Sifu

I thought Carr was actually decent at the beginning of his NUFC career. Then a combination of injuries/attitude issues on the pitch meant he was only ever going to go downhill.

You don't think we have more important areas in the team where we need to improve if we want to become regular top 6 challengers? Goes like this to me of importance...... 1. Fullback 2.Centre back 3. Centre Midfielder 4. Depth. Same, though I'd say CB/FB are interchangeable in priority. Firstly, apart from Santon, the options we have at fullback (the likes of Simpson/Raylor/Perch) are hardly world beaters (as hardworking as they are) and secondly, we need a new first choice CB (Saylor would be it if it weren't for his recent injury record). Definitely need strengthening in defence, first and foremost.

The moving scared yao made it just that tad funnier as well Oh Silvio.....

So, close to signing a new deal I hear? I honestly wouldn't mind that (just as long as he's being used as a backup option). The stick that Simpson does get on here is a bit OTT but I do understand some of the (sometimes justified) criticism that does come his way (backing off/unintelligent decisions). Ever since he "quit" Twitter, he has been alright really (admittedly, he did have a few bad performances prior to that) but now that we're near the end of the season, what I'll say about Danny Simpson is this: He is an unspectacular RB but he is actually quite decent defensively (would certainly have him over Raylor at RB). His attacking play though is very limited - whilst he does attempt some forward runs, his end product this season hasn't really been good enough (too many wayward/inaccurate crosses most of the time). So when we do have our strongest starting XI available, he is the weak link, it has to be said. I'm actually disappointed that he hasn't really shown any real signs of progression/improvement from last season. So, if we want to really progress in the future, Simpson should not be the first choice RB (I want to see Santon being given a runout there). But what I have seen this season are some solid/decent performances here and there and that has to count for something, yeah? So, I would keep him around because I can see him being decent backup (whether Simpson accepts this is another matter).

Promotional video for France's new home kit: L'Uniforme de l' Équipe de France. Le nouveau maillot Home 2012/2013.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/4262880/Newcastle-line-up-summer-swoop-for-Gylfi-Sigurdsson.html And some more http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2131218/Newcastle-plotting-Sigurdsson-thwart-Swanseas-hopes-permanent-deal.html It's going to happen I would be happy with Sigurdsson, would excel in a midfield three imo. But is he really worth £8 million? Hmmm.

Reading promoted. Fair play to them!

Piss-up in France would go well methinks.

FT in the Bayern-Real game. Canny result.

Nice. Really hope they fuck it up!

Thank God for that. My personal seal of approval goes down well with everything. Haha.

http://www.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/107.jpg Oh, it's on!

Same. N-O European Away trip anyone?

Tbh, I really hope we don't see a Real Madrid-Barcelona final. The game would inevitably descend into the players just falling over/cheating - once that happens, the final would be instantly ruined. So, on that note, howay Bayern.

Well, oatcakejamie has certainly put us in our place. Oh well.

Good to see Sylvain back amongst it. Would be nice for him to get a few cameo appearances in our run-in but I think the best approach is for him to just participate in training sessions and regain some fitness. That way, he'll be more than ready for pre-season. Though, if the physios think he's ready to play, then that's obviously fine by me.

2p machines? Yeah, used to play constantly in the Metroland arcades Same, I loved them

Xisco? Doing a job for us? Okay tbf, he probably does deserve a proper chance. After all, we do need a bigger squad for next season so to have him around could potentially be a nice option to have. Ultimately though, it's down to Pardew and the management whether or not Xisco should be part of the squad or not (although I guess the fact that he's been sent out on loan for two seasons in a row should be some sort of indication of where his placing is at the club).

Mole_Toonfan, that's a good post there and it pretty much sums up my feelings about the combinations one should have at CB. A brawn and brain partnership if you will (the aggressive, beast-like CB in tandem with the intelligent, highly technical CB). This is essentially why the Saylor-Colo partnership was an effective one, you had Colo's intelligence and fantastic reading of the game and then this was complemented by Saylor's aggression/determination. This type of combination is also why people (myself included) wanted Samba here. Another example is that of the Rio-Campbell CB partnership in the 2002 World Cup. They complemented each other so well, Sol was the muscle and Rio was the tidy-playing CB (back when he was a formidable defender, arguably at his peak).

Pace from the bench, should work to our favour. A cameo goal à la Blackburn will do.

None of those were the highlight of that day, the deranged mackem with the corner flags was one of the best sights ever in football Wasn't that the mackem groundsman who, when having to be escorted off the pitch, shook Roeder's hand? No the handshaker was the pitch invader who hurled his Season Ticket sleeve to the deck beside the home dugout. The groundsman took hillarious exception to being serenaded by the away fans by flipping out and had to be dragged away leaving a trail of corner flags Ah yeah, it's coming back to me now. Amusing times

In actual fact, quite a few young'uns play for the first team. Wouldn't be surprised if the average age is somewhere between 18-22.

None of those were the highlight of that day, the deranged mackem with the corner flags was one of the best sights ever in football Wasn't that the mackem groundsman who, when having to be escorted off the pitch, shook Roeder's hand?

And on that note, Viduka's goal against Middlesbrough.......brilliant stuff.

Certainly going to keep the faith. I'd feel bad for brummie though. If only more Villa fans were like him.....