KaKa

Toon_crazy huh? Very appropriate name indeed. You must be crazy if you think Taylor is better than Hyypia!!! Have you ever seen Hyypia play? Are you kidding me? Taylor is still prone to a quite a few errors and mistakes and isn't anywhere near as strong or commanding as Hyypia yet. It would be ideal if we brought in Hyypia and Ben Haim and played both of them together as our first team pairing and took a bit of heat off Taylor. Taylor could then rotate with Hyypia who wouldn't play every game. This is why I actually like the fact that Hyypia is 34 because in a year or two Taylor steps into the first team in his place and would be a lot better prepared for it. No way Taylor should be guaranteed a first team place yet. Just because he is a geordie? Get real! At one point last season some on here where saying he was the white Bramble! Need to bring him along a bit slower and let him sit and watch two excellent defnders for at least a year whil allowing him to start a fair share of games too, but not every single game!

There is no way in hell we sign him and campbell! That wouldn't be a smart move in my opinion. It would have to be Hyypia and a younger but still experienced defender like Ben Haim.

He isn't the one that has pushed for a move. It was more Rafa looking to move on some players to make way for new additions who will add to the wage bill. Hyypia didn't expect to play every game this season and wasn't moody or angry about it. He is a top professional. I think he should definitely be a first choice defender for us, alongside a younger more athletic defender and two new energetic fullbacks. If we could surround him with players like this his pace won't be exposed as much. Just to mention He is an absolute beast in the air and is still as strong as an ox and it will be a pleasure to have someone so strong at the back for us. Don't forget the fact he never gets injured as well, so you would imagine with Sams fitness regime he would be even stronger and in better shape for us.

£30,000 a week is absolute peanuts when you take into account the fact that he is on a free!!! Hyypia is also a great talker and his communication and direction at the back would be invaluable for us. Hyypia in my opinion had a lot to do with making Carragher look good a lot of the time and taught him a hell of a lot, and I think Taylor is far ore naturally talented than Carragher so it would be great for Taylor.

Hell no! There are way too many young and talented DM's out there. Yaya Toure for example, just off the top of my head. No way should we bring in Makelele, would don't desperately need experience in midfield either.

I think it was always going to be either Hyypia or Campbell and not both. We should now aim to get one more central defender who is young but with experience i.e. Ben Haim.

Is you ITK matey?

I have to say I love the way Big Sam is handling this situation too. No begging or pleading. If he senses they are eager to play for the clu then fine, but if not get them out pronto!

So we can move him on. No more excuses, with the new investment we will be able to afford another top striker so cut the guy loose. Reading this article in the times just doesn't fill me with much confidence in wee Mickey ... Owen ready for England return but remains silent on his future George Caulkin It has been a week of surprises at St James’ Park, but Michael Owen’s reluctance yesterday to discuss life at Newcastle United did not count as one of them. As the forward prepares to wear an England shirt for the first time since suffering a knee injury at last summer’s World Cup finals – in this evening’s B international against Albania – club matters were strictly off bounds. In itself, it told a story. Amid reported interest from Manchester United and Liverpool, as well as repeated public airing of a £9 million release clause in the 27-year-old’s Newcastle contract, Owen’s future has become a source of intrigue. Freddy Shepherd, the Newcastle chairman, recently requested that Owen should “come out and tell our fans he is happy here”, but that statement of loyalty has yet to be heard. While Owen has made no request to leave the club that paid Real Madrid £16 million for his services in 2005 – and for whom he has made only 14 appearances – and his prospective departure is no fait accompli, silence lingers. Last week, he held a positive telephone conversation with Sam Allardyce, the Newcastle manager, without any direct reference to his own position. Allardyce held his first face-to-face discussions with Owen – as well as with Kieron Dyer, his Newcastle teammate – at England’s team hotel on Wednesday night. He again spoke at length about his plans to revamp the coaching and medical set-up on Tyneside, as well as energise a deflated first team. The effect of Mike Ashley’s proposed takeover of the club remains an uncertain commodity. Neither Owen nor Dyer were placed under pressure by Allardyce to commit themselves, even if Glenn Roeder’s replacement is keen to discern his scope for leeway in the transfer market. Related Links Ashley aims for ‘biggest and best’ at Newcastle Allardyce would not have learnt anything new from yesterday’s press conference at Old Trafford, with the FA insisting that questions about Owen’s club would not be permitted, yet on the topic of England, he was fluent and articulate. Owen will start against Albania at Burnley’s Turf Moor stadium – and captains the side – in preparation for the friendly match with Brazil at Wembley a week today and the European Championship qualifying group E fixture in Estonia five days later. After 11 months enforced exile from the global stage, he is thrilled to be back. Given Wayne Rooney’s suspension and Andrew Johnson’s unavailability through injury for the pivotal tie in Tallinn, there is an added edge to Owen’s return, but the man who has scored 36 goals in 80 appearances for his country is enthused by the prospect of pressure. “That’s the life I live,” he said. “I feed off expectations, wanting to make myself happy, wanting to make my friends and family proud, and the same with the country. Winning games with England makes the entire nation feel a better place. I like it when there’s something competitive on a game and my best performances have usually come when there’s been a lot riding on the outcome.” Not many Newcastle supporters would share the sentiment, but Owen is desperate for more matches. “If there was a massive game tomorrow I’d be fine to play,” he said. “I can’t get enough of games at the minute. I don’t want the season to end. “I don’t think there’s too much room for slip-ups now. If we lose a game it doesn’t mean we’re not going to qualify, but you don’t want to be slipping up against a team like Estonia when you have big games to come.” England B S Carson (Liverpool) – P Neville (Everton), L King (Tottenham Hotspur), M Dawson (Tottenham Hotspur), N Shorey (Reading) – A Lennon (Tottenham Hotspur), G Barry (Aston Villa), J Jenas (Tottenham Hotspur), D Bentley (Blackburn Rovers) – M Owen (Newcastle United), A Smith (Manchester United). Television: Live on Sky Sports 1 from 7.30pm (kick-off 7.45pm). http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/euro_2008/article1837973.ece

