alpal78

I'm still cool bout things. We should know by now that the last day is always a gold mine for transfers. Confident we'll get 2 more in by Sunday/Monday but not too sure bout the Wow signing. Maybe just a backup LB and a decent CM

I'm glad that Given seemed to have rediscovered his form, but this does not change the fact that he was shit with long range shots for quite a number of games last season. Anyway long may Given's current form continue.

OMG!!! Were gonna win da league!!!1111!1 Clearly you can't read the thread title. I thought that would be enough to put the following comments into perspective and context. Apparently Ameobi is canny in training. I'm off to make a 'I know it's only training...' thread right now. I swear some of us argue on this forum for the sake of arguing Didint watch the match but glad that we seemed to have played well. We may regret the extra minutes when we play Arsenal though especially for players like Guthrie and Guttierez who've had no respite since Old Trafford. On the other hand, if Euros 2008 is anything to go by, then one game after another builds up match fitness real fast especially since some of our lads have not had a full pre season.

He can't win. He gets knocked for overdoing it and knocked for being no nonsense. The penalty and dilly dally moment aside, he put in a flawless display. Very good in the air, no nonsense defending, decent distribution, solid. The actual handball for my money having seen a replay, looks to be accidental. He saved a goal bound shot as he did several times during the game. I want to see that from a defender. If that becomes his game, no nonsense, he will commit fewer mistakes over the course of a campaign and with it become more consistent. He isn't going to be a world beater and never was, all I want is a consistent solid performer which since KK took over, he has been. Of course he's made mistakes, but all players do. Martins made one today when he missed his header, Owen did as well missing an easy header. The key is making sure those mistakes don't cost you. flawless my arse, those two incidents were no small incidents, they were examples of grade A pathetic defending. His positioning a good few times, a very poor header in injury time and the dramatic moment I mentioned are other examples. Credit where it's due, he was very good last sunday and I was very impressed, but today he had another game he looked a poor, unreliable defender Yet Collocini looked class last week according to you, despite giving away needless fouls close to our box and looking decidedly shaky at the start? Lets face it you have a hard on for Taylor for some reason and can't seem to analyse anything he does without your obvious negative bias effecting your thoughts. He was flawless today outside of those two moments, near enough anyway if we are to accept that all footballers regardless of position and quality make mistakes or don't always do something expertly 100% of the time all the time which is the high standards you and other critics use as a guide in judging Taylor and other players who seem to get stick. The first hand ball was ball hitting hand, the second, the one that resulted in a penalty was unfortunate, it wasn't ball hitting hand or even hand hitting ball, just a defender desperately trying to block a goalbound shot in the space of milliseconds, which is what he gets paid to do, shut out the opposition by hook or by crook. When Terry does it he's great, when Taylor does it he's showing off, trying to be macho man, playing to the crowd. f*** off man. This is getting ridiculous the stick he gets. Anyway for me the handball was accidental and unfortunate. The only outstanding piece of poor play outside of that moment was when he got dispossessed. That needs cut out I agree and it does him no favours, but I'm trying or would rather look at the full picture and assessing his performance today I'd say 90% of it was positive and has been since KK took over. That'll do for me because I'm pretty confident no player can be 100% perfect in every single way in any match never mind every match. I didn't say Coloccini was 'class' last week. I said he looked classy, big difference tbh I don't have it in for Taylor, in fact I spent a good while defending him in last week's game thread tbh. I'd love him to turn out a good solid defender, I really would, but time and time again he looks vulnerable when he shouldn't. He never looked vulnerable to me today, he looked the opposite save a few mad minutes which to be fair could have happened to any player. Usually agree with you but not this time. It's crazy if you think that it's acceptable for a defender to play well for 80-85 odd minutes and just make one or two mistakes. As a defender, especially a CB you can't afford to make one or two mistakes per game because in all probability, these moment of madness will result in goals conceeded (same goes with keeper). Your comparison of Taylor with Martins or any other striker for that matter is just silly, a striker making a mistake does not usually cost his team the game, as there will be likely more chances coming his way. No striker has 100% convertion rate. A striker is paid to do the extraordinary (whilst putting in the tap ins that comes his way of course), wehreas a defender is paid to be unspectacular....i.e. consistent (nothing special) but no f*** ups. That's the problem with Taylor, he can play well for the most part of a game (and he played decent enough against Bolton), but those moment of stupidity nearly cost us and in other games they will. No idea how you can say it wasn't a penalty, his hand moved towards the ball. As for blocking the goalbound effirt that came immediately afterwards, yes Terry and Carragher do that too, but they block without flailing arms, something that Taylor just can't control. It's like his arms are independent of his brain! Bramble was castigated no end (fairly in my opinion) for the f*** ups despite playing well during the other 85 minutes of the game. Don't see why it should be different for Taylor. i agree with you, defenders mistakes can cost the match, thats exactly why we shouldnt go for senderos. not really an improvement imo. I agree with you, Chosing between Taylor and Sanderos is like shooting your head through your right ear or shooting your head through your left ear. For that reason, I hope we don't go for Sanderos. Imagine if Colo gets injured, we'll have a CB partnership of Taylor and Sanderos

