TRon

My point is even though Shepherd spent shitloads we still had squads made up of a few big names surrounded by quite a few mediocre players. Incidentally I would count players like Kluivert, Butt and Bowyer among the big names as well If we've got a similar squad now at least we haven't blown our money on crap like Boumsong and Luque for no reason at all .

Except that's not what I said. I said Shepherd used to spend big on the Hodd ollywood signing while filling the rest of the team with cheap no marks. How else did players like Ramage and Huntingdon end up playing so many games under Roeder?

He had a poor season. Why would we give them an inflated fee on the back of that unless we have complete arseholes in charge?

I agree. Larsson is a physical weakling any competent full back with an iota of intelligence should be able to cancel him out easily.

Like I said in the other thread, how do you know the situation hasn't changed since April? He's in control of the situation - they're his players. If any other manager came out with such a clear, robust statement I'd be inclined to think it genuine. This c*** is just a walking soundbite. So it's not possible Foster has asked for first team football, or Harper has looked really poor in training for example? Harper, who has been managed by KK, SBR etc, all of a sudden looked poor? You manage Forster by bullshitting him into thinking he's due a game - f*** me, if anyone could Parnocchio could. All about managing expectations. Eh? What if he hadn't decided who was going to be his number one and when he chose Krul, Foster asked to go out on loan? It's speculation on both sides of the argument of course It may be speculation on both sides but their side has form for chopping the wage bill and getting rid of senior players/those with an opinion. Well then you tell Forster he'll get games and better experience throughout the season and should hold fire. ...but he won't if he's playing second fiddle. He's contracted for three more years. I'm sure with Billy Liar's smooth patter he could have told him what he wanted to hear. I'm out, bored of your posts and your agenda Bored of you and people like you constantly trying to defend a bent regime and s*** manager. Where have I tried to defend the regime? You are defending Parnocchio and others are constantly defending a s**** regime. There's clearly two camps on this place - might as well be two different forums until this regime have gone tbh. I'm defending Pardew simply because I don't see what he's done wrong really. If you displayed some common sense you might realise that things can change between one month and the next. Just because something was true in April, doesn't mean it has to be true now. The board have got plenty of faults. I don't like the way they deal with contracts and many other things. But I don't feel the need to complain about every little decision (especially one so potentially meaningless as replacing our second/third choice GK). You don't think a second choice keeper is important? Righteo. Moreover, you don't think it's vital to have a safe pair of hands when your first choice keeper has never completed an extended run of games in the premiership and never really had a dodgy run of form? Ok. On Pr-dew - I'll be looking for every mistruth, every contradication and every mistake because I don't trust him, never have and never will. He's not worthy of the job and he got it in the most distasteful of circumstances. If you and a few others don't want to read it, then stick me on your ignore list, because my views won't be changing. Two final things, because this argument is beyond boring... Firstly, of course a second/third choice keeper is important but have you seen this new guy play? For all you know he'll be more than adequate. Secondly, are you forgetting Harper? Just because he may be third choice doesn't mean he can't be a positive influence on the place. Thirdly, in response to the bit I've bolded, have fun with that. Sounds like a monumental waste of your time, but if you'd prefer to spend your time doing that than getting behind the manager, that's your choice. It is my choice and has been from day one. As I said, get used to it or block my posts. Harper is off, clearly. He's obviously going to be the next Dino Zoff coming here from Charltons Ressie's mate, that's why we had so much competition for him. Good job we're buying him as a backup then eh. Careful now. I hope you aren't going to use Minhosa's quotes to prove he was a lying spin merchant cunt all along

Yep - I've never been as disheartened as a NUFC fan. Terrible feeling tbh. I can think of far worse times. You sound like a bigger spin merchant than your favourite whipping boy Parnocchio. Stop talking bollocks you fucking Geordie spiv

In what way? Huh? He's asked about transfers in every single press conference and interview, and not once has he even implied that he doesn't have control over them because he's just the coach. He speaks with absolute authority on transfer dealings. Are you saying he's just an out-and-out liar? I think it's the other camp who are calling him Parnocchio tbf Dave EDIT: see post above

If we don't sign those two players I would agree, but I do expect us to sign them. The problem is the mackem game has come right at the beginning of the season before the transfer window closes so we aren't in the best position to be wheeler dealing. That said, I still think we could set out a team to beat the inbreds but for that to happen Pardew needs to make the best use of his assets. Last weeks game despite a decent result didn't really look like a team with a great plan.

