manorpark

Shade OTT We need a top quality CB and LB, maybe at RB if Sam isn't comfortable with Solano, Geremi and Carr there. The other LB only has to be decent cover, if we even sign one that is. Reckon Babayaro will end up being 2nd choice. Possibly a 4th choice CB, but even then I'm not expecting anything more than a solid, but quite limited, player. We need a really top class LB and CB though. Marquez and Riise/Heinze would do nicely. It depends on what we are aiming to achieve, as a club, this season. If the objective is to go on failing due to lack of quality players during injuries and suspensions, then what I say may be OTT. If we are moving up a gear or two, to try to challenge for a high league placing and challenge for a cup or two, then I am not being "OTT". I personally feel that we are going to try to 'move up a gear' this season, so I say we need a further five good defenders. I bet Sam goes for them, too. He may settle for only getting four more, if we accept that Solano is a reasonable quality cover at Right Back, for one more season. Yeah, I bet he goes for five more, but may only get four of them. If we aim lower, we will finish lower. it's not as if money is a problem and I think Sam knows how to 'attract' players, until such time (soon, I think) where he will not need to do too much work to attract quality players, due to our league position by the end of the coming season.

I personally think he only needs to strengthen the defence. We need (as Sam himself has said) two good players for every position. This means that defensively (including the goalkeeping position) we should have 10 good first-team quality (ideally 'better' than other teams have) players. How many do we already have? GOALKEEPER - 2 (Given/Harper, so NONE needed) CENTRE BACK (A) - 1 (Taylor, so ONE needed) CENTRE BACK (B) - 1 (Rozenhal, so ONE needed) RIGHT BACK - 1 (Geremi, so ONE needed) LEFT BACK - 0 (so TWO needed) So - we still need to acquire a total of FIVE new, top quality, defenders (in my view).

Fine, no point in continued speculation about whether he means it or not . . . . but I think he means it!

Not an accusation, its a compliment! maybe from you, but with Bellers and nyt/nit, it's a blatant cop out Verlaine is just a whinging tit, disingenous at best, total f****** hypocrite at worst So - would you agree you are a WUM, or perhaps just a pessimist - or what?

Not an accusation, its a compliment!

Maybe, but he 'gets people going' - even when they (like me) know what he is doing, they still respond. Thats talent, in my book. Surely his potent combination of verbal bullshit and general lack of a genuine brain cell tells you he couldn't possibly be an effective wind up merchant... You know, there's a very fine line between genius and . . . . . (not that I am saying that anyone is a 'genius' like)

Put up a poll and I know which way I'll vote. He is talented at what he does. Nah, he's really not. Anyway, Mr Verlaine, whats this about you writing about me on Toontastic?? Come register and see. Hmmmmm . . . . . . . maybe. Is it any good?

Yeah, but I think its that 'belief' that sells his comments to people and gets them 'hooked'!! (He'll be lovin' this . . . )

Put up a poll and I know which way I'll vote. He is talented at what he does. Nah, he's really not. Anyway, Mr Verlaine, whats this about you writing about me on Toontastic??

Maybe, but he 'gets people going' - even when they (like me) know what he is doing, they still respond. Thats talent, in my book.

Put up a poll and I know which way I'll vote. He is talented at what he does.

I will just amend your post slightly, in the interests of accuracy: I am actually speaking out of my f****** arse I'm amazed you can go a whole post without a CAPITAL LETTER ASHLEY WANKFEST Sorry about the occasional CAPITALS , I am just getting carried away a bit by this so-much-better close season! But, can I just ask you - are you optimistic (feeling positive) about anything that is currently happening at the club at the moment? excited when the takeover was announced subsequently: Barton, Fatduka, a hundred worn out bosmans, bike rides and swimming now progressively getting more bored waiting for something good to actually happen, while being subjected to your increasingly annoying brand of frankly prescription induced looking hysteria yawn. Vic man, it is not hysteria. It is 'realism' based on my knowlege of our club, and what needed to be done to take it that extra mile, that most of us had hitherto only dreamed about! It is happening, everything points to that. But, it does not all happen instantly. It is happening though, and I intend to enjoy it happening, just as much as I will enjoy it when it has happened. You know what they say about 'anticipation and realisation' - so you just enjoy it too . . go on! I can assure you - it is real (I would have put that last bit in CAPS, but . . . ).

I will just amend your post slightly, in the interests of accuracy: I am actually speaking out of my f****** arse I'm amazed you can go a whole post without a CAPITAL LETTER ASHLEY WANKFEST Sorry about the occasional CAPITALS , I am just getting carried away a bit by this so-much-better close season! But, can I just ask you - are you optimistic (feeling positive) about anything that is currently happening at the club at the moment?

