
    Has Ashley got a cut price season ticket for this place, Or what?

    F**kin’ car thieves and young criminals get taken to the Algarve!, Our greedy b*****d of an owner, Can only stump up for paint balling!
    Mike, Why stop there, You might as well have took them to Lazer Quest.
    Better still why don’t they take them to Keegan’s Soccer Circus, It’s not like they don’t need to brush up, On the basics.
    well that would depending on whether Kevin would let them through the front door.
    Sick and tired of these clowns running our Football Club!

  53. joe hawkins says:
    August 14, 2013 at 1:20 pm

    “Better still why don’t they take them to Keegan’s Soccer Circus,”

    Joe, as they play for Ashley’s Scccer Circus, wouldn’t that be a bit of a Busman’s holiday?

  54. One of the blogs keeps a tally of the number of players we have been linked with. I think it was over 70 last I looked. Why does it surprise anyone that there is a Belgian red herring in the mix.

    The noise is seeming to suggest that we will do business after Cabaye is sold. There are a few decent players still on the radar and selling Cabaye might get Pards to play Sissoko in his proper position.

    I am trying to predict Ashley and JFK so I am probably on a hiding to nothing.

  55. And Suarez is staying for the fans. Footballers are worse than politicians, they think everybody is stupid and has the memory of a goldfish (6 seconds I think that is).

  57. pete_toon says:
    August 14, 2013 at 1:46 pm

    “It amuses me that Ranger is reportedly now on £30 a day. Serves him right after his daft £20 notes stunt.”

    He’s lives quite close to me down here in North London. I pass his house on the train.

  58. GS says:
    August 14, 2013 at 1:44 pm

    “they think everybody is stupid and has the memory of a goldfish”

    That one’s a myth, GS. They memory tested Goldfish and they could still remember things after five months. That’s better than most Newcastle United fans!

  59. “He’s lives quite close to me down here in North London. I pass his house on the train.”

    Would you like a supply of rotten eggs?

  61. Worky: it’s an oft-repeated myth. We need to have a short memory otherwise how could we support the Toon? Every season is like going to the dentist and them telling you they are out of novacane – just like last year.

  63. OK then, Pardew thinks we have the memory of this urban mythical goldfish. Now he is saying our team needs to attack more when in fact he said last year his teams are “always on the front foot”.

    We seem to have a problem when we stack the mid-field so it will be interesting to see the tactics on Monday. The question is do I go down to the pub to watch it with my new scarf and Wonga top?

  64. GS says:
    August 14, 2013 at 3:27 pm

    “The question is do I go down to the pub to watch it with my new scarf and Wonga top?”

    GS, you haven’t, have you?!!!

  65. I knew you would catch that Worky :) No I haven’t. Still got a retro blue star one which I will wear to watch a match. I never understand people wearing sports shirts as fashion items unless that is all they can afford. They do it here as well with Bulls and Blackhawks now especially.

  66. I will probably slink in and out of the pub on Monday as I am not too optimistic. Maybe, I’ll have the Toon top under a shirt and do a superman reveal if we are not getting hammered at half time – I think they have an old red BT phone booth in there.

  67. GS says:
    August 14, 2013 at 3:45 pm

    “I never understand people wearing sports shirts as fashion items unless that is all they can afford.”

    They’re £50, GS. As I pointed out on this blog a while back, you can buy Puma T-Shirts in the same design but without the Wronga stain on the front for a small fraction of that.

  68. GS says:
    August 14, 2013 at 3:54 pm

    “Maybe, I’ll have the Toon top under a shirt and do a superman reveal if we are not getting hammered at half time”

    Don’t we usually get hammered in the second half when Pardew runs out of ideas though, GS?

  69. I know Worky @67, I meant they choose one item and it is an official Toon top and therefore can’t afford anything else. The retro stuff is much cheaper, but I suppose the kids want the official gear? I was watching a movie about the Chelsea football firm the other night and there was a lot of references to Burberry, Prada etc. gear. Strange they would choose such expensive stuff to fight in. I think it was loosely based on that documentary from quite a few years back where you would have the older family men arranging the fights. It was called The Football Factory. Strange, strange movie with a lot of mixed messages about why they chose that violent lifestyle. The “hero” almost gets beaten to death and says during the final credits “would I change a thing? would I bollocks”.

  70. Worky, They most definitely know how to pass the ball, At Keegan’s Circus, As opposed to Ahley’s Circus lol.

  71. @GS if you’re looking for any deep and meaningful message in a film featuring danny dyer then you’re on a fool’s errand my friend.

  72. GS says:
    August 14, 2013 at 4:35 pm

    “I think it was loosely based on that documentary from quite a few years back where you would have the older family men arranging the fights. It was called The Football Factory.”

