I just think that if you're doing a bad job as a manager then you should be given the chop. Regardless, of how nice/old/funny/loyal etc. you are. Obviously, you don't get rid of managers after a few bad results. But if you enter an apparent irreversible spiral of decline than you have to consider a change. Especially if it involves a club who've spent as much money as Newcastle have.

It's kind of strange that people are saying that it'd be too big a risk to play Jansen, when Souness has been playing Yorke, Gresko in midfield, Matteo in midfield, Flitcroft on the right wing... If those aren't risks - and risks that didn't pay off, I don't know what are. I'm disappointed that Matt wasn't fighting tooth and nail for a loan move, but perhaps things have got too comfy at Rovers. He's out of the limelight, the fans still adore him for his past achievements and he's getting football for the reserves - not to mention the hefty pay pack. His stint at Coventry must have been difficult because their fans were expecting inspiration and instead they got dross. Maybe Jansen doesn't want to put himself under that pressure again. It's just a thought.

To continue with the Yorke character assassination... It just sums up the man that he opts to go to Birmingham, where he'll undoubtedly be a bit part player, when he could have gone to Celtic, emerged as a regular player and won trophies. The critical gaze of the Celtic faithful would have found him out in seconds, so it's just as well.

Having been fed on a staple diet of past-it veterans (Amoruso, now he was difficult to swallow) and players who play in positions that we have covered (Dino Baggio and Moore gruel) - it makes a pleasant change to see Souness bolstering the squad in the necessary departments and going for younger and more skilful players. Now the big test for Souness is whether he can put the pieces of the jigsaw together to resemble a half-decent Premiership team.

Yes. He won't forget Souness in a hurry. Especially when he looks at his shin.

Fantastic signing. The guy is young, athletic, skilful and fast. Doesn't mean he's going to be a world beater, but at least it gives him a headstart from Yorke who couldn't boast any of those attributes. His time in Italy would only have improved his technique and hopefully his ill-discipline problems are in the past. He'll provide an option of a striker who can hold the ball up. If Stead get's injured, we need someone to do his link play. Flopsy: I understand where you're coming from but if we were to abandon the trivialties of Western life to concentrate on the sufferings of others, we would be trapped in perpetual mourning. Jay Bothroyd signing pales into insignificance to most things going on - but as long as you've got your priorities right in your head, I don't see why you can't talk about it.

Watch out for Yorke doing an Andy Cole and refinding his form at his new club. Or maybe not. Surely, this means we have a replacement lined up. Mutu anyone?

I think Mourinho has more brains than to leave a fit Duff on the bench for too long. If you've listened to any of his interviews, he won't stop talking about the improvement that will come with Robben or Duff returning to first team action.

I haven't read any paper, so I don't know what you're on about. The only reason people are condemning the move is because Bobby Robson is old, English and a media favourite. I'm sure Gerard Houllier and Glenn Roeder were charming fellas, and I'm sure they, 'lived and breathed football,' so did they deserve the sack? If there was a post-Robson like collective mourning for them, I missed it.

I can't believe I'm reading this copiously sentimental and downright ignorant pontificating on this board. I thought people on this board knew about football. Get over Bobby Robson and his gentleman status and his grandfather persona and the mildly amusing and endearing stories about his bad memory. Football is a harsh business, so let's look at the facts. Christian Bassedas, Clarence Acuna, Carl Cort, Titus Bramble, Robbie Elliot, Lee Bowyer, Diego Gavilan - a flavour of the troglydyte footballers that Robson has wasted millions and millions on. Now let's look at Jenas, Darren Ambrose, Ameobi, Dyer - one time exciting prospects, just how much have they developed as players under Robson's tutelage? In some cases, how much have they regressed? There is a reason why a lot of Geordies wanted Robson out. Perhaps, it could have happened in a more dignified manner - but boy are they glad it's happened sooner rather than later. It's too easy, as fans of a different club who aren't ofay with the REAL goings on, to lean back and condemn Shepherd for axing that 'nice, old bloke who did well for England in 1990.'

I haven't seen much of him recently and am not sure how he is developing. As your his number one fan perhaps you can tell us about Donnelly as a player e.g how has he been playing recently? What qualities do you think he can bring to the team? Best position is central midfield and has a well-rounded game. I would compare him to Scott Parker, in that he gets forward but also has a strong defensive side to his play, Has always looked a promising player for the reserves and England U19s. However, this season, he's been playing on the right wing (for the reserves), which imo has restricted his progress. He either needs a loan move or first team action to develop. I'm sure people who watch the reserves could fill you in a bit more specifically.

