AyeDubbleYoo

You're right, he could well turn into exactly the kind of player we're trying to get rid of... Duff, Smith, Geremi etc.

I agree, if Ashley hasn't decided 'f*** em' and stopped trying to buy players... we should be alright. I maintain though, if we don't make many good signings in this window it doesn't mean the club has 'failed'. Very few clubs make meaningful moves in January. That's as maybe, but we NEED to make "meaningful" signings, and if we don't there's every chance we'll go down. That's failure in my eyes. He's got this window to restore our faith in him, and to stop himself being the most hated man on Tyneside. Let's hope Ashley takes that chance. I know we NEED players, but I still don't think Ashley should be crucified for failing to achieve what nearly every club fails to achieve every transfer window. It's just not feasible to do much business in January.

I love how agents always say 'several clubs are interested' in every single player.

OK, I'll give it a go: Given - top quality, it's a miracle a club in our situation has a keeper anywhere near this good Harper - more than adequate standby for the next year or two at least Beye - wish we had got him a few years earlier, absolute quality IMO Bassong - came out of nowhere and has done a brilliant job Taylor - not really good enough for where we want to be, but not a priority to replace Collocini - top class, but how long can we hold onto him? Enrique - a mystery to me why he hasn't played every game since he was purchased, we should be helping him to develop Edgar - haven't seen enough to judge Cacapa - seems to offer nothing to the squad Duff - I dunno, he always looks like he's about to do something, but it never happens like it used to N'Zogbia - Wish we hadn't signed Duff when he was at the top of his game, we fucked up and will now lose Zoggy (and the player he could have been) Guthrie - Like him a lot, but he needs a real enforcer alongside him Butt - Experienced but that seems his only attribute, maybe he should be coaching not playing Gutierrez - Love the guy, works hard, does a few good things and has a hilarious running style Barton - I don't know what he might be able to do if he could get a run of games together. Once opon a time he was exactly the player we needed Geremi - One of the players I have a soft spot for, but his legs have gone. One player like this we could carry, not a whole midfield of them Smith - Again, maybe many years ago he might have been a player we could use. Now we just need to get him of the wage bill and forget it ever happened Viduka - If this was 2002 he would the man for us Martins - Essential to the team, for me should always play when fit Owen - This lad should not even be thinking about letting his contract run down, he owes us big time. Still feels like he hasn't got started! Will be gone in summer. Carroll - Showing his potential, wouldn't be too bothered about partnering him with Martins, or as the point of a 4-3-3 Ameobi - Does almost enough to keep getting new contracts, but he isn't any use for us except if we go down Xisco - Why didn't we give him a chance? Maybe just unlucky with the timing of his arrival Kinnear - No idea, if we stay up he should be given a bit of a credit and moved on. To be thinking of offering him a long-term deal is mental

Just as well NUSC keep telling us how crap the situation is, I would have forgotten otherwise.

Martins on the left would work imo, not as a winger or LM but as a left sided striker in a front three. I've always thought he was at his best when running at people.. As part of a front three I agree... if we had anyone to play the same role on the right.

He's a complete dick, but he won't face any punishment for this - if he did the FA would have to address the fact that most other top teams do the same thing.

On a more serious note, Duff at LB and Martins in LM? Loco. If we could get Johnson from Man City it would be amazing by the way.

Ah, I just laughed out loud at work reading the title.

About time he actually spoke to the manager.

He isn't a random fan, he's on the NUSC committee (although the article was clearly intended to imply that he's just an average pissed off random fan like a couple of their other comments) Ah well.

I agree, if Ashley hasn't decided 'fuck em' and stopped trying to buy players... we should be alright. I maintain though, if we don't make many good signings in this window it doesn't mean the club has 'failed'. Very few clubs make meaningful moves in January.

Don't think I can blame NUSC in this case, if the Mirror decide to publish a rant from a random fan that's their issue. Doesn't sound like he's speaking on behalf of NUSC.

Usually go live to a couple of home games, a couple of away games down south, a few in the pub and the rest online/radio. By the way, is it true that 30 out of 38 are available to watch in the UK? If so, where?

Just shows how many players you can sign in a position without solving your problems! You'd think after signing every midfielder going they'd be sorted already. Remarkable really they have spent £14 million on Modric, £9 million on Jenas and 8 million on Zakora and now Palacios for £14 million. Don't forget the boy Bentley, a snip at 15 million quid.

Just shows how many players you can sign in a position without solving your problems! You'd think after signing every midfielder going they'd be sorted already.

Nice summary dude, does show the importance of clearing the debt, and maybe why we can't be splashing money on players.

FFS, they don't have to explain every detail of their work to the fans... settle down. Well, no, they don't. But isn't that why we're in the mess we're in now? No, I don't think so... the fans just bleat about it because they're (understandably) frustrated about how shit we are.

Steve Black is a legend, I was a season ticket holder at the Falcons a few years back and he had a massive part to play in their success. Not to mention how well Jonny Wilkinson has done.

Basically what I think, I don't hate Ashley and I think his basic strategy was the right one, but he needs to put his hand in his pocket to stop us going down in the short term. And get a proper manager at the end of the season if he isn't selling up.

FFS, they don't have to explain every detail of their work to the fans... settle down.

http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/6336/spottingij5.jpg http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/spottingij5.jpg/1/w500.png

Why does anyone care what the result was by the way?

I think this is a realy good strategy to be fair, it's just that we needed more urgent surgery in the short-term as well.

How has this thread continued so long?