Cassidy

Shearer to become Newcastle boss BBC Sport understands that Alan Shearer will be appointed as Newcastle manager until the end of the season. Magpies legend Shearer, 38, has been continually linked with a return to the club and admitted in September 2008 he would like to be manager. Chris Hughton is currently in caretaker charge at St James' Park as interim manager Joe Kinnear recovers from a triple heart bypass. Shearer rejected an invitation to join Newcastle as a coach last November.

...is what I've just said above.

I'm not over-reacting. The initial comment I made was off the cuff and said in a light-hearted manner (hence then :o ), it was only when you brought it up that I then felt the need to explain myself (and thus we get further into the discussion). No matter how much somebody dissed one of my favourite songs I wouldn't feel the need to resort to :/ing them. Like you said yourself the way he came on was a bit strong and imo OTT. Jonny calling it boring in the first place was a bit ignorant but the whole reply read to me as if Jonny SHOULD like this and was in the wrong for not doing so, is all I was trying to say. If Jonny doesn't like it then he's more than entitled to not like it. There wasn't even an issue here in the first place, Tyron knows that I don't dislike him and the further this goes on the further it seems I am picking away at what he's saying and generally being a bit pernickety over one post. Which is very far from what I set out to do. I've said what I wanted to say now and that r it from me.

As far as I read, he was :/ing because Jonny found 'The Rip' boring. I find 'The Rip' to be an extremely beautiful piece of music and couldn't disagree with him any further if I tried but to come on Jonny in the manner that he did reeked of snobbery imo. "I like this piece of music, you don't, therefore you deserve a :/". There's ways around explaining a difference in opinion without throwing emotes such as :/ about left, right and centre. I'm not saying there shouldn't be any justification for calling what is an obviously well-crafted four and a half mins of music 'boring' but like I said, ways and means.

Link on its way Eric.

No need to bloody :/ the poor boy just because he doesn't like them. Talk about musical snobbery Tyron, you used to be better than that :o Nuu album = amazing.

I always liked the new single. Very standard, Sounds-by-numbers (no pun..) but by no means a bad song. Going to watch them in a few hours too, vv excited for the Van ;o

Their remixes are better than their actual songs (well the few that I've heard circling around on the internet) and their remixes aren't all that. Quite a lot of acts go down the same route as LMFAO and do it far, far better.

THIS IS VERY GOOD As was 'Happy Up Here'. The album less so.

It's fucking sublime is what it is. Beautiful music.

1 WEEK TODAY GUYZ

You can't exactly compare player success to manager success though in fairness. Sure Phil Neville has won many League titles with United (heck he even has a Champions League medal) but he was surrounded by one of the most steady defence back lines United have ever seen, topped off by Peter Schmiechal between the sticks. There's always weak links in teams that will collect the trophies at the end of the season with any successsful winning club. John O'Shea could potentially get a whole host of winners medals come the end of the season. Comparing player success to manager success is definitely a no-go area imo. The point I will emphasise yet again, and the point I've been trying to make throughout, is you don't just win 10 premier league seasons out of a possible 16 on a fluke or because the team believe they can win and the opposition doesn't. I'm not saying smaller opponents aren't intimidated by the large stature of the club worldwide or that confidence doesn't play a big part in every team, but we wouldn't have won so many had it not been for sheer quality in the team topped off by what I believe to be a great manager (we're going round in circles here). To say "The reason Man Utd are so good is because Man Utd players believe they're going to win, and the opposition don't realistically they are going to win. Once Man Utd get a goal the opposition heads usually drop." just doesn't wash with me. You don't go 11 games without conceeding a goal purely on confidence-knocking the opponent. Sure Benitez may be in the same position 20 years down the line, only time will tell. I'll certainly agree with you on the parallels between the two clubs. He's come incredibly far with a club swamped with the likes of Le Tallec, Diao, Baros, Kewell and God knows whoever else he had at the time. Actual stickability between manager and club is something few and far between in English football, Rafa signing a new contract can only be of benefit to the club based on his tenure so far.

Obviously we hold very different grounds for what classes as a great manager. Prior to the arrival of Sir Alex, United hadn't won a top flight title since 1967. He took over during the 86-87 season and finished runner up in the top flight in 87-88. This was with a weakened team on the brink of relegation too. To then turn this team into the juggernaut of success that it has become today, that takes a great manager. Equalling on average more than one trophy a season, that takes a great manager. It may be that Sir Matt Busby was the 'greatest' United manager of all time, but in terms of hard facts and statistics it cannot be argued Sir Alex IS the most successful manager in terms of trophies won with the club. It's also fitting to note at this point Sir Matt Busby was in charge for 24 years (plus an additional 6 months in charge when he returned to the club after his first stint), Sir Alex is currently in his 22nd year. He IS the greatest manager to ever grace the Premier League and for you to say that he isn't, well realistically I can't think who you believe is? Arsene Wenger, in relation to the long-term, is the only one that comes close? Alas it must be said, congratulations to Liverpool on their 5-0 win today. Another solid performance by the team (well for the first half that I watched). Certainly spices up the end to a season which was wrote off 4 weeks ago, especially if Liverpool do manage to take full advantage of playing their next game before United.

