stozo

Would like to see Parker and Barton as our midfield pairing.

I love how these foreiugn players such as Senna and Diarra would be so much better than Parker when in reality the closest most have come to watching them is playing against them on FM.

Shouldn't sell unless we already have somebody better lined up. Last thing we need is to be creating more positions to fill. I'd try and force £9/10m from West Ham as well, should make them pay as far over the odds as possible.

You do realise Amoebi actually played several games for us at the start of the season.

Good shout. Think we should get Kingston in, heard nothing but good reports about him in Scotland and seems a very dynamic player and a bit of a cult hero to boost. The Russian club that owns him only want about 500k for him which would be worth a gamble in anyones book. Because our last superstar signing from Scotland turned out well. In my opinion we shouldn't go anywhere near someone who hasn't proven himself in a decent league yet. Hardly costing £8m is he? Should we wait untill he proves himself and the the price becomes extorinate? It's not like were exactly short of cash now is it. If we are aiming for the CL in the next few years we should not be going for this type of player. When did you last see one of the top 4 signing a player with his sort of background. Also it seems utterly bizarre Sam would want a new DM when we have Butt and Parker who we know are very capable DM and most likely miles better than this guy from Hearts and that Boateng. Sam showed at Bolton that you can only take a team of cheap imports so far before you hit a brick wall.

Good shout. Think we should get Kingston in, heard nothing but good reports about him in Scotland and seems a very dynamic player and a bit of a cult hero to boost. The Russian club that owns him only want about 500k for him which would be worth a gamble in anyones book. Because our last superstar signing from Scotland turned out well. In my opinion we shouldn't go anywhere near someone who hasn't proven himself in a decent league yet.

I KNEW SOMEONE WOULD COMPARE HIM TO VIANA, BUT LIKE I SAID HE HAS ENOUGH PACE TO COMPETE IN THE EPL, YOU WOULD BE BEST TO COMPARE HIM TO RONALDO THAN VIANA. So just because he has pace it would be better to compare him to Ronaldo? Why not compare him to Alan O'Brien who also has pace. Only seen him play once but I wouldn't compare him to Ronaldo at all.

Thing is though the seasons finish at all different times around Europe. Our season finished weeks ago but the Dutch only finished yesterday and the Spanish don't finish for another 3 weeks.

Link OBAFEMI MARTINS has gone AWOL again and this time the Nigerian Football Association are on the verge of demanding action from Newcastle United. Martins was issued with an ultimatum from Super Eagles coach Berti Vogts last week. He was ordered to turn up for a training camp by the weekend or risk losing his international place. Ahead of last night's friendly with Kenya in Nairobi, the Newcastle forward was still ignoring his country's demands, so Vogts is planning for African Nations Cup qualifiers without him. But the Nigerians are not completely happy with Newcastle's involvement, and they will make contact in the coming days after becoming frustrated with the Magpies' star for the second time inside a few months. "We organised this friendly match mainly for the England-based players and the local players to keep them in shape as their league ended early. But Martins for two, three weeks has not played football and he is not here," said Vogts, whose side play Uganda on June 2 in an important qualifier. Martins infuriated the Africans when he failed to turn up for a February friendly with Ghana at Brentford. The 22-year-old has been playing truant with national team officials. His plane ticket was sent to Newcastle, only for the player to call to say he was in Italy receiving treatment from Inter Milan doctors. But since being asked by the NFA for a referral letter from Newcastle illustrating that he has been given permission to receive treatment outside the North-East he has refrained from making contact with Vogts and his staff. By the time his ticket was re-routed to Italy, he was no longer there, and despite being in the Nigerian capital Lagos he has remained incommunicado. "Can you ask him why he has been in Lagos since and has not reported to camp?" said Vogts, who is looking for some clarity from St James' Park about Martins' injury. "We know that the FIFA rules say players should be in camp five days before a match, but this is a player that has been released by his club since and he has been in Lagos when he should be in camp." This latest controversy will annoy Newcastle officials, who may accept this summer that if the right offer arrives then Martins could be offloaded. Juventus are known to be interested in taking him back to Serie A. New Newcastle boss Sam Allardyce, who could try to lure David Beckham on loan when LA Galaxy's season has ended in October, has cash to spend. And, despite the imminent battle for power on Tyneside between chairman Freddy Shepherd and the club's largest share holder Mike Ashley, who will meet this week, he will still be given the funding to recruit. Bagging around £12m for Martins would benefit Allardyce, who has also not given up hope of retaining the services of Michael Owen. Owen made his England return in the win over Albania at Turf Moor on Friday night and, although showing a lack of sharpness, clubmate Steven Taylor is no doubt about the striker's worth. It is expected Owen will start against Brazil on Friday and be part of Steve McClaren's side, also including Beckham, which tries to secure a victory in Estonia. "It was great to see Michael get through the 90 minutes," said Taylor. "If he could have scored it would have topped things off, but I have absolutely no doubt that the goals will come. "He's looked strong in training ever since he's come back, but this week with England was probably the sharpest that I've ever seen him. He's probably better now that any other time that I've played with him, and Newcastle will reap the benefit." Taylor, who played for England B on Friday, feels that sharing the same training ground with the likes of Owen is aiding his development into an international defender. "Training with the likes of Michael Owen every day can only bring me on," said the 21-year-old, who will this summer be playing for the Under-21s in the European Championships. "International football is a different game because you're playing against the best players from all over the world. I think I'm used to the Premiership now, but all of this is something new and I'm sure I'll improve even more from it." Allardyce has been alerted to the news that West Ham's Nigel Reo Koker has submitted a transfer request at Upton Park and the Newcastle boss could be about to make a move for the Hammers' midfielder.

