James

If we really wanted to upgrade Forster on the bench, why not ask Terry Gennoe about young keepers at Celtic. If there is anyone he reckons that is better whom isn't making the bench, what harm is there in making a loan approach, offerring the chance to train with our first-team which includes some excellent strikers, and the chance to sample first-team matchday preparation.

I agree with all of that.

I like to see a good mixture of relegations, promotions, and very late survivals. Means we can see them suffer, and get the chance to wallop them on the pitch. Although I find derby games nervy, there is nothing more satisfying than a victory. Not having Sunderland in and around the top division reduces the number of memorable games.

Journal says that Krul won't get recalled as long as Harper is OK.

I bet that everytime we get a new manager, the first phone call they get is Robert begging to come back.

I'd rather Krul got those Old Firm games under his belt tbh.

A successful academy = £££££££££ Either in terms of club success, or big money transfers, or both. Hardly suprising that Ashley/Mort want to expand our academy.

I want to see players that play well forus get international recognition. There are other centre halves who deserve the call-up in terms of ability, but whom are much older, and will be back out of the picture straight away, and that wouldn't benefit anyone given that the game is a friendly. Playing Taylor would benefit the future of player, club and country. If he cocks up against Klose in a friendly, it wont affect him - just remember his NUFC debut.

Because he's not good enough yet. Its only a friendly though. The game is unlikely to get to his head in a negative way in my opinion.

Just out of interest, why do people proactively not want Taylor to play for England in a FRIENDLY versus Germany at Wembley? It's only a friendly, and based on commitment, Taylor should deserve it in the eyes of all NUFC fans.

I suspect McClaren would probably cobble together some defensive line-up that will never be seen again, making it a pointless exercise. If there are injuries for friendlies he should be using the chance to integrate the best under-21's with theusual regulars. However, McClaren is crap, so he won't.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/6933910.stm So with Terry, King, Woodgate all injured, Carragher and Campbell retired, I can't think of any other English centre back better than Taylor to step in and fill the breach. Of course, a couple of defenders in England are better, butare also much older, so playing them just the once in a friendly would be a wasted exercise. Dawson is certainly preferredby the England setup, being older, but Taylor is better. So in your view, will Taylor be getting a chance, and should he be getting that chance?

Yes, that has obviously been written a while back.

What, training with us? Riiiiight. Was he definitely training with us. Enrique is the Spanish version of the French Henry I believe.

Swiss Henry might have been Enrique by the way.

Dare you to name which one you think its going to be. In 2005, I was delighted with all our summer signings. Most were a let down. Fact is, you can just never predict how they'll do until they are thrown in, and it will take a while to work out just how well a player is doing. I remember when we signed Gooch, and he was the answer, yet when I got from the Fulham game on his debut, I realised he might not be up to it, and a few games later the general consensus on here was that he was one for the scrapheap. But it does take quite a few games to really see howa player will fare, so I'm not going to unfairly target a player, particularly as I know nothing about Capaca and Enrique. I'll stick my neck out though and say that it won't be Geremi.

Also, Allardyce said when he signed Rozehnal that even if he starts and performs in all pre-season matches, it is likely he will start his Premiership career on the bench iirc.

This game is impossible to call - too many unknowns.

The optimism now doesn't compare with that of summer 2005 in my opinion. Except we forget with hindsight how happy we all were now we've seen pretty much all the signings made that summer disappoint. Thus far, I am neutral - we've got the bodies and operated effectively in the market, but arethe players good enough? Ask me in November if I am satisfied.

There is a fair chance that at least one of our new signings will disappoint, but thats football, it is rare to get every signing right first time.

Shh.

Just a thought, perhaps Roddy MacDonald arranged for Delaney to be sent down here to provide the player with a second opinion before deciding whether or not to continue playing.

Thats what we'd be getting from Roeder last season. Woodgate will be a Newcastle player in 12 months in my opinion.

nufc.com:

I do genuinely semi-think thats Roeder.