Raconteur

Simply cannot agree with that comment - the team we had on the pitch, irrespective of whether or not it should have been strengthened, should certainly have been sufficient to beat Partizan Belgrade. One theory is that Shepherd waited for the result of that match before committing funds to the strengthening of the squad, and it is a position with some merit.

I think you've gone too far - very few are comparing Taylor to Bramble for instance, and most agree that Taylor is in the above-average to good catagory. But the fact is that he's still young and, as a footballer, still fairly immature with regards to his positioning and decision making. That's not to say he's shite, just that there's plenty of scope for improvement. You say he needs a quality, experienced partner to play alongside, and that's a valid point. But there's also something to be said for training with two superior centre halves, watching them from the bench and filling in when required. There's no need to rush the lad - as you say he has the potential to be our Terry or Carragher, but if we push him too hard too fast then we run the risk of destroying his potential. You said it yourself - give him time - and part of that time (for me a lot of next season) should be spent on the bench. Just think back to the start of this season when Taylor was in very poor form indeed - imagine if we had the players to be able to take Taylor out of the firing line and build up his confidence? That said, there's also a case for him to be playing at right back alongside two superior centre halves, watching how it's done from close quarters - after all, it worked for Carragher...

A gratuitous, told-you-so bump based on Anal Oliver's scribblings...?

Just thought I'd add the thoughts of soccernet.com's Phil Holland from his team of the season: http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=431937&root=england&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab3pos1&cc=3436 The paragraph immediately following that one has some interesting views on the importance of fullbacks in the modern game... but that's for a different thread...

Sounds like something that would appeal to Freddy - thinking above our station... We just finished in 13th, our squad is threadbare and lacking in quality. So how does joining an elite (and elitist) pressure group benefit us? Except in the "prestige" stakes of course... Much as I hate Chel$ki - kudos to them for not being a member of this club

Just out of curiosity - would those fans who have issues with playing Celtic also have issues with playing Rangers? And further, do any of those who have issues with Celtic fans have similar issues with Geordie hero Paul Gascoigne and his flute playing shenanigans while in Rangers' colours?

Gee, that took about a week longer than I expected!

Almost what I was thinking - not as much skill involved here though... Dour, verging on dire

Ironic really - chastising people for knowing nothing about football - then with the next breath saying Luque is better than Viduka. Wake up, take your Albert Luque pyjamas off and join us in the real world.

Try calling it football in a pub though - you'll be ridiculed by thugby and gay-FL fans...

I'm not going to try and read Big Sam's mind, but I can't see us paying big money for an established British left back - I just can't see it happening. I would suggest scouring your copies of FM for decent African/European fullbacks in leagues like France, Portugal or even the Eastern bloc. That said, I can see us signing two established centre halves on the cheap, with Taylor dropping to the bench - I notice every single person in the “Guess the opening day lineup” thread has Taylor starting, but there's every possibility he'll be sitting on the bench behind the likes of Distin and Ben Haim. Midfield is a funny one. Our players don't form a unit, but individually do have some talent, reputation and admirers. Who knows who will be sold - any of Dyer, Parker, Emre or Duff could be flogged off for decent money and therefore need to be replaced. Who by? Easier to say who not by - I can't see Nolan or Barton being signed, Arteta is no chance, but Sidwell is a possibility, not that he's a heartracing signature, but better than signing some plonker from a relegated team. Up front - well, I'm praying for Viduka, and I'm quite keen on Tuncay. He reminds me of Okocha when Sam signed him - very talented and virtually unnoticed plying his trade in Turkey away from the limelight, coming to England and lighting up the league!!!

Funnily enough I emailed them with broadcast information, telling them the Chelsea game was on Australian TV three days beforehand. No reply, and they didn't add it to the broadcast list either. They've made the permanent shit list I have to say they seem pretty set against Allardyce, which is a worry because for the first time in a long while we've got a good manager in charge, and it would be great if the fans could unite behind him. But what really really pisses me off about them is the claims to be neutral and then proceeding to be astonishingly biased!

Yup - I said Pav too... It's more important for a young keeper to play and develop at a lower level than kicking his heels in the reserves hoping he gets a shot in the first team through injury. Plus I heard Pav did some good mentoring of young keepers at Beira-Mar (though I also heard he's done some shite mentoring at the Toon!) I was also one of the people who voted for Moore - yes he's always injured, and yes he may spend too much time in Scotland, but he's a decent backup defender on a pay-as-you-play basis.

