KaKa

That's what I thought Lord have mercy! I am so glad at least a couple of you grasped the point I was making! My point was that he is a good pickup because he was really good last season, but that he has the potential to be even better which would be brilliant. I believe he could get 20 prem goals next season if he is fitter and therefore plays every game. Yikes ... it's English people, simple English.

As god as Viduka was last year he still didn't look in great condition. Can you imagine whathe will be like if he buys into Sam's fitness and dietary regime? Would make what seems like a decent move even better. I must say if Roeder was still here and he made this move, I can't say I would have been as pleased about it. Big Sam's history of getting the best out of the aged is second to none.

The midfield three were Speed, Campo and Nolan if I am not mistaken. So did both Campo and Speed sit back as defensive midfielders with just Nolan pushing forward? Or did both Speed and Nolan push forward? Also, did bolton at any point play a 4-4-2 with Anelka and Davies up front? Or did Anelka come in from the left hand side of the 4-3-3? I can't ever really recall Bolton playing a 4-4-2 and with the success Allardyce has had over the last few years with the 4-3-3, could you imagine him changing to a 4-4-2? And would this be a good idea? I know the 4-3-3 isn't that popular as some see it more as 4-5-1, but i imagine with better players it would look more attractive. I think I am leaning more towards Sam sticking with what has worked for himi.e. the 4-3-3, but with talk of him wanting Owen or Martins to stay I cnnot imagine how either could be accomodated in this setup. So judging by the way he had his players setup at Bolton last year, who do you imagine out of our current players would be compatible in this system and therefore more likely to still be around?

I am no longer taking the Barton rumours seriously. I think Willie McKay is just trying to keep his players name out there, and we know he loves to link his players to Newcastle. He's probably heard Parker will be let go and is trying to tout his player to us. Freakin' slimeball. To be fair though I do think Barton is decent.

Your gaffers (Arnsen/Jol) have been gambling on youngster for a while now, although not at this end of the market. Were not challenging for the league though. Dont get me wrong, these are exciting times if your a united fan but i still think they need a quality front man. Envy is such an ugly thing dude ... You keep saying htey are unproven but so was Ronaldo. Unti they come to the league and play here no one knows yet. Somehow I think they will do extremely well, especially with Ferguson bringin them along. They will also settle quickly with the portuguese figurehead there in Carlos Quieroz not to mention Ronaldo too. I've told you already, Harry Kewell will be playing on the left-side of midfield for Tottenham next year. You guys were so sure it was Nani, so what happened?

We couldn't really afford to spend that sort of money on those players but I agree with your general point. I am a little worried that those who have actually seen him play think he wont make it though. I've seen him play recently for Ghana, and I am not surprised Sam is interested. He has been really good of late and seems to be back on the up. All those who think he won't make it saw him at Sweden, where he probably wasn't as motivated. He had just excelled at the under 20 championships and was voted Ghana's most promising player ahead of the Essiens and Appiahs and he was also brilliant for Panathanikos in the champions league but somehow ended up in Sweden (probably due to a dodgy agent). He is a good player, and at the very worst will be a solid squad player. At the very best he has the potential to be up there with Essien. I feel optimistic because he will be working with Big Sam as well so it is more likely he will play at his peak rather than underachieve. More or less my outlook on the player. He hasn't really been tested at the highest level, but Ghanian and Nigerian players have plenty of fight in them. I defer to Sam'd judgement, won't be an impulse buy that's for sure. Deal is close. What is exciting about him is that he has excellent athletic ability and pace which are the more typical African attributes, but his use of the ball is also very good. He is better with the ball than Essien is. Passes and spreads the ball around very well. I have a page where you can watch a stream of a recent Ghana vs Austria match where he plays in centre mid, but I don't know if it is okay to post it on here? It is the page for a user on filefront who has some Ghana games. Am I allowed to post this? The page doesn't actually contain the video clip itself.

