Unbelievable

How are we short on numbers in midfield? Quite the opposite I would say..

Happy with this: Chelsea go through only to be fatigued and raped by Barcelona over 2 matches. Not like this match will have given them great confidence either.

Silly defending..

Pelanty!

Good start of the match by Benfica

Second scenario please.

Should tweet it to Sessegnon, Bramble et al.

Unless we sell a first teamer, I don't see us spending much more than about £10m. The scouts and Pardew will have their work cut out as normal. Aye, I wouldn't expect much more investment than than. Still, and I will now indulge in a little daydreaming, I think we can significantly strengthen the squad with that (net) amount. For a first choice centre back, I would expect Douglas to be available for around 5 million max, and there is also the Mbiwa transfer release clause rumor around that mark, so that's about half our budget. Then, for the full back requirement, I'd expect Pieters to be available around that 5 million mark as well, although I hope we have identified somebody with a little more attacking pedigree. Still, 5 million should go a long way towards getting a quality full back in this market. Then there is the "nice to haves", which as far as I am concerned would be a promising young central defender and a ditto striker. Let's say 1-2 million each, which should be covered by selling Forster to Celtic and possibly Simpson. All of which would leave us with: GK - Krul, Elliot, Harper, Alnwick RB - Santon, (Simpson), Raylor, Perch, Tavernier LB - Pieters/LB, Raylor, Perch, Ferguson CB - Colo, Douglas/Mbiwa, Saylor, Williamson, Perch, young CB RM - Ben Arfa, Obertan, Marveaux, Raylor, Sammy, Tavernier LM - Jonas, Marveaux, Obertan, Sammy, Ferguson CM - Tiote, Cabaye, (Guthrie), Jonas, Marveaux, Gosling, Perch, Abeid, Vuckic CF - Ba, Cisse, Best, Shola, Ranger?, Sammy, young CF I'd be delighted with something like that!

Bet you didn't think you'd be saying that at the start of the season. So true..

If both Colo and Perch are out I'm resigned to us losing..

Yeah, and what's worse is I was hanging around this place that season as your relegation unfolded, and am now trying to convince myself there are no parallels at all. The difference is our 'McFuck' was only meant to be there for 6 games. You gave yours a full contract and a transfer budget! Kinnear's appointment was far worse IYAM Not convinced. It certainly can't touch the inexplicability of this one. Imagine if McFuck was Sunderland manager, and got them relegated twice in four seasons whilst playing football of a style that you p*ssed yourselves laughing at, it was so utterly p*ss poor and unambitious. Imagine that on the last day of last season, you'd spent your time pissing yourself laughing at his latest relegation (which happened in such a limp, unambitious, unchallenged way that it looked even more pitiful). Then imagine that less than a month later, Ashley appointed him Newcastle manager. That is what has happened to us. Whilst all of that is true, I still think it was worse. We're talking about Joe fucking Kinnear man!

I don't think anybody can answer that. We're doing quite well financially, but I don't think there will be a massive transfer kitty this close season. We'll probably save a few million in wages from Smith's departure especially, and may get a few million from selling Forster and maybe Simpson. Wouldn't be surprised at all to see u make a profit on transfers again, especially if we sell one of our prized assets (Tiote, Krul, Ba). We seem to be all about value for money these days, which isn't a bad thing but can also mean that we are left with some gaping gaps in our squad if the right deal can't be made (see our centre back situation for proof of this).

Yeah, and what's worse is I was hanging around this place that season as your relegation unfolded, and am now trying to convince myself there are no parallels at all. The difference is our 'McFuck' was only meant to be there for 6 games. You gave yours a full contract and a transfer budget! Kinnear's appointment was far worse IYAM

?

