morpeth mag

has smith been booked yet? matter of time I think tonight!

given

beye  taylor roz enrique

milner smith faye geremi zog

martins

gone for Taylor and Capaca; I'd play roz in a holding midfield role instead of Butt.

We played 3-5-2 that day if that makes more sense of the players and played very well. shearer and Hamman were both injured bur returned for the cup final.

I think he'll go:

Harper

Taylor Roz Capaca Zog

Smith Geremi Butt Milner

Owen Martins

Subs: Viduka shola Beye Faye Given

Against Derby I'd play Owen and Martins with Martins dropping short. I still think they could play together.

He's got his court case in early October so I'd be surprised if he played before then.

I'd like to hear their plans for the club when Mort has finished his review. When Ashley was buying the club he leaked some pretty ambitious aspirations for the club. The club need to engage the supporters in growing the club without losing the special regional feel. I think:

We need to expand the fan base. We should do this by expanding links to schools; making training accessible some of the time; making being a junior mag non-profit making etc. We should explore all the web streaming technology already mentioned to tap into world markets. We should partner clubs in other leagues both for player exchange and cultural links for fans. We should explore ways of increasing capacity on the back of commercial developments.

We need to be at the heart of the regeneration of Newcastle. The club is what helps make the city and is deep rooted in the culture of the North East. We should work with the City Council to expand this role and make sure the capital developments are part of One North East. We need to ensure the site is used by all parts of the community 7 days a week.

We need to treat the fans as customers (point already made). There have been many points in the thread but the simple elements of running an entertainment service could still be expanded. There must be way of getting 30000 people a beer at half time in a better way - try buying the drinks on your way in to be picked up at HT like the theatre.

Exploit the brand and exploit the star status of the players. We do this OK but we must be able to do more.

Just some ideas to make sure Ashley makes money by making NUFC a successful team in a modern community.

Agree with KaKa I think Geremi is much more effective than Butt and it was interesting last week that it Was Geremi that was holding whilst Butt broke further forward as opposed to the reverse against Villa. I thought against Villa and Barnsley it was noticable how we tried to play from the back as opposed to hitting long balls into Viduka like we did against Villa. Granted Villa were the best team of the three and that Capaca only played the last two but to me Geremi has been solid and the best of the central midfielders.

On a side note I think Sam needs to have a word with Butt and Smith about staying on their feet - get them to watch Capaca.

The Guardian ran a piece a couple of weeks ago saying Mike Forde was going to chelsea. Does anyone know what happened or id he still working his notice at bolton?

he's a central striker who can hold up the ball in 442 or less effectively he can play in any of the front 6 positions in 433. He has shown in the last two games he is not a wide player in 442 but let's not write him off just because he's doing a job for his manager playing out of position in a new and evolving team.

As we've been linked with Smith in the past I've always watched him at Leeds and Manu and never made my mind up about him. He does some things like a really top player and then will do something very ordinary.

One thing though is that he'll have to stay on his feet more or else he'll be suspended for half the season.

What a difference the goal makes buying the team some time to gel as they are definately work in progress. Here's my take:

Harper was excellent the two times it mattered; a big plus to Sam for picking him.

Defence was solid though Heskey won most thinks in the air. Centre backs looked especially solid and the Zog good going forward. Taylor isn't a full back but he made agreat pass for the goal and was unlucky with the header against the bar.

Midfield was average. Did you notice that it was Geremi taking the ball from the back four with Butt further forward. Like the mid week game this kept the ball on the deck more compared to the Villa game. Thought Butt was OK but will make way for Barton soon. Milner had one of his quieter games - no criticism as he has been good. Smith again looked out of place on the right. He needs to be in cenrtal midfield or up front. Martins looks like he could open the best of defences if he had to and is les and less eratic with his general play.

I thought Owen had a good game despite his misses as he linked well. Glad he scored as he scores in gluts. Viduka is still finding his feet; Ameobi was more effective but still not the answer.

Overall; made hard work of getting the points but improving and showing the promise of more to come.

It's not Easyjet Barca to Teeside; we're talking charter flights. You do get to choose where you land.

There's no way you'd train and risk injury if you were just about to complete a transfer. Either Mort wasn't at Teeside; or he was but not to meet Deco; or else the photo was from yesterday. Make your own mind up. Personally I'd use Newcastle Airport if I had to fly to Newcastle.

Geremi as well for me. Thought he had a good game Wednesday after a quiet first half hour..

I think he'll go:

Harper

Taylor Cacapa Roz Zog

Geremi Butt Smith

Martins Viduka Milner

subs Enrique Solano Given Owen Ameobi

You hope Ashley is on hand to sanction a last big buy. Deco for me please.

Agree - we need Carr at left back now that we're getting Beye

told the kids we had to stay to the end as we couldn't boo during the match (east stand).

still think Deco will be on the move and just like Owen he may run out of options as the window closes.

looks like the penalty shoot out against Barnsley is going to be an epic!

I wonder if we're going to play 433 at home whether we should swop Smith and Milner as the latter could dictate play whilst Smith could get closer to Viduka. Not suggesting this is the way forward but I'm surprised we didn't try this yesterday.

Nobby will be a sub ahead of Ramage I think

I thought Martins had a good half. His goal was as last season  but what seemed to have improved was his link play and his awareness of when to pass and when to run. Hope the improvement continues.

I think Gudjohnsen will be one of the three midfielders in a 433 formation.