Tisd09

There seems to be a big improvement in Carr this pre-season because he was such toss last season. He is not the greatest player to ever pull on a Toon shirt but he is definately not the worse, hopefully he can have a Butt type recovery to his Newcastle career. It is not as if the transfer market is saturated with right backs either.

I don't think we are desperate for money, if that was the case we would have accepted the bid as it stood. We don't really know what has gone on but surely the FACT that we have signed Smith and are in talks with Enrique prove that we do not need the Dyer money to make signings. Arguably Sam only wants one more in before the start of the season and that is Possibly Drago who seems to cost around about 2.5 million so I really don't think we need the extra 2 million from the Dyer sale to finalise the other transfers. West Ham will get desperate anyone, come the end of the transfer window if they haven't found a replacement I fully expect the Dyer move to come off!

I wouldn't complain as Geremi as captain. There are not too many stand out candidates, the ones that we could name we could question in someway. I would go with Geremi as club captain and then Nicky Butt as his deputy. Taylor is not ready yet, I would like to see him just carry on and progress as a player 1st. Would not surprise me one bit to see him captain at some point over the next few years.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radioassets/photos/2006/8/6/2163_2.jpg its Longman! Don't know how to post photos and stuff sorry

Smith looks like a band member of My Chemical Romance, fecking Emo's!

Don't blame him, the dude is over 30 and probably only getting "average" wages for a footballer. So this oppourtunity would be great for him, as someone said earlier at least he is honest. No doubt someone will call him a no good mercernary (sp?) at some point.

In light of signing Capaca and Drago I think Baines would be a good edition to the squad. Now if we could get a right back in that can replace Carr it would be great. Then again am I now being too greedy?

I am easy on the Smith transfer but just thought he is a better forward than Shola, fitter than both M Owen, Luque and Viduka at the moment so may well be 2nd striker for the START of the season. I would not bet against Martins/Smith as the front 2 v Bolton in a few weeks. Chances are Owen will break down some more this season and I see Smith as a better player than Shola so I think he would get more games upfront than we give him credit for. At the moment Viduka and Martins would be starting formation then Owen or Smith depending on who we are rotating. I think Smith will get a surprising amount of games upfront next season.

Just seen a pic of him on .com the guy looks a killer plus the story adds to his look about him decking one of a spanish comedy duo. Ant or Dec better watch the F**K out. No wonder Dyer wants to leave, Barton, Butt, Smith, Drago, Big Sam there is a good chance he'd be killed if he stayed and f**cked up.

Thing is players have been lasting longer these days, there is a chance we could get 2-3 good seasons out of him so 2.5 million wouldn't see so much then. Okay he could get crocked or be crap but we need to take risks, at this point in time I'd rather sign this guy for 2.5 million than Curtis Davies for 9

Yeah he is definatley going to get sent off isn't he, because he has a massive total of 6 red cards in his club career.

If we are to sign the two experienced defenders I then think it is a risk worth taking to sign Baines or Shorey. They are better than what we have (not that I want to sign someone purely on this basis) plus they will have experience in the new players to guide them. If we could sign a right back as well I would be chuffed but if we had this pool of defenders to choose from next season I would not complain to much, Carr, Taylor, Rozy, Baines/Shorey, Capcapa, Drago, Hunty, Damage, Edgar, Baba. Yes it can be improved but it is in a much better state than we have had for the past couple of season. Maybe even let Hunty go out on loan for some Centre Back experience..

Not elated about this but not suicidal over his signing. The way prices are going these day £6 million for an England International is about par for the course. And before I write him off completely I would like to see how he will do for us. Lets face it, if he is a hit on the field we will hero worship this fella, His type of attitude is what the fans loves, so if he is crunching opponents week in week out snarling as he gets up and is playing well we will all be cheering him to the rafters and this thread will be forgotten about. Then again he could be shite and will get eggs thrown at him!

Whilst I don't believe what is said in this article it would be nice for the board to give us an idea where we are heading. This kind of speculation is banded about simply because the press do not know what is happening.

He has been his most effective at left wing. If he and Damien Duff were on form I can't think of a pair of better left wingers. Just a shame Duff as been kinda...... Duff and Zoggy lost form. If we start with 4-4-2 this season I would like to see Zoggy start left in the absence of Duff and Milner start right. From what I seen of him pre-season Milner is well worth a start and he had a top season last year which is even more impressive given the treatment of him in the last summer transfer window.

But spending a fortune doesn't guarentee that we will get a good defender. I would love to see us splash the cash but I think after what Freddy and Souness did 2 seasons ago that we all agree that spending a fortune doesn't always guarentee any kind of success!

Yeah because no other clubs were in for Barton, Rozy and Geremi were they? nor did Boro want to keep Viduka did they?

I am sure he is concerned because any fool can see that we have a very thin squad and we are running out of time before the season starts, no matter how good our friendly results have been the squad we have would struggle in the Premiership.

Didn't the same thing happen at Liverpool a few weeks ago. The media were getting feck all from Benitez yet they started throwing up articles of a rift and rafa going to leave with a lack of funds yet a couple of weeks down the line everything is hunky dorey again they have spent millions and release thier impressive plans for their new stadium. Now I am not saying all this will happen at Newcastle but it did highlight how wrong the media got the situation at Liverpool there is a strong chance that they are spouting shite off again!

That knee could have been so much worse, the lad could have damaged his neck or even broken bones in his face! Still though nice comments to hear from a world class keeper.

A week or so ago I would have been shocked to see Deco at the Toon and would have thought the idea as being daft. NOW this seems very plausible and I wouldn't be that surprised. I am quietly confident that we will see Deco in our colours next season. I think he wil make a difference to the way we play and hopefully dispel the ideas that Allardyce is going to have Given and Taylor lump the ball to Viduka any chance they get.

Pleasantly surprised. Pleasantly surprised. It was Freddy's plan all along, do a shite job, wait for the Gerodieish Abramovic to come in, spend money on players that will pleasantly surprised. If we pulled this one off I would be more than pleasantly surprised.

Both are a massive improvement on what we have so would take them in a shot, however, I see it very unlikely with either of them. Though if we got this kind of money surely we can find a better left back that Quadratic or whatever his name is!

He had a cracking season at Blackburn to be fair. He is a very effective player but I just want to forget about him now. I think he has too much baggage. Journo's at every oppourtunity would bring his past up with us aggrevating things. I am glad he has gone to West Ham, don't think it would have been the best move to bring him back now especially considering our fresh start!

In an ideal world no to this signing. He is better than what we got BUT is this what we should be looking for. If its a choice between him, Baba, Carr or Ramage at left back then Quadrue would be my choice. But I think there are better options out there than him to be honest. I would rather spend a few more pounds on Shorey or Baines than picking Quadrue as a cheap option.