Cronky

This could be a goer, folks. More fuel to the rumours - According to several media reports in Belgium,Newcastle has agreed a 7.8M€ with AZ Alkmaar for Pocognoli and now are in talks with the player and his agent. Translation from Belgian press: Newcastle Agree Pocognoli fee wit AZ. Belgian Olympic Defender - Sebastian Pocognoli is on his way to England as Newcastle United agree fee with Dutch Side AZ Alkmaar for the Belgian left Fullback. Talks with his representatives are ongoing. More updates soon.

Anyone know this player? Mr Oliver seems to think we're interested - NEWCASTLE United are toying with the idea of moving for Belgian international left-back Sebastian Pocognoli – when he returns from the Olympics. Reports coming out of Belgium suggest United have already agreed a £6m fee for the 21-year-old with AZ Alkmaar. Belgium were beaten by Nigeria in the semi-finals in Beijing. Kevin Keegan has always maintained a left-back was his main priority in the close season as cover for Jose Enrique. And as well as Charles N’Zogbia did well going forward in this position in Sunday’s fine draw at Old Trafford, the Frenchman does not like playing at the back and was caught napping when Darren Fletcher poked in the Man U equaliser.

http://a1.vox.com/6a00cdf3a2afb2cb8f00d4143adc796a47-500pi Jimmy Hill http://www.4dsports.co.uk/28%20JIMMY%20HILL%20BLACK%20N%20WHITE.JPG Dick Dastardly

I was surprised and impressed with what I saw of them against Spurs. They've made a big improvement.

Gerrard. Rio doesn't seem the sharpest tool in the box, and Terry is a bit of a yob. If he was a regular in the team, I'd pick Barry.

I wish the lad well. He needs regular football with a team that fits round his particular talents. He's not top class, but I think he can play in the Premiership and I hope he makes it back.

Yeah, if there's any truth in this at all, 140 grand has to be the ceiling rather than his basic wage. It would make sense for the Board to offer him an incentive-based deal if they're trying to trim the wage bill, but at the same time not embarrass Owen by asking him to take a pay cut. I know there's the issue of having to pay a transfer fee to replace Owen, but you also have to look at the effect on team morale if one player is getting paid so much more than everyone else. If he's earned it on his performances, then okay, but Owen hasn't. All this chasing after midget forwards like Saviola and Aimar is intriguing. I can't imagine playing Martins, Owen and Saviola in the same side.

I'd kind of say a similar thing, but with a negative take on it. Butt looks more comfortable when the opposition has the ball, but actually the DM in any side tends to get a lot of possession. If he can use the ball well, that's a big asset, and that's what Butt is lacking. On another take, a round of applause to Wise and co for recruiting what looks like three very good players? I'm sure they'd be taking the blame if they'd turned out otherwise.

I'd agree with this. He seems to be in permanent state of not quite knowing what to do. While he hesitates, everything happens around him. 'Lost' is the adjective I find myself using most often for him. Wide midfield in a 4-4-2 probably suits him because it's the simplest position on the pitch. The minute he has more responsibility or decisions to make (and that includes when he's pushed more centrally), he seems to flounder.

For good measure, I thought our delivery into the box from set pieces had improved a bit. Man U got very few unpressured clearances away.

Aye. Did the dirty work well today but when he needed that quick touch or pass his mind was just that little bit too slow. Caught in possession a number of times when he shouldn't have been. He's a trusty squad player but needs replacing. Yeah, this. It's not just the obvious mistakes where he loses possession that are annoying. It's when he fails to take advantage of a promising situation because he's not sufficiently confident or imaginative on the ball. That's really costly, because the DM tends to see a lot of the ball. The prime example was in about the 70th minute. Colo won the ball around the half way line, and the ball fell towards Butt. Colo instantly saw an opportunity and bombed forward into space to receive the ball. Butt was so busy concentrating on keeping possession that he passed the ball back to his back four.

I thought the front six did well as a unit today. I just wish we had a better DM. That'd make a difference.

Given 8 - looked confident again. Some excellent saves. Beye 6 - Did a solid job. Taylor 7 - Likewise. Coloccini 7 - Grew as the game went on. N'Zogbia 3 - A disaster. Did nothing in attack or defence. Milner 6 - Worked hard Guthrie 7 - Looked positive. Very promising. Butt 5 - Worked hard, but very negative in possession. Gutierrez 9 - What a find. I don't think I've ever given anyone a 9 before. Duff 5 - Needed to get forward more when opportunities presented. Seemed a bit in no man's land. Martins 7 - Played sensibly for once and carried a real goal threat.

Who decides MOTM? Genuine question.

Great result, and what's more we can improve. We looked much more creative in possession than last season. Zoggy had an absolute mare. I know he's not the best defender, but he actually looked half-hearted. Good job that Jonas was playing like two men today. I thought Oba did well, considering who he was up against.

When we do get good possession, we've got to be a bit more positive.

I agree about Milner, but he's not the only one. We need to get a bit closer. It's a question of confidence as much as anything.

We look so much better in possession than last season. And what a good player Jonas is, bloody hell. Butt is driving me mad though.

AAgh! Zoggy played him onside.

The commentators are greeting the goal like it's a tragedy.

Butt is a liability. If he isn't losing the ball, it's going backwards.

Cast iron pen.

Our only hope is to defend and hit them on the break. At least we've got plenty of pace in the team for once, so it's not a non-starter.

Straw-clutching maybe, but their midfield might not dominate us as much usual.

A lot of the players we've been linked with - Modric, Deco, Arshavin, Arda, Aimar and now Saviola - could play in that free role behind the strikers that was Owen's last season. It does look like Keegan is looking for something specific, probably so that he can push Owen forward. Edit - or perhaps replace Owen, if the Spurs rumour is to believed.