toontownman

Defence is dodgy at best, but midfield is certainly worse.

Whats your perfect Sunday?

Harper with Krul on the bench. That is until Fabio gets here!

Newcastle vs Man City in the summer as part of the deal? I doubt it. Would be nice to thank him properly for his service though.

I'm expecting to see a pig fly past my window any second now ... or at the very least a slice of bacon. http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11095_4853763,00.html The guy really seems like a whining cunt. Will fit in well with at Arsenal.

No one wants to sell. I understand TBH. Think they screwed up the title tbh or have back tracked, just says they didnt want enrique, just straight cash 4m upfront. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1128645/Put-shut-Celtic-tell-Newcastle-4m-plus-Enrique-prise-McManus.html?ITO=1490 ....................................................................... Didnt catch this in the article but my italian is very rusty. Vital football said the article says Donadel is expected on tyneside in the next 48 hours, it is an uber optimistic article though. http://www.newcastle.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=140926

Likely to drop interest in Mbia if so? Dont know much about either to be honest so not sure if thats a good thing or not.

Thats the guy that denied a move was in the offing two days ago and said he wanted to stay in Florence, right? That was before Kinnear said we were close on signing a 5m midfielder mind.

He would have been about 6 at the time, he started playing for Spurs in 1993. Calderwood turned down a significant pay rise from Spurs to leave to go to Northampton Town. He was rated to be an exceptionally talented coach, somewhat higher than his perceived ability as a manager. What! they start them young down there..

If the stories were true he was going to train today and sign tonight, havent seen any news from anywhere to confirm he came over though. I'd think it will happen tmrw if its true, but I'd doubt we will throw him in against City, he might make the bench. With Taylor back i'd think we would have RB covered. whos the cover? Taylor will start at RB.. Ebondo on the bench if he signs.. otherwise Edgar or even Geremi would slot in there.

The main reason I'm not worried as most about Given leaving is Harper. I have full faith in him. It was inevitable one would leave, I dont think Harper is a huge gulf of talent behind Given (time will certainly tell), so losing one for nothing and selling the other for 10m is a good deal. There was also going to have to be a time for the youngsters to step up or leave the club, whilst it might be sooner than we would have liked and neither Krul or Foster might be ready for the big time they have the oppurtunity now, that they might not ever have been given. It also looks like we are bringing in another keeper (Fabio) which will give the youngsters a bit more time, both are talented and have the potential to step up so again I have faith selling Given is the right decision. In light of everything that is going on with the club and the world financially it makes sense to let Given go, he also has had enough, something no one can blame him for. Should we be keeping our best players, yes... but, we have a situation that can benefit the club further in the long run. We can harp on alot about now being a selling club, but its usually the same people determined to let everyone know we are a mid to lower table team now anyways. Of all the hits we could take in the squad we will be taking the one that is softest and one we can recover from. Sentiment is the only thing that leaves a sour taste in my mouth, Given has been a fantastic servant to the club and is one hell of a goal keeper, certainly not one without faults though and in the end everyone leaves one day. Now that taste is one thats replaced by a hunger in my belly for the rest of our Goal keepers to step up and fill the void. Again something Im not too worried about happening.

He is just a figure everyone knows, its easy to direct blame his way, especially with how much he was hated in his playing days. No-one bar the top line at the club could tell you for sure, but I'd lean towards everyone wanting Wise to be the disruptive figure rather than him actually being it. Had we appointed an old boy or someone one unknown they wouldnt be getting the same stick IMO. As far as I'm concerned he has been doing his job pretty well, because I like everyone else dont know any different, despite popular opinion.

If the stories were true he was going to train today and sign tonight, havent seen any news from anywhere to confirm he came over though. I'd think it will happen tmrw if its true, but I'd doubt we will throw him in against City, he might make the bench. With Taylor back i'd think we would have RB covered.

Cant see the what people are bitching about here tbh. We clearly needed at least one more coach and have been stretched for months. Calderwood knows some of the staff and is a highly rated young coach, with experience at different club levels. If anything things have been getting stale around the club with Kinnear, (if they werent as soon as he got here) it might at worst shake things up a little. Its only a short term contract so we arent lumbered with him if he doesnt work out. Do we need to cut him and share geordie blood and get him to renounce all claims of history with other clubs before he is allowed to sign a contract?

I'd rather have Johnson in the deal than dunne or even better both! Dunne has had a bad season but he has been very consistent the past 3/4. I think a move would do him no harm at all and would bring some decent experience we can actually use. More than possible we would employ Distin Bassong back at LB if we dont get one in. I do fancy adding Johnson to our squad though, will be dissapointed if we end up with a straight cash deal. Onouha probably fits alongside Dunne without the experienced bit, had great potential but the city fans I know dont rate him and he has lost quite a bit of stock the past year. Looking at it from the outside thats no big shakes seeing as every defender at City seems to be under the same label. Thought i'd put that in there because its new.

Not holding my breath, but it would be a start if true.

I think half the problem is the bollocks his agent keeps feeding him about top clubs being interested in him. Ego gets further inflated when in reality no-one has even enquired about him.

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11678_4849214,00.html Is the guy living in a dream world? Seem to remember the last time this happened the only club interested were Fulham. Maybe times have changed.

Nah, he's been utter shite everytime I have seen him.

Interested to see where we play him too, I would be suprised if he gets a starting berth anytime soon though.

I'm just trying to say (badly) I dont think its anywhere near a certainty Martins will stay past the summer. I'd expect him to be one of the first out of the door this summer if we dont have a change in fortunes. You have as much reason to put Martins under the "wants out" bracket as you do Owen, infact more.

He hasnt been quite as blatent as N'Zogbia and his agent, but he has constantly been linked with a move away since we signed him and has always said he would consider a move if one was in the offing. He is at least more professional that N'Zogbia, I dont expect him to be leaving until the summer but if we arent in better shape by the summer im sure he will be one of many seriously looking at his options again. http://www.setanta.com/uk/Articles/Football/2009/1/12/Prem-Martins-agent-on-future/gnid-35086/ http://www.goal.com/en/news/700/newcastle/2009/01/16/1063610/obafemi-martins-seeking-newcastle-united-exit http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11095_4170819,00.html

I think your overly optimistic about Martins staying. He has made almost as much noise as N'Zogbia about leaving. Unless things improve dramatically I would expect Martins to be pushing Owen to get out of the door first. I'd think we could get away with 4 more signings this window LB, RB and two CM's. I think we will get two one CM and a full back. Fingers crossed though.

Probably hasnt helped when JFK has come out and effectively said he doesnt rate Harper. Can see them both wanting off, neither owe us anything at all. I'd still be suprised if Harper left before the Summer though.

MON looking to buy Johnson and Sturridge for 10m combined. Looks like we will be going for the amazing dissapearing straight cash deal.