macca888

Like many on here, I am very cautious because already, stability in the club which is desperately needed has already worsened, in my opinion. Until one or the other backs down (Shepherd or Ashley), that instability will continue and we will be going into a new season in less than 3 months, with a huge rock on our back, if the right decisions are not made FAST. An example of this is WHU last season. Egghead came in and all of a sudden, everyone was full of optimisim but the instability off the field caused a lack of results on it and it was only the last game of the season, very fortuitously, saw them avoid relegation. It seems to me that the team needs a virtual overhaul and to get rid of existing players and attract new players isnt going to happen quickly or too easily. Once in, the manager has to get them to blend and history shows at NUFC that this does not happen instantaniously. To be honest, I expect a struggle next season and dont envy Allardyce his job at all. Good luck to him though.

Forget him. Would rather have Viduka for nought

Jagelika would be relatively cheap. J Lloyd Samuel has been mentioned in some quarters as a cheapish option Luke Young from Charlton

Rac Fair comment. I havent seem much of the lad recently and there should be better moptions possibloy in europe.

Rac I dont think there is much options in the left back position. I always thought JLS wasnt a bad player and he probably just needs a change of club to get his career on track. Other alternatives may prove to be too costly in the likes of Bridge, Baines and Shorey, proven left backs within the premiership.

Bramble, Moore, Gooch and Bernard gone...............thats the deadwood out of the way. Incoming sounds like Ben Haim, Campbell and Lloyd Samuel to replace them at little cost. Babayaro can stay as back up so all we really need in defence is a decent right back. Youngsters like Taylor, Huntingdon and Edgar will only improve beside the likes of Campbell. I wouldnt mind offering 3 million to Sheffield United for Jagelika as well. If we got Sidwell in to the midfield at no extra cost, that is an added bonus. Add Viduka up front and we have strengthen ed the squad throughout without spending much money at all. Of course, it would be a huge bonus if Owen stays too.

Yeah, great prospect he is now turning out to be, isnt he? Freddie is quite right to let us all know what is happenng. As fans, we do not pay this little pricks wages for him to show the management of the club so much disrespect at a tactical team meeting prior to a game. A kick in the arse is mild compared what I would do to him if he were one of my players.

Viduka will go where the money is and I dont think the likes of Sampadoria or Genoa will be able to afford him. As for the ITK spud fan, I think he spouts more crap than George Bush.TBH

Wher We do we start? ok, lets start with the defence. We know Moore, Bramble and Gooch are on their way out and we know Carr and Babayaro are surplus to requirements. This leaves us with looking at relatively cheaper options with premiership experience. Foreigners will come too expensive. Charlton, having gone down, will lose Luke Young, a former England International. A quick 3 million bid might get him or offer Charlton 10 million plus Bramble for Bent and Young. Next, lets get Distin signed on a bosman. He can cover the centre of defence and left back. If Wigan go down, I would go for Baines. An offer of 4 million should get him and finally, as it seems his girlfriend is a geordie, lets get Campbell here from Portsmouth. A million should get him at his age. Defence would look like this: Keepers: Given, Harper, Srnicek, Krul Defence: Young, Solano, Taylor, Ramage, Huntingdon, Campbell, Distin, Edgar, Baines Next, the midfield. OK, Dyer is gone for 6 million to Spuds. Parker is next cab off the rank to London somehwere possibly, WHU if they stay up for a similar price and Emre to Bayern Munich for 5 million. That is 17 million quid to play with. We keep Milner, Zoggy, Butt, Duff. Looking for someone who is dominating in the midfield, I wouldnt mind 5 million spent on Papa Diop from Fulham. Another 10 million spent on SWP from Chelsea and lets splash out on a quality creative midfielder in the Tevez mould, although there is probably no way of getting him. Maybe a Nakamura type from Celtic or another overseas creative talent. So, if we spend 10 million on him, that would be 25 million in total with 17 coming in, a turnover of 8 million from season tickets sales. Up front, get rid of Owen. If we got 10 million for him, that would get us Bent and Young from Charlton whilst it is rumoured that Viduka will sign on a bosman. That would leave us with Viduka, Bent, Martins, Ameobi and Carroll up front. So, there is no cost factor here in the strikers department. In summary, we are ok for keepers. In defence, Carr, Bramble, Moore, Gooch, Babayaro depart to be replaced by Young, Campbell, Distin, Baines. If we get a couple of million for Carr and Baba, that can offset against Campbell and part of Baines fee. A total outlay of 3 million pounds. (Young is factored into the Bent deal offset against Owen leaving). In midfield, Parker, Dyer and Emre leave with Diop, SWP and foreign creator coming in, income at 17 million, outlay at 25 million, means a turnover of 8 million quid. In the striker department, Owen departs for 10 million quid and D.Bent and Viduka come in for 7 million quid. (Luke Young is factored in to the Bent deal). This means turnover is zero. So far, we would have changed the team around for 11 million pounds and I am sure there is at least the same amount of money available again because Allardyce wouldnt have accepted the job unless substantial money was available. Several decent squad back up players should be purchased as well and a good look at who is coming through the ranks from the kids other than those mentioned above to supplement the squad. New squad is: Given, Harper, Srnicek, Krul Young, Solano, Campbell, Distin, Taylor, Baines, Huntingdon, Ramage, Edgar Milner, SWP, Butt, Diop, Nakamura?, N,Zogbia, Duff D.Bent, Viduka, Ameobi, Martins, Carroll

