Howaythelads

Harper gives me the shits, man.

No. It won't. Never ceases to amaze that people bang on about Parker as a defensive midfielder when he has no attributes of a quality defensive midfielder. There is more to it than effort and sweat.

Harper, Srnicek, Solano, Carr, Babayaro, Taylor, Bramble, Onyewu, Moore, Ramage, Butt, Parker, Milner, Emre, Dyer, N'Zogbia, Martins, Sibierski, Luque, Carroll. From the squad that was announced I'd go with a 4-3-3 for this match.... Srnicek Taylor, Bramble, Moore, Carr Solano, Butt, Emre Dyer, Martins, Zog Subs Harper Onyewu Milner Carroll Luque I think we'll need some physical power at the back in this game and we need players in the midfield who can pass the ball. I think Solano has been great at RB and I wouldn't really want to move him, but for this game I'd like to see him in midfield tucking in a bit playing narrow, same with Emre. We need to keep the ball better in a game like this. I want to see Zog on the left side of a front 3 but I'd really like to see all of the front 3 trying to be mobile and interchanging to give them something to think about. They have good defenders and if we just chuck high balls at them all day we'll get nowhere imo. If we lose I'd be happier losing trying something different in an attempt to surprise them and win the game than lose playing 1 up front and going for a 0-0 in the typical Roeder style. If we want to go for the width and high ball stuff we can change it with the subs. Even the waster Luque MAY do something if he came on in a game like this in a 4-3-3. No. I haven't been drinking.

People STILL going for Parker/Emre in the middle are the one's that need to be shot.

Is the correct answer.

As you say, Babayaro, Carr and Bramble would need replacements. However, Luque wouldn't need replacing and neither would Parker, if he was shipped out too. Who would you play in the holding role when Butt was injured? Nobody springs to mind who is on the clubs books at present.

that is true. The board is still attempting to be successful, but you have to accept that, at the time when Fletcher etc took over, the only way was up, with new ideas, new finance. Now this is not the case, it is far more difficult to move forwards from the position we are now in, as an established top team, knocking on the door of winning trophies but needing a breakthrough. Get real. Good thread and a decent read until the previous post.

As you say, Babayaro, Carr and Bramble would need replacements. However, Luque wouldn't need replacing and neither would Parker, if he was shipped out too.

mackems.gif

As I recall, Shepherd said that there were no clauses other than what was normal in a contract. So of course it's anyone's guess what constitutes 'normal'. I don't understand why so many people are reluctant to believe in the existence of this clause. It's quite common with contracts for major players, and when you consider that Owen was openly reluctant to join us and we had to pay over the odds, I'd be amazed if he didn't manage to get a clause inserted. I think there is a clause, and I think if Man U match the figure, then he'd be off. What's more, I wouldn't blame him. He's a professional, he'll have the chance to play for one of the world's top clubs, and he won't actually be breaking the terms of his contract. The fault will lie fairly and squarely with Shepherd for signing the player on such unfavourable terms. mackems.gif When there's a chance to slag the Board the terms are unfavourable, pity that in the same post you mentioned they are probably normal. Buy-out clauses are normal, yes. But it's foolish to have a low buy-out clause in the contract of a player who's openly reluctant to join you, and who might well be in demand by other clubs. The odds at you losing money are quite high. Freddie did it because he thinks in terms of buying individuals rather than building a team. So Fred is the Chairman AND the manager, eh? You're a believer that the manager doesn't decide the players he wants and the players he doesn't want? This means that you must believe Souness is a yes-man?

Where did I say he was Spanish? I said he was an unproven La Liga striker. Can you tell me about all the great buys we've made from Spain that have hit the ground running like Owen did and will again? There's thousands of players who represent better value than most of our recent signings but that doesn't mean we should sign them all. Whats the matter Gejon, don't you like somebody providing constructive arguments against your points? Have I abused you in any way? Grow up FFS! Yes Owen is a very good player and a world class finisher but he is also a big risk and given the length of his contract I am not sure we could risk turning down an offer that would fund us improving our squad and possibly reducing the risk. No you haven't but your cocky 'didn't realise Zigic was Spanish' remark wasn't needed - maybe you think you're the font of all knowledge? Par for the course mate, he never admits when someone makes a reasonable point in response to his own, in fact, he hardly ever responds directly to a counter point anybody makes.

As I recall, Shepherd said that there were no clauses other than what was normal in a contract. So of course it's anyone's guess what constitutes 'normal'. I don't understand why so many people are reluctant to believe in the existence of this clause. It's quite common with contracts for major players, and when you consider that Owen was openly reluctant to join us and we had to pay over the odds, I'd be amazed if he didn't manage to get a clause inserted. I think there is a clause, and I think if Man U match the figure, then he'd be off. What's more, I wouldn't blame him. He's a professional, he'll have the chance to play for one of the world's top clubs, and he won't actually be breaking the terms of his contract. The fault will lie fairly and squarely with Shepherd for signing the player on such unfavourable terms. mackems.gif When there's a chance to slag the Board the terms are unfavourable, pity that in the same post you mentioned they are probably normal.

Hope so. Never wanted him in the first place. I just hope there is enough financial support available to tempt another person to come in, any top manager would want reassurances that he will be supported in his efforts to build a successful team. That's the problem. A load of money has been squandered and we're left with a totally unbalanced squad.

Anyone who thinks we could have done better this season with only one real striker is an obvious dimwit, the media is full of them. Course, if only we'd signed a left back we'd have been much better and up there challenging............ mackems.gif

Parker doesn't have any attributes of a quality DM.

