chicago_shearer

Quoted again for truth. Right man for the job.

Cheers. Perhaps I'm reading too much negativity into that article when I think it means we're not signing anyone else... It seems clear that he's talking about Coloccini plus 1 or 2 others, 3 in total. I'm starting to get a bit terrified that we're getting a centre-half, a backup left back and that's the lot. Of course, he could be meaning Bassong as well who hasn't officially signed has he? So Coloccini & Bassong could be the "2 or 3" new faces.

I won't risk it then. Thanks for the info.

Does nufc TV work for Apple?

Introduce at half time with Inler.

Well said. Smith for Arteta, straight swap.

Let's see if our contingent can have a word with those two about how great Newcastle is.

What's so bad about nufcblog? If "professional" journalists get to make up their own rumours on the back pages of tabloids then why not some random blogger on the internet? If he has decided that a mystery midfielder is on the verge of signing, then fair enough. At least his imagination doesn't hide behind imaginary "unnamed sources" and ulterior motives. The truly woeful part is that his bullshit gets laughed at while the next SWARFEGA TO TOON??? headline in the Sunday Sun will somehow merit a 10 page thread, complete with optional 5 page meltdown about the inadequacy of the board and Dennis Wise if and when he signs a new contract (or for Spurs).

The delivery has been poor, but a related problem is our lack of height up front and in midfield. The situation is made more difficult if the targets you are aiming for are 5 ft 5 in tall. Otherwise I completely agree. We desperately need midfield players that are comfortable and capable of attacking when they have the ball. Unless Jonas and Guthrie turn out to be instantly outstanding players, another season of Butt, Geremi & Milner featuring as regulars will be a failure (I'm excluding Barton because it isn't clear what part he will be capable of playing at all this season). We need to give opposing teams something to worry about in our midfield. At the moment there is nothing.

I wouldn't sell another player without a replacement lined up. Smith, Shola and Duff included. We have yet to replace the first round of clear outs (Carr, Ramage, Rozehnal, Babayaro etc.) without having another. The fact that they are all absolute s**** comes second to the fact that we need 7 players on the bench, and it would be nice if a few of them weren't academy players.

David James. One of the few who seem like they might be interesting to talk to and capable of more than monosyllabic sentences. Shearer Sir Bobby Delia Smith (provided she cooks dinner)

The expected hammering at Old Trafford will have little to do with an injury wrecked pre-season and everything to do with the fact that we have very little quality.

I don't remember who it was, but someone posted a prediction for the summer and beggining of the season way back in June and so far things have gone exactly as predicted (including signing Guthrie). Things are made worse by the rough start and the injuries, but they have just made a mess of the transfer window so far IMO. Still some time to set things right, but it isn't looking good.

Might as well try this Milner in the middle experiment now so we can prove it doesn't work.

It's August 1, let's be realistic. If we get Coloccini, I can't see more than a couple more coming in the door. In terms of prioritizing, everything else comes well below a quality central midfielder.

What we really need are midfielders. Not defenders, not forwards, but midfielders. I'd love a new striker, and I'll be ecstatic if we manage to finally secure Coloccini. But going into a Premiership season with just Butt, Guthrie, & Geremi is nothing short of mental. We'll struggle, end up at the wrong end of the table, and everyone will panic. So let's avoid that this season and just sign the right players.

If the tabloids team up and give NUFC 8-10 million compensation in order to sign a replacement, I fully support making a principled stand for the good of the game.

What an awful summer this has been so far.

That's a valid point only if Ashley, Wise & co. bring home some good players before the deadline. Then we can all breath a sign of relief and laugh at their mediocre signings and overexcitement. Otherwise the simple fact is that they improved their squad by signing better players than they had before while we didn't. I can turn my nose up at Taino and Malbranque now, but I won't be on August 31st if we are going into our season with Nicky Butt and Milner as first choice.

Their defence is laughable, but there really isn't a lot in the midfield. We are banking on Gutierrez to make an instant impact in a league in which he has no experience and Guthrie to instantly take the next step in his career from promising top 4 reject to regular first teamer in an aspiring (key word) top 8 side. We are also counting on Butt to roll back the years and Geremi to recover his form.

I would be more willing to welcome him back if he issued a sincere public apology to the boy he assualted and the club, team mates and supporters he has embarassed with his behavior. I hope prison has shown him how extremely lucky he is to be in his position in life, and he will make the most of it both on and off the pitch.

Their first choice midfield is probably better than ours. Not unthinkable, but unlikely since they have terrible defenders and still no goalscorer.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/jul/28/newcastleunited.doncaster That's mackem journalism for you I suppose. Repeats the same quotation in a 1 page article. It is simply incredible that these people get paid for this standard of work.

Sounds like it. Coloccini signs, Am Shite goes. That's the deal.

http://www.antena3noticias.com/PortalA3N/noticia/Lotina-con-preocupacion-que-Coloccini-este-medio-fuera/1977951 Not really a reliable source, but I liked the translation. This thread is going to get big very fast if these news stories keep popping up. Go away you horrible cockney fuckers!