Shak

I am happy enough, Sam obviously rates him and Seville & Dortmund are hardly European minnows. I suspect if either of those clubs really wanted him, they would've got him by now. Aye, it's not like anybody would be attracted by playing in the Premiership over the Bundesliga, or at a team notorious for paying top wages instead of someone like Sevilla.

Aye, the idea of Zoggy as a centre-mid sickened me from the off, and it still does. One of the many, many factors of Roeder's actual downfall itself, was the treatment of N'Zogbia; and i don't think there's any other individual factor that makes me so angry, other than that one. This'll sound a bit out there, and i'll probably get slated, but we had a young guy there who had the potential to be better than Ginola and Robert put together, imo. He was just that good in 05/06. Then to convert him into centre-mid? Gar. Pisses me off just thinking about it. Really hope Sam tries to sort him out. I'd have hope for Sam sorting him out, or at least getting through to him that his best position is on the wing. Agree with you about Roeder's handling of N'Zogbia, complete disgrace. Better than Ginola and Robert put together is pushing it though.

Emre and N'Zogbia are the two I'm most excited to see under new management, assuming they both stay. N'Zogbia as an attacking winger in a 4-3-3? Could be very promising, he's always looked composed in front of goal and has always said he sees his best position as playing just behind the striker(s). Others, myself included, think his qualities point towards him being a winger. Bith of a mixture of both playing out left in a 4-3-3, perhaps we'll get the best of both worlds.

Can we not get someobody better than Alan fucking Smith? I'm all for Owen leaving, but I don't see the point in getting Smith. He'll expect to start games consistently, and that can only be detrimental to our progress.

Agreed, which is what makes him so frustrating the rest of the time when he seems to just drift through games doing nowt. Could be a motivation thing, hopefully Sam will light a fire under his arse.

Great, sell the little wanker for another 9m and let's put this whole sorry affair behind us.

You read it and responded in the space of 24 seconds? Erm, you posted it in another thread. http://www.newcastle-online.com/nufcforum/index.php?topic=41548.msg882064#msg882064 Recalled agreeing with it then. It was a joke, cheer up emo boy!

You read it and responded in the space of 24 seconds?

Posted my thoughts on Emre in another thread, think I'll just copy and paste it in here. The jist is that I think he'll really shine as part of a 3-man center midfield, while he's not really suited to a regular 4-4-2, which he's been part of nearly all his time here. ----- Emre has been very inconsistent in his time here, don't think anyone can argue that. His real problem is that he doesn't really fit into a regular 4-4-2 formation, or 2 man CM midfield combination of any kind. As a holding player, he's too prone to switching off at times, which you can't have from your DM. While he's willing to get himself about and is a fiery little fella by all accounts, he doesn't really win the ball a lot or protect the defense outstandingly. So he's not cut out for the holding roll. In his first season here, he played primarily alongside Parker, with Parker in the holding roll. While he is very technically sound on the ball, he didn't get into advanced positions on a regular enough basis to cause worry for the opposition defenses. You need one of your midfielders to get beyond the strikers on a regular enough basis and score goals from the middle of the park, and Emre doesn't and I don't think he ever will. So while he doesn't seem to fit in there, he's a great fit for a 3-man midfield. With an imposing DM to protect the back 4, and Barton a box-to-box to player who will get into dangerous positions and hopefully contribute goals from the middle, Emre will be the link man, or deep lying playmaker. His job will be to be the main distributor of play from the middle, constantly available to recieve the ball and find a team-mate, which is crucial in retaining possesion. Pirlo does it for Milan, Xavi for Barcelona, and Carrick will be likely be able to step into that role for Man U now that thye have a more natural ball-winner in Hargreaves. Think Emre has the qualities to do it, even though some will say (and rightfully) that he has been very wasteful with possesion at times for us. With a more suitable role in the team, combined with a center forward like Viduka who he can play the ball into feet to, full-backs who he's comfortable exchanging possesion with knowing they're not likely to panic at any moment and hoof the ball aimlessly forward, a solid holding midfielder behind him, and runners from deep like Barton, Milner, possibly N'Zogbia or whoever else we end up with in midfield with, I think we'll see Emre flourish next year.

Really don't think he's enough of an upgrade on Ameobi to make it worth our while, personally.

The article continues but I chose to cut it off there because it links us with Anelka ( ) and Harewood ( ) But wait! I don't think we should rush into this. After all... Bwahahaha!! Looking down your nose at Anelka, how times have changed. Warnock is some muppet. All clear for you lot to sign Michael Owen then.

This will be a really shit signing for us if it happens.

