Memphis

They still have a yearly plan: $159.99 for the year - average of a little over $13 per month. It is going up to $169.99 in August, though, so act quickly. That's the way I've done it and it makes sense since you'll likely be using it every month anyway. Also, several people have said they'll be enhancing the site with new features, iPad functionality, etc. Apparently they're taking it a bit more seriously and the quality should improve. I hope so.

I became much more fond of Villas Boas when I read this quote from him: "I see myself much more in the image of Bobby Robson than Mourinho. Like him I've got English heritage, I've got a big nose and I like red wine."

Fantastic.

Douglas just tweeted that there was very good news coming: @MsiDouglas: It's made it in time for the Chronicle today... That's all. Won't have to wait long... Breaking imminently! #NUFC

http://www.skysports.com/video/inline/0,26691,12602_6994488,00.html Sky Sports interview with Ba. Apparently conducted right there in the board room.

Seems simple enough to change your BA shirt to a CABAYE shirt if you'd prefer. Quite handy, that.

http://i.imgur.com/0KqHR.jpg Best I could do for an Ashley head...

The man chose to turn down what is termed a "good" contract offer after professing his undying love and loyalty to this club. He then chose to join a club in a lower division. He could have been very well-paid and stayed at NUFC for a long time; he chose not to. Best of luck to him in the Championship. He will do well. This club will certainly survive without a player who makes decisions like that.

Do you really think it's a prudent piece of business to extend 29-year-old Kevin Nolan's contract five more years at what would no doubt be a high wage? If not, knowing that you'll be losing him soon enough, do you a) keep him around the club knowing that he's both highly influential and highly irritated about not getting a new deal or b) sell him while you can get some value for him, with the hopes that you'll be able to sign someone of a higher standard in the 2 months between now and the upcoming season? I do think it's a case of either/or here.

Others have said it well - how much of a price do you put on "leadership"? If you've got ambitions of finishing in the top 10 year after year, you will have to upgrade on Kevin Nolan - simple as that. No matter his leadership, you cannot effectively tie the entire identity of a club to one powerful player in the dressing room; that's a quick way to ensure eventual problems when that player has a falling out with the manager or with a teammate. The club will survive without Nolan no matter how strong a leader he is. How you go about doing that is the difficult thing. If he doesn't want to sign an incentivised 5 year contract on what were no doubt still high wages, and the club doesn't want a protracted contract saga a la Jose, this is the only option. None of us truly know what specifically was offered or not offered, or how flexible each side has been in negotiation, so it's pointless to even discuss. For my part I'm just glad it's happening now rather than in August, since we have plenty of time to do what will hopefully be good business in the transfer market. Seems to be a great guy and a great leader. Just not a great player - not great enough for all this fuss.

FWIW, Aly Cissokho and Abel Hernandez have both recently overcome failed medicals to play at a high level consistently. A bit further back, Robert Huth failed his medical when Boro first tried to sign him. Depends on the situation and the injury, but it is by no means a guarantee of future problems.

Denmark/Switzerland coming up. Canadian-based TV feed here randomly has Rohan Ricketts as a pundit...

Ah yes. The infamous winger brothers joining the Taylors and the Ameobis. We'll be a real family club. http://oldies.s3.amazonaws.com/i/boxart/large/19/741157196610.jpg

Just need two or three random Twitter people to tweet ITK details to confirm.

“I spoke to Charles N’Zogbia and David Rozehnal before joining Newcastle. They both said it was a good choice to come to Newcastle,” he said. “They said I would have a great time, especially with the fans." Rozehnal! He's finally paving dividends!

Really annoying how people post it as "we know this is bullshit, but here it is anyway just in case this is the ONE TIME it's not total bullshit". Spoiler alert: it's always bullshit with him. Just don't post it.

Would be a bit of a worry if he was taking them for Ukraine :pow: His corners (for France) have been generally pretty decent, all in all, he's taken 5 or 6 now. Cabaye nearly played Gameiro in on goal with a beautiful pass - would have been tastic Commentator seems to have a bit of a chub for him, has mentioned him more than any other player.

Cabaye taking corners for France.

Commentator takes a moment to offer more kind words about Cabaye. This is a mind-numbingly boring match. Dreck.

My commentator on ESPN3 here in the States said Cabaye is "set for Newcastle after the French internationals". Very tidy passer again today.

Google translation from that article: And you wondered how we attracted such a fine quality of player...

Not a shirt, but the new 2011/12 Ligue 1 ball has been revealed: http://www.ligue1.com/images/photos/articles/web/fiche//1011_ballon_l1_11_12_1.jpg Ooh la la! More "magic" from Puma.

Any journalist with that kind of spelling is obviously top class and trustworthy.

Yeah, he didn't need to expend a lot of energy today so I wouldn't feel comfortable making any kind of judgement on that. Doesn't seem to have the game that would necessitate a lot of pace. Just passes and moves - does seem to make himself available quite a lot, similar to Tiote. I would think with those two, we'd be 10000x more comfortable in possession than with some of the other midfield options we have.

First I've watched him, have to agree with those who said the match wasn't exactly played at a cracking pace - have to take that into account. Still, looked awfully tidy. Good range of passing, it would appear - he kept the moves going when needed, had more than one excellent long ball. Dropped deep at times, went forward when necessary. Seems a natural fit to go alongside Tiote and form a nice platform upon which players like Ben Arfa, etc. can operate. Apparently can take a good set piece, too. For 4.4 million or whatever it is, seems a bargain.