If I must waste my energy responding to an asinine comment - I never said Mahon was a world-beater but to me it seemed logical that he was the only left footed midfielder at the club and we were crying out for some width on the left last season, so I thought Mahon should play as a left winger; at least until the end of the season and we were able to buy a better player. As it turned out, Douglas did a job there. However, who's seeing more first team action now?

Sorry, I wasn't using my full mental faculties there. Of course, everybody knows that the first three games of the season are a chance to experiment with the line-up, contributing to the loss of points and our position near the bottom of the league.

The fact that these players cost £17mil. (Duff), £12.25mil. (Ronaldo), £12mil. (Robben) makes them seem a luxury to me. Errr no. You've just proved that they are scarce but highly sought after by managers who know what they're doing.

Too right. Tugay is not able to compete anymore. He was anonymous against Man U and for as good as his passing may be, his tackling, heading, running mean he cannot compete. I would be tempted to see if Douglas' endeavour could compliment Ferguson in midfield. (Douglas is also quite a big lad and that helps when you're competing in the 'engine room'). Perhaps, Donnelly may be the long-term solution - if he's allowed to develop in the reserves by playing centre mid, rather than right wing. ANother point - please don't congratulate Souness for getting the team selection right. That's the first time this season. ONE in FOUR, he has managed to pick a decent team that most fans could have picked for all the games. The least we expect from a manager is to pick a decent team and not have to correct his mistakes at half-time.

Oh, I was looking forward to three points against Newcastle.

Souness on Pedersen (LET) A few points to make: (1)The inevitable bewildering comment from Souness in that article: Souey claims that Damien Duff type wingers are a luxury and not wanted by managers. NO SOUEY - you may not like dribbling-type wingers but a lot do, like Alex Ferguson and Jose Mourinho, who, unsurprisingly, have been more successful than you. (2) The much maligned Dean Saunders and Tony Darracott (aka Grabbi fan) scouted MGP. We can rest assured that the guy is a great player... And (3) Take note of the crucial role Stig played in the scouting! Highly knowledgeable or what?

I think that was a specific tactic. Souness wants the midfield to play narrow, with the thinking being it makes the team more solid defensively.

Sad but it's for the best because Matt can only return to some kind of form by playing regularly. I would like to see us bring in an striker on loan to help Stead but we've left it a bit late.

Manchester Blue makes a good point in that you should never judge a forward by how much he runs around. Any imbecile with a bit of stamina can chase defenders down as they play it around. And any imbecile would know that doing that excessively is pointless because the forward loses strength, gets tired and has less energy to actually get into dangerous positions to score goals (which is after all their job). However, with Yorke, it's not the running that I don't like, it's his ability. He seems so laborious with and without the ball. He's not the best in the air and has certainly lost any pace he had.

What a waste of money. The guy is pants and we wasted £2 million on him when we could have bought Steve Guppy. At least Guppy can put in decent crosses. I'm talking about Dwight Yorke by the way. MGP had a disappointing debut but it's still early days.

OMG - Dwight Dorke. The man should do the decent thing and donate his weeks wages to charity because he doesn't deserve it. Him coming on was like adding another United player to the pitch. No enthusiasm, no threat, no aerial ability - just the same goofy smile and indifferent attitude. The guy is a joke. Paul Gallagher would at least have made a nuisance of himself.

At THIS club with these fans, no chance. If the lad has not scored three by halftime in his first game the fans will be on him, with harmonious moans of Souness out 'cause he's wasted more money on a dud. If he scores three, lays up another two and clears one off the line there will be somebody moaning about, yeah but he gave away a throw in. Mark my words unless the lad is a bonafide star he ain't got a chance of making it with some of these moaners. IF it doesn't work out and MG Pedersen does a Per Pedersen no right minded person will blame Souness for buying a dud. In this case, unlike a lot of the other Souey signings, we've bought a young star with potential. Not every promising talent blossoms into a top player - that's a fact of life. I applaud the club for going for someone on the way up, rather than on the slide.

Am I right in thinking that he's having his medical and contract talks today... in which case, shouldn't his move be official now? Unless...Craig Moore, Jody Morris, Matt Jones, Roy Keane....not again. (Obviously, of the above, the fact the first three didn't sign was a damn good thing).

Interesting how the assistant manager merry-go-round has had an immediate impact. NOT. One 'yes' man for another - hardly surprising really. Although, apparently, Tony Parkes fervent insistence that Yorke was playing really well for the reserves caused Souness to give him a second chance.