We've also got the Young Socceroos too - the U-20's Unfortunately we've got too much American influence - all our teams have stupid nicknames, we have finals series, we call it soccer ffs... Cultural cringe, 2007 style

I have no idea about British securities laws, so could someone explain the following questions (and phrasing it in a way so everyone can understand it would be nice ) 1) It has been said that anyone owning 30% or more must launch a takeover bid. My understanding is that this is why the shares have been split up between Shepherd and Sir John Hall - could anyone confirm that is the case? 2) If someone were to buy the Halls combined shareholding (41.8%) they would be obliged to launch a takeover bill - what is to stop that person making a ridiculous bid - say a penny per share - for the remaining 58.2%? Are there laws which say they have to offer all shareholders the same value as they paid for the first 41.8%? 3) Even if such a law existed (that they must offer the same value) there is no compulsion to sell until ownership is 90% - so what would stop an investor buying the Halls holding, making a half-hearted takeover bid, watching it fail and sitting back with their 41.8%? I know that this is a lot of capital to invest for a minority shareholding - but it's still a powerful position to be in with more shares than Freddy and significant boardroom influence which could force Shepherd's hand... 4) Am I alone in my belief that some sort of gentlemen's agreement exists that gives Shepherd first (or more pertinently last) refusal of the Halls shares? Such an agreement would certainly be a serious obstacle to any potential investors I'm no economics or business management student - could someone with more knowledge or experience please explain to me (and other curious individuals) what the obstacles to new investors are if the Halls are ready to bail out?

Fair call - old timer writers like Micailef (sp?) and Desira are know-nothing wankers, and Andrew Orsati has got to be the biggest shit-for-brains to ever have a microphone placed in front of him. Ex players aren't much better - Craig Foster and Robbie Slater aren't much chop as pundits. That said, they're not all terrible - Davutovic knows his shit, and for a guy who couldn't get a job in England Simon Hill is a diamond amongst dross

Can we assume some sort of City connection?

The Sydney Morning Herald is a broadsheet rather than a tabloid - read into that what you will (though the Sydney Murdoch tabloid has as its chief football writer a very talented and well-connected journo Dave Davutovic) I've said all along I don't believe Moore is coming home - I know Queensland media whore manager Frank Farina has said he would like to sign Moore but that he is looking at options in Europe. Queensland already have "stars" Danny Tiatto, Damien Mori and Spase Dilevski - the chances of them fitting Moore under the tiny salary cap afforded Australian clubs is (in my opinion) non-existent Moore lining up for the mackems should make a lot of people on this board happy though!

No, big clubs are clubs that win things. And that's a fact that clubs like Newcastle, Spurs, Villa, Everton all have to come to grips with. Big clubs don't finish mid table which is what two of those four clubs have done this year, big clubs win trophies. End of. Until that happens they're all clubs with expectations and setups which may be geared towards winning things, but until that happens, it means jack shit. High finishes in recent years and decent players means absolutely nothing whatsoever compared to trophies in the cupboard. SA has gone to a club where the expectations are far higher than they've ever been at Bolton, and that is what he is going to have to handle. In a way, if he were to get a whiff of Owen not wanting to be there, the absolute best thing he could do for you would be to get shot as soon as he can. You'll get players who really want to be there, and send a message out that he's not to be fucked around with. Result. Well said sir!

Well, one of the big positives of Big Sam's appointment is his ability to spot a bargain signing - as much as we might want one of the three players you mention I trust Sam to be able to find quality players wherever they may be hiding. Frankly I'd be more excited by someone from the Uzbeki league than someone I know to be shit...

I have to say if Jlloyd Samuel is coming in then I hope it as a squad player, Babayaro gets booted and we buy a starting left back... Samuel and Babayaro as our left back options doesn't fill me with much hope

So would most people in this thread: http://www.newcastle-online.com/nufcforum/index.php?topic=40188.0

Didn't Big Sam say something about needing to buy four or five players, plus replacing whoever leaves? So now we're up to nine or ten? Hope he's got some players in mind - and doesn't spend too long on holidays!

So, in summation, speaking the truth is not permissible because Liverpool is such a mighty institution? Can't wait till Stevie sees that - Benitez is responding to "Shit on a stick" with "Shit from the mouth"