LoveItIfWeBeatU

The trouble with Smith is what do you judge him on? As a striker he's poor because he simply doesn't score many goals. He isn't an attacking midfielder because he doesn't go forward. As a defensive midfielder I think he's ok. To be fair to him though, we haven't lost with him in the side yet.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/player/sol/newsid_6970000/newsid_6973900/6973972.stm?bw=bb&mp=rm&news=1&ms3=4 "Fans were 'tired' of Allardyce - Gartside" That must have been why they were so happy for him to leave. I wonder if they are tired of losing yet?

1746: REACTION Newcastle 1-0 Wigan Sam Allardyce hopes the win, and more significantly a first home goal since February, can kickstart Newcastle's season. "Now we've got the bogey off our back we'll hopefully get more goals," he says. Opposite number Chris Hutchings is aggrieved by the refereeing as "decisions went against us". He also dismisses the Kevin Kilbane red card incident as a "clash of heads". "It was a controversial decision from Steve Bennett." Garth Crooks, BBC Score pundit Yes, let's not remember a on-side goal ruled out and a penalty not given.

I bet the ruled out 'goals' (one of which should have apparently stood) are erased from history like they never happened i.e. they won't be shown on Match of the Day. Garth Crooks didn't like the sending off so you can be sure that will be heavily featured. We got the 3 points though!

What's with that bench line up? Edgar & Pattison? Get well soon injured players!

The 10 years continuous service testimonial clock is reset if a player leaves i.e. going to Aston Villa for a season and a half.

Don't understand why it was on a free when he just signed with NUFC for another year in the Summer. I'd hoped we'd screwed some more money out of West Ham for him. Edit - It says "Undisclosed fee" on: - http://www.nufc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10278~1103820,00.html Hope Nobby plays every game for Peru now.

http://www.nufc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10278~1103823,00.html http://www.nufc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10278~1103820,00.html

Sometimes these last minute deals aren't announced until well after midnight.

It's an easy rumour to make up with an announcement yet to be made. With Allardyce having signed him for Bolton you'd think he'd know whether he needs a work permit or not. Don't forget Yakubu's transfer to Everton was held up because of a work permit problem. I think I read that a foreign player needs a new work permit if they change clubs.

It's a disgrace that he was ever allowed to referee Newcastle games. Impartial my arse: - "So to use the old Keegan classic, I would really, really love it if we stuffed the Geordies this weekend" http://www.jeffwinterentertainmentandmedia.co.uk/comeonboro/0708003.htm

Dyer's injury may make West Ham launch a panic bid for Solano.

Dyer breaking his leg isn't good news for us if we had any clauses in his transfer based on payments due per X number of games played.

Sorry if this has been mentioned but: - "MIKE Ashley has offered to buy all Newcastle supporters a drink as he prepares for the first competitive home match of his reign. Anyone who already has a ticket will receive a voucher for a free drink, providing they enter the stadium between 3.45pm and 4.30pm. It is not the only offer being offered by the club, in conjunction with Sportsdirect.com. Anyone who buys an adult ticket from the Box Office today will be able to bring two under-14s with them for free. This offer is for selected areas of level seven in the Milburn Stand and supporters must enter between 3.45pm and 4.30pm." http://www.nufc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10278~1094657,00.html

That's not true. Anyway, all the banks are taking a hammering at the moment. RBS shares have dropped even more than NR shares.

10,000 local people would lose their jobs for a start! The shares were at their highest ever (over £12) in February because there were rumours of a takeover that never happened. Typical of shares. A rumour of a takeover gets the share price sky high, profits warnings have them plummit. It won't happen anyway but if Northern Rock were in trouble one of the big banks would probably swallow them up. This reminds me of when people thought Northern Rock 'gave' money to NUFC to buy Owen. Could you imagine a bank trying to explain to its shareholders that they had given money to a football club to buy players? Excluding sponsor money, the only way NUFC will have got any money out of NR (or any other bank) is with interest being charged on a loan.

An injury to Rooney will have the FA pushing for a speedy return for Owen.

The idiots on Football Focus were implying that Man U and Liverpool had strengthened their teams by spending a lot of money and that Chelsea hadn't. The fact that Chelsea got 3 quality player for free didn't seem to count as improvements to the pundits. They were only looking at the money spent.

Solano definately wants to leave: - http://icnewcastle.icnetwork.co.uk/newcastleunited/sundaysun/tm_headline=nobby-wants-to-join-west-ham%26method=full%26objectid=19612685%26siteid=50081-name_page.html (Mods Feel free to shorten the link, I don't know how to). "Nobby wants to join West Ham Aug 12 2007 by Darren Kelso, Sunday Sun NOBBY SOLANO last night opened his heart on his wish to quit Newcastle for West Ham. But the popular Peruvian may be forced to stay on Tyneside, with Magpies boss Sam Allardyce still unhappy with the Hammers over the collapse of Kieron Dyer’s proposed move to Upton Park. Solano has been confident that Allardyce will let him leave if terms can be agreed with the Hammers. But by yesterday morning, Solano rated his chances of moving at only “50-50” – while insisting he would regretfully depart Tyneside for family reasons alone. “It causes me sorrow to have to make this decision. But my children have moved to London and I want to be near them,” he said. “It’s no secret that I have been separated for a while from my wife (Claudia), who until recently lived here in Newcastle. “Despite our situation, I was seeing the children almost every day, and that is what is most important to me. “Things have changed though. My wife decided to move to London to try to boost her career.” He added: “I’m very comfortable at Newcastle. The people love me and I am very thankful for that. “I didn’t want to play for any other club in England, but family issues have forced a change of plan. “I have spoken with the Newcastle directors and with the manager and they understand.” Solano claimed he turned down initial overtures from West Ham earlier in the summer, before his children moved south. But mindful of the acrimonious breakdown of Kieron Dyer’s move to Upton Park last week, Solano added: “The chances are 50-50. “Everything depends on West Ham actually making an offer.”

Any player who wants to leave can hand in a transfer request first. No 'loyalty' payments should be paid to players wanting to leave. As long as we can get decent replacements for them I'm not bothered. If Solano leaves we definately need right back cover.

One of the things I really hate about him is that most of his stories are made up of quotes taken from NUFC.co.uk. All the quotes are preceeded by "Player x told me" followed by the player quote from the NUFC.co.uk article.

For anyone who has Virgin Media, the 'XL' package includes all the Setanta channels for free. http://allyours.virginmedia.com/websales/product.do?id=21

As insane as this story appears to be, we all thought it was newpaper crap that Milner would be sold to Aston Villa last season. The only thing that stopped that happening was a last minute phone call to Milner who was in O'Neill's office when the call was made!

Maybe that's why Keegan has been mentioned as coming back to the club? If we don't get any decent defenders in we're going to have to start with Viduka, Owen, Martins, Ameobi and Luque up front at the same time. The opposition will score 8 but we'll score 9. That's the spirit!

I'm a bit confused by all the posts offering advice. There are going to be a lot of identikit teams as people keep giving advice on which players to pick. Isn't half the fun of Fantasy Football to test your skills and judgement on who to put in the team against everyone else? I can just picture the posts when the season has started - "Everyone who has Lampard in your team, don't forget he's injured for six weeks so make sure you sub him and make someone else your captain".