buzza

The thought of an up and coming youngster who hasn't played in the prem is much more exiting but is also a huge risk... Should we just hedge our bets and go for the certainty or try and hit the jackpot?

Altough crouch's freak persona puts you off having him here and vertical stripes would only enhance this, he does seem to be very consistent and isn't too bad a player, he would fit straight into our new formation and isn't bad at holding the ball up which is essential in how we are playing at the moment. At 7-8 million you are getting a prem experienced player who will get you goals and adds another dimension (ha ha) to the team...

I personally think we should get them in as quick as possible instead of leaving it to the "auction house" end of august stuff that we have been known for in the past. Bit slow for my liking, plenty of decent players and our rivals are busier than us by the looks of things...

Come on folks a bit of realism needed... Richard Dunne is better than our centre backs for two reasons, the first is that he hardly ever has a bad game and is extremely reliable, the second is that he has been Citeh's player of the season for three years running (ahead of Micah, distin, anelka...) which speaks volumes! Taylor and Faye are not as good as him but he in turn is no where near "Terry, Rio, Carvalho, Gallas..." Very good signing for the prices being touted (5million+).

Just read in the times that they are on the verge of signing Richard Dunne!! Outdone again by the london buyaholics!!

Keane and Sunderland obviously have a target fanbase... Bet you any money they bid for Duff at some point!!

I watch a lot of Spanish football and I'm not impressed with joaquin as a "package", I do like his skills and his crossing ability it's just he only ever does this once in 3-4 games. If you wanted an exact example we are talking Laurent Robert, excellent on his day, could become a fans favourite but far too many games as a passenger for my liking...

Just filled out my form. When all of the public read it Keegan will probably get sacked and I'll be elected the "New Messiah of Tyneside". Lets see who can get their answers published??? Mine were: Deco Micheal Owen Taylor or Harper Krul (given won't regain form) Nobody yet (Taylor) as central defender is needed... 4-3-3 Duff/Smith 5-6th here's the link: http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/nufc/newcastle-united-news/2008/05/29/you-re-the-boss-take-charge-as-nufc-manager-72703-20990917/

Yes, Ashley does seem to be implementing economical logic and good straightforward planning instead of "off the cuff" decision making. This can only do Newcastle the world of good, we have seen what happens with mismanagement at the top of the tree (Sheppard) and will not be making this mistake. Instead of only having two or three youngsters knocking at the first team door (LualUa, Carrol & Krul?) we should be looking to have five or six who can get there quite soon, this will save the club serious outlay and will mean we can concetrate the transfer funds we do have on one or two top class players. I don't beleive for a minute that Keegan doesn't see the benefits of this "system", I suppose his major complaint would be to keep the players he wants happy (owen, martins, charlie...etc) by offering new contracts. I think he will be allowed to buy 20 million woth of players and then have to sell players if he wants other new recruits (Smith, Emre, Shola...).

I doubt he'll get a game for france in the euros, he may get a few minutes here and there but experience counts for a lot in these competitions.

Benitez has come out with virtually the same thoughts as Keegan did and he isn't getting slated is he?

I would say that the players will also get very little information until the deals are concluded or thereabout. The way they will get it is through agents who have their own agenda regards transfers... The only decent ITKs will be the ones who know directors or board members and these people tend to be a bit more discreet (Sheppard & Halls apart: "prozzies and Geordie dogs" episode...).

What they have to do is compromise, meet in the middle... Keegan gets a couple of prem experienced players and wise and company bring in a few youngsters. Where's that application form? Just call me Mr Mort from now!!

He feels guilty and the way to move on is to apologise and feel redeemed. It's a brave gesture and he does seem to hold chelsea in high regard. I personally think the letter is a bit "sickly" and could have left quite a bit of the "I am so blue" bullshyte out of it, but we're all different and I doubt he wrote it anyway, some chelsea secretary or PR pillock...

Viduka is a crock and we can't seriously rely on him as a lynchpin for our attack. Too many injuries and doesn't have youth on his side to cure them. We need another striker to spearhead our trident. I would go for a youngster, another player with pace would be brilliant, I don't want a static target man even if they are capable of "holding it up"... Some quick attacking football with owen ghosting in for the second phase titbits...

Avram for Man City according to today's gutter press

Wasn't he the best player in England only a couple of seasons ago? For 8 million quid he would be a steal, milner as back up isn't bad either...

I'm not worried at all. If we think about it we can't seriously get any worse! We have made progress this year in the restructuring and a sensible business model to ensure that we do not risk going bust, a few signings and some astute signing of youngsters should set us in good stead for the future. I don't expect us to get near the top four next year or the year after, in fact I will be happy with 6th, 7th or 8th for next season and the se4ason after going for the uefa. All positive here. P.S. Do not read: Guardian/Sun/Mirror/Star/ daily Shiyte/ Anal in Chronicle if you don't want to be wound up... Do read: Times/ Journal / True faith for realism and no bullshiit

Reminds me a bit of carrick now, but he always needed that half a second more which led to him being dispossessed too often...

The title of this thread made me giggle TBH, the subtlety of it is hard to figure out

I think everyone is waiting for Ashley to spend megabucks in signings and to get any player at "any cost", BUT the reality looks very different; He has set up a professional team to run NUFC and each "department" has it's own responsibilities. It seems like we will be run like any other business and with applied business accumen and that will obviously effect transfer dealings... If a business is to work properly you have to invest in it and sometimes take calculated risks, i think we WILL buy 3 top class signings and a couple of other squad signings, i also think we are 0n the right track with dennis wise and company scouting out new young (and cheap!) talent to even out any bad transfer buys on the senior side. If we are to splash out big I would have thought it would be solely on prem league experience or experienced foreign internationals i.e. low risk, high return buys. I think Ashley will be looking to reach 6th place next season and consolidate form there with a 3 year plan to reach champions league (see keegan's realism), if we do reach 6th place next year we can be assured of more money to spend but it will be spread over a longer period rather than a mountain of cash at the beginning. With regard to the wage bill I am in agreement if they think that wages have to be reigned in, I honestly beleive there is no-one who is performing well enough/is fit over period to merit a wage rise or increase (see Owen), as for youngsters who should be tied down (Taylor), they will be on very low wages at the moment so an increase is called for but we shouldn't be held to ransom. We should operate on a policy that is good wages but not a pisss-take. If we want to act like and get results like a large successful company we will have to pay the correct wages. To attract players this summer we will most likely have to offer wages that are higher than our main rivals due to location and lack of europe... We are going in the right direction i think for the first time in over four years!!!

CAN WE HAVE SOME REAL QUOTES AND NOT JUST SUPPOSITION?

Whesye Keys Luise is at her best again this morning: http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/may/07/newcastleunited.premierleague "in the dark" over how much he will be able to spend a man who saw storm clouds on the horizon may not be as willing to splash the cash as was originally anticipated A cleverly disguised desire to confound those who doubt his ability at the highest managerial level, allied to a generous salary, may have kept Keegan sweet so far Although a "disappointed" Keegan is understood to be seeking a meeting with Mort If Keegan's adoring public are not to suspect that Ashley's regular appearances in Bigg Market bars might be concealing an underlying plan to sell Newcastle for a healthy profit ANYTHING POSITIVE TO SAY LOISE? PLEASE CRAWK BACK UNDER THE ROCK....

On teamtalk they say we've been linked to a porto centre half who's worth 30 million Euros!!! (23 million quid)

If we get rid of ramage we now need two new centre backs,, one for each position. I would like dunne aswell, but also another pacier centre back would be nice. I have seen we were linked to the Porto centre back somewhere today (teamtalk...I know!)...