Yorkie

We've obviously got a certain amount of money, i'm thinking probably in the region of £10m. Bringing Melchiot here for tuppence wouldn't surprise me. If we do that - Roeder is clearly throwing all his eggs in one basket, and is going to buy a striker. Bring in a below-average defender for nowt, then we can concentrate on bringing in another attacking player for big money. For some reason, the words 'typical Newcastle' spring to mind. Left-back is the one position in the squad that we are totally shite at. If i wanted to see us blow our budget on one position - it would be that one. Melchiot is fucking crap and relegation-fodder standard. :roll:

Shearer scored his one and only penalty in a World Cup finals tbh. Scored two World Cup penalties actually. Ah yes that's right. There was two in the Argentina game.

Shearer scored his one and only penalty in a World Cup finals tbh.

Yeah, he scored something like 52 penalties i think. Couldn't care less... he's still got to put it in the net. For the Premiership only, had he not have netted against Sunderland in his last game - he would have had an exactly 1 in 2 goals ratio. So he's actually got a very marginally better one. I'd say he was pretty prolific...

"I hate people...", nah i didn't actually mean that. "I hate it that people..." Just makes me sick watching that goal, that's all. And tbh - if a Premiership footballer can't kick a ball from 70 yards out, or whatever, they're in the wrong division. He hit it hard, but that's all it was. Harper fell over - that's why it went in.

Agreed, i'd certainly be tempted into a big money signing for a Bent or a Crouch, but i think logically - i'd prefer a stopgap. Like Viduka or Beattie. Though Beattie, i think, could do well here and may be more long-term than someone like Viduka. We're bound to have a decent attacking line-up next season anyway. Owen, Martins, Shola, Sibi, Dyer, whoever we get in Jan - so i don't think we need to go breaking the bank for a striker.

The Olympiakos game was in March 2005! The only time Iv ever been to SJP, was for my 21st bday. What a game to go to! Wow. Bet that was immense. My St James' Park visits currently stand at Blackburn in the Worthington Cup, 1998 (drew 1-1, lost on pens), and 3-1 against Valerenga. :|

you don't half talk some shit at times That a fact? Could say exactly the same thing about you mate. didn't mean to offend

Yeah, that's the sort of thing I was talking about. I think possibly Cech would inspire more confidence in our back four, whereas sometimes I get the impression that they're unsure as to who should be dealing with the ball in. You're probably right about Cech... i'd probably consider him for my Top 3. However, i certainly wouldn't call him the best keeper - i honestly couldn't tell you who is. Nevertheless, i still feel that Cech is overrated, and Chelsea's lack of goals conceded is primarily down to the sheer quality that they have in their defense, it's not largely down to Cech. He's just the cherry on top, as apposed to the 'cake'. Look at me getting all metaphorical.

Did you pick that one by the quality of it, or the importance of it. Just wondered.

I'm not so sure tbh. We seem to concede a lot of our goals from set pieces/crosses, and I think Cech commands his box better than Shay does, and is better at getting to the deliveries in the first place. Yeah, we do concede a lot from set pieces, but is that really that much to do with Given? Yes - a goalkeeper should command his box, however i think Given does. I'd put it down more to incompetence from our defenders, rather than lack of communication (etc) from the goalkeeper. And Given's catching has improved immensely through the years, i reckon. I just think Shay's a better all-round keeper than Cech. Plus, Cech cocks up - like i said in my previous post, he lacks concentration at times. You rarely see Shay Given make a real howler, whereas Cech has done it three or four times since he's come to Chelsea. I'm probably missing atleast one here... but the last real cock-up i can think of Given making, was when he flew out of his area to close down a Wolves striker, back in 2003/04. The striker promptly took the ball round him and scored. Cech's only young though (in goalkeeper years), he'll certainly get better. Keepers tend to hit their best form once they've reached 30.

Cracking argument, btw, Ronaldo.

you don't half talk some shit at times That a fact? Could say exactly the same thing about you mate.

