Rich

Yeah it's the server again. The post count growing to 2.5 million taking it's toll, apparently. Host's solution is to get us to upgrade to 4gb of RAM and pay another £12 per month for the pleasure. Really it needs sorting once and for all, which it hopefully will be now SMF 2.0 (updated forum software) has just been released.

Settle down man. People are making reasonable arguments for it, for the most part, based upon the calibre of players we're bringing in elsewhere. Aaron Hughes has got better and better on here every year he's been gone, btw. Nice bloke, great pro, but he's an average PL player - which I appreciate makes him better than a lot we've had in recent times.

Guests have been turned off for a few days now to keep the place running smoother. Dunno about anyone else but it's been fine for me during that time.

Oh aye, without question. Still would leave us with Perch/R. Taylor as immediate backup though. Sell those two instead if there's anybody daft enough to take them.

Aye he's not the best, but there's about 11 players I'd rather see leave before him.

I don't know where the rest of you get it from tbh, your enthusiasm and optimism is astonishing. There's nothing better for me than seeing Newcastle score goals and win games but I stopped getting excited by signings a long time ago. Too many false dawns, too many kicks in the teeth from Mike Ashley, I just want the season to start. Ah man, I just love it. I hope that never changes. I've had to do football from a non-emotional standpoint for the last two years now, and it makes it as boring as fuck for me. Takes away the real reason why you get attached to the game in the first place. It's all about the ups and downs, as daft as that sounds being a NUFC fan - as there are typically a lot more lows than highs - but there's not much better than a new signing to get me excited about stuff again. I really do love this time of year. There's not much reality about, just pure hope and anticipation. We'll all be back to moaning by Christmas if things go to form. But maybe, just maybe...

I was just playing along, to be fair. For all you know you could have been suggested as an addition in the past week, and endorsed by yours truly.

But surely that's why nobody has replied, if it does indeed exist? People know the rules. If it does exist, the best way to get in probably wouldn't be by bleeting about it on the open forum like.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<< LUSH! I had to get on the bandwagon, especially considering there are likely more incoming.

The first rule of the secret VIP members smoking jacket appreciation society section is don't talk about the secret VIP members smoking jacket appreciation society section.

It certainly seems more prevalent than ever though. Maybe because most of the over-negative types have been rooted out. I don't buy into it, by the way, I know you're as giddy as the rest of us really.

No it's not. Morrissey is a legend. Meh.

You were serious? Honestly thought you were just on the wind-up by parodying your new reputation on here as the prophet of doom. Everyone else bouncing off the walls, then you posted that. No offence intended, obviously just read it wrong.

I don't think it would stop there, either.

I've totally lost it like. Convinced we're getting Erdinc and N'Zogbia now.

Different level that avatar POOT.

All the latest stuff on Twitter is claiming he's signing for us like. Major Mackems PR stunt? WAZ BEAT THE TOON TO HIM LIIIIKE!!! Not expecting him here after Marveaux, but would absolutely love it, love it if we beat them (and he came here). Just for the lolz. There is not a Japanese anime boner GIF big enough for a front six of Tiote, Cabaye, N'Zogbia, Ben Arfa, Marveaux and Ba.

Not confirmed yet. Read the thread.

There's no backup for him either though, really. Perch and Ryan Taylor aren't good enough. I'm in hope more than expectation, but I do think there is a strong case for us to look to upgrade the RB spot if possible, but I appreciate if Enrique goes the club might not fancy switching both full-backs and hoping for the best.

As we currently stand I think we need: 1) Either a class striker (Erdinç-ish?), a class wide player (N'Zogbia-ish) or class central midfielder (Matuidi-ish) for 4-4-2, 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 respectively. Not all three. 2) A better right-back than Simpson. 3) A better central defender than Taylor/Williamson. 4) Backup for Enrique. Keep everyone else (aside from the chaff I've listed in another post somewhere: Harper, Perch, R. Taylor, Smith, LuaLua, Routledge, Lovenkrands, Ranger and Xisco - if we can shift them.) If this happened the first XI would be Forster/Krul, *New RB*, *New CB*, Coloccini, Enrique, Tiote, Cabaye, Marveaux, Ben Arfa and Ba (plus the remaining new bloke). The second XI would be Forster/Krul, Simpson, S. Taylor, Williamson, N. Taylor(?), Barton, Guthrie, Gosling, Jonas, Ameobi and Best. At least six of those "second-choice" players were comfortably first-team regulars for us last season (as in automatic choices, and we looked pretty fucking good with a full team out usually - even after Carroll left). That to me equates to better squad depth. Naturally if we were to lose Enrique or Barton, or anybody else listed in these two line-ups, they'd have to be replaced too, but I'd be happy enough with the above. Anything else would be a bonus.

I was back in the saddle before any movement, tbf, but I know what you mean. (Was a very good post by Ozzie, calmly sums everything up as it appears to stand.)

Anyone seen anything of Sébastien Corchia or Michaël Chrétien for Le Mans or Nancy respectively? Trying to whet my whistle in terms of right-backs we could have scouted, and these two seem to stick out as the best bets of players we could attempt to sign in that area. Both are being linked with moves this summer, to clubs I feel we could compete with. I've had them both on FM in the past naturally, but never seen either play.

People keep saying this and conveniently forgetting we had a bid of £10m+ for Gameiro on the table. He just chose PSG over us.