Absolutely. Let's hope the people who keep banging on about this read your comment and actually understand it. To be fair, I do remember Shepherd making comments last summer that we would be focusing our transfer efforts on getting in attacking players rather than defensive ones. Can't find an article but I do remember him saying such. Only defender I think we really targeted with any conviction was Bridge, which failed due to the saga that was the Cole transfer. We had alledged interests in Woodgate and Huth, but it seems that those efforts were half-hearted. It seems unlikely that we'd fail to get any defenders in whatsoever if the manager acknowledged it was a position of need, so it would seem he didn't. Could well be the case and if so I'd still have no issue with it. You can't buy an entire team and the priority had to be strikers, it still should be strikers. Having a bid in to sign Bridge shows that there was an interest in bringing in a LB, but strikers were needed more than defenders.

Read the f****** post and then show me where I'm defending the signing of Bernard...... The signing of Parker was the move of an idiot, a total waste of the clubs money the same as the signing of Luque has been. Parker is s***, simple as that and that makes him a gash signing no matter how you want to look at it. Under Souness Parker was one of our best players The fact that this season he is playing s*** doesnt make him permament s*** as you describe him Zoggy was one of our best players last season Now he plays very poorly so following your logic he is s***,simple as that and he is gash signing too :idiot2: Mate, you may as well stop responding to anything I post, I can't be arsed replying to the tripe you post. Sorry, but I really don't give a toss what you have to say.

Manager and Chairman being slated once again by the usual suspects based on nowt but wild speculation. Absolutely typical of a percentage of this forum. Does anybody know there is a £12m clause? No. But slag Roeder and the Chairman anyway. IF there is a £12m clause, do you know the detail surrounding it? No. But slag Roeder and the Chairman anyway. Do you know when it kicked in if it does exist? No. But slag Roeder and the Chairman anyway. I'd seriously doubt we'd sign a player for £17m and do a deal that would immediately force the club to release him to any club making an offer the next day of £12m. Absolutely pathetic attitude from so-called supporters. Always looking for something to moan about. I'm frankly bored shitless of the crap attitude of people on this forum. Criticise...Yes. But all the fucking time? Bollocks. Supporters? My arse. Supporters just don't moan at every turn as much as some do on here. As has been pointed out already, Owen's contract ends in two years so next summer we may get nowt at all for him. Any £12m clause in existence MAY well kick in this summer but not before. If it does, you have to be intelligent enough to ask yourself why it is there, instead of the immediate knee-jerk of "let's slag Roeder and the Board". Owen is a top footballer who joined the club during a period of uncertainty. At the time of signing his contract a clause such as this would give him 2 years to judge the direction the club is heading. He's ambitious, so imo there's nowt wrong with that. Nobody knew he'd spend a full year out injured, which has had a major negative impact on the team. If there is any sign of him not extending his contract I'd seriously consider accepting any offer of £12m for him, although I'd sooner he stayed and signed a longer deal and the club make sure he has a suitable striking partner playing alongside him.

Keegan is perfect for Newcastle and is a damn sight better than Roeder.

Absolutely. Let's hope the people who keep banging on about this read your comment and actually understand it.

Read the f****** post and then show me where I'm defending the signing of Bernard...... The signing of Parker was the move of an idiot, a total waste of the clubs money the same as the signing of Luque has been. Parker is shit, simple as that and that makes him a gash signing no matter how you want to look at it.

Up there on the short list, that's for sure.

It is easy to disagree, Redknapp is full of s*** as usual. Anybody who thinks we have "great" players is talking out of their arse. With only one proper striker all season long it's hardly a surprise we are where we are in the league. Not for me, as a group of players they should haver performed a damn sight better this season. And as for, "They should be right up there for what they have paid out", well sorry but he is right, the club has wasted stupid amounts of money over the years. Which of course anyone can see has nowt to do with Roeder. As a group of players they've performed like a team with only one proper striker, a player learning the ropes in a new league who hasn't had a quality partner alongside him at any stage at all. You are over-rating the players in my opinion.

pretty stupid comment in all honesty, although i wouldn't want to work for fred i know that. AS9 i don't care whether its unproffessional or not, its the truth, and if the truth is unproffessional then so be it. We do have some great players in all honesty HTL, but were not going to get the best out of them here HTL. Just look at the pedigree Owen, Martins, Parker, Emre, Duff, Milner and Zog to some degree had before joining. I also have bullet in a bible, but haven't watched/ listened to it yet. i'll get back to you when i have lyke. Mate, there's no way you can consider Martins (one man band right now) a great player. Parker...well there's nothing to say to that really. Same with Milner and Zog. Emre has proven he can play at international level and is a good player but he's not great. Even when Duff was flying at Blackburn I never saw him as a great player, he was certainly no better than Robert was for us at that point in time and that seems to have been Duff's best time to date. These are not great players by any stretch, in my opinion. Redknapp is talking total bollocks, which is no surprise.

It is easy to disagree, Redknapp is full of s*** as usual. Anybody who thinks we have "great" players is talking out of their arse. With only one proper striker all season long it's hardly a surprise we are where we are in the league. Owen,Martins,Dyer,Given=i think you can call these 4 great players I forgot to mention Ramage too :crazy2: Rubbish. From that list, even with the over-used "great" word these days the only player close to qualifying would be Owen, and that's on the basis of his performances for other clubs and England, rather than with Newcastle.