afar

Nice to see HTT back, stay around man, you might even rustle the optimist out of me. Good post, although I still reserve the right to be a miserable b******

Which one, I've got more enemies on here than Alan Smith :0

It's not me. Yeah right. How come you don't post ITK bollocks on here ? Are we not special enoguh for you ?

Does the maxima come with AC and central locking ?

WTF, where did that come from. Did I miss a post or two in this thread ?

No they can't. He's my new hero. As a regular on here, how are you finding the comparison between our opinions on the player and Everton fans'? Your opinions of Smith are very negative, as is mine and anyone that I consider a half decent poster on the Everton forums I browse. All the posters who are usually muppets are saying that he's a good signing on the strength of nothing else but him being cheap and a well known name as far as I can tell. Some are further in denial and talking about how "class" he was at Leeds. That's a popular misconception around football in general Smith is a big name, he was class at Leeds, it's NUFC's fault he was not so good last season. TBH long may this continue, it increases the chances of us getting shot of him.

That's a new angle, blaming players for staying fit. Ozzie really do you ever add anything worthwhile to any debate. Your sole tactic is to take a small portion of someone's post and twist it's meaning in order to make fun at someone's opinion, probably to make yourself look good. I'm not going to bother debating with you.

You see that's where you've taken me wrong. I know I'm like a bull in a china shop sometimes. I'm not having a go at the thread, it's a perfectly fine thread, it's is predictable though that IMO someone would start one like this. It happens almost every year. For me though there are two seperate things: One thing that excites me is that Footie is back. One thing that makes me aprehensive and nervous and pessimistic is that we are not bloody ready for it In your opinion and it's this negative false opinion that i believe Dave is reffering to. Kevin Keegan will be undoubtedly ready, that's what should matter to you, nothing else. How is one opinion true and the other false ? They are both opinions, they are therefore both correct in each person's eyes. The accepting of other peoples opinions is something that footie forums in general don't do a good job at. It's not the forum's fault of course it's the people posting. Back to the point, I'm still to be convinced that we are ready for the season, which is one week away. The squad isn't big enough, the quality that we can put out on the field consistently is not there. All in my opinion. Apoligies, false wasn't the correct word. Imagine last season KK had exactly the same squad of players, except for the whole season. Now do you think he would have finished top half? because i am in no doubt that we would have. If you look at the squad now, it hasn't got any bigger but it is better (IMO). Out's: Emre, Ramage, Rozehnal, Carr all of which played next to no part last season. Yet we have brought in 3 new faces, with Coloccini expected to be added too. Now i'm not going to try and convince you that we will be a great side or infact that i will be happy about not adding more to the squad. What i am saying is, because of the above, there are reasons to be optimistic. I honestly don't think we would have finished a lot higher than where we did. KK did a great job, don't get me wrong but he also got lucky with injuries, Viduka and Owen were so crucial to us and they stayed fir for a while during that run. When they weren't fit we weren't up to the task and I doubt they would have stayed fit for the whole season because KK was manager rather than SA. The first team we have when everyone is fit, is not bad at all, comfortably a top 7 or 8 team IMO. But our problem has been getting them fit and playing on a regular basis. We have no quality in the squad to fill in for the frequent absenses of certain key players. There is also a glaring hole in the centre midfield for a quality playmaker that we can funnell play through, that should have been filled by now. We haven't been able to use the pre-season games to determine a formation that we'll play and the players that will fulfill the roles. I can see us using the August games to decide on our formation and a first 11. I hope I'm wrong and our progress is further on than I am seeing and that it's easy for any new player to drop into the way we will play. And tbf in KK's first stint it was easy for the likes of Lee, Sellars and Cole to hit the ground running when they belatedly join the promotion party.

My only comment is, what's the point ? How many times will it be worn. We pulled last year's 3rd strip out like one time.

