STM

Wouldn't be gutted if this one slips through the net. Hopefully Sam will have more targets, we need cover at left back and centre back so we will see.

Martins hasn't got a bad first touch at all. However, i understand why people would think that considering the amount of times the ball stots up and nearly hits him in the face. For me its a lack of concentration. When the ball gets fired at him, he seems over eager to get the ball and try and turn on it. Then he ends up fannying around with it, TBF most of the time he does recover.

I don't believe for a second that we were in for him in the end. I think we may have been using him has a back up. It's obvious the lad wanted to stay in the region anyway so fair play to him and good luck. No skin off our noses.

This by a country mile.

"That's speculation, but whatever reasons for this debacle, NUFC are at fault." So if tommorow Curbs came out and said "actually we had already agreed terms with dyer without the permission from the club to speak to him and thats why they upped their price" we would still be at fault? YOU TALK SHIT!

I've given the steps involved in a footballers transfer in idiot proof detail in an earlier post. Whatever the reason for upping the price, we f***** up!!! End of Story. "End of story" the classic words of someone talking out of their arse. So it isn't possible that we were happy with the price from west ham and then because of some un-explained pissing off behaviour we decided to up our price? For example, if i had found out that we'd accepted a bid from a club that had been tapping up one of our players then i'd be tempted to make them pay more out of spite. We have every right to change our mind on the value of our players.

I think the Loyalty bonus thing is made up, not really sure where that came from. Am i correct in thinking that Dyer spent time training with West Ham whilst injured? Haven't got a clue where i heard/read that but if so wouldn't suprise me if there was something more sinister going on. Hence the silence form the West Ham camp. All theory of course.

As far as i'm concerned the second Allardyce was confirmed as manager, Steven Taylor was never going to be captain. In fact i'd be very suprised if he started most games at centre back when everyone is fit.

Good post, for a change. Anything which is anti Shepherd or pro-Ashley is a good post to you. I'm making it clear what I hope happens, not what I think will happen. So far the whole thing looks even more of a book balancing act, and an attempt to be successful on the cheap, or through not speculating. Long term football fans don't need to be told that this approach does not work, and you need your top or quality or trophy signings that the other top clubs want themselves if you have any hope of matching them, never mind beating them. The interference of Ashley in Dyers transfer is amateur, and interfering to such a degree that I'm sure if Shepherd and Hall had done it, you and many others would be harping on and whining about it in spectacular fashion. He has in fact, made himself look like an idiot by doing it, and therefore you and Newcastle fans. At least thats the logic you've used in the past when the hierarchy at the club has followed this path so I presume the same logic follows. Ne5, you say it was Ashley but in fairness you have no evidence of that. Chris Mort would be the more obvious candidate and if that was the case you would be correct. Personally, i believe there is more to it but without that information i couldn't expand and my defence would be futile.

Jiimymag, Big Sam said the information regarding why we upped our price was confidential so how comes you seem to know? Or is it that infact you don't know and are going out of your way to assume it was a mistake by our club as apposed to West Hams.

Dyer won't be a newcastle player come the end of the transfer window, probably gone before the season starts TBH. The only thing we have to complain about is that he's on our wage bill until that point.

1.Chelsea 2.Man Utd 3.Liverpool 4.Spurs 5.Newcastle 6.Arsenal 7.West Ham 8.Everton 9.Man City 10.Villa 11.Pompey 12.Blackburn 13.Sunderland 14.Boro 15.Bolton 16.Fulham 17.Birmingham 18.Reading 19.Wigan 20.Derby

Its more likely Oliver is doing his usual propaganda. Just needs word to fill his stories TBH.

milner is far superior technically for me, n'zogbia first touch is dreadful, n'zogbia has more pace than milner but thats about it. I think Milner just knows what to do with the ball. N'Zogbia sometimes runs himself into corners where as Milner tends to make the correct desicion. TBH i think both are good players.

When on form he's probably our most threatening player with the ball at his feet going forward. Most of our best attacking football this pre-season has come through either Milner or N'Zogbia. I'd say N'Zogbias better technically but Milner has a slightly better footbaling brain for me.

Great management. As said above, the lad clearly is a confidence player. I was disappointed with some of his performances last season but if anything the time on the sidelines may have done him some good mentally. He looks fitter and stronger and i hope his good attacking game continues. Wouldn't say he was superb at left back but he was out of position.

That'd be extremely one paced and leave Vids very isolated. Hope we don't play that. We don't actually have that much pace in the side at the moment, N'Zogbia and Martins are really the only two we can rely on for pace, discounting Owen and Dyer for obvious reasons. I agree but thats the point Wullie. Sam will be looking to slow the pace completely, i can imagine Bolton being really fired up for various reasons so the last thing we want is to come under early pressure. If we can keep a slow tempo early on we can bring on the likes of Zoggy and Martins to liven things up. We need to be hard to beat before we can be dangerous on the front foot. Good post, Rodhaminho (you're talking a lot of sense just recently, actually, have noticed ). If we were to play that formation at home to Villa for instance, i wouldn't be overly chuffed. Away from home though, first day of the season, it would be a decent idea, in my opinion. In saying that, i think we're capable enough to play 4-4-2 against Bolton, but we can always switch. (Don't reckon Viduka should start, personally) First of all, thank you i do try. And i agree about Viduka, it looked as though he has lost a yard of pace since the asian cup. On the other hand Ameobi looked very fresh at the weekend, wouldn't mind seeing him get his chance. If not we could bring in N'Zogbia and move Smith further up like so...... Butt Geremi N'Zogbia Solano Milner Smith

Read it again i made the same mistake. Good to see Cushing and Mort pulling their fingers out.

That'd be extremely one paced and leave Vids very isolated. Hope we don't play that. We don't actually have that much pace in the side at the moment, N'Zogbia and Martins are really the only two we can rely on for pace, discounting Owen and Dyer for obvious reasons. I agree but thats the point Wullie. Sam will be looking to slow the pace completely, i can imagine Bolton being really fired up for various reasons so the last thing we want is to come under early pressure. If we can keep a slow tempo early on we can bring on the likes of Zoggy and Martins to liven things up. We need to be hard to beat before we can be dangerous on the front foot.

He look out of place but still looked dangerous, i think he could be quite affective in that position with a bit of coaching. He did have three good chances, on another day i reckon he would have took them. Anelka took a while to get used to the position at Bolton.

Yup.

Micah Richards would be nice one. Can't see it happening for a number of reasons but i'm sure Sam will have his scouts working on the continent.

Sounds like West Ham have been doing some cheeky tapping up. There are so many clubs with dosh these days you can garuentee one of them will bid for him. If not, West Ham will up their bid on the last day of the season. The situation changed when we signed smith because it means we now don't need a replacement. We are in the driving seat.

Any big money signing should still be a defender.

Its good to see us holding our ground over prices, West Ham will up their bid make no mistake.