TRon

You can see Ashley's point if you think about it. If WHU are going to pay in stages, it means they will be getting an England international for £6m. If it's paid in installments that takes their risk factor out of the equation in which case they should be paying the full valuation which must be closer to £8m for a fully fit Dyer. So I guess Ashley's reasoning is if you want him for £6m pay the full amount up front. If you want fitness guarantees over a long period of time then the fee should reflect this.

Don't see much wrong with what Sam's saying tbh. He's criticising the player's general fitness and saying it had been allowed to deteriorate. Compare Bolton's fitness record to ours last couple of seasons. If in a year's time we are still suffering breakdown epidemics then by all means have a pop. My view is that the number of players who haven't been available to start games for Newcastle has been unacceptable and I'm very glad that this will be addressed.

This post rates close to 10/10. I can guarantee no detractor will have the balls to debate or dispute it on it's own merits but may well hark back to the days before Shepherd and Hall as a crutch defence and attempt to divert the issues addressed. You would be wrong then. I can guarantee that no detractor, especially those who weren't around pre - 1992 and think that NUFC have always won trophies galore and the Halls and Shepherd are responsible for bringing an end to decades of glory, would have the balls to dispute that a young quality defender is just as good a buy as an older quality defender, as he can spend his career with you, but whether they are young or old, you have to be prepared to pay a fee if they are under contract. And the competition will be hot if they are good, and the competition will not be so hot if they are not so good. And if they are good, they won't sign for clubs that they think are not going to be successful, or clubs that offer less money than someone else. We did quite well to sign Woodgate. For big money. There was also unknown, or cheap foreigners over the years such as Dumas, Marcelino, Goma, Boumsong, Babayaro, Pistone, Charvet, and younger players such as Bramble, O'Brien, Griffin, as part of a "plan" for those who think everybody but us has a "plan". Lets hope these new defenders are better than most of that little lot, the vast majority of whom were celebrated when arrived because we needed defenders. The bottom line, is that if you want quality, you invariably pay, either with a transfer fee or in wages. Woodgate is the absolute proof. Or rather, if you don't, then your chances of success - depending on your ambition for the club - is seriously diminished. But - at least in terms of the ones who we paid money for, they tried, and backed the manager. Your argument is pie in the sky thinking and not based on realism. Yes we would prefer top younger defenders but at this moment in time following two years of inept leadership they won't come. Allardyce wanted Haim but he chose Chelsea. FFS even golden oldie Sammi Hypia turned us down. So which top defenders did you have in mind? Please don't hark to the past when we signed Woodgate as an example. That is no use to us at this moment in time. Right now, which top young defender should we be buying? John Terry? Maybe where you live in Zumba Bumba land you might think it's a possibility?

no coincidence you only name premiership defenders from Chelsea, who play so deep you don't exactly need to be quick evra 26 heinze 29 vidic 26 brown 27 ferdinand 28 ben haim 25 carvalho 29 terry 27 agger 23 aurelio 27 toure 26 eboue 24 chimbonda 27 king 27 meite 27 samuel 26 yobo 27 lescott 25 shorey 26 bouma 28 huth 23 pogatetz 24 woodgate 27 rozehnal 27 What is your point? That Chelsea are getting it wrong?

Fair enough. I'm just slightly sceptical that it's the same players breaking down as before, but if it's just minor niggles no problem.

another beauty

This post rates close to 10/10. I can guarantee no detractor will have the balls to debate or dispute it on it's own merits but may well hark back to the days before Shepherd and Hall as a crutch defence and attempt to divert the issues addressed.

Best post in the thread by a mile. Well apart from mine.

Baines, Shorey, Bridge? Any of them would have more impact than Smith for £6m. Bridge is going to play on crutches is he?

Thats just a rehash of the Chronicle. Nothing new. I'm just saying that it's on the official site, which lends it more gravitas to it appearing in an Alan Oliver article, dickface! Not really, as they reproduce any manager/player quotes that appear in the Chronicle every day. How is this puddinghead a moderator on here? I want answers. LOL

Bloody hell...a week ago everyone was shitting themselves because we were struggling to get anyone through the door...now we look like we may have got 2 or 3 signings in, two of them defenders and we are still carping! which defender should we have bought for £6m?

Smith is a straight swap for Dyer so no big loss there. Don't really see why people are complaing tbh. The defenders situation looks like it is being sorted which is the most important thing.

The "two ageing defenders" are just what we need IMO, would have been better if they had Prem experience but that can't be helped. We need experience to go alongside the likes of Taylor.

At last I am starting to look forward to the new season. Looks like we will have 3 new signings including two very competent defenders if Cacapa and the Serb sign on. Despite the fact they won't have Prem experience, the next best option was to sign quality, seasoned pros and they tick the right boxes there. The signings made haven't been spectacular, but so far they are very solid. We are for once looking like we might be able to go into a new season with a squad that can just about cope if all goes through smoothly. Get in there!

Would be like punching Phil Gartside in the face if it came off. I'm loving it.

Looks like Sam and Mort are flexing their muscle at last. It's showtime.

Hopefully the sentence will coincide with the period he's out injured.

I know these are just niggling injuries, but it still pisses me off slightly. If there are two players who you would like to see play a few consecutive games without breaking down it's them. I was expecting a trouble free campaign from Ameobi this season so hope this isn't a sign of things to come.

We'll draw at their place and hammer the Hammers at home. I think doing the double is a possibility but I think they'll get a point from the two fixtures.

At least we'll have cover for Barton while he's out. I think Smith will do quite well as an attacking midfielder.

read the interview, and agree with everything said in a nutshell. I feel a lot more secure knowing that we have people in charge who are intelligent - it's a refeshing change.

I think you might see another player coming who can play both center back and left back, Allardyce likes his players versatile and it gives us more options in several positions. Would be surprised if he's mobile enough to play LB. Looks like he's built like a brick shithouse.

that's crap a player only a month ago Sam said was instrumental to the team, and who he then valued at £25m, gets sold to a millionaire for only 7 f****** million quid, when c***s are paying £5m for absolute s**** yeah thanks a lot you fat b****** Look at the walls..they are moving...changing shape.. now wipe your chin with your bib...stay away from the walls....

Looks like a big guy. Probably bought to play centre defence rather than LB.

I see Sven has spent nearly £40m on unknown players since being appointed manager by the bent Korean. Would the Ashley knockers please stand up and be counted at this stage? Prefer Man City's approach or ours?