Lenny

It was more of an example of the U-turning that happens on this forum all too often. Thoroughly expect everyone to hate Colo again after 2 games. I'd rather people be able open to changing their opinions than pig headed stubbornness to be fair.

Bellamy caused so many problems before Souness, he and a lot of players got away with murder under Bobby. We needed someone that could discipline the squad, but not in the manner that Souness decided to go about doing it. Unfortunately for us, Bellamy came across someone who was just as much an arse hole as he was and they were both too stubborn to try and help each other out for the benefit of the club. Bellamy was every bit to blame, if not more, for the manner of his leaving as he was the problem.

Made me smile Same here. I'm happy for him. He's the only person about at the moment that will show any real pride wearing it. He's got the kind of attitude where it will spur him on rather than put pressure on him as well. I think he'll do well this season.

I don't think he would either. I'd have him back, purely on the basis that he's a quality player and would make our attack look better no end. Him and Carroll would have a lot of potential. That being said, he was just as much to blame as Souness for his past with us and had to go at the time. He was a horrible little shit.

I thought Baheng had promise For some reason I always thought he'd be one to end up alright. Looked like he had a decent build to be a good player, and seemed to score a few goals (he was an attacking midfielder right....)

Yep, and you can't really argue with his response to be honest. He does like a bit of a natter to the press though. Hopefully he'll stay fit long enough to have a decent crack at justifying himself.

What about McLoven

He was good most of the time though, I felt. By "very good" I meant unplayable. Nowhere near the complete player but a very unique one that offered something that not many around did/could at his level. Passing ability was underrated but can't argue that he had no shooting ability/confidence in his shooting ability. I always thought it was more a confidence thing with his shooting, rather than a lack of ability. He looked for the pass more often than he should have. When he did hit it, his shooting wasn't particularly bad.

Looks like Forster could be off to Burnley on loan. If he can nail down his place, this could be a brilliant move for him and us. Would do him the world of good being in a potential Championship promotion contending side. http://www.journallive.co.uk/nufc/newcastle-united-news/2010/07/17/burnley-claim-fraser-forster-deal-61634-26871336/? Burnley claim Fraser Forster deal Jul 17 2010 by Mark Douglas, The Journal BURNLEY boss Brian Laws says he has agreed a deal to sign Newcastle United’s highly-rated young goalkeeper Fraser Forster on a season-long loan. Chris Hughton is eager for 22-year-old Forster (pictured left) to get more first-team experience and believes a loan spell in the Championship will enable him to progress after a successful term in League One with Norwich last season. Burnley are expected to be among the second tier’s front-runners and a move to Turf Moor, where Forster will challenge current number one Brian Jensen, makes sense for both parties. Reports in the North West claimed that Burnley held talks with Forster after United returned from their Dublin training camp on Wednesday, and Laws said he is confident that a deal has been agreed. But Forster has been included in the Newcastle party set to travel to Carlisle today, and the Clarets may have to wait another fortnight for the deal to go through. The Championship side are in Singapore as part of their pre-season preparations next week and it now looks unlikely that the young goalkeeper will be on board in time for that. “Everything has been agreed, but there is a hiccup at his parent club that needs to be resolved and we hope that can happen soon,” Laws said. While Forster looks set to leave United, fellow young gun Ryan Donaldson is preparing to lead the line for England’s under-19 side as they kick off their European Championship campaign against Austria. The striker, who made his Newcastle debut last season, has one goal in six appearances for his country. Meanwhile, Andy Carroll has played down talk of him inheriting Newcastle United’s famous number nine shirt ahead of the Premier League campaign. The number was left vacant last term but Caroll, who finished last season as the club’s top scorer, looks set to take the shirt this season. He says his priority is to continue to mine the rich vein of form that he ended last season in. “I just want to score the goals that I know I can,” he said. “It’s not just goals, I want to help the team in every way I can, which I also know I can do. What I need to do is pick up where I left off. “I still feel that I have a lot to learn, but playing the full season last season, playing week in, week out, has brought me on a lot. “It gave me the experience of playing with all the lads too. I wouldn’t say I’m a senior player, but I’m not one of the youngest players either.”

According the Premier League stats, Dyer played more league games than all of them. Edit: He actually made the joint most appearances that season excluding Given. Interesting that his most injury free season is the season we get our highest league finish of the Bobby era.

Because I saw him play, a lot, and from what I saw I don't see this as being the case. I think we're going to have to agree to disagree here, but you can't just dismiss peoples opinions of players (and football in general) if they differ to yours.

Or they just don't understand football would be my guess. So people don't understand football because they don't agree with the pair of you. Christ When people make ridiculous claims about the ability of Dyer - yes, they don't understand football. The guy's weaknesses were too numerous and too important to ever make him a top player. You'll notice that in our most successful seasons, his contributions were limited, both statistically and in the way he unbalanced our team. The most successful season Dyer played in for us was when we finished 3rd and had a Champions League run. Various sources have him playing 35 games for us and 12 in the Champions league. He can't have unbalanced us to that much of a detrimental effect. I don't agree with your assessment of Dyer as a player in any case. You've previously picked out his passing and touch as poor, which is just not true. A lot of people don't like Dyer because he was a twat and spent a lot of time injured. On the pitch and at his best he was class IMO.

Or they just don't understand football would be my guess. So people don't understand football because they don't agree with the pair of you. Christ

Those goals were always once every 10 or 20 games? True, I didn't say he scored many, but he scored some decent goals. I don't recall him ever being overly wasteful with chances as much as he looked for the pass more often than not. Could just be rose tinted glasses mind...

I don't agree with that at all. The guy was in the team that helped us obtain Champions league football for a start, and was hardly a passenger either; he was one of our key players. He was a very good player, albeit inconsistent at times for us, and had he not had so many injuries would have represented England a lot more. His passing ability is something that I think he has never got any recognition for, but something he was pretty good at. He wasn't just a raw player that could only run with the ball.

That site is painful on the eyes!

Was always my favourite player throughout his time for us. Scored some decent goals for someone who couldn't finish. His goal against Everton....

I have more reservations over Guthrie than Nolan or Barton tbh. I dunno what it is with Guthrie, I used to like him, but I'm not sure he'll be much cop in the Premiership. Really hope I'm wrong though.

He looked shite in the few Santander games I saw last season.

Nope. I have no idea what type of player he is other than from comments on here.

Says he's out for four months at the bottom of that article. Niiiiiiiice!

Worth doing if he's the size of a bus!

It's a start. At least Hughton is identifying and actioning positions that need padding out. As said, he had a blinder against us, and I recall a lot of people at the time we were linked with him in Jan saying it would be a good signing. By no means a profile signing, but it's a low risk signing that could turn out to be a decent bit of business, and not the end of the world if it's not. I'll reserve full judgement until I've seen him a few times, but he's looked decent from the very little I've seen of him.

On the plus side, did anyone actually try playing football wearing last seasons shirt? The thick Northern Rock pattern was uncomfortable as hell and left a sweaty patch on my stomach, you probably wont get that as much with the cheap slap-on on this seasons shirt! Clutching a straws.... although I don't actually mind the shirt.

I have a passing interest in Brighton and Crawley since I'm from Crawley and my old man's from Brighton, but that's about it really.