Yorkie

Why?? He can't pass, control a ball or shoot with finesse. He has pace but doesn't use it wisely, never makes top quality strikers runs in the box and his only real asset is smacking the ball as hard as he can and hoping. Wrong, wrong and wrong. That's cos he's an inexperienced youngster who isn't the centre-forward he was forced to play as last season. And you've based all that on one season, under the worst coaching staff in the history of top tier football/sport/life in general. Can't believe i'm gonna go into this again but i am. Give the lad credit. He's 22. He's never played in the Premiership before. Serie A and the Premiership are two very different leagues. He was playing in a shite team. He was playing under a shite manager. He never had a consistent/good striker partner. Plus, more and more and more which i can't be bothered to retrieve from one of the Martins/good/bad debates thread, which have been discussed time and again.

Even if the end product was Baines & Gudjohnsen for the same price? Yep. Keep Martins/Buy Baines is a better deal than... Sell Martins/Buy Baines and Gudjohnsn For me. Plus, the chances are that in a couple of seasons, we could get even more for Martins, if we're being cynical. We've got the coaching now to nurture an already very decent player. Absolutely no need to sell him whatsoever. PS - CALLING DAVE - Can we have a thread merge please?

Am holding my breath tbh. Would be really disappointed if he did leave.

1. Man United 2. Chelsea 3. Liverpool 4. Tottenham ------------------------- 5. Arsenal 6. Everton ------------------------- 7. Newcastle 8. Aston Villa 9. Blackburn 10. West Ham 11. Portsmouth 12. Sunderland 13. Manchester City 14. Reading 15. Bolton 16. Middlesbrough 17. Birmingham ------------------------- 18. Fulham 19. Wigan 20. Derby Tottenham to pip Arsenal this year, Wigan to rightfully crash and burn, Fulham to finally be relegated, Smogs to evade just, Mackems to establish themselves, us to miss out - just - then run riot in 08/09.

It's a laugh looking back tbh.

Fucking hope Boro go down.

It's spelt 'Thanks', mate.

Like Woodgate? Woodgate supports them and is generally fairly unambitious. He's the only top quality player they have. Like Viduka was? Yup. And he fucked off at the first opportunity. Good man!

Like Woodgate? Woodgate supports them and is generally fairly unambitious. He's the only top quality player they have.

Boro finished above us. Couldn't give a shit. We're 3 times the club they are.

Nah. He's Boro standard.

Have to say, surely it's not much of a coincidence that like five papers/websites have come up with the story this morning, effectively out of nowhere...

18 brothers/sisters. Mr Cletus Nijtap Fotso.

Peter Yugoslavian tbh. [/chandler]

Who do you think they mean?

Shorey will fritter out and Lita ain't worth £5m. Marlon Harewood tbh!

Arteta. More realistic and still a better option than the likes of Quaresma, Torres and Diego.

Oh Mamma!!! Didn't realise he was on a free. Class player. Skilful and versatile. Experienced and for nowt. Get him in, now.

Well for £50m then Yorkie, would you sniff your nose at Viduka, Barton, Rozehnal, Miguel, Andrade, Arteta, Diarra & Baines? Well no, obviously not. But that's what Leazes said earlier that you seemed to go against. Sort out your argument, Nut! My argument stands. We've got two of the big signings in there and you're happy with it. You've pretty much outlined, or elaborated on what Leazes initially said; build a squad then buy one or two 'big-name' players; something you argued against earlier on. Sorry, I was still on a role from my reply to the "Good players > expensive players" post so missed that bit. I agree with leazes. You quoted his post and argued against it. Anyhow, it doesn't matter. I think we've both come to some sort of mutual agreement mate.

Well for £50m then Yorkie, would you sniff your nose at Viduka, Barton, Rozehnal, Miguel, Andrade, Arteta, Diarra & Baines? Well no, obviously not. But that's what Leazes said earlier that you seemed to go against. Sort out your argument, Nut! My argument stands. We've got two of the big signings in there and you're happy with it. You've pretty much outlined, or elaborated on what Leazes initially said; build a squad then buy one or two 'big-name' players; something you argued against earlier on.

Well for £50m then Yorkie, would you sniff your nose at Viduka, Barton, Rozehnal, Miguel, Andrade, Arteta, Diarra & Baines? Well no, obviously not. But that's what Leazes said earlier that you seemed to go against. Sort out your argument, Nut!

The second list. I was just giving examples of good players who'd improve us who'd cost big fees. I don't get why people are so against it. Because history tells an intriguing story. (Most) Newcastle fans have learned that building a squad is now a better foundation for success, rather than buying expensive individuals.

Alright then, Nut. What's better: Ashton, Gattuso, Miguel, Andrade for around £40m. or Viduka, Barton, Rozenhal, Beye, Hyypia, Baines, Sagna, Diarra, Boateng, Arteta for £40m or so. ?

It's obviously good news. But, Newcastle, Chelsea, West Ham, Aston Villa, Manchester City, Man Utd, Liverpool and more - all potentially have £50m transfer kittys. One of my biggest fears for football is inflation. Actually, on the whole, that's probably the main fear for me.

Viduka and Barton have equated to a total price of less than £6m. That's fecking cheap tbh.