We couldn't really afford to spend that sort of money on those players but I agree with your general point. I am a little worried that those who have actually seen him play think he wont make it though. I've seen him play recently for Ghana, and I am not surprised Sam is interested. He has been really good of late and seems to be back on the up. All those who think he won't make it saw him at Sweden, where he probably wasn't as motivated. He had just excelled at the under 20 championships and was voted Ghana's most promising player ahead of the Essiens and Appiahs and he was also brilliant for Panathanikos in the champions league but somehow ended up in Sweden (probably due to a dodgy agent). He is a good player, and at the very worst will be a solid squad player. At the very best he has the potential to be up there with Essien. I feel optimistic because he will be working with Big Sam as well so it is more likely he will play at his peak rather than underachieve.

Signed what?

Good shout. Think we should get Kingston in, heard nothing but good reports about him in Scotland and seems a very dynamic player and a bit of a cult hero to boost. The Russian club that owns him only want about 500k for him which would be worth a gamble in anyones book. Because our last superstar signing from Scotland turned out well. In my opinion we shouldn't go anywhere near someone who hasn't proven himself in a decent league yet. Hardly costing £8m is he? Should we wait untill he proves himself and the the price becomes extorinate? It's not like were exactly short of cash now is it. If we are aiming for the CL in the next few years we should not be going for this type of player. When did you last see one of the top 4 signing a player with his sort of background. Also it seems utterly bizarre Sam would want a new DM when we have Butt and Parker who we know are very capable DM and most likely miles better than this guy from Hearts and that Boateng. Sam showed at Bolton that you can only take a team of cheap imports so far before you hit a brick wall. This is the kind of attitude that takes us backward I was so staggered and dissapointed by that comment I couldn't even muster the energy to respond, with all the crap we have done in the last few years how can there are still be some people with such an outlook. Then to have the nerve to have a dig at Sam for "hitting a brick wall"? It is quite unbelievable ... if Sam is hitting a brick wall then what the hell have we been doing? We ain't even anywhere near the damned building man!

A clock which has stopped shows the correct time twice a day. This list can only do one right out of 403. I was thinking more along the lines that Ronaldo couldn't even be held back by this mathematics. He beats it as well. He just had a great season in evrey way shape and form. Hopefully one of ours will be up there next season ...

You only have to look at Man u too .... not exactly all world beaters when they were bought, although they were expensive. Van Nistelrooy had only really done it in Holland. Ronaldo had only done it in Sporting Lisbon's reserves? Rooney was very much on the rise but hadn't really achieved anything out of this world at Everton. Carrick was good for Tottenham but wasn't exactly a Riquelme or any of the sexier names out there. Even Hargreaves as good as he is, isn't exactly a typical superstar signing. Throw Vidic in there as well. No one even knew who he was!!!

Isn't it amazing that even with such an apparently wacky mathematical formula, Ronaldo still comes out tops.

They're not crap by any stretch of the imagination. I'm going with Sam's judgement on these two, Kingston especially from what I've heard 2nd hand is a bit tasty. Parky I was wondering though ... do you think Boateng is being monitored as an alternative to Kingston or do you think Sam wants both? I cannot believe Hearts have an agreement to take up the option on Kingston for £500,00 and they haven't done so. Just over a week to go and we will have a chance at him. No idea unfortunately. I have a feeling we would have signed sounded out Kingston untill the Ashley thing changed the whole ball game. What? I was really looking forward to some classic Sam signings. players who would definitely be taking a steop up by coming here, and hopefully doing very well. I had high hopes for Kingston. That really sucks! I hope your not saying Sam's got 'stars' in his eyes. Is he now after bigger names, or has the Ashley thing just slowed everything down. The media are fanning up a whole host of flames reg Beckham (cobblers) Crouch (not even leaving Liverpool by all accounts) and even Reo-Cocker who is clearly going to Arsenal, because there is still a lag in the system and they haven't come to terms with Sam/Newcastle and the fact he is very diligent regarding researching players. Hence Kingston and Boateng aren't names the red tops want to attach to us. Although regarding Kingston ( I mentioned him to a few on here two weeks ago iirc) began to appear as a definite possibility ( and I think he still is) as someone who Sam has been tracking from his Bolton days. Sam will sign one or two hard working and high tempo African players and he also likes a bargain, these two fit the frame. I know very little about them, but you can bet Sam knows as much as he needs to know. On the last point he probably is looking for a big marquee player as the whole ballgame has changed over the last week, but that doesn't mean he will turn down Sammy style bargains. Good. I just wasn't sure what you meant by Ashleys arrival affecting Sam possibly going after Kingston ...

