Rich

Want to read that interview like, not in Newcastle though. A scan would be much appreciated.

Thing is with Duff, he's been crocked loads, much like Smith. Has SWP suffered that much with injuries? To me, with him, it seems more psychological/lack of match practice than anything. He's also not quite as old as Duff was when we got him and doesn't seem to have lost his pace, either.

Agreed SWP has 'another gear'. But he would cost twice as much in wages and fees, is he that much better than Pennant? If he can recapture his form from his previous time under Keegan then he would be, simply for the pleasure we'd all have watching him play. He was unstoppable at times, not least when we beat them 4-3 under Souness. I'm not sure if "twice as much" is right either, like, as far as wages go. Pennant would be coming from the bench of a top-four club as well, you know? He'd hardly be cheap. If the choice was there between the two and both would come and we went for Pennant because he'd be cheaper then I'd be very NE5 about it, to be honest.

SWP showed at Man City that he is capable of carrying a team on his own, Pennant has never shown that. While both are better than what we have and while both a different players, I'd go for Wright-Phillips every day of the week. I still think there's a top-class player in there somewhere. I would never call Pennant top-class. He'll be a very good winger for somebody, but he's not at the level that SWP can play at. I've been wanting us to get SWP for ages, and I'm not sure if we ever will, but I think he'd be absolutely loved up here. I'm not sure Pennant would, because of his previous problems/bling boy attitude.

You're right. I wouldn't complain at going into next season with the current back-four as starters, but I can't say the same about at least 3 of the other positions on the park (Butt, Geremi and Viduka - who's crocked anyway, so make that Smith/Carroll.... ). However, like you also said, we've got absolutely zero cover for either full-back and Edgar/Cacapa don't exactly fill me with confidence as pertains back-up to Taylor and Faye. Diatta - well who knows on him? We definitely need another left-back if Zoggy goes (probably do anyway), at the very least, but in an ideal world I'd like to see us sign a quality centre-half. Dunne fits the bill, for me.

Heh. I just base it on the older blokes in my family more than anything. A lot of them are what I would call "divs" when it comes to football. I'm from Wallsend man, I've been associating with the proles my entire life

Another thing as well: if the speculation/prices are true on Gomis, then it would appear to bode well for our transfer budget this summer, as I'd assume that even if we had signed Modric for £20M then we'd still be in for a striker as well. The rumoured interest in Veloso has continued as well, alongside this. Maybe we will spend a lot of money between now and September, if we can get the players we bid for, of course.

Know nowt about this lad, bar what I've seen on YouTube in the past few days, but he's the sort of player who I would assume would excite the general public here if he came, myself included, even simply because he'd be known as a "highly rated young striker, the next Drogba" and because we'd shelled out a lot of cash for him. I think the same could have been said for Modric, unfortunately. Younger players like this tend to get a lot more leniency from the crowd, especially in the early days, and could be another beneficial aspect of going for them. Unlike players like Duff, Butt, Parker, etc. who come with big reputations from big clubs and have a lot of pressure on their shoulders from day one, Gomis would be an unknown quantity who would hopefully win the fans over quickly if he adapted well and showed some bright sparks in his play. Much like Robert did under Robson and Martins has done more recently (I know Martins was hardly unheard of to most on here, but I bet a lot of fans didn't really know a thing about him). I'd rather we took gambles on players like him to try and do something different than go for the likes of Saha, Ashton or Bent, to be honest. Might not be the most sensible policy 100% of the time, but it's a lot more exciting.

I have to see that part of my family for a wedding in July. If we lose Dunne to them after Woodgate, Modric, the Carling Cup and them finishing above us (I have to hand £20 over to my uncle for that) then the day could turn into a massacre. Thank God they haven't beaten us for 3 years, otherwise I dunno how I'd cope.

Viduka has been as important as those two, despite the lack of goals. We've always looked better with him on the pitch this season, whether Allardyce be here or not. I'm still not overly fussed on Owen, especially as I know in myself that he's agitating for a move (and has been for some time), but I'd be far happier to see us keep him than lose him at this current time. He's only ever one injury away from being a pariah again though.

I have a bit of an irrational dislike for Harper, like. Dunno what it is, but he frustrates me. It might be his goal-kicks, or more specifically how slow he takes them... or his slightly portly frame... I dunno. Wouldn't mind us signing a "proper" 'keeper this summer, but it won't happen. For those claiming him to be a "leader/organiser" - he doesn't do any talking on the pitch, and I sit close enough to him to know.

Nice way of looking at things. As long as things hold together over the summer and we get some good players in (not brilliant, just good would do me) then next season could still be a good one when you take those sort of stats into account. If Keegan can do that with a team including some inadequate players and barely a bench worthy of note since he arrived, then it's exciting to think what he could do with a few new players in the squad. Nice note to go to bed on.

I'm still not completely convinced with Faye, but would like to see him alongside a partner where he'd simply be "the muscle". I don't think him and Dunne would be bad, like. I don't think many strikers would fancy facing them two as a pairing. If he had someone to boss him then I think he'd shine, there's a lot of pressure on him at the minute. We've missed him when he's been out, like.

The second bit is right, but the first bit I can't agree with. Geremi as a footballer has been incredibly average all season, despite his statistics. I'd love to see our midfield in a race like. I'd bet they take 20 seconds to do 100m.

He can't pass and doesn't have that engine anymore. He still has excellent positional awareness though. His passing improved immeasurably during our good run, when the pressure was taken off him a bit and shared between Barton and Geremi as well. Or maybe Barton and Geremi just made his passes look better? I suppose the fact the team actually started passing as well, and moving a bit, helped him. I dunno, but I'm his biggest critic, and he silenced me recently. His passing used to drive me mental, an' all. The cunt.

I like the bloke as a player, but he's one that even I can't make an argument for not being a crock. Of course he could get fit again, but his injuries have been ridiculous.

Butt winds me right up. I don't like him much, but he's had some outstanding games - even recently. Think I'm yet to get over Cardiff, if I'm honest.

Nonsense. Faye is not slow. Neither is Dunne tbh. He isn't super fast, no, but not particularly slow. True and if you are a top class centre half then speed shouldn't be too much of an issue. Aye. Faye & Dunne would be no slower than Adams & Keown or Bruce & Pallister. And Terry, Carragher, Hyypia etc. are slower than Dunne. And another point... do we currently possess a "quick" centre-half that Dunne would potentially oust from the team by being partnered with Faye? Of course the answer to that is "do we fuck". Dunne's probably quicker than Taylor, so it'd be an improvement if anything.

Derrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

Bosingwa has looked very good when I've seen him play this season (hasn't been much) and he's now Portugal's first-choice right-back as well, isn't he? Loaded with pace.

And you live there as well. Aye, that's why I said "I'd support them anyway"... as in, even if I didn't live here!

That'd be my guess.

Come on the Hull. Most Northern team in the playoffs would mean I'd support them anyway, and the fact they've never been in the top flight.

You're not getting away with that at using Oliver to try and back up a point. Not that Oliver.

For what it's worth, I think Zog's far less of a twat than people think, he's had a lot to deal with the past few years. If he wants to leave, then fair play and good luck to him. He's still one of my favourite players for his ability on the park above all else. Fast, exciting, dynamic player with a bit of flair about him, it will be sad to see him go.