James

I asked: If you had a time machine, and could go back to some time between 1992 and 1997, and could bring back one of your former players to play in the current Newcastle team, who would it be?

No, because of people like this: http://www.newcastle-online.com/nufcforum/index.php?topic=49675.msg1191890#msg1191890

Got my stats slightly wrong btw, it's 9 in 10.

In a recent interview, Wenger said that he reckons the England U17's have finally reached the level he expects from an international youth team, and said that he'd be happy to bring the majority of the squad to Arsenal's academy if he could. Newcastle's only representative in this squad, Ryan Donaldson, has scored 9 in 6. Looks very promising.

sweary words? get a grip dave You have just given me MASSIVE deja vu. was SO glad it was the words deja vu that came after the word MASSIVE! could say it was a MASSIVE relief You are talking to the wrong person. Its Yorkie and Kev you have to look out for.

sweary words? get a grip dave You have just given me MASSIVE deja vu.

Dave, that is like your longest post ever. I agree with you though.

We've only missed Beye once since he has been gone. Defending at the far post in the 86th minute vs Boro.

Given is incapable of cohesing with a system of building from the back, and isn't making the saves he used to. Taylor's technique isn't good enough to build from the back, and his footballing brain is average at best. Butt can't pass and is always chasing shadows in the second half. N'Zogbia can't defend and gives the ball away. Cacapa is too slow. Milner is too slow, wastes the ball and delivers pitiful crosses. Emre and Geremi stroll around the pitch and have no midfield presence. Barton is always off the pace and is a disgrace to humanity. Harper has been happy to sit on the bench for his whole career. Smith does nothing. Ever. Owen only cares about England, never sticks his finger out, and never does anything except score goals. Viduka is slow and unfit. Martins runs around in aimless circles. Duff is always running backwards. And he isn't N'Zogbia. Ramage lacks basic defensive skills. Tozer, Zambrella, Baheng, Kadar, Soderberg, Krul, Carroll, Lua Lua, Edgar etc shouldn't be allowed to develop their potential as they aren't trophy signings. Ameobi isn't a footballer. Enrique is mostly seen eating ice cream with Albert Luque, and if thats the most we've seen, he must be shit. Beye cost £2m. Therefore there is no ambition in having this player in the team. Faye is massive. Dennis Wise could easily squirm between his legs. This isn't good enough. Lets bring the players down and ship them out on the basis of their weaknesses rather than trying to encourage the players to use their strengths.

For the first ten minutes in the second half, Given looked for the short option with his distribution. It was like someone had brought him up on it at half time, but at the first sign of pressure, he reverted back to type for the rest of the game.

Given 6 Carr 6 Taylor 6 Cacapa 8 N'Zogbia 5 Barton 6 Butt 4 Emre 6 Duff 7 Smith 7 Owen 7 Viduka 4 Milner 4

Given our worst player? Been dreadful. We have been playing well when on the deck, while Given has been Mr. Hoof, and has had yet another communication cock up as well.

Players from best to worst so far: Carr Smith Owen Duff Emre Cacapa Barton Butt N'Zogbia Taylor Given

NUFC: Given; Carr, Taylor, Cacapa, N'Zogbia; Barton, Butt, Emre, Duff; Smith, Owen. Subs: Forster, Edgar, Milner, Viduka, Ameobi. MFC: Schwarzer; Young, Wheater, Huth, Pogatetz; O'Neil, Rochemback, Cattermole, Arca, Downing; Aliadiere. Subs: Turnbull, Boateng, Lee, Johnson, Grounds. Post match reaction can be found from: http://www.newcastle-online.com/nufcforum/index.php?topic=49666.msg1191030#msg1191030 PLEASE DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES REQUEST OR PROVIDE LINKS TO ILLEGAL STREAMS. IF YOU DO, YOU WILL BE BANNED* *See http://www.newcastle-online.com/nufcforum/index.php?topic=19161.0 for more information

Scouts and academy, yes. Its better that the manager doesn't do this in my opinion.

I predict the following team: Given Carr Taylor Cacapa N'Zogbia Milner Barton Emre Duff Owen Viduka Subs: Harper Enrique Butt Smith Ameobi

Zola has got a very good reputation for his work with Italian youth, so it can be good that people at the club have the right friends.

The papers have again turned what could be a positive move for the club (if true) into malicious misinformation.

And that was? Not talking to them.

Got us down for a scrappy win with Boro playing us off the park by the end.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/7210620.stm Enrique's fit apparently.

Both, by bringing in outsiders, it can only encourage home players to raise their game.

NE5, when we were looking for a manager, you said that the board should show its ambition by offering lucrative contracts to the best man for the job. I asked you who you thought the best man was. You said Arsene Wenger. As far as I can see, the board and Keegan have acted no differently to how Wenger and Arsenal act during transfer windows, ie a large amount was set aside for future players, and players with potential are purchased and developed into so called 'trophy players' rather than going for a ready-made 'trophy player.'

In the end of the day, the old regime, be it the management or the board neglected youth development making us one of the worst in the country in this respect. It is an ambitious and well thought out move to try to tackle this decline by filling our ranks with other clubs best youngsters. The board have moved to separate the recruitment of youth personnel away from the first team management, for a first team manager, unless settled in their job like Wenger, is always going to be willing to 'waste' any transfer funds on players that are going to help the club out after that manager has gone. The money was there, Keegan says so, he just didn't want to spend the money if he couldn't find anyone decent in two weeks, so that he can use it in the summer, with the belief that better players will come here in the summer. Lets see how the summer pans out shall we?