Newcastle's Rankings according to their formula 1. Obafemi Martins (35) 2. Kieron Dyer (46) 3. Shola Ameobi (115) 4. Steven Taylor (139) 5. Oguchi Onyewu (159) 6. Antoine Sibierski (168) 7. Damien Duff (175) 8. Craig Moore (183) 9. Emre Belozoglu (197) 10. Peter Ramage (208) 11. Scott Parker (215) 12. James Milner (228) 13. Paul Huntington (239) 14. Charles N'Zogbia (248) 15. Steve Harper (261) 16. Celestine Babayaro (262) 17. Shay Given (264) 18. Titus Bramble (297) 19. Nolberto Solano (318) 20. Stephen Carr (352) 21. Nicky Butt (358) The numbers in brackets are their overall rankings out of 403.

Very interesting article. They don't have the full article online, but I have it at home. They also ranked the players on each team and Martins was, according to this formula our best player, while Nicky Butt was the worst!!! Fascinating stuff check it out. I will type up the rankings for our team in a bit ... Just to add they ranked 403 players and Paul Robinson came in at 402!!! He was ranked as one of the worst keepers in the league!!! My eyes always told me he was and now I have mathematical proof. There are a lot of surprises in there. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/fink_tank/article1851667.ece

They're not crap by any stretch of the imagination. I'm going with Sam's judgement on these two, Kingston especially from what I've heard 2nd hand is a bit tasty. Parky I was wondering though ... do you think Boateng is being monitored as an alternative to Kingston or do you think Sam wants both? I cannot believe Hearts have an agreement to take up the option on Kingston for £500,00 and they haven't done so. Just over a week to go and we will have a chance at him. No idea unfortunately. I have a feeling we would have signed sounded out Kingston untill the Ashley thing changed the whole ball game. What? I was really looking forward to some classic Sam signings. players who would definitely be taking a steop up by coming here, and hopefully doing very well. I had high hopes for Kingston. That really sucks! I hope your not saying Sam's got 'stars' in his eyes. Is he now after bigger names, or has the Ashley thing just slowed everything down.

They're not crap by any stretch of the imagination. I'm going with Sam's judgement on these two, Kingston especially from what I've heard 2nd hand is a bit tasty. Parky I was wondering though ... do you think Boateng is being monitored as an alternative to Kingston or do you think Sam wants both? I cannot believe Hearts have an agreement to take up the option on Kingston for £500,00 and they haven't done so. Just over a week to go and we will have a chance at him.

Agreed, dunno why Sam would want Davies when we have Taylor, is there any point at all? All we need is experience beside Taylor which we can get dirt cheap seemingly. Which is nice. Squad depth. Plus despite what he may have looked like in a U21 game or the odd appearance someone may have caught of West Brom he is actually a very good young player. He certainly is, but for £10 million you want someone who is going to come in and lead your defence. Not a youngster for squad depth. West Brom are really messing the boy up with their outrageous valuation of him.

No way Sam blows £10 million on Davies. This has to be a left over rumours from the Glenn Roeder days. The reaction to Kingston and Boateng makes me giggle though. Is it such a surprise that good players can be found in not so obvious places? Just look at Drogba you want to talk about a late developer? He was playing in the second division at the age of 22! Even Ben Haim, you know, the guy we are all hoping signs ... I wonder what the rection would have been if we were signing him from Israel like Sam did while he was at Bolton. I mean we are talking about an Israeli player from Israel here. People would have been going mental! Sam's got skills. I'm not necessarily saying that these guys will be world beaters, but I can guarantee you they will not be crap, and there is a chance, in my opinion, that they will be very good. They will make a contribution to our team. I am really excited that Sam appears to be sticking to his formula and not deviating from it just because there might be a rich new owner.

