Mick

Given is worried about our lack of defenders. http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,2136573,00.html Size matters, says Given, as he urges signings at Newcastle Michael Walker and Matt Scott Saturday July 28, 2007 The Guardian In what seems a familiar warning, the Newcastle United goalkeeper Shay Given has worried aloud about the size of the club's squad. Fresh injuries to Steven Taylor and Nicky Butt sustained during Thursday night's friendly against Celtic have hit a squad already missing Joey Barton. "The squad's the lightest that it's been for as long as I can remember," Given said. "It's extremely important that we get some players in but the manager knows that. He's not silly. "Offensively we're very strong and as strong as most clubs but we don't have too many defenders floating about these days. I know we've got some young defenders coming through but it's a lot to expect of them to be playing every week in the Premiership. They're learning their trade and it's important we get some experienced defenders in to help them develop and improve. "We're very thin on the ground. We need to improve on last season because our finish last time was a big disappointment to everyone. For a club of this stature and the players we have here, it just wasn't good enough." Kieron Dyer's only hope of quitting St James' Park appears to lie with West Ham after Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur denied any interest in him yesterday. He seems set to leave Newcastle after the manager, Sam Allardyce, omitted him from a pre-season friendly in midweek, and West Ham's manager, Alan Curbishley, who admires the 28-year-old midfielder, is preparing to make a bid. It is believed that Newcastle would be willing to accept between £4m and £5m for a player who earns £60,000 a week but, as the only interested party, West Ham may seek to drive this down further. Dyer has a long history of injury problems and will need to pass a stringent medical if he is to move to Upton Park.

It'll be strange seeing Boumsong at St James' and not have to worry about him.

It's amazing how many have flags with "Remember Bannockburn" printed on them, I used to piss them right off when I reminded them about Culloden.

Anybody who thinks Dyer is world class at anything is barking mad, he's not as bad as some say but nowhere even close to being world class. He came here as a very good prospect but he hasn't moved on since, he's wasted his talent and we've had the pleasure of financing a very good lifestyle for him. If he wants to leave then he's robbed this club for 8 years and thrown it back in our face. He's had a lot of stick from some, he's brought it on himself by the way he's conducted himself when away from football, I don't know how he's got the brass neck to want away, I'd feel indebted to the club and fans if I was him.

Did't Rob Lee say he wouldn't sign for Boro because they were too far north.

The injuries are not thought to be too bad but that was last night, I haven't seen any updates other than Taylor was due to have an assessment this morning.

You're saying you've strung together some random comments made by different people and you make it look as if you're saying it. Then you wonder what is funny about it. OK.

Remind me how much we paid for Geremi.

Much better.

Canny climb down, I like it.

Butt - Knee Taylor - Ankle

Not .com but I couldn't be arsed digging up an old thread. http://www.true-faith.co.uk/

I wouldn't worry about your country getting a bad name, I think most people understand that the mongs don't represent everybody.

If we can get some good defenders in, replace Dyer and keep our injuries down (some chance) then we'll have a good season and could qualify for Europe. That would be a massive achievement when compared with the shit of last season.

You got two brilliant bargains when you took Ferdinand and Fox.

The police should have left him, he was probably walking home.

Excellent, it's not just me.

You're lucky if you're starting to forget about Souness, consider that a bonus.

Pre-season and 4 or 5 games, he did OK under Robson in those early games when he did play.

Roeder wasn't committed to getting the best out of Luque because Roeder wasn't a good enough coach to do it, he'd prefer to let a £10 million player twiddle his thumbs while kids were playing poorly, Roeder was never a manager or coach, he was driven by events and just went with the flow.

Geremi will not be managed by Souness in a few games time, I think he'll be OK.

That's a good point which hasn't been mentioned, we do look a lot fitter than normal.

To be fair, most normal people are in bed.