James

I thought Juventus HAD to play us this summer?

We'd just be buying the academy, it would have nothing to do with Leeds, it just allows the initial infrastructure to remain in place without too much upheaval required. It would definitely be a dream to have an academy in every football hotbed across the globe. The more players in an academy, the better the players that will 'make it'

Although England are experiencing a decline in standards, it is clear that Leeds have produced the highest amount of England internationals in recent years. Even when falling through the divisions, they seem to have produced the talent, with Chelsea amongst others, sniffing around their 16 year olds. Obviously it may be worth trying to capture a piece of talent from their academy. However, Leeds are spiralling down the divisions, and will be finding it harder to sign up young talent, so such captures could only be a short term measure. This is probably the most arrogant thing I have ever written, but.... Why not just buy Leeds' Academy? (The facilities and staff, not the players) We could have a larger academy network with an infrastructure that is proven to work, and I'm sure the Leeds Academy staff would be glad to see standards return to their initial high level. Alternatively, if this isn't allowed, why not just offer Bates large compo for all his academy staff, and move them all up to Newcastle. Obviously new infrastructure would therefore take a bit of time to be put into place, but it is the people that inevitably cause the success. We have the money, Leeds need money, we need the academy, Leeds already have one - it would be a match made in heaven.

By the way, that cheating dutch keeper needs a real beating. For the record, I'd have him down as only the third best keeper in his whole squad. Krul would have saved Lita's goal.

Not true imho. He plays in a position that England are already well off and theres also about 8 defenders that are currently ahead of him in the pecking order. Young, NRC, Huddlestone and onyohu are all more likey to get call ups imo. Huddlestone who can't get a game for England U21s?

Drenthe just didn't attack the areas that would have made England vulnerable in my opinion. If that could be drilled into him, he would be a very good left sided player for us, but it is a question of if, as many foreign imports have failed to take heed of the directness of the English game.

Cut out the silly immature things, and he is definitely high up in the second tier of England centre backs. The first tier, of course being Terry, Ferdinand, Woodgate and Carragher.

Drenthe - Good technique and ball delivery, but doesn't have the power, urgency or sense of purpose to make it in the Premiership. Zoggy (2005/06) is better at both full back and left wing. Rigters - Unimpressive. Couldn't do anything whilst marked by a decent Premiership defender. Babel - Good on and off the ball, and has some power and urgency, though plays very deep. Not what we are looking for right now, but he could do well at the right Premiership club, which we aren't right now.

Every English player scored a penalty and we still lost. Anyone get the impression that someone up there doesn't want either England or Holland to win a penalty shootout?

What do you think now Toon's Taylor, now that Taylor is doing what he is doing?

Was out last Thursday. Check it out at: www.nufc.com It is against the rules to post the fixtures on here.

...that Allardyce plans to build the spine of his future Newcastle team around Steven Taylor, as highlighted with numerous quotes from Allardyce and Taylor since Sam was appointed. Is this a good move, or is Taylor overrated because he is a Geordie?

Nonsense tbf. Not sure that is the case to be honest, I'd read somwhere that yellow and red shirted clubs had the greatest success, and white, grey and black the least. May just be coincidence, but with a manager willing to try anything to increase the odds of success, don't rule out Allardyce taking such a step himself, after all, Bolton switched from a black second strip to a yellow second strip, and a red third strip. Bolton play in a plain kit. They need an away kit they can actually use. We have an away kit more as a token gesture tbh, it gets used about twice a season. We can wear whatever kit we want as long as we register it, and use each kit a minimum amount of time. I doubt Allardyce had any input in that kit even if he wanted to, but in future, I would look to create an away kit that could create a visual advantage in some situations.

Why would they want to replace Ryan Taylor? He is a canny player. Perhaps he is on his way out?

Nonsense tbf. Not sure that is the case to be honest, I'd read somwhere that yellow and red shirted clubs had the greatest success, and white, grey and black the least. May just be coincidence, but with a manager willing to try anything to increase the odds of success, don't rule out Allardyce taking such a step himself, after all, Bolton switched from a black second strip to a yellow second strip, and a red third strip.

I reckon for an away kit you need a nice bright colour that will stand out, thus improving our performances in some games where a black and white shirt may not be so visible from distance.

Rozehnal is also a defensive midfielder. Sam Allardyce has been known to like a player equally adept at the DM and CB positions.

Didn't Allardyce personally write that though in his Zoo column Dave?

Clubs don't sell good players in January, so if someone activates Owen's release clause we will be a bit short. All good players will be coming in this summer and next summer.

You can tell when Newcastle are on the up because Nut writes a song for each individual signing.

I haven't really much knowledge of Rozehnal as an individual, only that he is part of an excellent Czech back four, in a team which value teamwork and work ethic. The Czechs are a Boltonesque side as such, and the hope would be that Rozehnal is being signed to become part of a well drilled unit, as seen with Bolton and the Czech Republic.

Off topic, Morten Gamst really hates being called Pedersen, and has requested this stops. Basically his father walked out on him or something, so doesn't like to use the name as it is not where he came from.

I can see where you and others are getting at with Doyle, but I think Shorey shaded it due to the fact that he didn't fade away in the second half of the season. However football is all opinions.

Name another that is not Giggs/Ronaldo, based on last season's form, that were better than Bentley/Gamst Why only last season? Was that when the PL was formed or something? Because the past doesn't really matter, the present does.

Name another that is not Giggs/Ronaldo, based on last season's form, that were better than Bentley/Gamst