quayside

Is it some sort of Rafa style squad rotation thing due to the number of games coming up?

Not if the first choice was Beckford or Moses. They were out of the equation before yesterday.

When fit I wouldn't be surprised to see Steven Taylor playing right back ahead of Simpson. Williamson looks like he could hold down an automatic spot in the middle and S Taylor is the best right back we have IMO.

Nope - there's a few on here who think he'll be ok, and a few prepared to give him a chance.

Coz beckford scored against Manyoo and Spuds in the cup, innit! Seems to be about right. Neither player has Premiership clubs banging the door down. But Best is younger and has got a decent record this season whilst playing his day to day football at a higher level than Beckford.

Don't know much about him so I'm open minded on this. Lots of players defy their previous form when they join a new club. A change of environment plus a change of team can work either way TBH. In our case it's usually been an expensive "name" player who totally under performs, so what's to lose? Also plenty on here were slagging off the Williamson signing, not because they'd seen him play but because he didn't get a game at Pompey - and he looks like being a decent bit of business. And let us not forget that Bellamy came from Coventry and their fans thought he was shyte.

To be fair he's not really a footballer....

It was but the pass from Scholes to Giggs was alright as well

They were lucky against Watford on boxing day, should have lost it in the last minute but Shorey got away with palming the ball off the line. They're definitely a good outfit though. Got good depth in the squad and a blend of pace, power and skill. They were a bit lucky against us - if Nolan was offside for the chance he stuck away second half then it was by no more than a gnat's cock, how could the lino call that one and be sure?

From what I can see Routledge only played for Villa twice - and one of those was as a sub in the 86th minute......

Although to be fair - looking at Leeds results this season he has had an impact (i.e. he scored) against Colchester, Walsall, Tranmere, Colchester, Gillingham, Carlisle, Norwich, Bristol Rovers, Yeovil, Grimsby, Brighton, Kettering, Hartlepool and Stockport

Had forgotten about him until I heard he scored Forest's 5th goal tonight. Anyone know if this is still a live one or did our "derisory" offer kill any potential deal?

Blatant asset stripping tbh.

I think Hughton burned his boats on the RW slot when he signed Pancake. I would be surprised if the current regime would let him sign another one no matter how good a bargain, especially as R Taylor can play there as well. Aye ya right like, shame though. It certainly is

I think Hughton burned his boats on the RW slot when he signed Pancake. I would be surprised if the current regime would let him sign another one no matter how good a bargain, especially as R Taylor can play there as well.

If you'd asked nicely he might have let you.

Faye, Beye and Enrique were all excellent signings - Smith, Rosenahl, Viduka, Cacapa, Barton, Geremi not so good. Although Smith and Barton may yet offer us something.......

Absolute class

It is the position we need to strengthen. We only have 5 defenders who are worth considering for a first team place and that's not enough. We have been incredibly lucky with injuries and suspensions to our back 4, we can't continue to rely on that.

Hate Andy Gray for a lot of things, but especially when he's on a Gerrard wankfest and starts calling him "Stevie G" or even worse "the skipper"......

If he's a s*** coach, give him a role on the till in the club shop. Win-win situation IMO. Why not just give Geremi the right wing slot, part time coaching role and a till job at the club shop on Tuesday afternoons? With the money saved by not hiring Solano surely that is the ultimate win-win scenario? But isn't Geremi shortly off to work on the till at a club shop in Turkey? Apparently their fans were going wild at the news....

Ambition check is right. We all know if we get promoted we'll be lucky to stay up. The fact that we can't attract the likes of Kilgallon shows our standing. Look what ambition beyond financial means has done to Portsmouth and West Ham. Reality check is that football finances have gone insane. Portsmouth are doomed. West Ham have been saved from being doomed. The new owners admit that buying West Ham doesn't make sense from a business point of view. Paying huge fees and wages to mercenary players has crippled a lot of teams. It is a fact we can no longer compete with 'big' clubs. Man U and Liverpool aren't in good health financially speaking. I'm no fan of Ashley but I'm realistic enough to realise that it's highly unlikely in the current financial climate that any one will be buying the club off him (no matter how much he may want to sell it). The future is mediocre (if we're lucky).

This is obviously a Colin Calderwood idea. He would know the lad better than anyone. I really doubt we are playing the "well we tried" game with a player like this, he's not got any sort of profile unlike Modric, Woodgate and even Beckford.

Doubt it, you need class to do that and these boys made their money out of porn.

Louise gives an unexpected angle to her outrage by outting herself as a closet Newcastle supporter http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2010/jan/19/newcastle-united-northern-rock-taxpayer