Colos Short and Curlies

Dyer and Solano for £8m? I'd take that, but we would need someone who can play down the right and has a bit of pace. Or Triosi could also get a chance??

Shirley thats cheating?

only got to displace Arsenal or Liverpool! Best laugh of the day, that: (a) you believe thats ALL we have to displace, and that we are automatically better than all the other teams, and (b) we coudl ever, ever dream abotu displacing them at this point. Displacing Arsenal or Liverpool wasn't meant as a throw away 'thats easy' comment. I've discounted Man U and Chelsea as they are nailed on top 4. Both the Dips and the Goons have wobbled into the top 4 in the past couple of years, therefore if one club is going to fall out of the top 4 its from these two. I've then explained why I think that Spurs, Pompey, Everton, Bolton, Man City and West Ham won't get 4th. I think we can safely discount Boro, Sunderland, Wigan, Derby, Reading, Fulham, Brum as being serious challengers. Reading will have the 'Second Season'. Have Villa strengthened significantly from last season? So why not suggest that we have as good a shout as any other team as breaking into the top 4 (Obviously I'm assuming a nice season in relation to injuries!)

4th Only got to displace one of Liverpool or Arsenal, rest of the league is poor. Spurs went backwards last season as a team - relied too much on Berbatov and have spent poorly (not on poor players but not on the right players). Bolton and Everton weaker than last season Pompey could do well but will probably start well and fade Man City and West Ham have bought upper mid table players If we get a good start and get the crowd going at St James then 4th is a possibility. Reach for the stars and and worst you might reach the moon!

To be fair to AO, he does have a quote from Sam to back him up: Hopefully we will get something done later this week. Sams quote was about installing his new BBQ in his new house though, 2 and 2 together springs to mind!

Still on?? http://icnewcastle.icnetwork.co.uk/newcastleunited/chroniclesport/tm_headline=dyer-back-in-toon-fold%26method=full%26objectid=19582776%26siteid=50081-name_page.html

Harper Carr Roz Taylor Zog Milner Butt Geremi Luque Martins Eminem Dukes will start in place of Luque tho with Smith in the middle. 2-0 Toon. Roz and Geremi

Unfortunately Michael Owen is going to have the same problems that Jonny Wilkinson has had, comne back from injury, pick up a minor niggle somewhere else. Might be worth having a chat with the boys at the Falcons, see what has finally got Wor Jonny back on the pitch for more than 20 minutes

Or cross accurately on a consistent basis. Two fairly fundamental weapons in a wingers armoury? To put average into perspective: the likes of Solano and Robert were good. Ginola was very good on his day. Waddle was exceptional. Milner isnt in their league. He hasnt put in the performances Keith Gillespie did in 1994/95 or 1995/96 seasons either. If he isnt int he league of the good players isnt he simply average? Decent squad player but until we actually have someone with a little more up his sleeve than Milner then we are holding ourselves back. Good squad player. Not a top player by any stretch of the imagination. Still think he'll end up as a right back in a few years time

Still waiting for Ronaldinho tbh

How red is that guy's face at the front?!? Is that Ken Bates behind red face?

At least this should be the last time Ramage ever plays left back!

433 second half Smith into midfield Martins, Luque and Dukes upfront (Shola on after an hour/70 mins)

Sorry for the caps... ANYONE NOT IN THE NE INTERNET RADIO IS WORKING ON CENTURY http://centuryfm.gmgradio.com/cne/

Radio Newcastle just cut off! arrgh!!

It feels like the summer of 1995 again!!!!!! :frantic: :frantic: :cheesy:

This may be a bit kneejerk like, but injuries permitting we have a damn good chance of top 4 if Jose and Drago are signed sealed and delivered. Best keeper in the league (stick Cech behind Titus and see how good he is) Very competent back 3 + Carr Strong and varied midfield Fantastic options up front. Definitely gonna stick a tenner on us winning the league minus last seasons top 4

Just watched his press conference on SSN, worth the £6m just for that! 'Spoke to t'gaffa on t'tuesday, came up on Thursday, had t'medical on friday and t'destination is here. He's gonna be an absolute cult-hero legend. Mark my words