Well.. lee_ryder Lee Ryder A proven goalkeeper with 18 seasons experience of #nufc or a Division Three goalie who can't get a game? Nice over reaction from a journalist, that's up there with "why coudln't Williamson get a game for Portsmouth?". I think Ryder's just covering his arse with the demanding Newcastle fans. He comes in for some fearsome stick in the Chronicle comments and on boards like this.

Like I said in the other thread, how do you know the situation hasn't changed since April? He's in control of the situation - they're his players. If any other manager came out with such a clear, robust statement I'd be inclined to think it genuine. This c*** is just a walking soundbite. So it's not possible Foster has asked for first team football, or Harper has looked really poor in training for example? Harper, who has been managed by KK, SBR etc, all of a sudden looked poor? You manage Forster by bullshitting him into thinking he's due a game - fuck me, if anyone could Parnocchio could. All about managing expectations. Easier said than done. We've managed these three for a few years now, only a WUM would try to pretend that three top rated keepers are going to be happy sitting on the sidelines year after year.

At £10m I'm not surprised.

Pretty much how it's panned out in reality I think.

I can guarantee it will be the same people who are arguing that Elliott is a senior. Are you on the wind up or do you genuinely think Pardew was talking about age? I think he was deflecting questions about Rob Green at the time if that's any clue. What age is he?

Why? Is he past it already?

I can guarantee it will be the same people who are arguing that Elliott is a senior.

I don't think we have brought in a senior goalkeeper so that isn't really a contradiction. So what is he then? Depends how you define senior I suppose. Rob Green would be a senior for me. A 25 year old playing for Charlton not so much. Senior means in the senior squad, Pardew never said we wouldn't be getting a GILPIG (Grandad I'd Like To Play In Goal). It tends to be flexible according to your slant IMO. When we sold Given as a 31 year old everyone was up in arms because as a GK he still had "years ahead of him". That makes Elliott a veritable babe in arms in comparison at 25.

I don't think we have brought in a senior goalkeeper so that isn't really a contradiction. So what is he then? Depends how you define senior I suppose. Rob Green would be a senior for me. A 25 year old playing for Charlton not so much.

I don't think we have brought in a senior goalkeeper so that isn't really a contradiction.

If we drop points because we aren't strong enough by Sep 1st then those points might well cost us more than £1-2m.

Isn't Forster in the final year of his contract anyway?

Caulkin is good friends with Harper isn't he? It would seem Harper is being phased out.

We are signing this lad because he's got a year left on his contract, not because he's the best young keeper we can find. Still, I hope the scouts really have liked what they see. It's difficult not to be cynical when the policy becomes so transparent.

Elliot may have been finished by the time we re-signed him, but he was a good player when he was first here. Infact we should never have sold him, the same applies to Watson and Clark as well. All local lads who were good enough, and would have busted a gut while wearing the shirt for years. Watson and Elliott were both decent players but Alan Thompson was the one I always thought we got shot of too quickly. Madly competitive and a cracking left foot. Don't think he was ever as good as Salty. Actually, we should never have sold Salty, as he would have easily still done a job for us when Daveeeed sulked post-Arsenal. I saw Thompson more as a central midfielder though so he wouldn't have competed with Sellars.

Elliot may have been finished by the time we re-signed him, but he was a good player when he was first here. Infact we should never have sold him, the same applies to Watson and Clark as well. All local lads who were good enough, and would have busted a gut while wearing the shirt for years. Watson and Elliott were both decent players but Alan Thompson was the one I always thought we got shot of too quickly. Madly competitive and a cracking left foot.

Between Forster and Elliott I bet Elliott won't go on to be the higher value keeper.