NUFC Player of 2006 Nolberto Solano. I dare say the most consistent figure in our first team this year, despite a poor start to this season. However, his competence and maturity was merely proved by the fact that he has easily slotted into a position that he has barely played in for 6/7 years. Plus, he was immense for us when Roeder came in last season; his goals and his service was a key factor in us climbing the table. NUFC Young Player of 2006 This is a difficult one, because Zoggy has been poor this season, yet Taylor was injured for the first half of 2006. I think that, between the two, N'Zogbia has done more for us in 2006. He scored lots of key goals and got a few assists aswell, he was excellent last season. Taylor has done well, and has improved vastly this season, but he is only one player in a much improved defense. Best game of 2006 Sunderland 1-4 Newcastle. Obviously, that was simply fairytale. That one is my official choice, but to add a bit of variety, i'm going to say 1-0 against Fenerbahce. That's been my favourite so far this season. The atmosphere seemed to be great, and it was a special European night that we haven't seen at St James' for ages. And the loudest cheer all season for me - when Sibierski scored. Awesome game. Worst game of 2006 Newcastle 0-1 Sheffield Utd. That was simply shite. Nowt else to say. Best NUFC Goal of 2006 Nobby Solano's against Everton. That was pure genius to be honest. Parker's against Charlton was good, as was Emre's, but the technique and ability shown in Solano's finish... to curl it with the outside of his boot - from that angle - into the corner of the net: simply delightful. It was a fabulous build-up aswell, with Emre and Bowyer i believe. Best goal conceded in 2006 I hate people that are saying Alonso's. That was a big kick for goodness sake and Harper fell on his arse. Henry's free-kick against us this season was simply brilliant. Jimmy Bullard's was superbly executed aswell, for Wigan last season when Shearer scored his last goals at St James'. Favourite Alan Shearer moment of 2006 The penalty in his testimonial. Special mention to his interview after the Grimsby game. (Although that was probably 2005). Best atmosphere at SJP in 2006 The testimonial, obviously. I can't really comment on this one because i haven't been to any games. Best away game of 2006 The Sunderland one, again for obvious reasons. I'll put the Blackburn one in there aswell - that's probably been my favourite away one this season. Simply because of Martins - this was the game where he really, really blossomed. Two of my favourite goals this year. Plus, i was keeping track of the results with my mate who supports Blackburn, so that was fun. Best opposing player in 2006 Cristiano Ronaldo.

Hughes was shite in his last season. Always thought he was a decent, consistent right-back, but he fell apart when he lost that position.

I dread seeing Cech behind Carr, Baba and Bramble. Given absolutely knocks the spots off him tbh.

Petr Cech is immensely overrated in my opinion. With an average defense infront of him he would have been found out a long time ago. He has concentration issues. :roll: Fortunately, for his sake - his backline tends, or tended, to include John Terry, Ricardo Carvalho, William Gallas, Paolo Ferreira, Geremi, Wayne Bridge, Ashley Cole, etc. In no particular order: Shay Given Edwin Van der Sar Jussi Jaaskelainen However, i think Ben Foster is a big talent. Likewise with Scott Carson - he just needs to find a club. :?

Agreed.

If i'm not even in contention for the best avatar one i'll be fucked off. I provide a service tbh.

Aye, Volz - deffo. Have said we should get him in for cover for a while, actually.

