AyeDubbleYoo

Nice to hear on SSN "newcastle say the club does not comment on speculation", even when the deal is this close to done. Good on them.

Aye, but it would have taken a hell of a lot of signings to stop that.

I know I'm late entering this thread, and can't be bothered to read it all through now, but there isn't a lack of signings at all really. We've made two decent ones already, which is more than a lot of clubs, and the market is only taking off in the last couple of days.

Good result, pleased with Guthrie's contribution. I've got no reason to hope for anything other than Duffer to continue his success, so I won't take any pleasure if he doesn't do it. We'll see, but he's only had one game back and he's scored a hat-trick, so not a bad start.

After what KK gave us last time he is a hero, and a bit of worship is no less than he deserves! Also, the idea that he's only got shit players to work with, or that everything else at the club is crap, is utter nonsense anyway.

Mental how the press still seem to think Enrique is a failure. Oh forgot, newcastle defender = he's shit... my mistake.

I know, I'd be amazed too, but it looks cool. Maybe if their sponsorship deal was a lot cheaper...

Love the inter/toon mockup, that would be incredible - a shirt that actually looks decent to wear. And the little sponsor is really classy as well, and might actually be better as it will show up in the head and shoulders shots on TV. Listen up Mike, ditch Adidas and get this made!

On the other hand, we should have already bought Arshavin, Modric wanted to sign but we didn't stump up the money, we f***ed up with Aimar and forced him to go to Benfica etc etc. It's not perfect so far I know, but it's not a disaster. Didn't Mort say in one of the programmes that he was dissapointed Woodgate and Modric had gone to Spurs despite us offering both higher wages? I seem to recall that both clubs had apparently met the valuations of both players with their respective clubs, and Modric's proposal was rumoured to be a better deal than the one Spurs offered due to the installments. Yep, I was being sarcastic I'm afraid. What I was hinting at was that we haven't really done anything wrong yet, these players have just had better options available, and we haven't been able to persuade them to choose Plan B (us).

Sweet!

Sadly that's true, and who can blame them? If I wasn't a toon fan, and I was earning a fortune a week, I'd be off to Milan/Madrid/London in a shot. All we can do is gradually build ourselves back up to a side that will attract players for what we achieve on the pitch. That can take time, but it's more than possible. I bet Tevez and Ronaldo wouldn't be in Manchester if they weren't such a massive success - achievement can overcome geography, but it doesn't happen overnight. We were almost there but we f***ed it up, so we need to face that fact and rebuild. so they DO exist!!!! thank fuck for that! Who do?

Sadly that's true, and who can blame them? If I wasn't a toon fan, and I was earning a fortune a week, I'd be off to Milan/Madrid/London in a shot. All we can do is gradually build ourselves back up to a side that will attract players for what we achieve on the pitch. That can take time, but it's more than possible. I bet Tevez and Ronaldo wouldn't be in Manchester if they weren't such a massive success - achievement can overcome geography, but it doesn't happen overnight. We were almost there but we fucked it up, so we need to face that fact and rebuild.

I voted Contented, mainly because this is what I was expecting. In fact the fact we've got two bodies in midfield already could be considered ahead of schedule. We could do with some more quantity and quality, but the market hasn't really taken off yet, so no need for a change of underpants.

I don't even know what a three legged monkey toad is, and I want one.

On the other hand, we should have already bought Arshavin, Modric wanted to sign but we didn't stump up the money, we fucked up with Aimar and forced him to go to Benfica etc etc. It's not perfect so far I know, but it's not a disaster.

Speculating wildly hasn't exactly brought us an avalanche of trophies recently though has it? Things will pick up, but to judge the club because they don't live up to press speculation is idiotic.

I hope not.

Finally we might realised that 'linked to' means 'the press made this up'.

Jesus wept, you couldn't write it...

Boro linked with James Harper from Reading on Sky Sports website, would be a good replacement for Boateng IMO.

Don't think many people are complaining about the article (I specifically said it was alright), just the pointless nature of the whole 'big club' debate.

If I was Ronaldo I would hang around and dominate the premiership for another season, why not?

Not a bad article, but like everyone says there's a million ways to debate this 'who is biggest' issue - all of them pointless.

Huh? Was he ever strong or conditioned?

I'd be surprised if anything as absolute as a specific age limit is imposed on our dealings. Yes, the focus will be on younger players but that doesn't rule out the signing of one or two more experienced players to bring some quality to the team for now. I'd be cautiously happy with Aimar, like you say he's been one of the best creative midfielders in the world on his day. With De Jong as well I'd be well chuffed.