TRon

I hate to say it, but in the head to head against Modric, the Croat looked a class above yesterday. Arda didn't do much wrong, but he didn't come close to the heights of Modric who was directing all of Croatia's best attacking play. Modric NEVER loses possession of the ball - as we've seen with N'Zogbia, it's all very well having great dribbling ability, but football intelligence counts for a lot as well. If we've bid £9m for Turan, it's still a good fee for a player who is still quite raw, so I wouldn't rule us out for his signature just yet.

Hadn't seen too much of Arshavin before yesterday, but he is clearly a top drawer player. I think he is out of our league, and I'd be surprised if he ended up at anything less than a prestige Champions League club.

Obviously he's not going to make himself sound like a bad manager, but the fact is he showed his incompetence at managing a big club...he proved the England selectors right in being wary of appointing him because of his limited vision of how the game should be played. This is the exact reason why Man U or Arsenal aren't ever going to chase him, and why he's now being considered as 2nd choice to Shearer for a club like Blackburn. This is his level, a small time club, happy to cause a few upsets. Good luck Sam wherever you end up, but stop bleating about Newcastle because you blew it. Don't blame US for other big clubs not giving YOU a chance.

So you don't think it was his fault but you would like to see him go to a premiership rival so they could go backwards? Where did i say 'it wasnt his fault?' I was just trying to bring some balance to the over the top sentiment about the impact he had on the club. Are you going to argue our predicament somehow was his fault? I know a few who will be happy to hear you concede on that argument.... What my analytical brain tells me and what my emotions want are two different things, I'd love him to join another rival and fuck it right up, who wouldnt? It just seemes strange that your post was mostly defending Allardyce, justifiably or not, but then you ended it hoping he'd join another Prem rival because "it'll send them backwards no doubt". Couldn't quite work out where you were coming from there tbh. Personally speaking, I thought whatever the situation before he arrived, he handled the squad very poorly in his time here. I don't really want to hear his whining so he can fuck off and get a job more to his liking.

So you don't think it was his fault but you would like to see him go to a premiership rival so they could go backwards?

Fantastic. Hopefully the Swedes will get knocked out before he gets on the pitch. No hard feelings to any Sweden fans here, I just don't want him in the shop window if we are after him.

Star enough for me. Kranjcar would be an absolute superstar at Newcastle. The creative edge we're missing. On the note earlier about comparison to Emre; I don't think anyone would be upset if we signed a player of Emre's ability as long as he stayed fit. I don't see many people complaining about Emre in terms of his actual game. Emre has great technical ability but he walks around the pitch. When fit that is. If I was given a chioice of having Turan over Emre I'd snatch their hands off.

He hasn't looked 'immense' to me so far. Nice and tidy passes, mostly sideways, and strolling around the centre of the pitch at a leisurley pace from what I've seen. I think he could have been a bit more direct, so aye I agree. Wouldn't write him off though until we see how good he is at running at people. Arshavin did this in the UEFA Cup Final, it makes a big difference. Well I was expecting to see him running at people more than he has so far, but he has played very safe so far. I do get the feeling he's an intelligent player though - plenty of football nous as madras would put it - so there may be more to come.

He hasn't looked 'immense' to me so far. Nice and tidy passes, mostly sideways, and strolling around the centre of the pitch at a leisurley pace from what I've seen. Kranjcar has looked the better player if you ask me. Yeah. He seems to drive the attack more, whereas Modric spins around in pretty circles, too deep to make much impact. Looks very graceful though.

Egg his crib. Use eggs which look suspiciously like bricks. That should do it.

He hasn't looked 'immense' to me so far. Nice and tidy passes, mostly sideways, and strolling around the centre of the pitch at a leisurley pace from what I've seen.

I saw the Youtube video which showed he could go past a man and had some strength on the ball, but it was a Youtube compilation so you take it with a pinch of salt. I did notice a lack of goals on that clip, but it's since become clear that he's scored 20 goals in 60 games for Galatasaray which shows he knows is way to the net. Having watched the Euro game against Switzerland, he looked pretty good for reasons I've already said. I'm assuming Alex20 has seen more of him, maybey that's what he's basing his opinion of over-rated on?

Or possibly Benny realises there's something seriously wrong with Pennant's head. There's obviously something wrong with Pennant despite his ability. Similar to Barton you have to ask whether he is that good a player you would want to take on the baggage, and the answer is probably no.

He got the ball in basically the last chance of the game with his countries hopes of going any further in the competition riding on what he did with it. Yet he was calm enough and confident enough (at 21) to take it on and get into a shooting position, and strike the ball very well (looked to be heading to the side of the goal to me as well). Was it the best goal of all time?, no. Would it have gone in without the deflection?, quite possibly. Should it be downplayed either way? no. The way I see it he played well despite being hindered by the conditions and scored an extremely important goal for his country, simple as that. He definitely impressed me. Well said. I'd agree really, in a lot of ways he was better than I expected - I didn't think he'd be as good tracking back. While watching the game it did cross my mind that we might tie up the deal quickly like Lazio did before other clubs started sniffing for Rozenhal. I wouldn't be too happy if the Euros alerts other clubs or ends up inflating Arda's price.

I read them as potentially ditching Barton and vetoing transfers due to age. Maybe you need to re-read it. Maybe I do, perhaps you could help me by explaining what the bits I've bolded mean? Try reading the bits you didn't bold.

I read them as potentially ditching Barton and vetoing transfers due to age. Maybe you need to re-read it.

Or whether or not he's been guaranteed the Newcastle job when Keegan finishes. I doubt he's been guaranteed it, but you couldn't blame him for sniffing an opportunity if it becomes available sooner than expected.

What I'd say in his favour is that Ashley seems to have appointed some pretty useful staff in Keegan as manager so far, Vetere as talent-spotter. Wise and Jiinez I don't really know much about, but in answer to your question, how many club owners have football credentials in the first place?

The stakes were just as high in this game, it was a game both teams had to win. He looked pretty good to me. Vetere and co have obviously done their homework. I just wonder whether Ashley's negotiator's have done theirs?

Well it's not last season any more. Who will pay his wages and the required transfer fee this season?

I like Arda alot. Loads of energy, good feet and a willingness to track back and put his foot in. But then you could say that about Milner.

The League Cup would be nice, but fairly meaningless long term. Champions League is crucial in that it allows you to match the big boys for spending power due to extra revenue and status. CL every time for me.

Well his debut in a big tournament will be against Spain so i guess that Sweden wont have alot of the ball. And Wilhelmsson will be out for about 5 weeks and Sebastian is the natural choice to replace him on the right side of midfield. Unless they put Källström in the middle with D. Andersson and Anders Svensson out on the right, but i cant imagine that he will do that, Wilhelmsson looked like he was playing on the left yesterday. Isn't he left footed?

Barton showing his mercenary side like he did when we had to pay his signing on fee to release him from City. He might get sunk by the Dabo case though - Pearce and several City players are going to testify and considering City wanted rid following the incident, I don't think many will be speaking in his favour. 30k a week might not sound so bad when he goes down and the prospect of the sack is looming.

Wilhelmsson went off with what looked like a torn hamstring last night - looks a good winger btw. I don't know if he plays in a similar position but that might mean Larsson is more likely to start next match. Would have preferred him to stay out of the spotlight tbh.