Shak

Who's that in your avatar Rich? Got a face you'd just love to punch, whoever the fucker is.

Circumstances did Tomasson in, wasn't really his fault. Had Shearer not gotten the injury at Goodison then JDT would have played just off Shearer, and had looked very good in that role in a few pre-season games. In the end though he was asked to be our out and out striker, which he's not suited to at all, hence his flop. Was a shame really, he and a pre-injury Shearer could have been very, very good together.

Yorkie appears to be easily impressed, he's been in love with every single potential kit so far.

Sounds like watching a match with my dad. Basically finds it incomprehensible that anyone ever does anything wrong on a football pitch. Can't understand why anyone should ever be offside, why anyone ever misplaces a pass, why anyone shoots off-target. Houghton is a step worse, I genuinely believe he thinks players are putting in poor balls on purpose sometimes. That's an issue of deciding to do the right thing and nothing more, the actual doing it is routine. Turkey game at the weekend, Kazim put in a poor cross that the keeper came out and collected Cue Houghton "Now what's he doing there? He's got to put that in with a bit of pace, or pick a man out. But he's just floated it straight at the keeper, I don't understand what he's thinking." Anyone who watches football in Ireland is aware of it as well, friend of mine called up for the second half yesterday and saw I was watching on ITV and said "Ray Houghton got to ya, eh?"

Basically the Mamic's set the asking price at E30m, both ourselves and Spurs refuse to go above 23, which they continually refuse. Then, Levy randomly stares one of them out of it and says "23m, take it or leave it" and they accept, despite knowing that we would raise our offer during the week and that Liverpool were preparing to get involved in the bidding war too. So, unless we're to believe Levy is some sort of Jedi, I reckon its nowt more than a very long, boring tale of fantasy.

He ends up signing for Spurs, basically.

Whatever you say about ITV/BBC commentary, be thankful you don't have to endure the horror that is Ray Houghton. It's incredible, he's the most negative commentator I've ever heard in my life. You'd swear the guy was better than Maradona when he played with the criticism he levels at absolutely fucking everybody. Our pundits are immense though. Dunphy on the Russian mentality earlier on "There's sort of a melancholy about the Russian psyche, a willingness to be beaten. Much like the Welsh..."

at the team in Deep456's sig.

Holland have probably had better players than both teams and have never won the world cup. Won the Euros in 88 though, must count for something. Spain looking good but Russia's defence has been awful, they're leaving their CB's isolated against Torres and Villa too much, asking for trouble. Russians lack any sort of spark going forward as well, you have to figure Arshavin is a big loss.

He won't, Swedish papers are all saying it'll be Ljungberg/Wilhelmsson on the wings. I'd be livid if I supported Sweden, tbh, Larsson is better than both of them and the only reason he is not playing is because he's too young. How come you don't support Sweden? Wilhelmson has looked good whenever I've seen him tbf, as TCD says. Would have thought he'd offer more than Ljungberg at this point in their careers though. Cause I support England. Was under the impression you were Swedish, have I pulled that out of thin air or do you live there now or what? Rather confused at this point.

I'd say there's a fair chance that our offer remains on the table and they're looking to see if they can squeeze more from us or maybe someone else. Also, odds are that they'd much prefer to hang onto him as he'd be a massive asset to them next season in the Championship, and promotion is worth so much these days. If someone wants him they'll have to pay what Brum want most likely.

You're right, they should really just accept the first offer that comes along and be thankful for getting anything, the mad bastards.

3 new first teamers are absolutely essential IMO. CB, a ball playing midfielder and a center-forward. 3 good signings in those positions would improve us dramatically. After that, a new DM to take over from Butt would be next on the list, but I don't see that as absolutely imperative. Other than that we need to replace anyone who leaves with squad players, preferrably younger prospects.

http://www.newcastle-online.com/nufcforum/index.php?topic=52480.0

He won't, Swedish papers are all saying it'll be Ljungberg/Wilhelmsson on the wings. I'd be livid if I supported Sweden, tbh, Larsson is better than both of them and the only reason he is not playing is because he's too young. How come you don't support Sweden? Wilhelmson has looked good whenever I've seen him tbf, as TCD says. Would have thought he'd offer more than Ljungberg at this point in their careers though.

What hypocrisy. Hope he goes, just to sicken them.

Only way we're going to get the superstars of tomorrow (I hate myself for using that term) really these days. £1m isn't much really these days, and if we get lucky and unearth the next Wayne Rooney then it's one of the best pieces of business ever. Low risk- high reward strategy, definitely worth taking the chance on a few lads like this.

I reckon a young understudy is the most likely thing, someone who can take over from Butt eventually. I'd be surprised if Butt isn't starting on the first day of the season tbh. As we saw towards the end of the season, when Butt is asked to just sit in front of the back 4 and stop the opposition and not try anything too ambitious going forward he's a very solid player. It's when he's got wasters like Alan Smith and, previously, Scott Parker accompanying him in CM, floundering in their attempts to be the ball playing CM that Butt tends to get out of his depth as he then starts trying to do more than what he's suited to doing, namely sitting in front of the back 4. With a better player than Geremi alongside him, I think he can be reliable next season. If we can afford to bring in a top replacement for him then I'm all for it, because he's not a world-beater by any means, but I don't see replacing him as being an absolute necessity, while the other 3 new starters are IMO.

I'm happy enough for Butt to be first choice next season, he's not world class but does his job quite well. We absolutely need someone with a bit of craft on the ball in there somewhere though. If we go into next year with Barton, N'Zogbia and Milner as our primary attacking midfielders either side of Butt then we're goosed tbh. Really do rate Zoggy but he's at his best playing very direct so we need someone else in there who can slow it down a bit and dictate the tempo. Ideally my 3 signings would be an experienced, cerebral CB who reads the game evry well, a ball playing midfielder and a big, physical CF type. Go into next season with a team something like this ------------------ Given/Harper Beye ---- Taylor/Faye --- New CB ------ Enrique ----------New CM ---- Butt ---- N'Zogbia Owen Martins ------------- New CF If we can get a really good DM in to replace Butt then by all menas go for it, but these 3 other positions are the most important for me. I would then expect there'll be a squad player or two brought in as the likes of Duff, Smith and Barton may be moved on. I think that team would have a nice balance to it, with N'Zogbia playing much wider than the new CM, operating as more of winger when we do have possession. Martins could pull out to the right hand side to try and give us a bit of width out there, as the new man brought in will hopefully be a bit more of a ball player type.

Well all know Cath's taste in men is nothing to get excited about.

In a way, you could say that she has a point.

Couldn't agree more, lets hope Keegan sees this thread.

Was watching an FA Cup game a few months back, think it was Man U v Arsenal where Man U thumped them. Girlfriend was swanning about in the kitchen, no interest in football at all. The pundits were talking away at half time when she asks "Who's the hot guy?". Given that the three fellas on screen were Shearer, Linekar and Hanson I had to ask which one she meant. Apparently Alan Shearer is pretty hot.

Even if you do rate Dawson, surely you can't really argue that he's the type of defender we need at all. We need a more composed, organiser type CB to play alongside Faye/Taylor. Someone who reads the game well and will allow Taylor/Faye to be the more physical all-action CB. Dawson certainly doesn't fit into that category, he'd be a dreadful signing tbh.

I always give a disappointed sigh and look suitably unimpressed for a moment before changing the subject. Real men follow football. FACT.