Arsenal, United, Chelsea, Barcelona They're my picks for the last four. Three from four of last year semi's. Just another reminder of how dominant the EPL is in relation to its neighbouring leagues.

I disagree. Firstly on the score that SAF is 'good but not great'. I don't know how many exactly, but we got a large percentage of 1-0's during our fantastic run of form over Christmas. They were 1-0 results whereby we dominated the whole game, not just nicking an odd goal at the end of 90s minutes when the opposition tires and lets their guard down. That's real title-winning form. Our lack of goals conceeded also shows we were arguably THE most consistent team in the prem for a large chunk of the season. He's also won more trophies in the history of the English game than any other manager. 24 trophies in 22 years (discounting Community Shield wins) under the SAF reign speak for themselves. He's won manager of the year more times than anyone else in British football. To say he isn't great and then compare him to Benitez or Mourinho... I couldn't possibly disagree any more strongly. Secondly the point about Hillsborough/Munich. Yes Munich was a long time ago but it's still the same principle about disrespecting the dead. Munich, just like Hillsborough, was a disaster that shocked the sporting world. To joke about either of them (or similar/reated incidents) shows a severe lack of respect, taste and (i can only presume) awareness. Just look at the uproar caused on this forum alone by people disrespecting the name of the now deceased Jade Goody. It's deemed socially unacceptable and shouldn't be tolerated whether it be on the streets, in the football terraces, anywhere.

I would be suprised if I knew any Liverpool fan who didn't despise SAF to be honest. He digs season in season out, has done ever since I can remember, and generally it has a fantastic succession rate. Raf tried it earlier in the season and his team crumbled shortly after. Just shows what a master of mind games Fergie actually is. He riles managers and fans alike. That isn't gonna change anytime soon. In regards to your first point, I'm unsure about United 'losing it' just yet. Our team is defo low on morale right now and having Vid, Scholes and Rooney all suspended will obvs play its part in our forthcoming performances. Aswell Evra's recent tendencies to act like a complete mental case on the field. But looking at the fixture list for United & Liverpool for the remaining 9 fixtures I would be incredibly suprised if Liverpool actually managed to break past the 4 point deficit in place atm. The prem fixture list for both teams is pretty much matched, Liverpool have the disadvantage of a tougher champions league opponent, United have the FA cup and a trip out of the country. I fully agree United and Liverpool fans are just as bad as each other though. I live inbetween the two cities and know just as many people who support Liverpool as do United, the amount of facebook status updates I read post and prior to matches regarding Hillsborough/Munich is frankly harrowing. Similarly Ive been to matches at both Anfield and Old Trafford this season, again the chants heard are by both sets of supports and again are equally as disgusting in content. Yet for some reason all I ever hear is how United are obsessed with LFC when it is without doubt not a one-sided affair. After hearing more than my fair share of banter from the scousers about MUFC today it was once again painfully obvious that Liverpool fans are just as bad, if not worse.

You've always performed against the big teams under Harry though, that's never been the issue. You held us to a 0-0 in the Prem and League Cup final, managed not to conceed against Arsenal and now the win against Chelsea. It's more a case of not getting the job done against the Sunderlands, Boltons and WBA's of the Prem.

We play Villa next week. They've won zero from their last seven games. If we don't get the three points against them then it's time to get worried. As it stands we're still four points adrift at the top and Chelsea (second best team in the league) are also losing. The whole "united fans are more obsessed with liverpool than their own team" thing is rather LOL though. Today being just another example of how ironic that phrase actually is..

LOL oh dear..

'Sea Within A Sea' is <3 In musical terms 2009 > 2008 by an absolute mile so far \o/

The music tonight = lol Go team gaga :o

Not expecting a lot from tonights epi. Prove me wrong pls o:

LOVELY D/\Y Ive walked far too much for my own good today. And r wearing shorts & a t-shirt. And has beautiful tan.

I like the Natasha Bedingfield. I want to jook gash and we have babies. New song bznz. Woopi-de-yahyah.

Rennie you fucking love it you do. Let's get lost you can take me home, somewhere nice we can be alone :yahoo: