Lotus

Fuuny name! You'd think he would have got himself one of those funky Brasilian nicknames instead of sticking with that. Sonething like 'Dewey'...

Well, that would be a shame simply because that bloke has looked pretty mediocre to me. I thought Enrique's looked OK, worth perservering with anyway. I'd certainly start him instead of Zoggy. But if we're going to replace him instead of trying to develop him, if we're going to go out and buy a LB in his prime, i'd hope for a lot better than Nicky Shorey.

It's a good point but then Zoggy got in the 1st team. I know he didn't come through the academy but he was young and unproven when he arrived. Shocking to think he's on his 5th Newcastle manager already in a fledgling career!

Wouldn't play Emre and Barton in the middle. Might be tempted to play Geremi somewhere, i don't like him much but he can find a team mate more regularly than Butt and he certainly isn't any slower.

As Manure already 2 DMs in Carrick and Hargreaves i would be surprised if they splashed out on Veloso too. Who needs 3 players for 1 position?

Viana didn't exactly 'adapt' in Spain either so i'm not sure he's the best example.

Watched Miguel Veloso the other week playing for Sporting. Looked a good player, quite strong actually. Played as a DM, good first touch. Someone told me the Portuguese media were saying he's been linked with some big clubs but as far as i know, no bids have been made. I don't work in football but the boy looks quality to me, with athleticism to match.

I thought the reason we didn't sign anybody was quite simply because KK's been out of the game for a while. He wouldn't have had the chance to have a look at the players the scouts may have recommended and he wouldn't have had time to assess our squad and target the replacements. If you're going to spend proper money on a player you'd want to have a look at him first i'd imagine. Woodie was different because he knew him already. That's how i saw it, the simplest explanation.

Just watched it, class!

I had us in 12th.

Then we'll have been stupid. We pay over the odds, about we sold someone for over the odds. They should pay for the potential.

Exactly.

Apart from King and Woodie (who have bad injury records so can't be considered imo), you've only got one really good player

He's got 4 years left on his contract. I want to see the club show some balls and make sure anyone has to pay through the nose to get him. He's not that great now but he has potential, the key is to make a club pay for his potential not his present ability. Start asking for some of the other clubs better players in return as well, see how they like it. If we're loaded now there's no need to be a soft touch for anybody.

Beye, Faye, Enrique, Zog I think these 4 should probably start if fit. IMO Enrique's looked decent enough, nowt special but i think he'll come on. Taylor, Milner, Duff, Barton, Martins I think these 5 should be in the squad and play if their form is good enough or injury necessitates. Cacapa, Viduka, Butt, Geremi Don't look up to it imo. Smith, Emre, Owen Don't offer enough imo. I know Owen is contentious but he's been living off his reputation for a while now. I'm sure he'd score more given the opportunites but we don't look like a team to create them tbh. We need forwards who can create chances for themselves or each other, who can link well and find each other with passes. Like Yorke and Cole at Manure for example. Given Not the same since the Harewood clash imo.

6. Yes, 6. Thankyou!

Out: Smith, Ameobi, Geremi, Roz, Carr, Emre. We can't hope to replace 10+ players but these 5 should go imo.

Ya. He won't last 5 minutes up there. why not? He`ll probably score a hatful of goals in that mickey mouse league Mouse in the body of a bull. Not got the heart to take a kicking. It's strange that mind. When we played Heerenveen in the UEFA a few seasons back, the Radio Newcastle commentators kept going on about how Samaras played as though he was looking for a fight, i.e. more interested in bashing into people and putting himself about than playing football. I thought he'd do far better at Man City than he has. I saw a video of his debut vs Charlton not so long ago. I couldn't believe what I was seeing, he was running around like an absolute madman, he absolutely battered them. Incredible difference to the Samaras of today. He was never the same after Liam Ridgewell left his studs in his back. He's better than he's shown (Not helped at all by SP playing him on the wing, dropping him for scoring and the boo boys) but I cant see him being up for some of the treatment he's gonna get of some of the teams up there. You lot signed a new LB yet? Sven's made some canny signings but Garrido looks scary on MOTD. I'm sure Sven won't put up with that for long or has played ok on the whole?

Just watch with wonder, couple of lads busy trying to open a reeeeaaallly big can.

Define 'athlete'.

Why are most weightlifters white? Is it to do with their muscle composition or their cerebral nature?

I think Taylor doesn't always do well when the balls crossed in, bit of a flaw in CB.

Taylor can look suspect when the ball goes wide, be it crosses or losing his man at corners. Also i don't always think he senses when to get tight to the forward. Still, i'd have him over Roz and he's a lot stronger than Cacapa.

Essien, Sissoko, Barton.

Why do some of you think we need another LB? Enrique looks promising enough to me and Zog can cover if needed. We can look at a back up in the summer.