Isegrim

Not sure about this. Seems like a big gamble to me...

Served Villa right for an awful dive tbh.

I agree with that and would say a lot of people do underestimate Bernd Schuster. Of course he doesn't have the track record of other managers, but he personifies what is really important at Madrid, an aura of aesthetics. He knows from his time at both Real and Barca what is important at those clubs. People are saying Newcastle fans are expecting free flowing football, but that is nothing compared to the expectations of fans of the big clubs in Spain. That's why Capello "failed" in the end. If Schuster, who did a pretty good job at Getafe, can install good football and get the team working together - and he hasn't as a bad team put together as some on here and the article in the original post imply - he will get the crowd behind the team which is the main task for every Real manager.

I agree with that. I am not really that unhappy at how things are as they are partly down to circumstances. Still it shows that we are still lacking depth (and of course quality) in the creative department. The only thing I don't understand is why a player like Solano isn't considered at all at the moment (he is still our player).

Good question.. Looks like he's vanished into thin air. He certainly would have had more to offer as right back than Carr or Ramage one would be inclined to think.. Not only that, he would have been the only creative spark in midfield as well. The result is not bad and not holding to the lead two times is a bit disappointing, but the most worrying thing was imho the overall performance. We do create f*** all with a midfield of Smith, Geremi and Butt. Martins isn't a winger either, so there is nothing coming from him as well. No wonder the strikers are looking s*** when the only creative player in the whole team is playing at left back... We desperately need Barton and Emre back to at least get a bit of spark into the team. The best would still be to look at the options left in the transfer market. Are you feeling okay? It rather shows my opinion about our current midfield set up, doesn't it... (I was unsure if I should have put in a safety wink in the previous post)

Good question.. Looks like he's vanished into thin air. He certainly would have had more to offer as right back than Carr or Ramage one would be inclined to think.. Not only that, he would have been the only creative spark in midfield as well. The result is not bad and not holding to the lead two times is a bit disappointing, but the most worrying thing was imho the overall performance. We do create f*** all with a midfield of Smith, Geremi and Butt. Martins isn't a winger either, so there is nothing coming from him as well. No wonder the strikers are looking shit when the only creative player in the whole team is playing at left back... We desperately need Barton and Emre back to at least get a bit of spark into the team. The best would still be to look at the options left in the transfer market.

Certainly - especially if the quote is used in Italy in the same way as in Germany. Here saying "he's quicker than the ball" isn't really a compliment but reserved for players who can run fast, but have absolutely no ball control... And what's this about monkey posts? Racist.

http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,2154251,00.html

A club is developed in phases and a well thought through strategy that inc investment behind the scenes and in the overall knowledge base. To build a team from solid foundations as SA is doing is nothing to be scoffed at and not something that shows lack of foresight or spending power. We have the ability to spend and this has been made clear often enough by Mr Mort and other communications from the club. £30m has been wiped off the debt and a lot of stragglers have been cleared out. We already show signs of a dynamic and competitive midfield that is less likely to roll over away from home and our strike force is as good as any in the league on paper. Def issues have been addressed and will continue to be addressed. Throwing silly money at players is not out policy any longer and a good thing that is too. SA has highlighted the need to compete and keep clean sheets as part of his philosophy to develop a side that is hard to beat, witness the seachange in Liverpool with the arrival of Benitez, it was safety first and still is to an extent and the same goes for Chelsea. Combine this with the fact that we have signed and excellent prospect and sought after left back at the fraction of the cost of the player that Spurs have acquired and I am more than happy. The next step will be to add some creativity to the midfield and don't assume that Sam isn't aware of this (witness the continuing rumours reg Deco). I don't think SA has any intention on relying on Emre alone and that will be the case as you'll see by the end of the transfer window. We are moving in the right direction which I feel is clear to the majority of the support. Planning?

There is a sort of reliable Jorman website. http://transfermarkt.de/de/aktuell/L1/2007/wechsel/index.html You can change the leagues via the drop-down menu at the top.

oliver kahn f***** up in the world cup final but i don't think people let it affect their view of him. and i don't think that best keepers in the world table thingy you posted has much credibility either, even tho seaman regularly finds himself in it, chilavert came top for three years ffs! Kahn was definitely to blame for losing the final. But it was not so much the blunder itself but rather the fact that he chose to play on with an injured hand (which caused the blunder).

http://icnewcastle.icnetwork.co.uk/newcastleunited/chroniclesport/tm_headline=geremi-to-become-british-citizen%26method=full%26objectid=19676834%26siteid=50081-name_page.html

And I told you so. They also rebuffed an improved offer of 22m Euro. So much for getting him for 7m quid....

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v123/antunesrj/Nelson_haha.jpg

I didn't watch it but he was by most acounts by far the best player on the pitch in the recent CL qualifier against Werder Bremen (with Diego).

I think there a lot of people down here in Germany who would disagree with the "has always been a good player". Most Bayern fans were glad of finally getting rid of him as he showed potential in his early years but was on a rapid decline . In the last couple of seasons he was either mostly injured or out of form (he would have been sold two years ago, if he hadn't injured himself and got a new contract because of mercy). They pissed themselves about the fee they got for him in the end. He certainly has talent and has started surprisingly well at Blackburn. It will be interesting to see if he can really get his career back on track.

He would be relatively cheap as well. I reckon they'd take £7m. I reckon you're wrong. How much you reckon? iirc they paid £4.5 ? They even only paid 5m Euro for him. But this has nothing to do with their current valuation. They know that he was vastly undervalued then and has proved himself as a star player. They know if they put him on the market there would be a lot clubs interested now, especially the major Spanish teams. So I doubt the asking price for him would be below 15m Euro / £ 10m. I think it's rather likely they would hold out for 20-25m Euro. This talk is all futile anyway as I don't think van der Vart would be interested in a move as he knows that he would have far better options than Newcastle if he decided to move on. I won't have that sort of defeatist talk in this thread I tell thee. Defeatist or realist, you decide.... HSV have rejected an offer of 14m Euro from Valencia for van der Vaart who is keen on a move to Spain and is now in a huff.

He was good when he was first choice for Chelsea. But since he only plays second fiddle to Cech he looks quite dodgy tbh. I am not sure if I wanted him in my national side based on the last couple of years...

Buffoon.

The one I think where would we have maybe an outside chance to persuade him to come to Newcastle, although I regard even this as highly unlikely. But the talk of the likes of Deco, Diego, van der Vart etc. is pie in the sky stuff. [/defeatist]

He would be relatively cheap as well. I reckon they'd take £7m. I reckon you're wrong. How much you reckon? iirc they paid £4.5 ? They even only paid 5m Euro for him. But this has nothing to do with their current valuation. They know that he was vastly undervalued then and has proved himself as a star player. They know if they put him on the market there would be a lot clubs interested now, especially the major Spanish teams. So I doubt the asking price for him would be below 15m Euro / £ 10m. I think it's rather likely they would hold out for 20-25m Euro. This talk is all futile anyway as I don't think van der Vart would be interested in a move as he knows that he would have far better options than Newcastle if he decided to move on.

He would be relatively cheap as well. I reckon they'd take £7m. I reckon you're wrong.

Maybe it was on Swiss TV regarding his job in Zürich...

That's how I see it, too. He knows now that he is not likely to be first choice at either centre half or left back. So it's no wonder that he might prefer to stay at a club where he already has established himself in the first team.

Nothing about it in the main SF sports news on TV. So it was just Swissmag bullshitting - again. Seriously, what is funny about doing it?