This post rates close to 10/10. I can guarantee no detractor will have the balls to debate or dispute it on it's own merits but may well hark back to the days before Shepherd and Hall as a crutch defence and attempt to divert the issues addressed. You would be wrong then. I can guarantee that no detractor, especially those who weren't around pre - 1992 and think that NUFC have always won trophies galore and the Halls and Shepherd are responsible for bringing an end to decades of glory, would have the balls to dispute that a young quality defender is just as good a buy as an older quality defender, as he can spend his career with you, but whether they are young or old, you have to be prepared to pay a fee if they are under contract. And the competition will be hot if they are good, and the competition will not be so hot if they are not so good. And if they are good, they won't sign for clubs that they think are not going to be successful, or clubs that offer less money than someone else. We did quite well to sign Woodgate. For big money. There was also unknown, or cheap foreigners over the years such as Dumas, Marcelino, Goma, Boumsong, Babayaro, Pistone, Charvet, and younger players such as Bramble, O'Brien, Griffin, as part of a "plan" for those who think everybody but us has a "plan". Lets hope these new defenders are better than most of that little lot, the vast majority of whom were celebrated when arrived because we needed defenders. The bottom line, is that if you want quality, you invariably pay, either with a transfer fee or in wages. Woodgate is the absolute proof. Or rather, if you don't, then your chances of success - depending on your ambition for the club - is seriously diminished. But - at least in terms of the ones who we paid money for, they tried, and backed the manager. Your argument is pie in the sky thinking and not based on realism. Yes we would prefer top younger defenders but at this moment in time following two years of inept leadership they won't come. Allardyce wanted Haim but he chose Chelsea. FFS even golden oldie Sammi Hypia turned us down. So which top defenders did you have in mind? Please don't hark to the past when we signed Woodgate as an example. That is no use to us at this moment in time. Right now, which top young defender should we be buying? John Terry? Maybe where you live in Zumba Bumba land you might think it's a possibility? Whatever Ashley does he won't be happy, simply because it's not Shepherd. He was moaning that he might buy Ronaldinho and Deco the other week ffs. And exactly how many people - including you - have moaned about buying "trophy players " You have moaned to me on numerous occasions that we didn't buy Miguel instead of Carr ? What is the difference between buying Carr instead of Miguel, and these cheap foreigners that we are hunting right now instead of a proven quality player for a fee proportionate to his talent and age ? Accepting the fact that we now are supposed to have someone with money and more business expertise and are better than the old board . So is it wrong to have more expectation. What about my comment that Ashley came in knowing about the debt and wrote off the debt, or if he didn't then he isn't so astute as you are trusting him to be ? If you think I'm applying double standards, which I'm not my stance is the same as always ie I don't believe in this trophy signing bollocks I think quality is quality and without it you are nowhere so you have to try and get it , but you won't get more of a double standard than what I've posted above. I could equally say that numerous people on here are now applying standards of consideration and understanding to Ashley that they never gave Shepherd and Hall, who had proved they at least had ambition for the club. I've nowt to prove to anyone ref your daft comment about only being happy if its Shepherd, I sold Ashley my shares. But right now, having seen two good managers leave this club in the past, I know when I see the danger signs. Do you ? Beause we had the money to buy Miguel since we bid £20+ million for Rooney perhaps? Why did you defend Shepherd for signing the cheaper option in Carr but seem happy to slag the new board off for getting in cheaper players rather blowing money on players that don't want to come here anyway? Its not quite a fair comparative, the Rooney money came about (a) after the Woodgate sale and (b) was going to be part funded by Northern Rock (like the Owen deal). I doubt NR would have been as willing to fund a £10m right back deal due to the potential income the Owen deal would bring them. Apart from that agree with the second part of the post!

It's He-Man, he's allowed tbh

Far left in that pic looks like Ewan Thomas (400m runner - I think!)

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2003/soccer/08/19/world.sport.xi/hyypia.jpg http://www.sinemagija.com/wp-content/uploads/1/2007/05/dolph.jpg

http://www.vorsprungdurchwebstandards.de/img/drago-full.jpg I must break you. Why the pic of Sami Hyypia?

Still mesmorised by the ginger 'fro no doubt. The futures bright, the futures orange