gazza ladra

Big Four becomes the Big Five. Not this season, but soon. Our ascend into CL football will roughly mirror our fall. A couple of seasons of UEFA cup runs, and then some top four finishes.

I hope your joking. Why? We're way behind the top 4, we're behind Spurs & Everton but with 3 signings in the areas we're very weak, we can bridge that gap. We're in the group with Bolton, Blackburn, Villa, etc. at the minute. Allardyce alone imo will add 10 points to our tally (no way would we have lost some of those sh*te home games last season with him in charge), so as we stand, I'm considering us as a 50-55 points a season team. With more signings, that should become 60-65. what he said. Not that we'll be great. We don't have to be. Beyond the top four, no one is.

I'd say Spurs are ahead of us. Wouldn't say Everton are way ahead. They could finish anywhere next season. Beyond the top four... and arguably Spurs/Everton there aren't a lot of good football teams. Portsmouth and Aston Villa maybe. But we should be finishing ahead of them. Bolton will surely be weaker. Reading too.

Look, if Roeder can finish 7th with the squad he had surely we can expect the same or better from Allardyce. Assuming that Barton is in for Parker and both Martins and Owen don't leave, we've already got a superior squad IMO. Don't see anyone beyond Manchester United and Chelsea looking that much stronger at this point.

Shakhtar Donetsk or something.

Allardyce is supposed to be a good judge of character. Knows when to take a chance and when it is time to cut your losses. Allardyce must see the same thing that Roeder saw. Same thing that Pandiani saw. Luque is a waste of space.

I'd go with an experienced battler. Appiah: My first pick. Claude Makelele (is he free?) he wasn't appreciated at Real and he's now he's underappreciated at Chelsea. Still class. Gravesen: Should've got him last summer. Still worthwhile.

He thinks the world of himself--- assumes that they'll bench Terry once they get a look at him. Imagine he's always been a big fish in a small pond and has no experience sitting on the bench. Doesn't know what it is like. Anyway, he'll get plenty of games.. with Chelsea playing in Europe and deep into the cups.

Won't be surprised to see him to go to Chelsea. Actually, would be surprised to see him not go to there. Same as Sidwell. Wouldn't need higher pay. They've got CL football and a record of success-- that show no sign of abating. London is probably a factor as well. If we were offering less money, Sam would have to be one hell of a charismatic fellow to pull him in.

(1) Regarding Owens not fitting into the 4-5-1/4-3-3: I hope to God that we will not be playing 4-5-1/4-3-3 for the entirety of the Allardyce reign. He played 4-5-1/4-3-3 (let's be honest about it-- 4 5 1) at Bolton because he had to to be successful on a budget. He came to NUFC because the club has the finances to buy the talent to compete with the big four. (2) Owen is a world-class striker: The idea of squeezing him into a 4-5-1 is silly... you are right about that. It isn't going to happen. Owen and Viduka. Up top. 4-4-2. End of. (3) Owen not wanting to be NUFC: Complaining about Michael Owen's attitude or commitment in light of the signing of a headcase like Barton and the notoriously lazy Viduka is nonsensical. We've gone all in with Allardyce already. If he can turn around Bolton; he can get the best out of Barton, Viduka, and Owen. We're betting on it. (4) Owen's injuries: Allardyce has had success in the past with players who are past it. He has had great success reducing injuries in his squad. TRUST SAM. (5) Hating what he represents about the old club / Fresh Start: I see what you mean. I think the reason every one wants to see the backside of Dyer, Carr, Babayaro etc. is in part because they are reminders of that era. My memories of Owen in a NUFC shirt are a little different. Yes, he was injured most of the time. But I keep running the WBA game through my head. His absence thoughout the Roeder era is something of a saving grace. (6) Fresh Start II: If anyone merits a fresh start it is Michael Owen. Not that he deserves it--- deserving has nothing to do with it. It's a gamble. If we sell him now we gain very little. If he comes back strongly and the club is successful, he might feel the desire to stay. If he is past it and the club falters, sure he'll want to go. Let him. If the release clause drops again next season, it won't matter much because none of the big four will want him then anymore than they do now. Edit: I expect Duff will perform when he returns as well.