So he's been s*** in the past when he's played in the Premiership then, yes? Bit unfair to judge how well a player does in the premiership by looking at their time at one club... It's all we have to go on though, in fairness. No point whatsoever going for Cisse, as he's basically the same player as Martins. Wild, pacey, can crack an absolute rifle of a shot, really poor first touch at times, poor footballing brain by the looks of things. Martins however, has youth on his side and can still improve a lot of the weaknesses in his game, while I don't think Cisse will ever improve a great deal. Martins also doesn't have the injury concerns that Cisse does either.

So he's been shit in the past when he's played in the Premiership then, yes?

And he would still score more goals than Bellamy could ever dream of scoring. If Owen leaves we need a goal scorer not someone who runs around and looks pretty doing so. Cisse will score more goals if he is played upfront alongside someone with the technique and stature of Viduka. First Koumas, now Cisse. You really do rate some very shoddy players highly tbh. I'd rather have him over Bellamy if we are playing 2 upfront, especially as he would be playing with Viduka upfront. Think Cisse alongside Viduka would score more than Bellamy alongside Viduka. That's all I'm saying really. Baggio does have a point though, if Sam intends to switch to a 4-3-3 then Bellamy would make more sense as I have always thought his ideal position is as a wide forward in a 4-3-3 if he can be convinced to play in this position he would be dynamite. Only way we'll be playing 4-4-2 next season is if Owen is still here. And Bellamy won't need convincing to play on the right, especially in a 4-3-3. Only reason he spat his dummy out last time was that it was plain as day that Kluivert and Shearer were absolutely abysmal up front together and everybody could see how much better we were when Bellamy was up there, including Bellers himself. Under Allardyce he wouldn't have to deal with the shit Souness put him through.

And he would still score more goals than Bellamy could ever dream of scoring. If Owen leaves we need a goal scorer not someone who runs around and looks pretty doing so. Cisse will score more goals if he is played upfront alongside someone with the technique and stature of Viduka. First Koumas, now Cisse. You really do rate some very shoddy players highly tbh.

Can't say I'd be too disappointed at all. Depends on whether Allardyce is getting big money, I suppose. I suspect he won't as it happens, not this summer. So that trio would be fine by me.

Nothing new, but of the clubs listed we would be the best proposition you'd have to think. So if we want him we should be able to get him, which is nice.

Cisse is like Martins, only without the potential to improve. I'd be appalled if we signed him.

Anyone reckon the Portsmouth bid will be rejected, then? That Bellamy + Riise for Owen deal would be fantastic, probably bollocks though of course. Aye, there's a few good golf courses for them up here. Not enough for Herr Hitzfeld though, sadly.

Anyone reckon the Portsmouth bid will be rejected, then? That Bellamy + Riise for Owen deal would be fantastic, probably bollocks though of course.

I honestly think he's already starting to lose his pace. This season when i've seen him he looked like he'd lost a bit, nothing drastic, but a sign its downhill from here. La Liga will suit him more, he'll just waltz through defenses instead of bursting through them here. Dunno bout that, that goal against Liverpool in the FA Cup last season was about as fast as I've ever seen someone run on a football pitch tbh. Think last season might have just been a case of him losing his appetite for it a bit when he saw how far behind Man U and Chelsea they'd fallen.

Think 16m is a very small fee for Henry. He's a fantastic physical specimen, can't see him losing his pace for another 4 or 5 years with how well he keeps himself in shape. So Barca are getting 4 years service from what will be one of the greatest players in the world for 16m, while somebody looks like they'll be paying the same amount for Darren Bent. Even if Bent is younger and has his best years ahead of him, he'll never be able to give to any club over the rest of his career what Henry will give Barca over the next four years. The likes of Bellamy are being priced at 12m. Arsenal are getting absolutely raped here tbh.

Leaving Henry and Etoo' where? Personally I reckon either Etoo' will be gone and Henry will replace him pretty much in a direct swap, or else Deco will go and they'll play with Messi and Ronaldinho as drifting AM's just off Henry and Etoo'... Barcelona will be pretty handy in Pro Evo. As i said before, i think the formation will look something like: -------Xavi------- iniesta/new player ------------------------Ronaldinho-------------------------- -------Eto-----------------------------------------Messi------ -------------------------Henry------------------------------- Deco is as good as gone imo. Ronaldinho has looked absolutely useless playing in the position for Brazil (last years WC for instance) while on the one or two occasions I've seen Etoo' play off the striker he's been much less effective than when he is the main man up front.

Leaving Henry and Etoo' where? Personally I reckon either Etoo' will be gone and Henry will replace him pretty much in a direct swap, or else Deco will go and they'll play with Messi and Ronaldinho as drifting AM's just off Henry and Etoo'... Barcelona will be pretty handy in Pro Evo.