Leaving St.James Park after the Fulham game a couple of weeks ago the mood was dispondent. We had lost to a very poor side and hadn't turned up. If you had suggested we could get a point a piece from West Ham and Liverpool away I would have thought you mad. Okay so we lost last night at Anfield but that still leaves us with 3 points from the 2 games, a tidy return.

Steve Harper, what can you say? He has always been missing one thing when being compared to Given, he could always brag the he hadn't had the ball headed out of his hand to conceed a goal against Coventry way back when and as a result didn't appear in any 'Football Blunders' compilations. Not wanting to be out done (and no doubt fancying some royalties) he decidesd to have a sit down just as Alonso performs and 80yd back pass.


I haven't commented on the recent Panorama programme exposing corruption in football. i wanted to see what was being said before I stuck my orr in. Well having had time to relfect I would say I am dissapointed in the witch hunt of Allerdcie; a man I don't have much time for but who should not have been exposed without evidence. What the programme showed was a group of bent agents who should be stipped of their licences and alluded to 50-6 managers who were on the take. There was no direct evidence of this and only Allerdice and rednapp were named. The most telling conversation was a recorded call with Kevin Bond where he seemed to imply he would be partial to payments and would take the suggestion to Harry. Kevin may be an excellent coach but I won't be dissapointed if he doesn't return to toon. If there is evidence produce it, don't make accusations on the no smoke without fire assumtion.

AG