He can't win. He gets knocked for overdoing it and knocked for being no nonsense. The penalty and dilly dally moment aside, he put in a flawless display. Very good in the air, no nonsense defending, decent distribution, solid. The actual handball for my money having seen a replay, looks to be accidental. He saved a goal bound shot as he did several times during the game. I want to see that from a defender. If that becomes his game, no nonsense, he will commit fewer mistakes over the course of a campaign and with it become more consistent. He isn't going to be a world beater and never was, all I want is a consistent solid performer which since KK took over, he has been. Of course he's made mistakes, but all players do. Martins made one today when he missed his header, Owen did as well missing an easy header. The key is making sure those mistakes don't cost you. flawless my arse, those two incidents were no small incidents, they were examples of grade A pathetic defending. His positioning a good few times, a very poor header in injury time and the dramatic moment I mentioned are other examples. Credit where it's due, he was very good last sunday and I was very impressed, but today he had another game he looked a poor, unreliable defender Yet Collocini looked class last week according to you, despite giving away needless fouls close to our box and looking decidedly shaky at the start? Lets face it you have a hard on for Taylor for some reason and can't seem to analyse anything he does without your obvious negative bias effecting your thoughts. He was flawless today outside of those two moments, near enough anyway if we are to accept that all footballers regardless of position and quality make mistakes or don't always do something expertly 100% of the time all the time which is the high standards you and other critics use as a guide in judging Taylor and other players who seem to get stick. The first hand ball was ball hitting hand, the second, the one that resulted in a penalty was unfortunate, it wasn't ball hitting hand or even hand hitting ball, just a defender desperately trying to block a goalbound shot in the space of milliseconds, which is what he gets paid to do, shut out the opposition by hook or by crook. When Terry does it he's great, when Taylor does it he's showing off, trying to be macho man, playing to the crowd. f*** off man. This is getting ridiculous the stick he gets. Anyway for me the handball was accidental and unfortunate. The only outstanding piece of poor play outside of that moment was when he got dispossessed. That needs cut out I agree and it does him no favours, but I'm trying or would rather look at the full picture and assessing his performance today I'd say 90% of it was positive and has been since KK took over. That'll do for me because I'm pretty confident no player can be 100% perfect in every single way in any match never mind every match. I didn't say Coloccini was 'class' last week. I said he looked classy, big difference tbh I don't have it in for Taylor, in fact I spent a good while defending him in last week's game thread tbh. I'd love him to turn out a good solid defender, I really would, but time and time again he looks vulnerable when he shouldn't. He never looked vulnerable to me today, he looked the opposite save a few mad minutes which to be fair could have happened to any player. Usually agree with you but not this time. It's crazy if you think that it's acceptable for a defender to play well for 80-85 odd minutes and just make one or two mistakes. As a defender, especially a CB you can't afford to make one or two mistakes per game because in all probability, these moment of madness will result in goals conceeded (same goes with keeper). Your comparison of Taylor with Martins or any other striker for that matter is just silly, a striker making a mistake does not usually cost his team the game, as there will be likely more chances coming his way. No striker has 100% convertion rate. A striker is paid to do the extraordinary (whilst putting in the tap ins that comes his way of course), wehreas a defender is paid to be unspectacular....i.e. consistent (nothing special) but no fuck ups. That's the problem with Taylor, he can play well for the most part of a game (and he played decent enough against Bolton), but those moment of stupidity nearly cost us and in other games they will. No idea how you can say it wasn't a penalty, his hand moved towards the ball. As for blocking the goalbound effirt that came immediately afterwards, yes Terry and Carragher do that too, but they block without flailing arms, something that Taylor just can't control. It's like his arms are independent of his brain! Bramble was castigated no end (fairly in my opinion) for the fuck ups despite playing well during the other 85 minutes of the game. Don't see why it should be different for Taylor.

Good 3 points but any news bout Martin's injury

What the fook is funny with my statement?