I will just amend your post slightly, in the interests of accuracy: I am actually speaking out of my f****** arse

This is an excellent statement from Michael Owen. It does not matter who wrote/co-wrote it. It contains the right 'detail' about why he is staying (Allardyce / Ashley Takeover / Training Methods / Ambition of Club, etc etc). As a side-issue, this statement actually tells us from the 'inside' (what we were mostly thinking from the outside anyway) that this great club (in our view) is currently completing the final transformations needed to become a perennially top ("really great") club. The timing of the statement and the so-called real reasons for it have been criticised in the usual way, by the usual suspects on here. It really does not matter if you (critics/cynics) are right - you may be - because in the real world, it is the END PRODUCT that matters most. That end product is that we now have an almost-new (Top Class) "signing", motivated to play for us . . . . . . called Michael Owen! For now, he needs to do no more than start banging in the goals and celebrating with us at St James' when he does it!! Any contract re-negotiations can and will follow, at the right time. In a close season of continuing BIG (good) news - this news ranks alongside the Ashley takeover and the realisation of the quality of the Allardyce appointment - as the JOINT BEST NEWS! Criticise that, if you can (but think about it first).

I agree with what you say, but why add the "to come to NUFC" bit? I can understand supporters of (say) Reading or Bolton saying that, but I have always been aware that (for many reasons) the City of Newcastle and Newcastle United are very attractive propositions for a player. At the moment, only the 'current top four' are more attractive, and I am betting that even that will change considerably, in the next year or so! You do have a point, but if we were going to replace Martins hopefully the replacement would be "top 4" standard so we'd need to lure the player, which would be very hard against a top four team. And yes we probably are one of the best destinations outside top 4 and that will hopefully improve 8) Personally, I think Martins will stay, and like you I think he would be a bit of an idiot to leave! Myself, I never refer to the currently most successful teams in our league as the Top/Big Four (as this implies permanency, which I do not believe will be the case) only as - what they are - the "Current Top Four".

I agree with what you say, but why add the "to come to NUFC" bit? I can understand supporters of (say) Reading or Bolton saying that, but I have always been aware that (for many reasons) the City of Newcastle and Newcastle United are very attractive propositions for a player. At the moment, only the 'current top four' are more attractive, and I am betting that even that will change considerably, in the next year or so!

I know, I think many of us are quite hyped up by what is (appears to be) going on this summer! But think about it - why are we hyped up? It is because we think that, for the first time in years a lot of genuinly GOOD stuff, exciting stuff - IS gonna happen. It's great isn't it? (even if it doesn't ALL come off . . . ) With the new structure at the club (Ashley / Allardyce) ANYTHING is possible!!

That was a pleasure to read - "Mr Happy"! For what it's worth, I don't agree with you. I hope you enjoy the next few weeks as much as I think I am about to though!!

I'll donate my profits from the sale of me shares . . . . . woops !!!!!! Sorry! If it goes that way, I would bung something in. No problem. Look on it as an 'investment' (eh Vic?)

Lightweight footballer who believes in his own hype. He's nowhere near as good of a player as Damien Duff, who I'm sure will perform this season. are you for real Pongle! Duff is one of the worst players we have in the squad who cost about £5million was it? i would've got rid of him by now if i was the manager and im pretty sure Sam will when duffs back from injury. n'zogbia is younger, stronger and has more talent than duff Both are very good players. Zoggy from the season before last and Duff from his times at Chelsea and (particularly) Blackburn. I have two questions though: (1) Is Zoggy's 'change of attitude' reversible by Sam? (2) Is Duff's sudden loss of ability to take on and beat a man and come up with an end-product, permanent (at his age)? Two potentially 'ongoing problem' players . . . . .

As long as Raul, Deco and Kaka can agree to adapt to new positions, I don't see why Eto'o, Shevchenko and Adriano can't work together up front effectively for us

Yeah, this too. I think he has made his recording already, guys . . unless I have read it wrong?

BBC2??? Tyne Tees mate!

No european football. No track record of success. North of England. Other options. Something of a step-down from Barcelona. We still don't have a left-back. "North of England" - Very bizarre thing to say. What are YOU ashamed of? Verlaine's a southern softie anyway. He has a point though. I love the Toon but I realise it isn't that attractive an option to your average foreigner. So, so, so wrong. See my response to Verlaine. I'm not wrong though. You appear brainwashed. It is not possible to think and say what you think and say, without that having happened to you - throughout your life. Think about it. I have. Cheers Aye, my fault, lets get back to football crack!!!