oldtype

Do you think Newcastle's current squad is capable of matching or surpassing them? Or will extensive investment be needed in January? Who, City? I think we could. I don't see us being particularly inferior to them anywhere on the pitch except for attacking midfielders (Elano and Petrov have both been stunningly good buys.) and they would kill to have any one of our best three strikers. Defensively we should be about equal when both teams have good days. ...Not that I wouldn't welcome some extensive investment come January.

You know, if Ashley is actually seriously considering replacing Sam, I hope he's at least being discreet about it. Not so long ago we were laughing at Spurs for tapping up Juande Ramos... If results keep going south we could very soon be in the same situation.

regardless of how good his link up play might be, you just can't play with a striker who can't score.

Well, that was kind of what we were expecting before the season even started, no? true, but they all seem to be really starting to hit their straps, whereas Newcastle are...... Portsmouth, Everton, and Blackburn all had squads leaps and bounds beyond ours last season. I think we're catching up pretty decently. As for City, they've had a lot of luck both on the transfer market and on the pitch. I don't really think they play better football than we do.

Well, that was kind of what we were expecting before the season even started, no?

Bramble? In bramble's case, he's usually like cacapa was today, but every once in a while he seems to be solid.

I think I've figured out why Cacapa has "mistake prone" on FIFA now. It's just frightening, he's usually so solid, but every once in a while today seems to happen.

Yes, like Sven Goran Eriksson. Until you get beaten 6-0 and then you have to sack them, and then 'go British', until that manager gets beaten and then you have to sack them, and 'go foreign'. It's at times like this I wish many fans would go bloody interstellar rather than foreign, and launch themselves into the sun. If they ever get around to simulating realistic Newcastle Fans in Football Manager that might make the game more challenging. Two losses on the trot and you're up for the sack.

Defence still hasnt been sorted our major problem and Sam has failed Again, defence was fine aside from the early few minutes when the shit really hit the fan. There's just nothing you can do about that sort of breakdown. Somebody must have raped Cacapa's dog or something. I'll reserve judgement till next week.

I honestly don't think we played that badly aside from the first three goals. We started off playing very well, picked up nicely after the 10-minute nightmare, and produced about as much as we usually produced for the rest of the game. Honestly, if James(MOM for me) hadn't been making reflex saves and cutting passes left and right, the scoreline could easily have been 5-4 or so. And although Pompey played very well, they were certainly lucky with Pamarot's fluke piledriver and the fourth goal. (Granted, we also got away with handball.) I mean yes, the result is horrible, and but this isn't the one particular game that would make or break my opinion about Big Sam. That would be next week.

No because we are in the UK where the currency is pounds sterling. Besides which the dollars value is dropping like a tarts knickers these days so all those estimates of wealth are undoubtedly wrong. 'We are in the UK where the currency is the pound sterling'....well, I hope you enjoy it while it lasts, pal, because after last Friday's stitch-up by your Govt, your currency will soon be the Euro - you, know, the one that the Frech & Germans are complaining about because its now 'too strong' against the dollar, so they can't sell the Yanks their cars, cheese, wine, perfume etc etc.... Maybe the assets should have been quoted in Euros...!! Is the pound dead weak then? The Pound calling the Euro too strong is akin to Shola complaining about Martins' bad first touch.

yes. It is on the box here in the States. What? Where? (runs to tv)

RIP Will be fondly remembered for his time in my country. Fantastic manager while it lasted.

wrong, it's no problem at all having worked in both these countries. Entering each country is no problem whatsoever if you have the Japanese/Korean stamp in your passport. Aye, I'm Korean and I have about 8 Japanese stamps on my passport. No trouble whatsoever. We're all nice and friendly now. And if you want a real case of countries being in the wrong federation, just look at Australia in the AFC. I'm not saying that it's not a good thing for Australia/Asian football in general, but still, flying out to OZ for an away game is pretty tough.

my God, that team would get relegated.

Has somebody counted the number of "Adriano?" "HELL NO!" threads we've had since last winter? I'd say about 10.

Would not sell Ramage, never mind Taylor. We need bodies. Simple as that. As for Taylor's potential it's certainly useless to be making any judgements right now. For every Alan Shearer banging the goals in at age 17, there's a player like Drogba who's hardly even noticed before his mid-twenties. Players develop at a different pace. Just because Taylor isn't as good as Richards right now doesn't mean he won't be at any point in his career. (Two very different types of defenders, anyway.)

As an outsider, I had nothing but good impressions about the city of Liverpool when I was visiting last spring. Top-class people, certainly a damned sight better than any Londoner I've ever met. Don't understand the stick they get on here all the time tbh. Although to be fair, I've never been to Anfield.

Solano and his wife have been separated for a while. And his wife decided to move to London to try to boost her career! Ah ha. Didn't know that. That's odd as well though, I mean, if they're split up in the first place why's she been living in close proximity with him the whole time? I suppose it's good for the kids, but seems an awkward situation, to say the least.

anyone else find it odd that Solano is speaking about his wife and children moving as something he couldn't control? I mean, you'd think they'd have at least discussed it with him before moving off to London. He's refering to it as if it struck him completely out of the blue. Trouble with the missus, Nobby?

Miscalculated the time difference and missed most of the match. Screamed "F***" and ran to the computer. Was slightly less angry when I saw the scoreline.

can we call him Smithers?

I think it's worth noting that just a week ago this place was brimming with doom and gloom and we had a thread calling for less negativity.

It's 4m euros not pounds is it not? That would be more like 2.5m. A very reasonable price.

before anyone else says it... MASSIVE player in FM.