gazza ladra

Sorry, which games were these? Fulham, and Sheffield at home. IMO. Not great performances, but I don't think the results reflected the run of play.

I think it would not even occur to a lot of American fans to follow a club that was not in the Champions League.

He doesn't need to try. Yanks Abroad gets quite hagiographic in its estimation of American footballers. Half the time, I get the impression that they think there is some kind of conspiracy that prevents US Nats from getting contracts with the BIG clubs. Many can't get it through their heads that, say, Landon Donovan isn't really that good. (Even after Liverpool ran right over him in the CL a few years back-- he sat on the bench at Leverkusen for a while.) Onyewu is very highly rated by most American soccer fans -- myself included. He is the best defender we have without question. But then, we are comparing him with Bocanegra, Spector, DeMerit, Berthalter, Cherundolo, Gibbs, Whitbread..... Not exactly a list of stars.... Anyway, this clown seems to think that Onyewu is too good for us.... Also, a lot of American soccer fans, IMO, are basically glory hunters. Obviously, most of us don't have any particular link to any English city, neighborhood, whatever-- and so are free to pick any team we like. Most have latched onto Manchester United and, more recently, Chelsea. I think that the contempt expressed for Newcastle United is just an affectation. They support Chelsea and they are supposed to despise the barcodes.

That's exactly what happened imo, said it to the wife next to me as soon as the whistle went. Eh? http://www.northeastengland.talktalk.net/GeordieDictionary.htm Look under 'W'. woman = wifeman wifeman = wyfman -> wuvman -> woman. male equivalent was "wereman" as in werewolf (AS "were" is cognant to Latin "vir", as in "virile") [sorry, English major]

Never seen Babel play. All I know of him is what I've seen on YouTube. These YouTube compilations are really deceptive--can make any donkey look fantastic. That said, those of Babel make him look pretty ordinary. If those are the highlights, we're not missing much.

You can add Éric Abidal to that now. A left back! Can we? Where did you read this?

Ramage will never be as good as Bramble is now. Sad, but true.

Glenn sweats on Gooch bidl DC United? Where did that come from? He grew up in DC, but I don't think he played in MLS. Was at Clemson (University) I think, but not DC United. I've never heard that before. Am I wrong? Could it be that Oliver is just making stuff up?

Aren't St. Étienne and Lyon bitter rivals? Something like Spurs and Arsenal? Said Piquionne : I’m being taken for a slave at Tottenham that hasn’t got the right to give his opinion. I want to go to a big club. Today, Arsenal has shown interest. Who wouldn’t want to go to Arsenal?

Could be wrong, but I seem to remember that he was playing out of position -- on the right -- in the Mexico City game. I've only seen him play for the US nats during WC qualifiers. And he wasn't troubled much by the Salvadoran, Panamanian, and Trinidadian strikers that were thrown at him. But that isn't saying much. I have no idea how he'll do.

Funny, the bit about NUFC being the "Graveyard of your career" doesn't bug me so much. But I think one of those Ajax asses calls Newcastle the "Feyenoord of England". Now, that is below the belt. Piss off!

No. Absolutely not. Duff is a great player. A steal at 5m, a steal at 7m. Granted, we have not yet seen the best of him. Show some patience here. Let's see Duff, Dyer, and Martins play together before we make any rash decisions.

Was he signed in 2006? August 05

Given the budget I'd go for "Buy one striker (£2-4m) and the rest on defenders". I think we can improve LB and CB and get a decent emergency striker. We could play Dyer, Milner, and Duff as strikers (Along with the returning Ameobi and Owen). Getting a Beattie or Viduka cheaply would be fine for now. Yeah, should Martins go down we're screwed, but I don't think that we can afford to buy (on the stated budget) a replacement for him and shore up the defence. And LB and CB should be the priorities. I think that Solano has done well enough that RB is not nearly the priority it was.

I don't think that the poll is that far off. The top four keepers - Given, Cech, Van Der Sar, and Jaaskelainen are not THAT surprising. I think that a fair number of neutrals would rate Given highly-- maybe not first. But I think he would be near the top. I am surprised that Reina is not getting more votes. -- ...And Hahnemann is the Reading keeper. Went to the World Cup backing up Kasey Keller and Tim Howard.

I would prefer Parker and Emre. To me it would be very interesting to see how they work together now that we have some speed up top and on the wings. Emre's improvement is in part due to the presence of Martins imo. As far as I can tell we have not yet seen Emre, Parker, Dyer, Duff, and Martins together on the pitch. (Arsenal away featured all but Emre.) Would love to see Milner/Dyer - Parker - Emre - Duff Martins- Dyer/Siberski All would benefit.

N'Zogbia?

Serious? What? About Rooney or Diouf? Actually, Diouf has 3 goals and an assist against NUFC in the last three games he's played against us. One of those games was in August last year-- suppose it shouldn't count. (He didn't play in the game we won). So, yeah. Serious.

1) NUFC Player of 2006 Given 2) NUFC Young Player of 2006 N'Zogbia 3) Best game of 2006 Beating Chelsea at home. 4) Worst game of 2006 Losing to Fulham at home. Awful, awful loss. The loss to Man City in retrospect was a blessing-- the straw that broke the camel's back. 5) Best NUFC Goal of 2006 Solano vs. Everton 6) Best goal conceded in 2006 Rooney 10) Best opposing player in 2006 Rooney or Diouf (a headache)

Huntelaar is the target.

Did well considering the experience of the back four, but we should've done better. Had Given played, we'd taken all three points. Really disappointed in the selection-- Emre showed why we need him. Butt and Parker were ok, but the team needs Emre to control and distribute the ball. Over all, though disappointed, I am encouraged. Bolton are shit and they're vying for the Champions League right now. No reason we can't catch them. There is a signifcant gap between Man United, Chelsea, Liverpool and (maybe) Arsenal and the rest of the league.... no reason NUFC can't by pass the other pretenders. Not that we've got a good team; just Tottenham, Everton, Bolton, and the rest are crap.

SPL players? and yes duff and martins were both very good signings baring in mind when duff went to chelsea he cost 18 mil we got him for 5 so thats a great coup any manger would of had him for that price and 15 mil is 5mil less than souness spent on boumsong and luque hmmm whats the better piece of business there What's your argument? I am happy that Roder did not buy a Boumsong or Luque. The deals for Martins and Duff were good things. I pray he can do as well in January.

I voted yes. Of the possible options that was the choice for me. I didn't (and don't) want O'Neill, wanted to see Souness gone, and don't think that "anyone else" is a better choice than Roeder. Is Steve Bruce a better choice? No. Roeder did reasonably well last season. The team has showed improvement this season after a dreadful start-- they lost games in which they outplayed the opposition, and I am happy with his acquistions (Martins and Duff, addressing the lack of pace) and the fact that he didn't spend stupid money on SPL players. My attitude will change drastically if he fails to buy some decent defenders in the January window.

I'd take Giannakopoulos in a heartbeat.

Um... no.