You see that's where you've taken me wrong. I know I'm like a bull in a china shop sometimes. I'm not having a go at the thread, it's a perfectly fine thread, it's is predictable though that IMO someone would start one like this. It happens almost every year. For me though there are two seperate things: One thing that excites me is that Footie is back. One thing that makes me aprehensive and nervous and pessimistic is that we are not bloody ready for it In your opinion and it's this negative false opinion that i believe Dave is reffering to. Kevin Keegan will be undoubtedly ready, that's what should matter to you, nothing else. How is one opinion true and the other false ? They are both opinions, they are therefore both correct in each person's eyes. The accepting of other peoples opinions is something that footie forums in general don't do a good job at. It's not the forum's fault of course it's the people posting. Back to the point, I'm still to be convinced that we are ready for the season, which is one week away. The squad isn't big enough, the quality that we can put out on the field consistently is not there. All in my opinion.

Hehe, i knew that would get a response, there is method in my madness though. I think Roy Hodgson is a very good and underated manager, I think they've made a lot of changes and spent the money pretty well this close season (although paying 11 mill for Johnson is a little extreme). I'm possibly overplaying them here but there's always at least one team that hit's heights it was not expected to, and looking around I think Fulham could be that team next year. Oh and thanks for the vote of confidence, I've always appreciated your extremely worthwile contributions to this forum. huge difference between saying i take things people say with a pinch of salt and that i dont think their contributions are worthwhile. there's posters on here who have worthwhile things to say but 90% of the time they talk bollocks, for whatever reason. no offence was intended OK non taken. I just want some loving man, even NE5 got some a while ago, why not bloody me

You see that's where you've taken me wrong. I know I'm like a bull in a china shop sometimes. I'm not having a go at the thread, it's a perfectly fine thread, it's is predictable though that IMO someone would start one like this. It happens almost every year. For me though there are two seperate things: One thing that excites me is that Footie is back. One thing that makes me aprehensive and nervous and pessimistic is that we are not bloody ready for it

I'm 'the leader' of nothing. And if it's so predictable, why bother reading it? I didn't say it wasn't an interesting post, it's a good rallying call, with a feelgood factor. I think a lot of people respect what you have to say and adopt your opionions as their own. It's a complement, I wish I was as well respected and not this ridiculed piece of crap that everyone makes fun at :-[ :'( I want to buy you this for all the wrong doing. http://www.wayodd.com/funny-pictures2/funny-pictures-poo-head-099.jpg LOL

I'm 'the leader' of nothing. And if it's so predictable, why bother reading it? I didn't say it wasn't an interesting post, it's a good rallying call, with a feelgood factor. I think a lot of people respect what you have to say and adopt your opionions as their own. It's a complement, I wish I was as well respected and not this ridiculed piece of crap that everyone makes fun at :-[ :'(

Hehe, i knew that would get a response, there is method in my madness though. I think Roy Hodgson is a very good and underated manager, I think they've made a lot of changes and spent the money pretty well this close season (although paying 11 mill for Johnson is a little extreme). I'm possibly overplaying them here but there's always at least one team that hit's heights it was not expected to, and looking around I think Fulham could be that team next year. Oh and thanks for the vote of confidence, I've always appreciated your extremely worthwile contributions to this forum.

This thread is predictable in the extreme. A rallying call from the leader of the congregation. I'm not going to rain on the parade here, just wanted to add a bit of realism to things. We are all football fanatics here, we hate the close season, it's natural with only a week now of waiting to go that'll we'll be excited about the coming season. But it's been a terrible pre season in my book, we still have not strengthen enough, Colocini isn't a NUFC player yet and even when he does sign we'll still be 2 or 3 players short IMO. The first choice 11 has not and will not play together before the season begins, we are ill prepared for the challenge ahead IMO. I'm excited for another new season but not optimistic about NUFC and pretty resigned to us being slow out of the box. With the current squad of players, assuming Colocini does sign, I think we'll finish around 12th again, that doesn't excite me, sorry. Here's my current (i reserve the right to change my opinion as clubs make more moves in the transfer market) prediction for the league next season: 1. Chelsea 2. Manure 3. Arsenal 4. Liverpool 5. Spuds 6. Villa 7. Man Shitty 8. Pompey 9. Everton 10. West Ham 11. Fulham 12. NUFC 13. Mackem bastards 14. Smoggies 15. Blackburn 16. Wigan 17. Bolton 18. WBA 19. Stoke 20. Hull

