Sparks

Speaking of a lack of quality coming from our academy, its been the same for virtually every other club for the past 5 years, with the obvious handful of exceptions. Academy's, where you produce your own from a young age are on the way out, the idea now is to do what Arsenal have been doing for years and pick up the best young talent from around the world. It's never been harder for a young player to make it in the Premiership as it is now. For the Premiership it's great, as the standard of English football has never been higher than it is now. But once again it's a nail in coffin for England and International football as a whole. Changing times.

Another "promising" youngster bites the dust. Our youth system really has hit rock bottom when the likes of Huntington and Pattison are awarded the most promising player awards.

Very, makes a change from the usual articles though.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/tms/2007/08/hamann_enjoys_cricket_strategy.shtml Ex Toon boy, Dietmar Hamann. Football star gripped by cricket http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/tms/hamann203.jpg Another overseas star with a growing love of the game is Manchester City's German midfielder Dietmar Hamann, who spoke to Jonathan Agnew at the fourth one-day international at Old Trafford. Hamman was at the match with some of his City team-mates including rising England star Micah Richards and told Aggers how he became interested in cricket during the 2005 Ashes series.. Dietmar Hamann"I became hooked by that amazing series which went down to the wire. I really love it now. It’s a really strategic game, you need to use your mind and imagination as well as needing great skills. Now I try and watch every game on the television or matches around Manchester or Liverpool," the German international said. But despite his growing interest Dietmar has yet to try playing the game. "I'd love to have a go, but I haven't managed it yet. I reckon I'd make a good fielder at least. Maybe if I batted at seven or eight I could make a few runs. "I really admire what they do and to be honest I don't fancy facing a ball at 89 miles an hour. However when I go past a school and see children playing I often wish I had grown up here and got the chance to learn how to play." Hamman is trying to learn about the history of the game, but there is one recent story which really attracted his attention. "I don't read autobiographies, but the only one I have read is by Shane Warne. He mentions lots of famous cricketers so I am trying to learn what I can. And I hear Shane Warne is now trying to become a German," he said. Hamann admitted that cricket is not exactly a big deal in Germany, adding: "Germans tend to like sports we are good at. I reckon if you ask nine out of 10 Germans they wouldn't know what cricket is." But TMS had lots of e-mails confirming that there is plenty of interest, including one from Steve Farrington. "Thought I should let you know that there is a thriving cricket community in Germany with 5 leagues battling through the summer. Most of the teams were established by ex-pats, armed forces or Asian immigrants, but there is now a second generation of home-grown German talent coming through. "I, as a member of the RAF, umpired for several seasons over there in the 90's and 00's and the standard is not too bad. The national team have competed in the ICC Trophy (in Canada) and I have stood in matches against Holland Denmark and the MCC in the past" Perhaps a German team captained by Shane Warne and featuring Dietmar Hamman may do even better in the future!

Useful player indeed. All though the biggest Fanny this country has ever produced to walk onto a football pitch. A perfect example of the hypocritical media, when they complain about foreigners who dive, yet ignore the fact that the worst diver in the country is an Englishman.

2 weeks ago Geremi would have won this poll and Smith would have come in close behind. Way to early to judge yet.

Rozenhal has looked less likely to make a mistake. Taylor has been far from solid in the last couple of games. This is going to become a problem if and when we get Faye. Four players expecting first team football.

:lol: :lol: Wonder if they made him take his shirt off. What he didn't tell you was he has gone to the one in Sunderland.

Smith's never going to be sold now.

A real Piledriver must have have hit the net at 60 mph.

It's the midfield creative force that we are missing, someone with that extra bit of class. Butt, Barton, Smith etc, yes they are decent hardworking players but they don't have that extra quality from midfield that we need. Barton is a different type of player as well, but not the creator we need. As it has been mentioned Owen without creativity is nothing, and even then it is far from certain that the Owen of 5 years ago still exists. I've become somewhat concerned with what looks like Allardyce's obsession with packing the team full of hard as nails players, especially in midfield.

I'm not sure Allardyce knows what to do with him either, when we signed him he said that he couldn't turn down the opportunity to sign a player of Smith's quality. So I don't think it was a planned signing. Sounds a bit like the Duff situation.

Nice strike from Bellamy.

Looks in real trouble, not a broken nail this time.

Certainly wouldn't sell to any club in this country regardless of the fee being offered.

He had Smith 17 on the back, personally I stopped putting names on my shirt when I was 11, as I thought I was too old then.

Some people on here are little better than the scum that gave him abuse at West Ham last season. He simply wasn't up to the job and never will be able to be a successful manager. Freddie got it wrong big time when he employed him. He doesn't deserve the abuse he gets.

Robinson just doesn't pick up the flight of long range shots.

Bollocks Robinson, beaten from long range and should have done better.

If Freddie suddenly started turning up a Toon shirt he would become an even bigger laughing stock than he already was.

8 points would be a reasonable start, would expect and hope to see us finish above the all the teams we have played so far.

Glenn Johnson .... Let the good times roll...

Jeans and Replica Shirt, surprised they let him the directors box. Don't see many Chairman wearing that.

Given on the bench.... hmm..... Hasn't happened for almost 7 years.

FFS I bring Lescott into my Fantasy team, and they drop him to the bench. RVP missing a pen and being my captain didn't help much either.