TRon

I know it isn't a direct quote which is why I referred to this stuff being "leaked" via (ex) Journal sources. I just don't see what Edwards has to gain from putting a negative spin on Zog coming here. If he's not putting the club point of view across why would he say that? As far as I can see he's just saying that Zoggy's character is like that. I don't see any reason to assume he's been fed that by the club. How much influence do think NUFC have on the content of Luke Edward's tweets? Luke Edwards was one of the more impartial journalists during his stint up here and I imagine he's got contacts close to the club still. His tweets fit with our stance on Zog whether by coincidence or design. Of course the club could still make us all look like mugs by swooping in and signing Zog but I think I'll go with Luke's version at this point.

No one should probably be added in there as a fair possibility. Since Ranger and Best have been made available it's plausible we might need to shift out a striker before bringing one in.

I know it isn't a direct quote which is why I referred to this stuff being "leaked" via (ex) Journal sources. I just don't see what Edwards has to gain from putting a negative spin on Zog coming here. If he's not putting the club point of view across why would he say that?

If we don't want to buy Zog because we don't want to spend big money on him then fair enough just say so. I am getting slightly pissed off at the cheap digs at his character though, which the club seem to be leaking through their Journal unofficial spokesman. The guy has only spoken good things about us, why these below the belt comments you cheap cunts?

Tbf there is a question mark over premiership players when you sign foreign players but that's the same for most teams, yet still the best teams have a fair few in their ranks. I would expect rival teams to be hoping we fall flat on our face but I suspect deep down a lot of their fans will fancy we've done good business. Even if they don't want to admit it on a public forum.

new deal it is then.

I would be furious if we had wasted £60m on the players Liverpool have so on that I'm, agreed with you. However I'm more concerned with what we do and while we've had a good start to the transfer window, I'm none too convinced we are going to follow through with those couple of key signings that could make the difference between us having a serious go at the top 7 or just settle for cheap n' cheerful.

£60m+ on Carroll, Henderson & Adam, or £5m on Ba, Cabaye & Marveaux? There's not a cat in hell's chance the first three are £55m better than the latter, I think we can push them close as it stands tbh. Even more so with one or two more in. It's the one or two more that will make the difference IMO. I am awaiting with interest to see the calibre of striker we bring in and whether the other player is going to be a significant signing or Neil Taylor.

Maybe. I am starting to think other clubs might come into the fray for his services as we drag our feet. Maybe that's what we would prefer as it would mean we could be priced out of a move and stick with Ba and Best as our two premier forwards.

By the time Barton is shifted (if he is shifted) I would expect Zog will have moved to Villa or some other club. I just hope Marveaux will turn out to be a success to offset the loss of Zog to a rival.

First impressions I had of him was that he looked better than Erdinc from the youtube clips, but there doesn't seem to have been any suggestion we've been linked with him to date. I thought we would move for Long now the Erdinc deal seems dead but it seems we've switched to another continental target if the journos are to be believed. I'm starting to wonder how serious we are about bringing in another striker in all honesty.

How does that work. When he plants the kiss Dekka transforms back from the frog into a real person?

Good call. It would be similar to a Colo/Bramble partnership, which while both players can provide the odd gaffe, as a partnership they would gel very well IMO.

I think it sends out a great message to all current and future foreign recruits as much as anything. It's no longer an old boys club at Newcastle and if you show the right attitude and commitment to the cause you can become a Newcastle icon that everyone is proud of, from the suits to the ordinary fans on the streets.

Good public figurehead for the club. Presents the right image for us IMO. Fit, motivated and not a booze hound either.

The offer we made in January was before we bought Marveaux. That might have changed the dynamics and the urgency as compared to January I suspect.

Connor Wickham is the one signing that has potential to big for them, but they've paid top whack for a hopeful tbh.

I honestly don't think we expect to sign him unless the price drops to about £6-7million. Then it might become the opportunistic bonus signing which will fit into our allocated budget.

If we are playing 4-3-3 than Ba would be the lone striker so the expectation of goals in quantity would be on him. The other forwards would be expected to chip in and HBA would get his share I would think.

I said this in the Ben Arfa thread yesterday, that him just behind Ba would be potentially very tasty. I think the reason people don't really consider him is that he's more of a withdrawn player in the hole or wide whereas Erdinc or Long are more direct.

I think so Any reason, or just that they need a winger? Pretty obvious reason... left-footed midfielder for left-footed midfielder. The fact him and Downing are both left footed means he's "nailed on" to sign for Aston Villa? The fact that Villa will have just banked £20m from the sale of Downing means there's every chance they'll be pitching in with a bid, let's be honest. Then it's just a matter of whether we are serious in our pursuit or just hoping to pick him up if the fee is low enough.

wearside has got himself a new nick by the look of things.

especially as he'll be pig sick of Sunderland after 4 weeks.

I'd say an important first team member of 2 Championship winning teams was quite a decent squad player for a lower table Premiership club to have tbh. He's probably at the height of his marketability now though, so selling him off to free up some window space for new product would be a good business move from the club. I'm surprised there's no lower premier league table clubs in for him if that's the case. Maybe they don't want him for the same reasons we don't?