who? He's a DM and plays for Lille. I think he's about 23-24 years old. Has a great engine and good breaking up attacks. But he's also good on the ball and has a quite good passing. Has the energy of a duracell rabbit. Would cost quite much, but i believe that £8-9m could be enough. Parker out and him in. Twice the player imo.. If we could attract him, but worth a shot imo.. Laryea Kingston is practically an identical type of player, and might indeed be just as good. He would cost around £500,000. I say we go for him instead. The only difference between the two is the exposure Makoun has received at Lille. Well i have not seen Kingston play at all. If he's that good as you say then i really hope we get him. Would be a bargain for £500 000 if he is THAT GOOD. How comes that he plays for Hearts? It's very difficult for a lot of young talented African players to end up at really top clubs. They usually take the first option that comes to them to go abroad and unless they are brilliant from a very young age (around 16, like Martins was) they don't necessarily go to well known clubs. Therefore, those who really begin to develop around the age of 20 find that they are stuck in places like Russia, Israel, Turkey etc. and a lot of times it is hard for someone to show faith in their abilities because their achievements are not recognised or given much credit due to the leagues they play in. Yakubu started out in Israel and Okocha was in Turkey, both for way longer than they should have been in my opinion, but sometimes it takes a while. Kingston is still registered with his Russian club, but is on loan at Hearts. They have until the 6th of June to take up their first option on a £500,000 transfer. Here's hoping they don't! Maybe SA is trying to encourage them not to, with some brown envelopes, so he can come to us instead.

who? He's a DM and plays for Lille. I think he's about 23-24 years old. Has a great engine and good breaking up attacks. But he's also good on the ball and has a quite good passing. Has the energy of a duracell rabbit. Would cost quite much, but i believe that £8-9m could be enough. Parker out and him in. Twice the player imo.. If we could attract him, but worth a shot imo.. Laryea Kingston is practically an identical type of player, and might indeed be just as good. He would cost around £500,000. I say we go for him instead. The only difference between the two is the exposure Makoun has received at Lille.

We might as well just wait for the bloke to arrive to see how he does. Don't write him oof just yet. You only have to look at the likes of Chimbonda to understand that there are good players who are hidden in some pretty remote places.

Hearts risk losing Kingston HEARTS have until June 6 to finalise the permanent transfer of Larry Kingston from Terek Grozny or risk losing him to another club. The Evening News has learned that Hearts' first-option clause on the Ghanaian must be activated within the next 13 days, as stipulated in the loan agreement brokered with Terek in January. English clubs are monitoring the situation but Vladimir Romanov has first refusal on Kingston for a previously agreed fee in the region of £500,000. But he must complete the deal by June 6 or the player will become available to the highest bidder. Kingston has been alerted to the interest from England but has already publicly declared his desire to remain at Tynecastle. He is currently on a two-week break in Ghana whilst awaiting clarification on his future. The 26-year-old signed a three-and-a-half-year contract with Hearts worth £15,000 a week upon his arrival from Terek in January, which will continue from the summer if his move is made permanent. Kingston's agent, Alexander Fedoseev, said today: "I think we need one week for a final answer. We are negotiating with Hearts but the contract states they have the first option. We are awaiting a reply from them. Larry is enjoying his vacation but before June 6 we will know everything. "One agent from England called me and said that a team there wanted to sign Larry, but I said that until Hearts refuse him we can do nothing. I can't discuss any other options with teams until Hearts say no. "I want Larry to stay in Edinburgh." Kingston, 26, saw a potential move to Bolton Wanderers fall through in January before Romanov took him to Hearts on a six-month loan from Terek. Sam Allardyce has since left the Reebok Stadium to manage Newcastle United, but he still rates the player highly and may try to tempt him to St James Park. Sammy Lee, Allardyce's replacement at Bolton, is also understood to retain an interest in Kingston.

There seems to be a gentleman's agreement in place reg Nolan. So not sure about that at all. Not sure about Reo-Coker? Or Nolan? And why is Anelka unsure does he have other offers from any big clubs, are Juve still in for him?

I think 4-3-3 is what we will be going with too, which is why I have been surprised with talks of Owen and Martins staying. I'm not sure either has the skill set to play as wide forwards. We will essentially have to revamp the whole team as we don't have the type of central attacking midfielders who get forward and score enough goals, which is vital in the 4-3-3. I think you mentioned Nolan before, is this still on? Would Nolan and Reo-Coker be the two pushing forward from the middle? It also looks like we might go with Crouch rather than Anelka as the central striker.