Go for it, nothing racist bout it coz Oba is black and that's a fact

Sorry that's a lot tosh right there. With the exception of the top 4 and perhaps Villa and just maybe ourselves (based on one game this season), lots of EPL clubs dont bother playing through the middle. The reason why pundits rant and rave about the way Arsenal play is because they are the exception to the rule. In La Liga, even mid table teams play the Arsenal way (though obviously with less success). How many ball playing centre backs are there in the EPL, whi can get the ball out of defence and pass teh ball to midfield. Most just hoof the ball to clear, rely on their target man striker to get the ball down and if he is good enough, get others involved. You're also dead wrong when you suggest that the other leagues (particularly La Liga just pass the ball sideways). It's about keeping possession and passing and moving till you see an opening, that's not as easy as you suggest, painfully obvious in England game's yesterday when our midfielders (even those playing for the big 4) struggle to keep possession for any meaningful amount of time. Yes the EPL is perhaps the most exciting league in the world but that's not because the teams play beuatiful football. Bollocks of the highest degree. Ok you win

Sorry that's a lot tosh right there. With the exception of the top 4 and perhaps Villa and just maybe ourselves (based on one game this season), lots of EPL clubs dont bother playing through the middle. The reason why pundits rant and rave about the way Arsenal play is because they are the exception to the rule. In La Liga, even mid table teams play the Arsenal way (though obviously with less success). How many ball playing centre backs are there in the EPL, whi can get the ball out of defence and pass teh ball to midfield. Most just hoof the ball to clear, rely on their target man striker to get the ball down and if he is good enough, get others involved. You're also dead wrong when you suggest that the other leagues (particularly La Liga just pass the ball sideways). It's about keeping possession and passing and moving till you see an opening, that's not as easy as you suggest, painfully obvious in England game's yesterday when our midfielders (even those playing for the big 4) struggle to keep possession for any meaningful amount of time. Yes the EPL is perhaps the most exciting league in the world but that's not because the teams play beuatiful football.

Am going blind, where did he say this? 'Now, in English soccer, the ball comes and goes and the game does not have much development in the middle of the stadium as in Spain.' That's what I thought he was getting at. yeah you're right, I am officially blind....must be all the wanking

Am going blind, where did he say this?

The thing about Oba is that I feel he genuinely loves the club and supporters and he knows that the feeling is mutual. This is more than I can say for some of our other players

Toptoon has taken some unfair flak for his comments. Don't think he was saying that height is the be it and end it of all. Sure positioning, jumping are all important. But height is one of many factors that are important for a good CB. Saying that Martins and Owen are good at headers doesn't prove much coz first they are strikers and second they are good despite their lack of height not because of it. I agree with Toptoon that with Faye's departure, we dont have that dominating strong physical CB (have not seen enough of Colo to fairly assess him). This sort of CB is especially important when we play against team who can't play on the deck and will just resort to high balls into the penalty box. Bolton is one such team (especially without players like Diouf and Anelka). Cacapa was raped the last time he played against a physical sort of striker and if he plays, Bolton will use this to their advantage. So yes we need another Faye like CB. Having said all that, I still expect our lads to win against Bolton.

Aye Ronaldo really helps Brown out defensively. The point that you're missing is that playing behind Ronaldo, he does not need to defend that much coz the winger would probably be busier helping his left back defend againt Ronaldo and very few left back would dare to overlap when playing against Ronaldo. He is ok as a CB (slightly better than Taylor) but dont rate him as a right back at all. Beye over Brown at RB anyday

Brief summary Jonas was awesome Zoggy is never a Left Back Frasier is a prick and cunt combined!

To be fair, his contribution to the national team will be pivotal for many more years to come. He failed so completely and spectacularly that it gave the FA the balls to appoint another foreign manager again. If he had even a meagre amount of success, the FA would be bumbling from one English manager to another or worse extended his contract!

I cant agree more, Ameobi is defiitely not up to our standards and his lazy style of 'running' infuriates me (I use to call him Ameoba the single cell organism at SJP), but he is nowehere as poor as Smith. Whoever compares Smith with Ameobi is just downright silly. I'l be glad to see the back Ameobi but I'll save the vitriol for Smith.

This argument to boo or not to boo can go on endlessly without a right or wrong answer. Everyone has made up their minds and dare I say is not ready to be convinvced otherwise. Those who dont want to boo dont have to, and those who want to boo can boo and risk looing silly in the process. Can't we just leave it at that?

All of you are crazy, you just can't appreciate talent. Smith puts in 100% commitment and has just been unlucky. Give him another year and he has the potential to be a regular goal scorer. he can shoot with both feet, shoot long range and is even bang on with headers. This post is specifically for Everton fans and Moyes

Without recreating a debate on Robert, I always felt he was undervalued (by some) compared to what he contributed to the team on the account that he does not track back enough...get stuck in..etc These set piece specialists can be frustrating at times, how many have complaint when Robert's CK did not clear the first man. But with Robert (and other set piece specialists), you know when they dont clear the first man, it is because they are trying to get in that perfect FK or CK. Unfortunately with the likes of Milner and Geremi, they don't clear the first man because they simply cant. Of course they can hoof the ball high up from a CK but that's meat and drink for any decent CB. As for FK, I used to be so excited when we got a FK from 30/35 yards out coz I knew there was a chance we were gonna score. Even if the keeper saves, there's every chance that we will get a rebound and score. Now, wehn we get a FK even just outside the box, I'm like ...meh....nothing is gonna happen Another spinoff benefit of having set piece specialists, ia that other teams are reluctant to tackle any of our players when in FK range coz they know it will result in a dangerous situation. This reluctance gives our players more space in open play. Without a specialist, the moment Martins or Owen threatens to run at them, the defenders just chop them down coz they know even if we get FK, nothing is gonna happen.

