James

People are missing the point of the OP. Its not that Harper isn't good enough for the championship, or a scapegoat for our relegation or anything, its merely that he is now blocking the club's future. We have a goalkeeper on our books who would have played for either a CL team or a top Dutch team this season had a £3m transfer not been blocked by the board. The choice is between the future and the past, and if we go for the past, we aren't going to see the future, and will have to start looking for a keeper when we come back up.

Well done lads. I'd imagine Vuckic felt really at home with the opposition.

:lmgtfy: What does that actually mean?

Disgrace tbh. Those who purchased it should get the next 3rd shirt free of charge.

It's better than the obsequious apology by Llambias at least.

Thankyou Habib.

BBC seem to think that he's being offered a four year deal as we speak. No evidence for me that he'll be a good appointment, but its best to just get on for the ride.

In my mind a youth team player is someone who hasn't yet played for NUFC or any other team at Chamionship level or higher.

OK, time to start playing Championship Manager Leaving: Owen, Martins, Viduka, Barton, Gutierrez, Colo, Beye, Enrique, Geremi, Xisco, Harper, Cacapa, Lovenkrands, Bassong So that leaves, of all the players who have actually played in a particular position professional football at this level or higher: Goalkeepers: Krul Left backs: Duff, R. Taylor Right backs: R. Taylor, S. Taylor, Edgar Centre backs: S. Taylor, Edgar. Right Wing: Taylor, Duff, Lua Lua, Guthrie Left Wing: Duff Central Midfield: Butt, Nolan, Guthrie Strikers: Ameobi, Carroll, Duff So from somewhere, we need to find two goalkeepers, one left back, one right back, two centre backs, one right winger, one left winger, one central midfielder, and two strikers. So we need 11 players. Now looking at the youth team, judging from reports of others some youngsters could make a better impression on our squad (in bold), than others (in italic). GK: Forster, Soderberg RB: Tavernier LB: Kadar CB: Kadar, Tozer CM: Inman, Vukic CF: Ranger, Baheng So basically, there is a chance that we've got goalkeeping and left backs under control, and we've probably got ourselves a fouth choice centre half. So we need one right back, one centre backs, one right winger, one left winger, one central midfielder, and two strikers. Seven players. Now it might be a big ask, but the best two players we could get on loan are Jack Wilshere, and Chris Gunter. That would be us sorted at right back and central midfield. So we need to purchase five players. The money raised from transfers should get spent, and the three people to spend it on should be Daniel Fox, Jermaine Beckford, and Stephen Hunt. Duff is now a left back, unless Kadar proves himself. Two more players are needed out of the bargain basement, they should be Nobby Solano, and Kevin Phillips. None of the above will happen.

I'd hate that.

Individually, there IS a risk of over-estimating some Championship players, but as we should know, football success is mainly achieved by strong TEAMS - NOT a team of individuals who look good on paper ; this is esp true of the Championship, where graft and fitness will get a side much further than in the Prem if they don't have any outstanding individuals. As for WBA, yes, they DID get up playing football but their first few months in the Prem were blighted by injury, esp to some of their better defenders ; also, as we know, the gap between the C'ship & Prem is getting bigger and a team MUST strengthen in key positions when they get promoted - as Bryan Robson has said, Albion's current chairman CANNOT provide big funds for that, and I think Mowbray did a decent job in such a situation....NUFC fans have also seen what happens when a Chairman doesn't get his hand in his pocket, or rather, doesn't let his manager spend the money on players HE wants, rather than some jumped-up, so-called DOF....!! this is why we must focus on youth even if it means we dont get instant promotion. There is no way we can afford to buy two teams in two years, we need to find a team that can improve into a Premier League team, as year in year out we see teams like West Brom whom can only obtain players good enough tho get promotion but not stay up.

Yep, just like Killer

We must do this now.

Wilshere of Arsenal is a good shout, it just depends on what Wenger thinks of this club, if he thinks we are a complete mess then there are a lot of good stable Championship clubs that would take him. I can see Boro and WBA getting the jump on any loanees.

A few other advantages of a couple of weeks in Scandinavia would be that it would give the new squad time away to bond, and keep them away from the bright city/beach lights.

If not, good.

Usually, we'd get a few money spinners against the best of Scotland, Spain, Italy and Holland, a couple of games against Championship teams, or if we were feeling ambitious, a marketing tour of US or Asia. However if the board try to attempt any of that it would be embarassing. I also wanted to play Ipswich for Sir Bob, but with teams in same division and Keane at Ipswich it wouldn't be appropriate. So what to do? I'd start out with a friendly against Leeds, go and have that Deportivo game we have to play, and then head out on a tour of Scandinavia. The Scandinavians have for decades been the backbone of the clubs support abroad, but have long been neglected and ignored in favour of chocolate teapot friendlies in Asia and Majorca. About time the club thanked the Scandinavians for their support by coming to them.

Why does Ashley come first in the list of people Llambias must say sorry to? Llambias is a jerk of the highest order, and he could say whatever he wanted, I couldn't forgive him. The only thing that would go down well was his resignation.

Shearer liked the dalglish/harford managerial model, and Dowie was Harford-lite. Simple.

Wouldn't be too sure the big four would want us getting near their youngsters.

Basically, if any of them refuse to take a pay cut or leave, we should make their lives hell in training, 7am-11pm shifts or something.

There shouldn't be too many that couldn't do ok in the PL with a bit more experience. If we want to build a club to go up and stay up, we can't sign players we want to replace after a year, especially as we'd be wanting to replace Butt Raylor and Nolan come then.

He's admitted himself that he's one for small clubs with low expectations. So not us then.

If you are reducing playing personnel shortlist on who is and isn't playing, you are going for average uninspirational cloggers who shall never be more than relegation fodder in the PL over players whom could have a good future for both themselves and the club. The choice is, do you want to surround Nolan, Ryan Taylor and Butt with Koumas, Chopra, and Earnshaw, or with some of the brighter prospects that have come into the Premier League and shone? Read that a couple of times. It doesnt make sense, totally contradictory. How so? Young player plays for us, helps us get promoted, shines in the PL, thus forging agood career. Because the first are not the second. Our players who could have a future haven't lit up the premier league. Because they haven't played, are youngsters and needed to spend a year on loan at a Championsip club?

I'm not talking about those two, I'm talking more about players like Leighton Baines.