Elma

I'd prefer that we had sold him for decent money by now so that his presence doesn't damage the squad. However, I hate Levy and waiting till deadline day to throw in an obviously derisory bid boils my piss. I'd definitely have taken anything north of 15 million prior to the Euros, but would be looking for a minimum of 25 million in today's market, even more so since it's Levy and it's 31 August. Minimum 25 million or he stays till January for me. Him, Diame and Ritchie behind Gayle/Mitro would be interesting.

They are currently third favourites for the drop (behind Burnley and Hull) and although they just about have enough, it's only because there are three or four other poor sides. I certainly wouldn't be putting any serious money on them staying up as things stand.

He's gonna fit right in here. Nee other fucker has a driving licence either....

I thought Mitrovic took 45 in the past (pre-NUFC) as he couldn't get nine, the theory being 4+5=9? Mind you, that could go either way - either he's used to 45 now and will let Gayle have it or he's still desperate to get the number 9 shirt. I think it will be Gayle, solely on his interview yesterday. Would be a strange thing to say if he wasn't taking the 9 shirt, unless his words were misinterpreted by Lee Ryder (heaven forbid)....

This for me. Keegan was the best at scouting a player in my lifetime, buying specific players at good prices to fit into his style of play. However, even he signed Mike Jeffrey and Darron McDonough, to name a few…

If that's true that's a good deal for Everton in my opinion. Although he's 31 he's hardly missed a game in 7-8 years. Probably got 3-4 more years in him and I think he has two years left on his contract?

2-0 now

Fulham winning at home to Palace, for what it's worth.

Of course there will be no goals in the second half when we would actually be able to see them.....

Goal, according to periscope. Not got a clue who though....

If they've not offered enough then keep him. He was reborn under Rafa and would be a certain starter for me on current form (once back up to fitness). As he's in the last year of his contract then if someone in China or the Middle East is willing to pay stupid money then by all means sell. Otherwise keep him.

I'll be as nervous as during the final games of last season to be honest. If it was 5 or 6 games in and we already had 13+ points on the board it would be different. Really need to get off to a good start after a positive summer. Ideally a win, but worst case a point and a decent performance. Keep the unbeaten run going whilst we await a few more additions/a few gain fitness/we await Mitrovic's return.

I remember us getting thrashed down there 4-0 on New Years Day 1992, and listening to Charlie Harrison do the whole commentary over the phone as the radio link went down.

That's true and it translates to any level. Bournemouth have proved that in the Premiership. No outstanding individuals but good passing and movement off the ball. Am a big fan of Eddie Howe and it was obvious from the early part of the season that they had enough to stay up. Had they not been crippled by injuries early on they would have finished even higher. Expect them to kick on next year.

They aren't up to Premier League standard as midfielders, but they're up to Championship standard. Last time out we had Smith, Guthrie, Nolan, Butt and Barton. Smith was even worse then Colback, Nolan was the epitome of a passenger, Butt was completely finished, Guthrie was very lightweight (never good enough to be consistently decent in the Premier League) and Barton was basically our only decent midfielder. ....and Barton only played 15 games that season.

I put together some stats the last time we were down, based upon the away game at Palace that we had wrapped up 2-0 inside about 20 mins. I noticed that Smith swept up absolutely everything that day and Colo and Taylor hardly got a kick. About 15-20 games in I analysed results and goals conceded based upon when that triumvirate were playing compared to when one or more of them were missing. I can't remember the specifics but I think we had only dropped 2 points against West brom on the opening day and had only conceded something like four goals. Whereas our defeats until that point had all come when one of the three were missing, and the goals conceded was much higher. I'm not saying Smithy was the best player in the world, but the base he gave us so that Nolan et al could get in the box and nick goals was perfect for where we were at that time. After his facial injury over Xmas he never quite recovered that form.

As the season gets closer I'm feeling slightly less confident of a repeat of the last championship season, although I still think we should be fine for one of the two automatic promotion spots. Am happy with the business done and trust Rafa implicitly. The loss of Townsend is the biggest thing for me as he would have destroyed that league and would have had the right attitude. Gini I'm not so worried about. Definitely think we should reinvest some of the money on a creative midfielder, a specialist left-back, and if Armstrong is getting loaned out then maybe another striker. Logic says that a side which finished unbeaten with 12 points from 6 games (premiership top six form) with 12 goals for and 4 against, against the likes of Man City, Liverpool and Spurs should have no trouble in this league. However, I guess I won't feel truly comfortable until we've started as we finished last season, and we've proved we can win away from home, against Championship opposition.

I'm in Turkey. What's Twitter?

I think I want this to happen. Never been too bothered about England apart from in the tournaments and that wouldn't be a great loss. Although there's a chance the mackems would replace him with someone decent, I think I'd take that risk. They're not going down any time soon with Allardyce there and in terms of performance he's the only decent managerial appointment they've made in years. If they are forced to change manager now, and they get it wrong, they would be prime relegation candidates this year.

No idea Ian, last time we were down Watch ESPN website carried most of the matches. This time, it definitely sounds like BeIN and maybe Fox+ will carry a handful (May have made up Fox) so will have to pay for some official radio subscriptions or something to follow I guess? I'm abroad (Turkey), and obviously won't have the pub option any longer as they tend not to show anything outside of the Premiership. However, if you can find someone with SkyGo who isn't using up their four devices (I use my dad's) and then use a VPN, you can watch anywhere in the world. I'll probably see more of our games this year than last seeing as we'll be a popular draw in the Championship.

They've just turned possibly the best shirt Puma have made for us into the worst - I was getting hopeful when the stripes appeared to run from the top of the back. That shield is awful. What's wrong with a square black patch? This was my favourite for the back - Juve used to have something similar I think? http://www.oldfootballshirts.com/img/shirts/14/newcastle-united-home-football-shirt-1993-1995-s_5525_2.jpg

A bit like a gym version of Funland, The Field, Craggy island?

Well I'm currently sat in Turkey, in Europe, but I can see Asia out of the window. So it's both....geographically, predominatly in Asia but over 20% of the population of the country is in the European part.

More likely Kazım Karabekir, one of the generals who defied the last Ottoman government and helped Atatürk form the Turkish republic out of the remnants of the Ottoman Empire.

You're right like. He was born in England but Turkish blood runs in his veins and he said he feels Turkish. He's Turkish. Simple as that. He was given the names Colin (father's side) and Kazım (mother's side), but the registrar in Leyton messed it up and double-barrelled Kazım with his surname, Richards. They never bothered to change it. He then switched to Kazım Kazım in Turkey as it would be understood better. I used to work with his dad, and as I live in Turkey I've followed his career. I know loads of Turks in London who were born and raised in England, but they say they still feel very Turkish. Whereas my nephew was born and raised in the US, and despite having South Korean and British flags on his racing crash helmet (mother and father's nationalities) along with the stars and stripes, he would answer that he's predominantly American I would guess. A bit like Kazım-Richards though, he has GBR on his fencing gear as he's got more chance of making the olympics fencing for Britain than for the US.