To be honest, would Owen really be missed that much? OK, we take a heavy loss on him but if we got 10 million, then we could buy Bent for 7 and Viduka on a free for approiximately what we would be paying Owen each week and make several million to put towards a decent centre half. And this without touching whatever money is given to the new manager to start with. Owen will probably get injured anyway, playing for his beloved England. I think he is fragile goods, to be honest. Plus, is his desire 100%? I dont think so. Better get rid and get in players who are 100% committed.

Someone say we would kick ourselves about the bottom left photo? It has a look of a certain Michael Owen, wouldnt you say?

I have this strange feeling that it wont be Allardyce after all, but someone like Van Gaal. Just a feeling.

Send him off to the Spuds..............he will fit right in there

Born bred and brought up in Low Fell, Gateshead but have lived in Melbourne Australia for the last 25 years.

Mick Much of the stuff I managed to find out came from the likes of Wikpaedia and as for Goddard, NE15 may well be right. WHU actually bought him from QPR for 800K and if they sold him to us for just over half that amount, then I would imagine it would have been a bit of a coup at the time. David Mills, if I remember correctly, may have been purchased after the Trewick transfer therefore setting a new club record transfer price.

Mick As far as I have been able to find out to assist you, here is some information that might help: Transfers in: Graeme Oates from Blackburn - 150K David Mills from WBA - 500K Andy Thomas - Oxford United - 300K Paul Goddard - West Ham - 800K John Cornwall - Orient - 50K Michael O,Neill - Coleraine - 20K Lee Payne - Barnet - 100K Archie Gourlay - Greenock Morton - Nominal Ray Ranson - Birmingham City - Free Rob McDonald - PSV Eindhoven - 100K Bjorn Kristensen - Aarhus = 250K Paul Sweeney - Raith Rovers - 250K Wayne Fereday - QPR - 300K Transfers Out: Andy Thomas - Oxford United - 150K Bjorn Kristensen - Portsmouth - 500K Billy Askew - Scotland - Nominal Billy Whitehurst - Oxford United - 150K Chris Hedworth - Barnsley - Free Darren Bradshaw - Peterbrough - 100K Dave Elliott - Southend United - Free David Barton - Darlington - Free David Kelly - Wolves - 250K David McCreery - Hearts - Free David Mills - Middlesbrough - 300K Frans Koenen - Holland - Nominal John Trewick - Oxford United - Free Keith Kennedy - Bury - Free Lee Payne - Reading - 50K Mark Stimson - Portsmouth - 100K Martin Thomas - Birmingham - Nominal Neil Simpson - Retired through injury Mick Martin - WBA - 100K Pat Howard - Arsenal - 100K Paul Goddard - Derby - 500K Peter Johnson - Exeter City - Nominal Rob McDonald - Besikitas - 100K Roger Jones - Stoke City - Free Steve Hardwick - Oxford United - 200K Terry Hibbitt - Birmingham City - 150K I cannot find any record of Tony Cummings playing for NUFC. We have had Bobby Cumings or Tony Cunningham on our books over the years. In transfers out, I remember we signed John Bird from Preston North End for about 150K and I remember he left due to some sort of contract dispute and something jogs my thoughts about Manchester City but I could be wrong there. I cannot find a record of where Kevin Brock went to but I have a feeling it was on a free transfer to somewhere like Oxford or Bristol. I have no record of what happened to Paul Sweeney but I think he may have returned to Scotland, probably for a nominal fee. Hope this assists you. Macca

NE5 Once again, immediately on the defensive when proven wrong. As for my Keegan comments, once again, can I ask you......................... WHAT DID HE WIN FOR THE CLUB??????????????? That is the measure of success, in my opinion, and the opinion of many others on this forum. As the Fox mentioned, you seem to be all too happy to settle for second bgest and look back over the so called good old days.

NE5 More to the point, we have not finished in the top 5 for the last two years and the board have wasted money like there is no tomorrow. I can well understand forum members dismay at the board although the Duff signing was a good piece of business. Lets hope this is the turnaround.