TRon

Don't think we will be buying Boateng AND Barton somehow.

No one will pay £9m IMO

Viduka appears close to signing. Parker appears close to leaving. His Bolton backroom team are close to arriving. Had talks with Owen while definitely on holiday I believe. I'd call that progress...

Similar to when he signed tbh. Owen's agent pimping him to the 'Big Four' - no interest at the asking price - Owen reverts to dedicated Mag mode...

Even better...

seems to be making more progress in the transfer market from his sunbed than most of our previous managers have done during most of the close season. Glen Roeder spent most of last summer sending Michael Owen grovelling phone texts...which were probably deleted un-opened. Does SA take his headset off when he turns the lights out at night? Or do you reckon he leaves it on to use as an alarm call in the morning?

Viduka will do very well next season. Cracking signing if it happens tbh.

Parker for me, is a nothing player. Neither a real DM or a creative attacking one, although he can do a bodge job in either position. Tidy enough but not enough physical presence to boss a match. Barton isn't a player I'd want here really but if SA thinks he can get the best out of him I trust his judgement. It's the sort of thing he gets right more often than wrong.

It's not about bashing any individual who is playing for Newcastle. it's about the make up of the team, something we have basically lacked for a long time now. Butt, Emre, Parker and Dyer all have fine qualities but put them all together a'la Roeder and this team would get kicked off the park by the Sheff U's, Birminghams and Boltons in the premier league. None of thes players are bad in their own right but putting the right combination together is what good management is all about.

Both are great professionals, both are touted as Newcastle captains for commendable reasons. Both are unlikely to be tapped up by the top sides in the EPL because small DM players aren't really in much demand in England. Bearing this in mind, do we really need two small scufflers in the engine room? Or even one?

exactly!

^^ Now that sounds like a trademark Sam Allardyce signing.

I think it's fair enough to ask this question. When Sam was given this job we were (and still are) a team closer to relegation material than champions league. At that point Allardyce was the logical choice and a superb one IMO with his record of achieving the maximum from players at his disposal. However, with Ashley's massive cash injection into the squad, this obviously raises the expectation level to a different height. With funds to compete with the big boys SA will be in new territory and will have to prove himself all over again. I don't think Allardyce's Bolton-style of play will work at a higher level. But Allardyce has proven to be ahead of his time in so many respects, I am pretty confident he has the right approach to progress to a higher level given the resources and time to adapt.

What opinion? Opinion by definition is weighing up the pro's and con's. Since when did bitching and whining count as 'opinion'? bored now. you get questionned on your ridiculous policy, and you change your tack. what a shock. So what you are basically saying here is you don't have any answers or solutions but you want to harp on about other people's failings. Is that correct?

As I said elsewhere, if his release clause is £9m, who cares if he goes? Just because he is pimping himself to the top 4 doesn't automatically mean anyone will bite in any case. If they do, great. We'll have £9m to invest in someone who wants to be here and won't collapse on coming into contact with a blade of grass.

Come to think of it, I would love to see Bond come and complain about the hefty wages he got paid at Newcastle for being Roeder's mate while squawking like a parrot on Panorama about shady dealings. I would indeed like to see him explain who was morally bankrupt in this case...

Despite the fact that FFS is a blundering piece of lard who I have no respect for I am behind him 100% for two reasons: 1. Allardyce wasn't caught with his pants down on tv in front of the whole world. 2. He isn't a useless tit who only got the job because he was mates with another useless tit.

What opinion? Opinion by definition is weighing up the pro's and con's. Since when did bitching and whining count as 'opinion'?

Your signature suggests a lot of bitterness towards our former managers. Are you Sam-bashing because you can't bear to be disappointed by yet another Big Hope? Do you even know what hope means? You don't feel any bitterness towards Souness or Roeder? Good for you, then. Your signature suggests a lot of bitterness towards our former managers. Are you Sam-bashing because you can't bear to be disappointed by yet another Big Hope? Do you even know what hope means? You don't feel any bitterness towards Souness or Roeder? Good for you, then. Not really. I thought they were poor appointments in the first place. I am very happy with the appointment of Allardyce though and I will happily raise his flag right now. Who's your answer? Or are you good for carping only?

Your signature suggests a lot of bitterness towards our former managers. Are you Sam-bashing because you can't bear to be disappointed by yet another Big Hope? Do you even know what hope means?

Probably the two bad lads, N'Zogbia and Martins assuming Sam wants them. Both underperforming under previous tits, managers, but both have plenty of ability if chanelled right and can be motivated by the right coach. It could be the case they both want out in which case they can happily fuck off for the right fee...I'm hoping Big Sam will be able to get them to do their stuff here though.

Great observation.

From what I saw of Krul last season Shay Given should be made aware that he is fighting for his shirt with a truly great prospect. Harper shouldn't even be in the picture.

My feeling is that Luque has looked like a fish out of water in the EPL. That said, you wouldn't have fancied Ginola, Okocha or Zola to shine here but they did. Sometimes it's about having a manager who knows how to construct a team. Been a while since we've had one of those tbh.

His best partner theoretically should have been Ramage, both passionate locals, both lauded by the regional press, both immune from getting their arses smacked like N'Zogbia for thinking far too much of themselves way too soon. Both were also in the team that got steam-rollered 5-1 at home in the FA cup by Championship shite Birmingham. Maybe someone should make these lads watch a replay of that match before negotiating new contracts.