I'm not going, in case we lose. The thought of the vindictive pube-headed prick doing cartwheels if they score makes me want to vomit. I have a good friend who usually sits behind/beside the dugout but is quite ill. I'm not sure if it is a good idea for him to go or not. Honestly, I think you'll be OK if you get something from that match. If you lose (after the next three tough matches), well, s***. We're not going to get relegated. McLeish is a s*** manager, but we're not that poor a side, plus there are a number of teams below us who are far shitter than we are. If you look at the league table for this time last year and how many points the bottom four or five had, then look at this season, it's quite noticeable how s*** the bottom sides are this year. 36 points will probably be enough this year. The problem in my eyes is that whilst our squad is not a top six squad, it's not a bottom six one, either, and McLeish has made us look like less than the sum of the parts. Incidentally, a friend of mine sits near the dugout, and was telling me that for weeks now, every time McLeish or Peter Grant stand up, there's a cacophony of "sit down you stupid t***, you don't know what you doing" etc It's not a nice atmosphere. Sounds like our thought process 3 years ago.

Yeah it seems extremely sensible. Just unnatural, or something, i suppose. Little bit depressing... but that's football these days. At several points in the past few years Feyenoord have looked like they could go under or lose their FA license due to financial problems and needed the cash desperately, so they have had to be creative. They have had to rely on their academy to pull them through, and this season has shown that it can be quite beneficial to have a period of not being able to bring in any outside players and have to rely on academy products. It turns out that if you are forced into giving young players a chance, quite a few actually step up to the plate. I think this is a good thing for football in Holland, as it gives young players an alternative to moving to the big Premiership club academies aged 16 and never getting a chance to show what they can do in competitive matches. Dortmund is another, much more advanced example of this. They were almost down and out a few years ago, and look at them now: they've got a young, exciting squad of mainly homegrown players and they can actually challenge and beat cash laden Bayern on the pitch.

With his stock seemingly much higher than his actual ability at the moment, I wouldn't be surprised if we can get 4-5 mill for him in the summer. I hope the club are planning for the future, and if Simpson remains unwilling to extend his contract Carr has already identified some targets as possible replacements. It could be win-win for all parties if we play this well.

Not good enough for what? Simpson is a good enough squad player, but with his contract ending after next season and while his stock is high, it may be a good time to cash in and try to replace. Williamson has proven to be a dependable, if unspectacular centre back. Good enough for cover (4th choice). Gosling hasn't really had a chance to prove what he can bring to the squad. I'd say he's worth persevering with for another season to see what he can do. Shola is the ultimate squad player. Good enough for cover (4th choice) and an important figure in the dressing room. Ranger needs to buck up his ideas. The main problem is there will not be (m)any takers when we decide we've had enough, so we may well be stuck with him. Apart from his lunatic behaviour he has shown promise, so from a footballing perspective he may be worth keeping on. I'd prefer to replace him if we can though. Obertan has been a disappointment, but his attributes make him quite useful as an impact sub to relieve pressure. I believe he has a future at the club, although I don't think he will ever be good enough to be first choice.