I honestly think Everton are just a bunch of well managed, average to good players, and that you've only got by recently because of chaos at other clubs. Not the fact they are well drilled, very well organised and unlike Spurs and Newcastle have consistently performed. I don't think this debate is about the teams, it's about the quality of player in the starting 11's, there's a huge difference there. We have arguably had one of the best starting 11's on paper outside the top4 for a number of years now but because of crappy management, injuries, player form we have not been able to put out a team that can compete. I don't think you'll get too many people not rating the all round package that Villa and Everton offer and that was the reason for their success last season, they are extremely well organised, disciplined teams, that don't overly rely upon talent and ability. Both teams do have the odd flair player though. I don't agree with some of the ratings. I think Arteta for example is one of the best midfielders in the league (including the top 4) and Laursen had an immense season for Villa. But I would agree with his general opinion that 'on paper' neither Everton nor Villa have the best starting 11.

I honestly think Everton are just a bunch of well managed, average to good players, and that you've only got by recently because of chaos at other clubs. Well I honestly think you're a WUM. How can he be a WUM on a NUFC forum ??

I totally agree that ther are a few others ahead of him in the queue for a stand to be named after them. I'm thankful for what he did for us, bring back the pride, but as nufc.com rightly point out his bigger achievements in the game were at other clubs. I wasn't at the Wolves game, although I did share the frustration that day. I was angry at the way the season ended and obviously I wasn't the only one. But it's like a relationship, I get angry at my wife sometimes and she gets angry at me but we still love each other. Just because you were unhappy with one aspect of SBR's time with us doesn't mean you don't respect the man and are thankful for the work he had done.

Shit, I've been found out I'm actually a shit stirring cockey wanker 'journo' working for the Daily Mail.

Yeah but did Bill and Ted's Bogus journey, go one step too far for the franchise ? I did like "Death: in that movie though

That's true "dude" was always around, but I for one never really heard it's widespread use in the manner of a greeting until that movie came out. I agree it is a crap movie, but it's crapness kind of is it's appeal, if you know what I mean.

Good shout that, better player than he ever gets credit for he ticks the box of working well with owen as well, not to menton the fact he would bust a gut to come here I qwould prefer a young un, but if we are going for an older guy, Heskey would be my preferance too.

Agreed, Healy fits the bill perfectly for 4th striker, hes proven he can score goals on occasion. But only if he is prepared to be backup and no f***ing mong who expects first team. Doubt he'll come though but for the right price i wouldnt mind. LOL, the thing is he's not proven at all, I don't have any facts or figures in front of me right at the mo, but I would bet my bottom dollar that both Smith and Shola have scored more prem goals over their careers than Healy. Unfortunately our 4th choice striker needs to be of a high standard as because of the appalling injury record of our first choices, he'll get more than his fair share of games. Both Smith and Shola have shown that they are not up to the job, Healy is no better than them, Fulham want shot of him FFS, it's not like he can't get a game at Chelsea or Manure, it's Fulham !!! Personally I would splurge and make a bid for Kuyt, apparently Liverpool were willing to sell, they are after 16mill, 12 -14 mill might get him. But if that's too rich for us then bring in a prospect like that Swiss lad, that I have no idea how to spell his name.

I think if we could have some debate about the popularisation of the word "dude" we could add a couple of pages to the count. I'll start us off my personal opinion is that, it's popularity escalated when Ashton Kutcher uttered thatmortal line "Dude,where's my car" in the movie of the same name, which was a box office smash in the year 2000. And then....and then.....