Shearergol

We bid for Woodgate. He turned it down. I see no evidence whatsoever for a player we've enquired about and got told "no" by the club, have you? You questioned someone's inside information in order to refute their argument. Unless you have some of your own I can't see the value in that. And then I showed evidence of a player turning us down rather than it being the club. Isn't that what you asked me to do?

Sorry, but that's rubbish. Obviously money is a massive factor, but if a player sees a struggling club heading the wrong way in the division, they're more than likely going to turn the move down. Players want to play in Europe, or get first team football. Our best bet is to find the players from the top clubs who can't get games. However; Spurs, Portsmouth, Villa, Man City and Everton are all better prospects than us at the moment, despite the wages we're able to offer. (having said that, the low bid for Barnes shows me that we're more likely to keep a closer check on the budget now, so we might not be offering big wages anymore either). How did Boro attract Alves? Or any of their players for that matter. Those clubs are in better shape than us because of Allardyce (and their respective managers), not the board IMO. Did we even try for Alves? My personal opinion (which I made clear the day we appointed Keegan) is that we've signed nobody because of the timing of his appointment. Whoever is to blame (this board, the old board, Keegan, Allardyce) I really think we've made a huge huge mistake by not signing some quality (especially to play in midfield). I know people laugh when relegation is mentioned, but it really looks a bit ominous on current form.

Soon got bored of his life long dream to play in midfield. Did he work out that he was shit there too? Awful signing from Allardyce, but no shock there.

We bid for Woodgate. He turned it down. I see no evidence whatsoever for a player we've enquired about and got told "no" by the club, have you?

Sorry, but that's rubbish. Obviously money is a massive factor, but if a player sees a struggling club heading the wrong way in the division, they're more than likely going to turn the move down. Players want to play in Europe, or get first team football. Our best bet is to find the players from the top clubs who can't get games. However; Spurs, Portsmouth, Villa, Man City and Everton are all better prospects than us at the moment, despite the wages we're able to offer. (having said that, the low bid for Barnes shows me that we're more likely to keep a closer check on the budget now, so we might not be offering big wages anymore either).

nail on the head. If it wasn't so sad, I could weep I find it hard to believe that people on here don't actually agree with that fact; they just don't like to admit it. I don't think our lack of signings are anything to do with not being attractive enough. They're to do with there not being enough players AVAILABLE. Vicious circle I'm afraid. If we were able to attract them, they're more likely to be available. Do you actually know that clubs turned us down rather than it being the players? What inside information did you have about the players we enquired about?

nail on the head. If it wasn't so sad, I could weep I find it hard to believe that people on here don't actually agree with that fact; they just don't like to admit it.

That is exactly what people on here are saying.

He hasn't signed yet.

Are there only 13 players in the world? I reckon there might just be a midfielder out there better than the s**** we've got. Well who are you saying we should have signed, realistically? I'm not paid by the club to find players. The manager and his scouts should have found someone. I never said you were did i, but i'm asking who would you have liked to see in then? Without coming out with some totally unrealistic player. And I've already made the point that I'm not a scout, but there MUST be a midfielder out there better than fucking Nicky Butt. He might play in France for all I know. What's your point?

Translation: "Newcastle fans, please don't turn off the telly! You're our main audience! Please! Come back..." You're not wrong either.

Are there only 13 players in the world? I reckon there might just be a midfielder out there better than the s**** we've got. Well who are you saying we should have signed, realistically? I'm not paid by the club to find players. The manager and his scouts should have found someone.

Are there only 13 players in the world? I reckon there might just be a midfielder out there better than the shite we've got.

He'll have Gerrard in the middle with SWP on the right IMO

That's a fantastic line at the end mate, you should be really proud of yourself. Why didn't you just ask if I was gay, or black? Not impressed at all, and I'm not wasting my time with you anymore.

thjey did both at the same time, rather than do one first then the other later. his second signing was a young lad from AC Milan's reserves (Vieira) and his 4th a raw 17 year old poached from PSG's youth side who had only a handful of senior appearances (Anelka). and with people like comolli and dein working for the club he could afford to delegate some responsibility to them so that both approaches are pursued simultaneously. it seems we're trying to do the same thing. Arsenal weren't in the position we are in when they appointed Wenger. They were a top 5 team when he took over.

Geordie nation, init.

Good post. It seems people are envious of Wenger's achievements at Arsenal yet don't want to see the same set up implemented here. Strange. Iz becoz we canna parayde dem lyek. If dey not heard of dem den they must be shit innit?! seems like deja vue here. Under Souness we were told that it was fine to clear out the bad eggs because Alex Ferguson did, now we are being told its OK buying a load of 17 year olds because Arsene Wenger has. Quite incredible the complete rubbish that people get suckered into believing, and all because the fat bastard ate all their pies or something......... Not to mention, that Bobby Robson has been down the same path and didn't match Wenger ie Bramble, Ambrose, Viana, Gavilan, Cort, Cordone, Jeanarse, Lua Lua, Bassedas, O'Brien.............. his best buys for the club being Woodgate, Bellamy and Robert by a country mile. Agree with that. It's ok building for the future, but it should be done after the main squad is built. Arsenal didn't go out and find youngsters whilst Arsenal were shite - they built a good team before then building the academy. We're desperately short of players who can improve what is essentially an awful premiership team. We should be looking for those players now. But Keegan has said the players he wants are not available in January, so what is he to do? Does he buy other players now for the sake of getting people in or wait until the Summer to get the players in he wants? Do you not feel you've heard and seen it all before though? I have absolutely no confidence that the players we can get in summer will be any better than the ones we could get now. We'll certainly be in a worse position in summer than we are at the moment.

Obviously the ideal is a bit of both. Developing the first team and hope youngsters come through later on. I don't think the last two weeks in January is enough for the new manager to convince very good players to come here (and their teams to sell them) though. Ashley's fault for the timing of the sacking. Allardyce should have gone before Christmas.

It's not about bringing these players in, it's about NOT bringing in players who can improve the team now. Very disappointing from the club. Other clubs have bought players in January, so I'm not accepting that it's impossible.

Gonna have exactly the same problem in summer then.

Good post. It seems people are envious of Wenger's achievements at Arsenal yet don't want to see the same set up implemented here. Strange. Iz becoz we canna parayde dem lyek. If dey not heard of dem den they must be shit innit?! seems like deja vue here. Under Souness we were told that it was fine to clear out the bad eggs because Alex Ferguson did, now we are being told its OK buying a load of 17 year olds because Arsene Wenger has. Quite incredible the complete rubbish that people get suckered into believing, and all because the fat bastard ate all their pies or something......... Not to mention, that Bobby Robson has been down the same path and didn't match Wenger ie Bramble, Ambrose, Viana, Gavilan, Cort, Cordone, Jeanarse, Lua Lua, Bassedas, O'Brien.............. his best buys for the club being Woodgate, Bellamy and Robert by a country mile. Agree with that. It's ok building for the future, but it should be done after the main squad is built. Arsenal didn't go out and find youngsters whilst Arsenal were shite - they built a good team before then building the academy. We're desperately short of players who can improve what is essentially an awful premiership team. We should be looking for those players now.

We made an offer. They turned it down. We're not going back for him. Thanks for the info Mr Mort... I'm right though, as I've been about all of these deals in the last few weeks Its still nothing but guess work whether you end up right or not Not always.

Injured.

Probably a good thing. Shows Capello knows his football.