TRon

Think it makes perfect sense for us. Guthrie can cover Smith when Tiote is out and an extra defender would be good for us with Taylor going. From what I've seen of Rangers, defensively they are very good so how shit can Bougherra be?

Is Ben Arfa's contract only got a year to run at OM? If it has our offer is a pretty good one all things considered. Not sure anyone will better it, although Bremen will have the cash now they've qualified for CL.

Most players are uncomfortable when played out of position. Which is why I thought Ranger did particularly well. He got on with it and gave it a good go.

I'd rather give Taylor the 60k a week.

Especially since he was out on the right wing for much of the game. Ran his socks off I thought and could easily have had a couple of goals.

He practically did to be fair.

Think we'll nick a draw 1-1.

I like the look of Tavernier, and was pretty pleased with the display all round from the young 'uns. Ranger and Lua Lua were dangerous and Ferguson looks like he's got something about him. Did the manager proud all of them.

Or just injured? He has a habit of getting injuries when he's looking like getting a start.

Despite the poll results I'm certain most feel the same way. But there have been rumours of Taylor leaving for the past couple of years now, and these only intensified after he got decked by Carroll. This has been on the cards for some time now and it's no surprise to most people that he will leave.

Is he bigger than Simpson coz he looks tiny for a CB.

Don't try and sway this debate with logic, it has no place here.

So attacking that there is no balance or protection for the back line. Won't do anyone any favours, defenders or forwards.

Correct that they should have told Taylor and his agent to find a new club if they couldn't agree terms. But there shouldn't have been any statement whatsoever. Its a big massive advert to clubs that we are willing to sell anyone at a profit if they can't work out a contract. When we discover we can only get £2m for Taylor (undisclosed) every player with two years left will get flogged and replaced with cheaper versions, we'll never get a settledteam, and we'll never get to see our youth talent play for us in their prime. yes...because everyone with two years left will want more wages than we can pay. It's nothing to do with Steve Taylor thinking he's the dogs bollocks.

I suspect everyone knows that really, but without any valid argument they just like to chuck that in there.

A great advert to those local young Shearers, Bruces, Beardsleys and Carricks this will be to know the club will transfer list you without even telling you first hand, and try to turn the supporters against you by releasing rumours about massive wage demands to the press. He's at least as good now at what is required of a premier league defender as Coloccini is, and Taylor will almost certainly improve in the next few years as Coloccini declines. If wages are the problem, then why has the curly haired one not been transfer listed too, we've another 3 years of paying his wages which are almost certainly higher than the fabricated £60k? I'm sure we would take a decent offer for Coloccini like a shot if one came in. But he's on a long contract which we agreed to give him so why would we transfer list him? It's a petty argument which doesn't hold water. The relevant point is would we give Coloccini a big contract next time round? Definitely not so how about some context?

Exactly, he's had over 6 years in the first team and the only thing he'd be remembered for if he was sold tomorrow is being that local lad who had potential. He's not even worth £30k. Id remember the commitment he showed during our relegation season. If some of his highly paid colleagues had shown an ounce of his drive and determination wed have stayed up. If he's so committed he'll sign a new contract at Newcastle rather than look for a bumper pay packet somewhere else. He probably would if he was offered what he thinks hes worth, whatever that may be. As yet we dont know. I doubt the club has offered him a wage reduction. Has he deserved a wage rise? No, therefore why should he get one? If we have offered him more than his current contract, he wants to consider himself a very lucky boy. We dont know what he asked for, or what the club offered him. What a pointless comment. Agreed. I don't know why Taylor fanboys don't just say let's give him whatever he wants, we can afford it. If you can’t see how knowing what he wants and what was offered is important you must be even stupider than I thought you were. At least I'm not stupid enough to get banned and post under a new nick Leazes

If he has asked for 40k a week he is taking the piss. Is that £40k a week basic, or £40k a week with bonuses? Doesn't matter, he's not worth anywhere near that money. What about £20k a week plus bonuses? How about 18k for the first year then 23.2k for the second plus bonuses based on appearances and smart haircut?

Exactly, he's had over 6 years in the first team and the only thing he'd be remembered for if he was sold tomorrow is being that local lad who had potential. He's not even worth £30k. Id remember the commitment he showed during our relegation season. If some of his highly paid colleagues had shown an ounce of his drive and determination wed have stayed up. If he's so committed he'll sign a new contract at Newcastle rather than look for a bumper pay packet somewhere else. He probably would if he was offered what he thinks hes worth, whatever that may be. As yet we dont know. I doubt the club has offered him a wage reduction. Has he deserved a wage rise? No, therefore why should he get one? If we have offered him more than his current contract, he wants to consider himself a very lucky boy. We dont know what he asked for, or what the club offered him. What a pointless comment. Agreed. I don't know why Taylor fanboys don't just say let's give him whatever he wants, we can afford it.

How's the weather down there. No chance it will be washed out?

wrong thread

Anyone got a weather update on this one? Someone who lives down there reckoned it was so bad yesterday he thought it might get called off.

That's a good point, but I think Taylor is jumping the gun here. Until we've had a season of relative stability in the Premier we aren't going to be handing out big contracts as if we were qualifying for Europe every year. Once we've stabilised and actually started getting some success I'm sure all squad members will start to see that reflected in their salaries.

Exactly, he's had over 6 years in the first team and the only thing he'd be remembered for if he was sold tomorrow is being that local lad who had potential. He's not even worth £30k. I’d remember the commitment he showed during our relegation season. If some of his highly paid colleagues had shown an ounce of his drive and determination we’d have stayed up. If he's so committed he'll sign a new contract at Newcastle rather than look for a bumper pay packet somewhere else.

If bigger contracts where given out to lesser players (certainly in Taylors view) like Smith, Colo, Xisco who all arrived during Ashleys regime then Taylor I believe has every reason to ask for similar. I admit the money being sought and already paid out to players (lets not forget Butt getting a contract renewal - Geremi) is grossly inflated to the point where renumeration has no correlation to actual ability or performance levels. Taylor has to fancy at his age he's better prospect than all those on more than he's being offered. The "he's getting paid this much so I must be worth that much" argument is only going to get a player so far. If he's not worth it he'll just be told to fuck off. As will those players you and your mates keep harping on about (Colo, Smith etc) when it comes time to re-negotiate their contracts.