Still interesting to talk about what kind of player he is though right?

Baines wants to leave, and Jewell has left already. The new manager has already been promised funds so I think as he is already looking to put together his own team he will not be adverse to letting Baines move on. I don't think they will be difficult about it at all. £5 million seems fair. Isn't that how much tottenham ended up paying for Chimbonda? And he was in the preiership team of the year!

The competition between Babsy and Baines would be an interesting situation. There will be no competition. Babayaro is sooooo gone. Should Baines get injured, who do we have for back-up? J Lloyd Samuel? Or some other second string left back, but it certainly won't be Babayaro!

Speaking of Belgians and Belgium ... I've heard Reading are considering a bid for Oguchi Onyewu. Would be interesting to see what kind of player he develops into if he ends up back in the premiership.

A link but I'm too embarrassed to post it. Look alright ... it was tribal football, but bearing in mind it isn't an obvious player and Big Sam does sign some unknowns I reckoned it was worth at least a mention and a chat. Is that alright with you sir? Care to tell us a bit about the player if you can? Just post the link, mate. Not bothered where you got it from. http://www.tribalfootball.com/article.php?id=40789

A link but I'm too embarrassed to post it. Look alright ... it was tribal football, but bearing in mind it isn't an obvious player and Big Sam does sign some unknowns I reckoned it was worth at least a mention and a chat. Is that alright with you sir? Care to tell us a bit about the player if you can?

Anyone know anything about this chap? I must say I am hoping that Sam sticks to his tried and tested formula of bringing in players who are not as well known but who he has researched thoroughly and therefore he knows they can play in this league. I would hate it if he starts forcing the situation and going for big players for the hell of it. I would much rather see us take this opportunity to build a large squad of young hungry players with a point to prove (Baines would be a great start!). Although the new investment could be huge I would hate us to do or become the kind of club Chelsea have in the transfer market. It is disgusting to me. Anyhow if anyone knows what this guy is like please inform. I think he has a clip (Am I allowed to mention where?) out there somewhere but I'm at work so can't view. If anyone else can have a peep and fill us in. Cheers!

The competition between Babsy and Baines would be an interesting situation. There will be no competition. Babayaro is sooooo gone.

I remember this. Was a couple of seasons ago right? The young lad was quality. Where did he end up again?

He's s*** tbh, so glad we stepped aside and allowed Liverpool to sign him. He's a foreign Kevin Davies. He cost £10 million right? Yikes. I mean he is alright but yikes!

http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A9gnMiNdulRGy9wAEyejzbkF/SIG=12t52bnr6/EXP=1180044253/**http%3A//www.sitegigs.nl/wildlifelands/Foto/Cuba/Horse%2520and%2520Cart.jpg Dirk in action!!!

Kaka is the only one really. The rest are good but their time has been up.

Should have just gone 3-5-2 again and it would have killed Milan, just like it did in the second half a couple of years ago. Especially as Milan were playing one old, slow striker up front. Agger, Hyypia, Carragher in defence. Finnan, Gerrard, Mascherano, Alonso, Riise in midfield. Kuyt & Crouch upfront. Would have also allowed them to keep the three stooges Pennant, Zenden and Kewell off the pitch.

Couldn't disagree more. Milan are old. The player that has carried them all season is Kaka. Stop him and you stop Milan. Simple. A Man United team with Hargreaves playing the role Mascherano did tonight would have destroyed Milan. They were absolutely awful and clueless with Mascherano on the pitch shadowing Kaka. They could hardly get it out of their half. With only Inzaghi (old and slow) as their striker they were infinitely worse than Liverpool. The loss of Crespo and Sheva was huge for them. Awful team in my opinion.

Spot on. Kin hell even Kaka can see it. blueyes.gif Careful ...

Is Gerrard really better in the middle? Not so sure about this ... Mascherano was the better player and didn't deserve to go off it blatantly cost them the second goal as KaKa was in acres of space for the first time all night. Should have taken off Pennant and moved Gerrard to the right to accomodate Crouch and the change should have been made much earlier.