These are my (arguably) realistic prospects for the next two transfer windows. Obviously, i'm not expecting us to sign this number of players, but these are what i'd call my preferences. Two names for each position we need strengthening. Lauren - £2/3m? Dunno his contract situation tbh. Won't be surprised if he leaves Arsenal at the end of the season. Eboue, Hoyte and even Gilbert who may been in Wenger's priority above Lauren. He's been plagued with a rotten ankle (don't quote me) injury for the entirety of 2006. But he's an experienced player, who is hard as nails and simply knows what to do. Would improve our defense massively. Lucas Neill - £3/4m or £0. He's a twat, but he's a good full-back who needs a move desperately. Besides which, we need some nails in our defense, Babayaro's a half-hearted ponce, Carr is simply incompetent and Taylor/Ramage are inexperienced. Out of contract at Blackburn in the summer, i believe. Sylvain Distin - £2/3m or £0. He's unlikely to be leaving in January, but i don't think we really need a centre-back in January anyway. I would have liked us to have got Pressley in for cover, but that boat's sailed. Distin is a competent, controlled and experienced defender - who already knows this club; he's a top professional. He'd not only improve the defense itself, but he'd bring on the young lads, plus he's versatile. Madness not to go for him if he's available on a free in the summer. Wes Brown - £5m. Class centre-back when he gets a run in the side at United. If he's going to be available for this sort of rumoured price, it's simply a bargain - despite one or two injury troubles. Wasted at Man Utd, he's never going to properly become a regular in the side there, and if he was - he would have done by now. Doubt he is available, but if he is, it'd be great. Leighton Baines - £7m. We never replaced Olivier Bernard. Not with Taylor or Ramage, not with Babayaro, and Huntington isn't a left-back. It's time that we knew what we were doing with our defense, and paying good money for this sort of quality is what needs to be done. Baiens is already a top quality wing-back, who is simply going to get better. We need to get this guy, he'll sort out our pitiful left-back situation 'once and for all'. It's, without a doubt, the weakest position in our squad, and i'll go mental if we don't sort it out with a proper signing in January or the summer. Gareth Bale - £7m. Same theory as with Baines, but every man and his dog is after Bale, and he's more of a risk than Baines. Darren Bent - £9m This guy has got undoubted quality, but i am umming and ahhing as to whether we actually need another class striker or not, i think we probably just need a stopgap*. I just hope that Bent goes in January, because i can see Pardew keeping Charlton up, and he might stay. But anyway, he'd work fantastically well with Martins in my opinion - because he's a natural goalscorer and Martins is more of a creater. IMO. I'd certainly prefer him to Crouch. We'd have a superb striking line-up if this guy was in our squad. Worth the money in terms of quality, but questionable as to whether we need him or not. * Mark Viduka - £2m. The stopgap. This guy has got quality, no matter what people say, and he is incredibly skillful with his back to goal. However, i would want to bring Viduka on the cheap to play with Martins, and just score goals. Let that be his job, because he's too porky now to playmake - just put him in the box and give him the ball - he'll score, much like Shearer's role in the last two seasons. Positions that are not a necessity: Shaun Wright-Phillips - Loan. He's leaving Chelsea, i think that's a given now. Him coming to Newcastle until the end of the season would work spectacularly for us, and well for Chelsea, and even better for him. It bumps his price up for Chelsea, it helps us gain a European spot, and it gives him regular football and a chance back with the England squad. Milner's turning into a good player, no doubt, but he's got no competition in that position, and despite my liking of the lad - he hasn't got the quality to get us into a top 6 spot, this season. Next season and beyond, definitely. SWP has that quality, and if we got him on loan until the end of the season, i'd be dead chuffed. Lassana Diarra - £4m. Doubt we'd get him, but he'd my ideal replacement for an ageing Butt come next season. Young and highly-rated and DMis his position. But Makelele's just warming his seat apparantely. Giles Barnes - £4m. Major talent, who will end up leaving Derby. So versatile; can play across all of the midfield, and upfront/behind striker, a la Dyer and Sib. I just like him though, i don't think we especially need him. He proably wouldn't make it here - because there's so much competition for places, and there will be upfront next season. Wouldn't be disappointed to see us get him, like. Preferences: Lauren - Summer Wes Brown - Summer Leighton Baines - January Shaun Wright-Phillips - January Darren Bent - January Of course, a lot depends on cost. Do we have the funds or not? We may do by the summer.

Baines. :thup: If we want good defenders and a good defense, it's about time we started paying for one. Boom excluded, of course. £7m on Baines is a fair price for a good defender. If we don't pay good money... expect more Babas.

Why the fuck would Chelsea be after him?

You must have been f***ing fuming when we signed Woodgate!

Damn. We could have done with Charlton winning that.