Doug

He does the unspectacular but effective stuff with the minimum of fuss. Very timely touches just to get the ball nicked off the opponent without having to wreck anybody, aided by the enormous reach of his long legs. Also his total dominance in the air when getting his head to absolutely everything aimed down the middle is almost monotonous in its regularity. A very good signing indeed.

I will probably have a few quid on Albrighton to score the first goal. Youth Hughton, youth, give them some games!

I think he did care at one time but was just inept. I believe he doesnt give a fuck anymore, just wanted us in the premier league to make us more of a saleable asset. I bet we wont see any money now.

There are a lot of people who seem genuinely surprised that Ashley is not spending on the team. I would be astounded if he did. I think the hatred is obviously mutual now as it is perfectly clear he is not wanted, FCB chants, rapist banners etc. What is his motivation therefore to sustain the source of this hatred that so patently rejects him? His tenure has been littered with bad choices but anyone expecting him to spend in order to salvage anything of this relationship are well wide of the mark IMO. He couldnt care less now would be my guess as to his mindset. I on the other hand love the club and if I was rich I would spend my fortune Jack Walker style on the team. Its a shame im skint and he is the Billionaire.

Athleticism and energy are basically half the game now, probably more than half. We don't have a load of brilliant youngsters seemingly, would like to see Vuckic get some minutes this season at least. I for one cannot believe that Ranger is incapable of putting himself about a football pitch more than Nolan. Young Albrightons raw exciting running at defenders for Villa on his full home debut reminded me of the pace and athletisism shown by Ranger in the brief cameos he has been given up till now. Alas I fear we will be shown the difference in the two sides policies on Sunday by the the young Villa lad showing our defenders a clean pair of heels, while our youngsters warm the bench once more.

The Youngsters really need to be picked in place of Nolan and Smith. Just watch and learn from Aston Villas kids this coming Sunday as an example. They gave two young lads their home premier league debuts this weekend. Marc Albrighton will show us what willing young legs given their chance can do to the opposition. For some reason Newcastle United seem incapable of grasping the simple truth that energy and athletisism is an essential prerequisite of a top flight footballer. Can someone tell me when we are ever going to see this again from Nolan, Smith or god help us, the ancient Cambell .

Its too late IMO. The bridges are burnt with him now due to the continued FCB hatred that still gets dished out.

Believe it when it happens. Remember the Chinese government were buying Liverpool a couple of weeks ago. Probably just another load of bullshit.

Contingency plan: My advice is wait until teams are announced. If either Smith or Nolan or god forbid, both are picked for the middle of the park, Get into Corals quickly, put a wedge or as much as you can afford on a home win then retire somewhere tv free to avoid the horror show. Emerge later to pick up your money. This should at least help to ease the pain of defeat.

What you say should be correct, but I fear there is a delusion at work of players getting games and even contracts on past reputation rather than form.

Have they? It wont happen though because, We are likely to play the leaden footed Nolan up front with Carrol rendering our forward play static and easily broken down. This will allow ManU to comfortably build from the back creating waves of attacks that will make it look as though they have more players on the pitch than us. Unbelievably our management have once again signed a player who is finished in Cambell to compliment the lumbering Nolan which says we have learned nothing from our previous demise. Time now for youngsters like Ranger, Vukic and Kadar, let them play and progress. We know they can only get better. The alternative is the decline and failure of players on the wain, we know how that ends. Lets not go down that path anymore.

Good old Gabby. Toon army footsoldier! Great intro!

Apalling situation in Rothbury, I mean whats going on with all the Man utd and Liverpool shirts on tv, Quite shocking.

Far too old now. We really must not make these same mistakes again.

Midfielder that can run, striker with pace and some cover on the wing and we'll stay up imo. You're probably right, at least it looks like Hughton has identified our criminal lack of athleticism in midfield... that's what the PL is all about. Hope so, if we end the window with Nolan and Smith both starting then we're doomed. Hughton will surely agree with this and must have alternative plans.

Some backtracking going on from Hansen and Shearer now after their predictions Such Expertise lol.

Got to admire the pundits (shearer and hansen) Brazil will beat holland and Argentina to beat Germany. They really are not as clever as they would like us to believe are they. The lesson is to speak bullshit confidently and with gravitas and most of the people will believe you most of the time.

The Eintracht Frankfurt fans take some beating for generating an atmosphere with their jumping up and down Pipi Langstrumpf chant. Someone put it on here somewhere already a while back. I would worry if we did that we would bring level 7 down.

I will look forward to it only if we have brought in at least two playmaking box to box midfield players who can take charge of a game and dictate the play. The lack of this got us relegated last time and I don't think anything has changed. If the present manager thinks Nolan and Smith are sufficient to fill two of these crucial roles then god help us. I would show the door to any player regardless of past reputation who doesnt look as though they can last the pace for the duration of a game after a vigorous pre season assesment. I for one could not stand seeing the team fail again simply because of passengers in the side who cant get about the field for 90mins.

I am just glad I was not one of those two embarrassed by turning up on international TV thousands of miles away from home at great expense dressed in RAF uniform complete with handlebar tache and flying helmets. Almost as cretin like as dressing in full medieval crusader uniform away from these shores.

Why is petulance and indiscipline so often interpreted as drive and determination in this country. Roy Keane always epitomised this mistake in the past for me. A nastier more spiteful piece of work and sore loser you would be hard pressed to find. He of course was the first to let his country down and throw in the towel when they most needed him in the world cup. Cossetted young millionaires seem to react badly to actually having to knuckle down and do as they are told occasionally. Their life of unrelenting hedonism after a couple of hours "work" each day does not impress those of us who have to survive on a normal wage and have to contemplate the consequences of losing it through disobedience. If only Terry could experience the pressure of having to live in the real world like the rest of us it would help him to knuckle down and do as he was told. I am afraid I dislike Terry and most of these players from Chelsea, ManU, lpool etc. and cannot identify with them at all. England are not good enough to win it and it will be less painful if they were to go out now rather than lose to the Germans or Argentina in the next rounds I shall now enjoy watching Argentina as at least Jonas gives me some interest as a Newcastle fan.

Norwich the coupon buster of the day

England have no chance relying on the likes of him.

Leeds

Fill your team with competent but stalemate inducing robots who can control the ball and pass crab like around the field and you may scrape by but ultimately not get any real success. You need players with the flair to get past an opponent to break the stalemate and make things happen. It is the most difficult thing in football that not all can do. Jonas can do it with consumate ease. Critisism of entertaining and gifted players like him is beyond me. He is a gem to be cherished and encouraged. A couple more like him would not go amiss.