Would like to go away to Fulham, Reading or Pompey.

Nope, he got back on Thursday.

Seriously, I'm getting a little sick of all these posts praising Sir John Hall. He has been the cancer of this club for the best part of a decade. I'll start by giving him credit where it's due, he dragged this club out of the gutter and turned it into a secure Premiership club who can challenge for Europe. The fact is for many years SJH has stopped us from moving forward. His first mistake came when he failed to get planning permission to build on leazes park and then subsequently abandoned the plan to create a Barcelona style set up for Newcastle. Pushing this through would have taken this club truly to the next level I believe. His second mistake came when he allowed Douglas and Freddy to keep their positions after the infamous NOTW investigation incident. He should have never allowed either of them to stay on the board and should have washed his hands of them. His third mistake was getting rid of SBR. I think we all know that Freddy loved Bobby and that the only reason he got the sack was because Douglas and Sir John were putting Freddy under pressure to do so. It also disgusted me that after sacking him Sir John tried to make sacking him look like Freddy's idea and keep his good image in the Newcastle public's eyes. His final and most important mistake was sitting around for the last decade with the majority share and not having any day-to-day role in the running of the club. I say sitting around but in fact I very much doubt he sat around I would assume he had some role in the well known catostrophe's of the last few years but again sat in the shadows and let Freddy take the blame. Well done for selling his shares and making a massive profit in the process, shame he didn't sacrifice the profit by selling the club when he should have a decade ago. He will always be remembered for his better days but in my eyes he should also be remembered for the above.

Wasn't superb this season, wasn't superb the season before last. Living off the reputation of one season. Reminds me of a couple of the Ipswich players such as Matt Holland after they had their brilliant year. Parker, Emre and Duff are the ones living off past reputations, Reo-Cokers got the lot for a midfielder. Would agree to an extent with the first comment but Reo-Coker doesn't have everything. Has only ever had one good season and until he shows he is something more than a one season wonder we shouldn't touch him. Showed his true colours for me this year.

Wasn't superb this season, wasn't superb the season before last. Living off the reputation of one season. Reminds me of a couple of the Ipswich players such as Matt Holland after they had their brilliant year.

Wouldn't even swap Dyer, we could probobly get £5m+ for Dyer and I don't think Reo-Coker is even worth that.

Wouldn't want him in any circumstances. Average player living off the reputation of the one superb season and who believes his own hype.

Your source might as well be Wikipedia or Tribalfootball.

Shame we missed out on him, but I'm happy with Sam.

I know it's probobly the least reliable source going but Wikipedia lists us as one of two confirmed competitors (Ajax being the other) for the Amsterdam Tournament. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amsterdam_Tournament

Forum Links, and Links to Other Clubs' Message Boards no longer works. :'(

Nope, Brian kidd is the assistant there.

Don't think he'll get the coaches tbh. Speed, Sbragia and company all have contracts and seem to staying at Bolton. The only two I think he'll get are Taylor and Forde.

Link I know some on this board will be delighted with this news.

Shame. Would have liked to see him here.

No. I don't see why some nany people are fussy about the number of threads we have. Gets confusing when you are trying to have a debate about the luneup and then you get several posts with just predictions in.