Chris_R

FUCKING GET IN!

Stuck at work listening to this on the radio, but got goosebumps already. Really excited that the season's starting, even though we're on a hiding to nothing today.

The only worry in my mind was whether we'd get confirmation in time for the Man U match. We've now got that, so all's well in the world. Good news about Guttierez too.

There's many factors to consider, however the one position we're desperately needing - A creative midfielder - Has not yet been addressed. With that in mind, I had no option but to vote "D". Still time though Kev

Maybe as a final "fingers up" to the press, we should schedule a news conference tomorrow to announce the purchase of a major new acquisition. When all the press turn up with their best reporters and flashiest cameras, have Mike Ashley come out and tell them that we've bought the groundsman a new lawnmower.

If that's true, and I'm not watching TV as I'm at work so I don't know, there's going to be some absolutely gutted Chelsea fans now.

All the other 20 goal a season midfielders are unavailable. 20 deflected goals? I'd be absolutely delighted if any of our midfielders could bang in 20 deflected goals.

Still holding out hope that they're announcing the double signing of Smith and Shola for £20m plus Drogba. But then I'm a bit of an optimist.

WHS

Given Beye Coloccini Faye Enrique Guttierez Guthrie Barton Duff Martins Owen

Plus points are just awarded for being in a league, irrespective of finishing position (Bar 1st), so there's no differentiation between teams finishing 2nd and teams finishing 17th. Not terribly accurate then when you look at it closely.

If you click the link, they're only 3 points behind us as well! Though we're only 4 points behind Spurs.

Yeah, I don't think he's as skillful as the likes of Ginola but he's so willing to run at people, always wants the ball and is always looking to take his man on. I think Keegan will love him and will get the best from him and he'll do well in the Premiership.

4-4-2. Martins and Duff up front, Milner on the right and Guttierez on the left. Butt and Guthrie in the middle. --------------Martins--Duff Guttierez---Butt---Guthrie---Milner N'Zogbia--Taylor--Cacapa---Beye -----------------Given

Posted this in the Valencia match thread as well but did anyone else see Smith at the end of the game? He walked over on his own to the East Stand, the Gallowgate, then turned to the Milburn, and applauded the fans. This was after everyone else had gone off towards the tunnel. He then took his shirt off and I thought for a moment that he was going to throw it to the crowd, but then he just tucked it under his arm and walked off. Maybe I'm reading too much into it (Wishful thinking?) but it looked to me for all the world as if he was saying goodbye and knows that he's leaving.

Anyone else see Smith at the end of the game? He walked over on his own to the East Stand, the Gallowgate, then turned to the Milburn, and applauded the fans. This was after everyone else had gone off towards the tunnel. He then took his shirt off and I thought for a moment that he was going to throw it to the crowd, but then he just tucked it under his arm and walked off. Maybe I'm reading too much into it (Wishful thinking?) but it looked to me for all the world as if he was saying goodbye. Oh, and the booing was ridiculous. He's a Newcastle player, he tries his hardest and never says a bad word about the club. He's a Newcastle player and booing him is hardly likely to help his confidence one bit. Anyone booing him is frankly a moron.

Nearly didn't bother loading the PC up this morning. So glad I did now!

It's just getting laughable now.

What's Healy now, just gone 29? Although I think he'll be better than Smith, I don't see him as much of a step up (if any) from Shola. Healy has really failed to bang the goals in at all since he was at Preston in the Championship in 2003/04 when he got 15 from 38 league games which is still hardly spectacular. Overall he's got about a 1 in 4 strike rate at club level, and he's rarely played in the top flight. Sure, he could do a job as a squad player but I think we should be getting someone better or younger. There must be some 20-year-old in the Championship who would be willing to bench-warm here who can "boast" a 1 in 4 return in front of goal?

Fixed.

Going to Spurs. Sorry, but it's not been said for at least 5 pages now.

I don't want this one to slip us by - Anyone up for having a whip-round to help Everton raise the transfer fee? I've got £23.62 in my pocket that I can gladly send.

Surprised nobody has mentioned David Speedie. Don't you stick your fingers up at me you odious little pr*ck.

Well thank fuck it looks like it's moving towards completion. Might get to see him in action on Saturday.

Ronaldo is a world-class player playing in a team of other world-class players, something that we're nowhere near at the moment. I think comparing his role in the Man U team with Guttierez's role in ours is at best shaky. What we need is service from the flanks, and sticking Guthrie out there will not provide it. And the "Static 4-4-2" has not been bad because there's somthing inherently wrong with 4-4-2, but because we've been fielding inept players. For me it's: --------------------Given Beye Coloccini Bassong/Faye Enrique ---------------Faye/Guthrie Guttierez/Milner -------- Duff/Milner/Guttierez ------------------N'Zogbia --------------Owen Martins That's if we had to start the season tomorrow, but hopefully a couple more signings will change that around a bit. A creative mid is a must for me, then Charlie can play left wing if he gets his head screwed on correctly. And just because Ronaldo is world class he is allowed to move positions? mackems.gif Jonas an Argentinian international is not good enough to do that in your eyes? That's not what I said. In fact that's not even nearly what I said. What I said was this: "Ronaldo is a world-class player playing in a team of other world-class players, something that we're nowhere near at the moment. I think comparing his role in the Man U team with Guttierez's role in ours is at best shaky. What we need is service from the flanks, and sticking Guthrie out there will not provide it."