James

All this talk about not paying too much for an unproven non-British youngster, you'd think that it would be a good opportunity to see if some of these youngsters were worth splashing out on.....

Are just saying that or do you know that to be the case? What I really meant was that they were expected to pick from a smaller pool, and in Charlton's case got Sorondo, whereas we'd be given a more flexible choice given that we had access (and exclusive scouting priveliges) to their significant pool of youngsters.

It's unambitious. 10 years ago we were pretty much even with Man Utd; at least challenging them for the title. 10 years later and they're arguably as big a club (or bigger) than Barcelona. Who's to say that 10 years from now we won't be challening in that echelon? To be a feeder club is a short-termist view for a club looking to get back into the Champions League in a few years. We're not some 2nd division club with no money. These agreements don't have to last for ever. I'd expect such a deal to end as soon as we became competitive with Barca. In the meantime, it could help us bring players to the club that we couldn't otherwise sign. Such as? Granero, on loan at Getafe having spent a few years stuck in reserve sides. He'd cost £10m, and could be a quality PL player, only having him on loan would have allowed us to have a look to make sure.

The main weaknesses with previous deals is that management and scouts didn't know what they were getting. Real and Barcelona have huge reserve squads compiled of youngsters, and a handful of these despite being nowhere near the first team will become quality first team players at other clubs. By scouting this pool thoroughly, we could pick up the elite youngsters whom Barcelona would want millions for despite not having the intentions to play these players.

It's unambitious. 10 years ago we were pretty much even with Man Utd; at least challenging them for the title. 10 years later and they're arguably as big a club (or bigger) than Barcelona. Who's to say that 10 years from now we won't be challening in that echelon? To be a feeder club is a short-termist view for a club looking to get back into the Champions League in a few years. We're not some 2nd division club with no money. These agreements don't have to last for ever. I'd expect such a deal to end as soon as we became competitive with Barca. In the meantime, it could help us bring players to the club that we couldn't otherwise sign.

I assume you mean a player we've bought or developed ourselves? In that case Barca would have to pay through the nose for him, as their only entitlement is to be at the front of the negotiations queue. Would stop the player going to Manyoo or Arsenal.

Foolish pride. Think of some of those castoffs who can't get a game ahead of Messi despite their potential. Check them out on loan for a year and get a sort of emotional grip on the player. At the end of the loan, the player realises that they need to leave Barca to progress and so is happy to sign for us permanently.

Can those who voted no please explain why, as I can't see much wrong with having some prospects in our team for a season with a chance of signing them permanently further down the line.

Enic (?) iirc. The guy at the very top of the chain Joe Lewis is approximately 4 times richer than Ashley, although he is less hands on.

Would people on here be agreeable to the idea of the following deal with the likes of Real Madrid or Barcelona?: We get 1 or 2 of their U23's on a season long loan. The club gives us a shortlist of players available, and we take our pick. We can swap the players in January if they flop. We have to have the players in our 18-man squad when fit. We get first option on all of their U23's if any come up for sale. They get £1m a season. They get first option on all of our players.

Thats what I think. It'd be criminal for negotiations to proceed all the way through to a contract being signed without the manager trying to sell the club to the player - something Keegan can do (even if its making up s****! Rob Lee, anyone?) If I was Keegan I'd say to Mort I want to be involved, to find out about the player I'd be managing, ask what his ambitions are in the game, and if I was the player I'd be wanting to meet Keegan, to find out his ambitions and goals for the club. Domestically and with other English speakers yes, but it would make little difference with international players, especially with personnel from some of the Eastern European/South American clubs where the transfer choices do not belong to the player. I'd be wary of making those kind of signings tbh. Well Modric was one of these, although once he left Dinamo, I suspect he would get an English agent such as Peter Harrisson instead.

Well IcemanBlue was right about Croatian officials in London, while Elan has got some stuff right in the past, so no complaints here.

Thats what I think. It'd be criminal for negotiations to proceed all the way through to a contract being signed without the manager trying to sell the club to the player - something Keegan can do (even if its making up shite! Rob Lee, anyone?) If I was Keegan I'd say to Mort I want to be involved, to find out about the player I'd be managing, ask what his ambitions are in the game, and if I was the player I'd be wanting to meet Keegan, to find out his ambitions and goals for the club. Domestically and with other English speakers yes, but it would make little difference with international players, especially with personnel from some of the Eastern European/South American clubs where the transfer choices do not belong to the player.

Fair do's. I'll sort it.

Right, I'm now very keen to beat Spurs in the League table this season. Lets show the league table to players thinking of joining Spurs this summer.

At least there is some closure on this one one way or the other.

Fitness tests for Faye and Viduka.

Usually i'd say that's a moot point and all player should know the 'keeper is the one standing on the line but when you have Steven Taylor in your side.... I'm thinking more about times when the keeper is on the edge of a players peripheral vision. They can spot his position earlier and act quickly accordingly.

I reckon Mike Ashley should become our new kit model btw.

The Chelsea keepers kit is how it should be at Newcastle. It's more visible to team mates so that defences can have better organisation, plus some experiments suggest that players miss more chances against a keeper wearing a bright coloured kit. Whereas we are stuck with the anonymous grey at a black and white club next season.

Agree with the conclusion obviously, but I don't think his injury record can be described as 'a disgrace'. That suggests it's his fault and/or he chose to be injured. I acknowledge your comment, I did think about elaborating, but it would involve listing his injury indiscretions. In summary though, there are some players who get injured and unless faking, no player can be blamed for that, but you get the impression that some players work harder to get back to fitness, while others let themselves go. Those that work hard come back ahead of schedule or close to on time providing they don't push themselves, and these players also quickly slot back into action. The likes of Carr are back weeks to months behind schedule, and have put on two waist sizes. Dyer may have had his injuries, but at least he always hit the ground running when he came back.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/7367989.stm Keegan interview. The press have already siphoned the main quotes, but it is always good to see it said.

Not 100% sure, but I think Grade I listed buildings are way above council jurisdiction.

I suspect that those involved with stand redevelopment would want to create their own design rather than imitate what is already there.

KK refuses to deny, Croatian reports suggest we had a Croatian record bid rejected