Geordie Boot Boy

2-0 to us is my prediction. Viduka and Geremi to score.

It's tricky. Man United, Arsenal, and Chelsea will take the top three spots. Then, there's Tottenham, West Ham, Liverpool, and Man City to worry about. I think that we won't have to worry too much about Portsmouth, Blackburn, and Everton. I would guess sixth (after Man United, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool, and Man City).

No, you're thinking of Jenas.

Assuming that we're getting Smith for six million... If he's going to play up front, it looks to be a pointless signing (as I said in the other thread, I'd rather see Ameobi, Owen, Martins, Viduka and possibly Luque ahead of him). If he's going to play in midfield, it looks like a poor signing (he just isn't that good at anything in particular- except running at people and getting red cards). If six million pounds is the going rate for another 'body' in the squad, fair enough because, IMO, that's all he'll be. I bet he doesn't think that he's going to be so far down the pecking order though.

I'm quite disappointed that he's going to another Premiership team TBH. He's a top six player who we'll probably miss at times next season. Looking back over his Newcastle career, one thought comes to mind: if it weren't for the injuries...

I'm not convinced he can do a good enough job at left back but I'd like to be proven wrong because we seem unable to sign a left back at the moment and Babayaro is always going to miss a two-figure number of games a season.

That one really took the cake for me. He actually went to the bother of tapping up a player that wasn't even starting regularly for a team that went down that season as the worst top flight side since the start of the Premiership!

Aye, there are other sane people that realise that signing Smith doesn't mean we can't sign defenders as well. A concept beyond the grasp of some. Don't know where people are getting that Smith is s****, he is a canny player. Ferguson doesn't sign or player s**** players, he would be a good addition to the squad. Djembax2 Kleberson Fletcher Tiabi Howard Silverstre Saha Smith Veron Fortune May Barthez Dong Harsh on Howard and Saha there IMO.

I don't necessarily agree that he would have paid the Halls less than their shares were worth. I'm not sure how you can say that with confidence. He probably would have put the club further into debt though, yes. He said that he wouldn't sell no matter what the offer. That was probably just bravado and defiance. You consider this an actual tactic to get the Halls to sell their shares to him at a cut price? Shepherd would have to be even less bright than I thought to think that this would have any effect. I genuinely don't think he tried to 'shaft' the Halls. He might have tried to take advantage of a situation of them wanting to sell but who wouldn't?

I'm not even sure you know what you're arguing about. I said that an opinion that cites the fact that Alex Ferguson plays someone as evidence that that someone is a good player is invalid and you have posted a justification that Ferguson plays him. You seem to agree that he isn't very good (toned down), so we don't disagree. I agree that every team needs players that will 'do a job', play when needed and not complain. This very fact means that just because Ferguson gives someone a few games, does not mean that the player must automatically be good.

Alex Ferguson has bought lots of s*** players in his days at Manchester United, he also has regularly played s*** players at Manchester United. John O'Shea is the most current example of this latter fact (not even opinion). Hiding behind an opinion with the justification that someone else agrees with it doesn't really work. I don't think we need him, I don't like him as a player (or as a person) and, in this hypothetical situation where Allardyce may be interested, I'm against it for any transfer fee above about a million and low wages.

Better than decent as what? As a striker? He's not good enough Gemmill. I'd rather see Carroll get chances when three of our strikers are out injured (purely as a temporary stand in for the moment). I don't think he showed all that much as a midfielder. He soon learned that just 'getting stuck in' wasn't enough in today's game. He can fill in as either tbh. And I think we're all getting a bit carried away with Carroll, as we usually do with young lads who come into the team and show some promise. I don't anticipate seeing a great deal from him next season. Smith would give us options in both midfield and up front. And I don't understand how that could be a bad thing. I think he's a decent player. He doesn't score enough goals to play up front and his performances in midfield, IIRC (I'm willing to be told otherwise), were no better than average. I don't think I'm getting carried away with Carroll, I just think that he may well be adequate as a fifth choice striker (actually, sixth when you consider Luque). One other thing, why would he move from Manchester United to us to be a back up player, given that his main issue there is that he isn't getting enough games? (Maybe he's finally realised that he's playing for the club that he used to commonly refer to as 'the scum')

Better than decent as what? As a striker? He's not good enough Gemmill. I'd rather see Carroll get chances when three of our strikers are out injured (purely as a temporary stand in for the moment). I don't think he showed all that much as a midfielder. He soon learned that just 'getting stuck in' wasn't enough in today's game.

Good post.

I kind of hope he stays, on the premier league dream team website, he's listed as a defender. If he gets a few games under his belt, he could get a canny few points.

Think of the puns that the Evening Chronicle has to play with now! Mort-gage (some kind of SJP development) Mort-al (he pops his clogs or is seen drunk- bonus points if he's with Shearer at the time) Mort! Mort! Mort! How do you like it? (many scenarios)

I can just picture Freddy Shepherd getting arrested, tried for murder and on his way giving an interview "I think it is the right time for me to go to prison". Get stuffed, it was the right time to go as soon as someone with money, ambition and a brain in their head came knocking on the door. He didn't think it was the 'right time' until he was asked to clear his fucking desk. And I have no doubt that he's enjoyed every minute as chairman. No doubt at all.

Henry seemed to me hopeless at Juve. Has he really improved that much since then? It was a genuine question funny man. I haven't seen that much of him except at the World Cup (and the World Cup isn't IMO the best arena in which to scout a player). Appiah is a very good box to box player with plenty of power, drive, strong in the tackle, has a good shot on him and an eye for a pass. He is an all round midfield player. The Fene fans love him so that tells you something. I disagree on the WC scouting issue as you always find some of the best players in the world playing there (so IMO standard is high). In all the Ghana games he played he was the driving force and looked world class, often the best player on the pitch by a country mile. Him and Barton would be mint IMO in the centre. The World Cup is a useful place to judge a player's ability when you couple it with observations of the player from other games over a longer term but (I am guessing that) quite a few people on here are probably just judging him on his World Cup performances, all four of them. In my opinion, that isn't enough. If he really is as good as you say he is, lets hope we sign him up.

Henry seemed to me hopeless at Juve. Has he really improved that much since then? It was a genuine question funny man. I haven't seen that much of him except at the World Cup (and the World Cup isn't IMO the best arena in which to scout a player).

Appiah seemed to me hopeless at Juve. Has he really improved that much since then?

Not me, my point is based in the hypothetical. If Fergie wants to sell him though (and there are no mitigating factors as mentioned), it is because the player isn't good enough.

But, if he's selling him, he isn't good enough for Fergie. Fairly s**** point when you consider how many games he has had and the players brought in this summer. He has played a fair few games but, in these games, he must have shown Ferguson that he isn't good enough for the team he wants playing at Old Trafford. Otherwise, he wouldn't be bringing in all these other players and allowing Fletcher to leave (assuming there are no other factors at work, such as consistent injuries, a disproportionately high wage or an attitude problem). I'm not saying that he isn't good enough for us because Ferguson is willing to sell him, I'm just pointing out that saying that a player is good enough for a manager that is selling him doesn't ring true for me.

I like him a lot as a player and would definitely keep him. As others have said, he has the potential to be our best midfield player.

But, if he's selling him, he isn't good enough for Fergie.

God, no.