    GS, The Football Factory was was only made a few years ago, decades after the casuals started. It was Thatcher’s Britain, show off your Wonga, “Bling” as these young pups say nowadays. There’s also something of a Mod element in it too.

    THE film about football hooliganism in the 80s is Alan Clarke’s “The Firm” starring Gary Oldman. Made in 1989, it’s based on West Ham’s ICF (Inter City Firm), though it’s “ICC” (Inter City Crew) in the film.

    I’m an Alan Clarkeophile BTW. :-)

  73. Worky: I’ll check it out on Netflix so I can watch on a bigger screen. I missed the whole “casuals” thing. When I went there was just sporadic violence, not much coordinated.

    Stewpot: I had never heard of that film but Netflix recommended it because I had watched another “gritty British movie”. I think it was probably Trainspotting. I don’t know who Danny Dyer is but they had a pub scene that was a straightforward ripoff of Goodfellas. I watched it thinking there was going to be a message but the only message was that football violence was inevitable in the inner city and OK as an anger release, and really quite enjoyable. Idiots.

  74. GS, Stewpot’s right. Forget about Danny Dyer as he’s just a fake twat. Get the Alan Clarke Collection on DVD, you won’t regret it. Ray Winstone in both versions of “Scum,” Tim Roth in “Made in Britain,” Gary Oldman in “The Firm” plus the original version of “Elephant” which was about sectarian assassinations in Northern Ireland, not Yank schoolkids organising a massacre.

  75. chuck @ 39: you’ll be happy to hear that Vossen isn’t exactly cheap, then.

    @48: too much passive voice. Who announced it?

    And if we really want another forward for depth, why not sign Franco Di Santo on a free?

  76. Worky @74: I watched The Firm. I don’t know why they bothered to do the other movie in 2004. It was sort of like a bad remake, you could see the similarities, even some of the dialogue was the same and there was a shooting at the very end followed by the no remorse bit.

    That Yeti guy always plays the same role.

  77. @worky

    i didn’t even realise elephant was re-make? i bought the gus van sant film in a bargain bin and didn’t think much of it… will definitely have a look at clarke’s.

    scum, the firm, made in britain and rita, sue & bob too are all perfect slices of thatcher’s bloody britain.

    @gs

    i don’t altogether agree that football hooligans were/are idiots. it a complex subject whose origins go back decades and involve lots of socio-political factors.

    groups of men getting together for a fight is nothing new.

    in 2003, against the advice of local people, my mate and me went to the Salernitana v Napoli derby. it was the most brutal and scary thing i’ve ever seen in my life but at the same time, by some distance, the best atmosphere i’ve ever witnessed at a football match.

  78. GS says:
    August 14, 2013 at 7:28 pm

    “Worky @74: I watched The Firm. I don’t know why they bothered to do the other movie in 2004. It was sort of like a bad remake”

    Alan Clarke is very influential because he was a genius.

  79. stewpot says:
    August 14, 2013 at 7:34 pm

    “will definitely have a look at clarke’s.”

    Be warned, it’s very extreme and brutal. To say it was “heavy going” would be an understatement though if you stick with it, it becomes mesmeric. Basically, it’s recreations of sectarian assasinations in Northern Ireland one after the other with no dialogue, just alot of walking and alot of blood and guts being spayed up walls. It was the original inspiration for the other Elephant though. Gus van Sant is a big Alan Clarke fan.

  80. cheers worky, will watch after the football.

    my dad’s from belfast so i saw lot fairly heavy stuff when visiting relatives in 80s. should be interesting…

  81. Stewpot, it’s certainly his most extreme little film. It’s one of those where you either get it, or you don’t and think “WTF have I just watched?” if you get to the end of it. Don’t say I didn’t warn you afterwards. ;-)

  82. Stewpot: I don’t agree with football violence but agree it is a very complex subject. I did some sociology classes and read stuff on the Mods and Rockers phenomenon and that was all about the same thing – alienation, powerlessness, a need to belong etc, etc… so I am not really dismissing football hooligans as idiots, more the portrayal in that Football Factory movie.

  87. Stew, your knocked you are you fahkin’ mag!

    A few minutes is enough to make your mind up that they’re shite and no mistake, gahv! I saw him and Madonna beong gangster groupies down at Freddie Foreman’s son’s pub on Barclay Square once. I think they bought the place in the end. Fahkin Mahppets!

  88. his associaton with madonna is what put me off really, that and vinnie jones.

    just watched elephant. mesmerising stuff.

    would have been interesting if he’d made a feature with a narrative on the same subject.

  90. So kinnear is the best director of football in the league so where are all these great signings he reckons he can get. So far we only have one on loan and he’s crocked. Bent has gone to Fulham and there appears to be nothing in the pipeline. Our short squad has been reduced by at least 5 players? I predict we are going to get creamed this season unless they get their fingers out of their backsides this transfer window. January will be too late!