I know, I know, it's more than a bit early, but the prospect of possibly qualifying for Europe (hope I don't jinx it with this thread) and the recent comments from Pardew about wanting a smaller squad for next season (albeit with more quality) made me want to do an evaluation of the (quantitative and qualitative) strength of our squad ahead of next season. This season we have (mainly due to going out of the cups in the early rounds) been able to focus on the league, but if we want to compete in the Premiership as well as make a fist of Europe and the cups (with all the ACON, injuries and suspension a long, hard season entail) I think we will need at least three players capable of playing in each position, preferably a first choice player, an experienced backup player and a promising youngster who can develop in the cup competitions and substitutions. Obviously, this squad strength analysis is subject to changes due to outgoing and incoming transfer activity in the summer transfer window, but I thought is would be interesting to see what we've got and where we may want to strengthen. GK 1st: Krul backup: Forster, Elliot, Harper talent: Alnwick => Very strong in this position. 2 of our backup goalkeepers are dispensable (Harper to retire? Forster to be sold to Celtic?) $ get 1-2 million for Forster, save some wages. RB 1st: Simpson, Santon? backup: Raylor, Perch? talent: Tavernier => Not our strongest position in terms of player quality, so needs attention in the summer window. Santon at RB is an unknown quantity, but worth a try, but could also see us developing him as a LB and get a new 1st choice right back in. We may decide to cash in on Simpson (I expect he may be in demand and we can get a good fee for him). $ probably need to spend a few million on a first choice fullback (either LB or RB depending on where Santon's future lies), recoup the money through a Simpson sale? LB 1st: Santon? backup: Raylor, Perch? talent: Ferguson => Reinforcements needed, unless we see Santon as a left back for years to come. Ferguson needs more minutes on the pitch, which he could get if we get into Europe. $ investment needed in a first choice fullback, preferably left footed CB 1st: Coloccini, Saylor? backup: Williamson, Perch? talent: ? => Improvement needed in the form of a first choice centre back to play alongside Coloccini (Saylor being too injury prone) and a talented youngster we can bring on $ investment needed in a first choice centre back and a promising young centre back RM 1st: Ben Arfa backup: Obertan, Marveaux?, Raylor? talent: Sameobi, Tavernier? => Strong position. Hopefully Obertan can prove himself to be a useful squad player (especially as an impact sub). $ not much investment needed. If the opportunity arises to bring in a talented youngster for the wings maybe spend a little. LM 1st: Jonas backup: Marveaux, Obertan? talent: Sameobi, Ferguson? => strong position, no changes needed. Hopefully Marveaux can regain full fitness and challenge for the first team. $ same as RM CM 1st: Tiote, Cabaye, Jonas/(Guthrie) backup: (Guthrie), Perch, Gosling, Marveaux? talent: Abeid, Vuckic => very strong position. Focus on keeping what we have, possibly replacing Guthrie if he won't sign a contract extension. $ no investment needed (unless Guthrie leaves) ST 1st: Ba, Cisse backup: Best, Shola talent: Sameobi, Ranger? => very strong position. Focus on keeping what we have (and get rid of Ranger if we can). A youngster able to deputise would be good. $ no major investment needed. Maybe a couple of million to replace Lovenkrands (and possibly Ranger). In conclusion, I think we have quite a good squad already and we don't need wholesale changes for once. I would be looking to bring in a first choice (quality) centre back and fullback (left or right depending on what we see as Santon's best position), get Guthrie signed on a new deal or get a like for like replacement and try and get some youngsters in the Abeid/Vuckic mould for centre back and centre forward. Considering we are letting a few players (Lovenkrands, Smith) go and have a few salable assets (Forster, Simpson?) we probably won't even have to spend big to assemble a squad capable of competing in all these competitions. However, the absolute main priority is to keep the excellent spine that we've got. Your thoughts?

Feyenoord have been doing it for years. Every year they set up a pool of talented players from the academy and engage investors to buy 50% of the transfer rights for a couple of million. It's a good way for a club in dire straits to keep hold of their talented youngsters and balance the books at the same time.

I have not seen him that much, but from what i read here, and other rapports he sounds like the perfect partner to Colo. Have to be good if he thinks he can make the Holland squad if he gets the papers so he can play for them. Dutch reporting: Defensively he is a very good player: strong, quick, good in the air. But his passng is a weakness (unlike Vertonghen) and he is too emotional and get into truble with that. Last year suspended because after a redcard he wanted to attack the referee (teammates guided him of the pitch) and a few weeks ago he get a stupid red card against PSV (with 4-0 up). Don't think Newcastle has a chance to sign Vertonghen, then he is a good alternative (looking at the players in the Eredivisie). I have more doubts about Pieters. Yep, agree with all of that. Weren't you a NAC Breda supporter Roland?

Barcelona have been crap by their normal standards and even then Milan haven't been able to really make a fight of it, so in the end they deserve to go through.