TRon

I would imagine having two defensive midfielders who are good in possession, unlike most of the defensive midfielders we've previously employed, would give us insurance to play a very attacking front 3.

... but might not fare too well against a 6 foot athlete. Normally a team relies a lot on its centre backs with defending crosses and set pieces, and that isn't Colo's strong point, to say the least. Other players had to shoulder the responsibility last year. Just looking at the team we're building, it seems to me nimble and skilful but not particularly strong in the air. I think we're looking for a third midfield player to go alongside Tiote and Cabaye, and we could do with a bit of balance. It is a concern that we are losing some height through the team, although Marveaux looks quite tall, and Barnetta if he arrives looks similar. Whether they are any good in the air is another matter.

Welcome to Newcastle Tranquillo (when you sign which we all know you will).

Like with Owen, we bought a busted flush. He wasn't the same player after his leg was broken. An Allardyce special, long may he continue the legacy at West Ham.

Can't particularly see why he'd want to help NUFC after the way they treated him tbh. According to the national media we treated Fat Sam terribly, but it hasn't stopped him dealing with Ashley and handing Nolan a bumper contract...approved by the national media. How ironic is that?

I would have thought that's what Marveaux would be used for. Marveaux looks to be a better player in the opposition penalty area, whereas Jonas' best work is everywhere else. Don't really see the comparison tbh.

In that case he'll sign for us no doubt. Good to know.

and yet taylor played ok the season we came down, good when he played last season and was the pick of our defenders till he got injured in the championship. he's not world class by any means but the slagging off he gets i'm sure is mainly based on people disliking him personally and a crowd belief (like that of smith playing well at the start of the promtion season that bizzarly many people, even those that went to the match went along with)that once it believes something it can/will not change it's mind even in light of what it actually sees. So do you believe a Taylor/ Williamson partnership would work?

Dogleash is f***ing senile if that's what he's thinking. Gerrads got a few years left yet. If Henderson doesn't measure up by that time then there are a few youngsters who'll also be ready by then. If that's Dalglish's thinking I don't expect him to be in a job in 12 months time.

I'd put him in the Coloccini bracket though. High wages but I doubt we'll sell unless we get a big offer, and since they are on high wages I don't see many clubs coming in for them.

I'd believe that far sooner than the crap about us making a £30million bid for Sow and Hazard.

Best of luck Chris. Tough job ahead though, he won't have the quality of squad that he had available here when we got relegated.

That breaking transfer news story has got me really excited.

Someone mentioned earlier that he always lets Arsenal down in the big games. While Bendtner has a lot of qualities I really don't like strikers who can't finish. Bendtner is one of those who needs 3 chances to score a goal.

lets hope they still are come december. How funny would it be if after spending gazillions they are below us in the table at that point?

1. I doubt we'd pay £10.5million for Erdinc 2. I doubt Chelsea would sell Sturridge for £10million

I would think he could do a very good job there. Wether he would be first choice come the start of the season is a different matter though.

I agree. If he's willing to take a pay as you play contract there's nothing to lose How about Matuidi? I'm pretty sure we wouldn't buy him if we got Hargreaves.

Hope Martin Samuel doesn't read that, he'll choke on his hog sandwich.

Same. Colo's on stupidly high wages but it might cost us a lot more if we let him go and the replacement isn't fit to lace his boots (more than likely).

Agreed, people seem to think these new players are going to be firing on all cylinders from the off. We can't afford to just chuck all of the new signings in together and hope that they can play together from day 1. We'll need as much experience as we can get at the start of the season and I'm concerned that we're trying to do too much by bringing in a lot of foreigners who have no or little experience of this league. I would think at this time we're probably looking at starting with 5 new players, I include Ban Arfa as a new player as he's played so few games. I’m not sure how we’d handle a few poor results early in the season if we have too many new players to the league. To do so would be unfair on the new lads as much as anything. Sink or swim against Arsenal and the mackems? I wouldn't like to go into it without some experience backing me up, I know that much. I'd fancy our chances against both as things stand.

Why? Don't you read your own website or twitter accounts ffs? Are you making a conscious effort to talk in riddles? If I knew what your point was I could possibly answer. How do you like that?

Why? Don't you read your own website or twitter accounts ffs?

since when were we reduced to picking selective quotes to prove our points? Are we Martin Samuel in disguise?

No, you wanted it cleared up then backed off when I asked for clarification Dave.