toontownman

The kind of football we were playing didnt come close to playing to Kluiverts strengths either. I wouldnt have minded us keeping him, but he has hardly gone on to greater things or regaining his past form. Kind of player that probably would have flourished alot better under the likes of Allardyce. Shocked to see his going on trial though. like 4xG says more likely to take a pay check in Quatar surely.

BBC at its finest!

Frustrated we arent in for Baines, as most. Have watched him alot the past two years and he was suprisingly defensively solid at the U21's. He is definatley improving all round. But maybe Whelan wont sell him to us, Sam doesnt fancy him or we have other options, either way I have full faith that Allardyce will get in someone better. Although past experience teaches us to believe it when we see it, Allardyce has done a great job so far with the squad reshaping, he/we both know we are not even half way there yet. We just have to be patient. Judge him after the window slams shut. I wont worry until the last day of the window.

The superstar too good for Newcastle is moving on to bigger and better things. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/s/sheff_wed/6912404.stm

This. Plus I actually think this will be a good year for Emre. He looked bright under Souness, but has never been fit enough to put a consistent run together, I dont think (like many others) Roeder used him in the best way. If we sell Emre thats two more players in Midfield we need. Personally would like to see what Sam can do with him and how he will utilise him, but can understand peoples frustration with him.

I think this 4-4-2 / 4-3-3 issue is a crucial one. 4-3-3 is what Sam believes in, and we do have the attacking players to play it. Trouble is Owen and Martins aren't in that category. They aren't target men, they're not wide players and they're not good at dropping into the midfield. They are specialist finishers who need to play around another striker in a 4-4-2. In a 4-3-3, Viduka or Shola could operate in the centre, and Milner, Dyer, Zoggy, Duff or Emre could go wide. My fear is that we'll end up wasting a lot of time trying to play 4-3-3 in order to fit in the big name players. I'd expect Martins would be very well suited to being a wide-man in a 4-3-3 tbh, as he's anything but a penalty box predator/finisher type. The big issue is Owen. He's our best player and seems to be suited exclusively to a 4-4-2, while the rest of our team look to be very well suited to a 4-3-3. Tough call. True, but didnt Owen play in a 4-3-3 at Real. Wasnt too shabby there. I think Owen will adapt to whatever we use. Although I think he would be the main worry like you say. Dont think its any coincidence we are linked/have been looking at Baptista, who is very similar to Gudjohnsen for what he could bring to the club. We are lacking a bit of height and brute force in midfield though, Emre, Butt and Barton have the battle factor but not the height and physical presence. Its definately an area we need to increase depth in after Defence. Im sure we will despite our recent frustrations in the market.

Ive said all year id be very happy with Baines. He isnt in the same league as Heinze or Bridge but he is eager to play for us and will come here hungry and ready to improve. I dont think he is the player the article is talking about though, he is a long way from top class at the moment, but with the right guidance and players around him will be quality.

Sinclair blew it by staying at QPR when he had the chance of going to Manure and alike, think we even tried to bid for him at one point.

What in the hell is that in the first picture?

Whether a big Galatasary boy would want to go to Fenerbache is debatable aswell! Im looking forward to seeing what Sam can do with Emre, I think this year will be a good one for him.

Really have to get another CB and a LB over the next two weeks. Im sure things will materialise soon though. Its been a strange lull since the Geremi signing, but things will be happening.

Emre to Bayern and Lahm coming the other way, if only. Would be great. Or a Swap between Emre and Appiah, would do also.. You mean send Emre to Fener? Would love Appiah here regardless of Emre staying or going. Shame the Campbell rumours soon died down. Would be a great addition, but obvious Harry would want to keep him.

When you think they've somehow managed to wrangle £2.1m from Leicester for DJ Campbell though, it's a snip. Didnt they manage to get 3m or similar for David Dunn? They sell well down there. Mido for 6m is a joke though. At the rate the markets moving Ramage's value will reach 500k. FANTASTIC.. I breath again.

Chileans went a bit crazy. The Ref was a disgrace to be fair, but after the match they continued barraging the ref. The officials had to be ushered out by police, but the best was yet to come. The Chilean team (not the fans) then started fighting the police and officials, the whole team had to be detained for two hours after the match. Crazy.

"If Babayaro gets to stay home I wanna stay home!" "Come along Michael, run away to school and leave Celestine to his bed rest"

Not convinced Bayern really need or want Emre now. They have Van Bommel, Ottl, Schweinsteiger and have Kroos and Furstner coming through And have just signed Jose Ernesto Sosa, Hamit Altintop and Julio Dos Santos. They have spunked alot of money down the drain this summer.

Before Skirge gets there.. more training pics to make Wullies heart flutter. http://www.nufc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10278~1076361,00.html

Love it.

Riise, Lahm, Heinze, Baines, Shorey, Barzalgi, Ferdinand or Mertesacker. First two being mentioned on skunkers. what has been mentioned on Skunkers? That Mort and others caught an early morning flight from Stansted to Munich today and the target is lahm Is Lahm a better LB or RB? Can't see why Bayern would sell him for £7m though, seems a little cheap from someone who's highly rated, German and plays for Bayern. Regardless of Bayern willing to sell, I cant see Lahm wanting to come to us, granted they failed to qualify for CL but they are still in the Uefa Cup. Would be a first class signing though. Would be very excited to have him here, more so than Bridge/Baines or Heinze. Bayern have signed Marcell Jansen this summer aswell.

Geremi and Milner confirmed to take some part (.co.uk) No mention of Luque. Pretty pissed off, does this mean we dont get to see a "New Celestine Babayaro next season". Just aswell he inserted that injury release clause when he forced out that statement.

No chance of it being Lahm. He would have better places to go, the main one is staying where he is. No coincidence BBC are quote Heinze for 7m now? http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/6900545.stm No point competeing with Liverpool, especially as Heinze has all but dismissed the idea of playing for us already.

Rather than agents talking or the chronicle actually knowing who the defender is, its possible the club have just told the paper they have bid 7m for a defender, but havent told them who. Its more likely Anal is talking out of his ass of course. 7m would be a good starting bid to test the water with Everton for Lescott. Although I think we would need to bid 9m before we got them thinking.

He's on a three year deal somewhere in germany, Hamburg? Decent player, getting on a bit now though.

Lets hope it spreads!

Worse than trying to buy a freakin house.