Sheer lunacy.... If the offer came in just before the window closed, then they might have an excuse. Could easily replace Chimbonda twice over with that kind of money. Don't believe it for a second. Not that Chelsea wouldn't spend that much on him, but that Spurs would reject it. Insane.

If you had a few million tucked away, you wouldn't give a s***. Barton may be legally entitled to the money but he certainly doesn't deserve it. Greedy f****** arsehole. Couldn't give a s*** if he's virtually our player or not. If he's acting the c***, he's acting the c***. Not arguing with that, cos it's spot on! But the mentality of a rich man is to want more. If the £300,000 is rightfully his, it's not like he's not going to put up a fight for it. Let's be realistic. If he cared about his own PR and how the public viewed him he'd just drop it. The fact he hasn't dropped it has started ringing my own personal alarm bells about the transfer tbh. Putting out a cigar is someone's face = silence. Demanding money that is rightfully his = alarm bells. Barton and Man City signed a contract. And Barton is entitled to the money. Sure, he can afford to wave it off. But so can the club. This idea that he doesn't need the money misses the point. Nobody in football needs or deserves the kind of money they are making. But the club has agreed to pay them the money. Man City signed the contract... he held up his end, they need to hold up their end. Fat Freddy signed Owen with this ridiculous escape clause--he can't hold out now because the player was injured or hold out any other excuse. If a club comes for Owen and offers the money, I expect Owen will go as is his right. If there is a "loyalty clause" in the contract, I expect Owen will collect the money as well. Don't blame Owen, don't blame Barton. Blame the club officials who signed the contract.

And they only conceded 42 goals, Toulouse who finished 3rd conceded more. I'd say that's more relevant than how many goals they scored. It's the same at City the defence is solid but the strikers can't hit a barn door so the team is s****. Plus he was in the the French league's team of the year, ergo he's the second best centre back in the league playing for the 15th best club. Yep the smogs conceeded more than us, does that mean we had better centre backs than Woodgate? Yes. Yes it does.

Well, no... But it does preclude threads comparing the relative difficulty of the schedule-- comparing our first five against that of our rivals.

You need to move your servers overseas. British copyright law is silly. Ok, I'll be the first to admit the American law can be pretty ridiculous.... But at least you can't copyright facts. ----- Also, as a side note. Why can the Guardian run a regular feature of YouTube clips, but NO can't for fear of being shut down?

Ummmm Ramage > Bramble? I don't think so. Sorry. Every minute that Ramage plays next season will be a disappointment. That said, the one I really want to be shown the door is Carr. He has got to go ASAP.

A couple of years ago in FourFourTwo there was an interview with Nobby--then at Aston Villa-- talking about salsa and his horns. Anyway, he was asked to compare the style of play of Aston Villa and NUFC to music styles. Can't remember what he said about Villa, but he said Newcastle was a combination of "heavy metal and opera"--- I think that's what he said.

3-5-2? Don't like the sound of that. Are we talking about Rozenthal--Taylor--Ben Haim or what? Rather see the club invest in a quality backline this season-- or at least a decent LB. Babayaro gone? Good news. Though I'd rather see Carr go than Babayaro--if I could choose just one. Like to see both slots opened up for someone new.

Well, no. Shearer never played for Boro did he... Har f****** har. Yeah, I see your point. He's not a mercenary... has loyalty... supports his hometown club. I respect him for it. Better he's at Boro than Man Utd.

Well, no. Shearer never played for Boro did he...

Solano...Ben Haim...Taylor...Baines

Guardian article mentions Wes Brown as well http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,2098242,00.html

Just imagine... no more Carr, no more Babayaro.

http://sport.independent.co.uk/football/premiership/article2621483.ece (At the bottom) Sorry if this has been posted-- didn't see it

I'm thinking Solano-Butt. I don't want to see it handed to a player with the expectation that he'll play every day-- the way it was with Parker. Hope Allardyce isn't afraid to drop his captain from the line up. I think that we'll bring some decent players.... and I don't want to see Solano and Butt play every day. Hopefully, we'll acquire a LB.