All we need to now is for the medical to show up a serious ligament damage that was never discovered previously!

its called ambition Dave Signing a player of such calibre as Coloccini shows ambition. You say time and time again that it's all about going for the best players. Well by all accounts this guy is miles better than what we have. Yet you're still f***ing complaining. What a joke. of course I want more. Thats the whole point. Edit Actually Dave, and this is a serious observation, whats your view on the comments from a few weeks ago and "keeping these deals quiet"? This one has been all over the press. Nobody rivalled us for him either ........ why not ? All over the press? We've been chasing him for months according to the agent who broke it all. Nobody rivalled us for him? mackems.gif You know f*** all, just like me, so don't pretend you do. The facts are you have absolutely no intention whatsoever of crediting the board for a thing. We're on the verge of spending £9m on a defender who is very highly rated and improving the team, yet you're complaining now that they're not the right position. We could sign an entire new team and you'd complain. That's called an agenda. You've become a complete farce. complete rubbish. People like you have complained for years about the old regime and buying "trophy players" and other such s****. People like me have ALWAYS said we should be buying players like this. I take it he isn't a "trophy player" ? I bet he would be if the old regime had shelled out 10m+ for a 26 year old defender. My point is consistent all the way down the line, I support signings like this, whoever makes them. My point is that for a club like Newcastle, we need to do more than the vast majority of clubs, and we haven't yet done that. Other people have made the same point, so don't make out I'm alone in this view. At the end of the day, its others who base their "opinions" on personalities, and its clear to see who they are. Ok then try saying this, "the current board is doing well, this signing shows that they are on the right track and so far are showing the right level of ambition" I've said my piece. I'll let those of you who agree with each other be accused of turning this thread into an old board jizzfest Just as I thought, you cant say it can you? I know it must be difficult and painful for you to give credit to the new board, but you should try if you want people to believe that your opinions are not based on personalities as you claim.

its called ambition Dave Signing a player of such calibre as Coloccini shows ambition. You say time and time again that it's all about going for the best players. Well by all accounts this guy is miles better than what we have. Yet you're still f***ing complaining. What a joke. of course I want more. Thats the whole point. Edit Actually Dave, and this is a serious observation, whats your view on the comments from a few weeks ago and "keeping these deals quiet"? This one has been all over the press. Nobody rivalled us for him either ........ why not ? All over the press? We've been chasing him for months according to the agent who broke it all. Nobody rivalled us for him? mackems.gif You know f*** all, just like me, so don't pretend you do. The facts are you have absolutely no intention whatsoever of crediting the board for a thing. We're on the verge of spending £9m on a defender who is very highly rated and improving the team, yet you're complaining now that they're not the right position. We could sign an entire new team and you'd complain. That's called an agenda. You've become a complete farce. complete rubbish. People like you have complained for years about the old regime and buying "trophy players" and other such s****. People like me have ALWAYS said we should be buying players like this. I take it he isn't a "trophy player" ? I bet he would be if the old regime had shelled out 10m+ for a 26 year old defender. My point is consistent all the way down the line, I support signings like this, whoever makes them. My point is that for a club like Newcastle, we need to do more than the vast majority of clubs, and we haven't yet done that. Other people have made the same point, so don't make out I'm alone in this view. At the end of the day, its others who base their "opinions" on personalities, and its clear to see who they are. Ok then try saying this, "the current board is doing well, this signing shows that they are on the right track and so far are showing the right level of ambition"

its called ambition Dave Signing a player of such calibre as Coloccini shows ambition. You say time and time again that it's all about going for the best players. Well by all accounts this guy is miles better than what we have. Yet you're still f***ing complaining. What a joke. of course I want more. Thats the whole point. Edit Actually Dave, and this is a serious observation, whats your view on the comments from a few weeks ago and "keeping these deals quiet"? This one has been all over the press. Nobody rivalled us for him either ........ why not ? Barca had a bid for him turned down last summer Goma, Marcelino and Pistone were not in this guy's league in terms of ability or reputation, you really don't know what you're talking about The length NE5 will go to, to forward his agenda is just shocking. To use Pistone, Goma as analogous examples to Colocini is just laughable and really discredits him (if his views are woth any credit that is)