James

Just looking at both Kranjcar's and Modric's wiki's, both spent three years at Dinamo, Modric played 2 more games and scored 7 more goals, although Kranjcar broke into the Croatia team slightly earlier intohis development and has a better goal ratio at international level.

I haven't seen him myself, but the Croatians seem to rate him higher than the likes of Kranjcar, Eduardo and Corluka.

Probably in Euros I'd say.

Well this one has returned with a vengeance.

Good move if true to make our overtures now, as it: a) Shows a genuine interest ahead of other clubs, allowing us to gain favour with the player b) Gets everything tied up before the Euros, an area we've messed up in the past by waiting and circumstances changing (I reckon Shepherd had his fingers burnt by Gui'varch) Isn't Modric Viduka's cousin?

If he needs a lift, ill drop him off at St James next time i go home Not from Newcastle are you?? From Liverpool but work and live in north shields, as thats where my wife is from. So every game is like an away match with the travelling, apart from when we play at SJP I thought all games not played at SJP were away games?

1 reserve outing.

http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,2254282,00.html

We only need to worry about a Duff scenario if the manager mistakenly buys someone worse than Enrique and is then stubborn enough to keep players in the team because itis the manager's signing. I think Keegan has better judgement, and I don't think he's too insecure to admit to the occassional bad signing.

Another thing worth noting is that the 7 subs rule for next season means that there is a place for a full back on the bench, whereas before having 1xGK, 1xCB, 1xDM, 1xAM and 1xCF was normally the best option if there wasn't much versatility in the first XI.

I simply don't think it's necassary. Enrique could very well be excellent if we just stick with him. The team's hardly going to drastically improve if we sign a better left-back. Everything he needs to improve, he needs to learn in my opinion. Grosso is someone he could learn from, or otherwise, he should compete with someone like Taiwo, so that when one turns out better than the other, we can have no qualms about letting the other go, by which point Kadar might be ready.

No, like I said, we shouldn't put sentimentality ahead of having better players. Only assessment needed would be an estimated comparison of quality both when the player joins, and when the player reaches the end of his contract. Those are the only two important things.

Better players in other leagues that would come here for less money I reckon.

Although I like Enrique, if we can get a better left back who would expect to play most games, I wouldn't complain. Football is dog eat dog. Niceness and sentimentality costs league places.

Or maybe Grosso fancies a stab at the Premier League?

Taiwo

It is 'orthopaedic' Dave

Interesting stuff from Keegan in today's Chronicle: Enrique is good in some areas but needs to improve in other areas, and although he's still young he'll have to improve, as Keegan intends to buy a left back in the summer.

Apparently he's on the verge of getting the most lucrative boot deal ever given to an African.

The main problem I had with Bramble was that he'd actually look half decent towards the end of every season, but then he'd get the chance to hang around with his (and Dyer's) dodgy Ipswich mates, you'd hear stories about his summer frolics (ie crashing his car into a house) and then he'd come back to us two stone heavier and shite again. Very much a case of wasted talent rather than being naturally shite.

Are people sure that this interview is real? It really does look like a pisstake from a rival fan. EDIT: Oh, ok.

I could easily see him getting chinned over those comments actually. Yeah, chinned, but only because no-one can reach his nose.

I'm not actually sure if that interview is real or fake.

http://www.nufc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10278~1294556,00.html This guy needs to be in the team ahead of Alan Smith.