geordieglory

I think Bent will score you more goals. Whether this would compensate for his inferior contribution to build-up play is probably the main issue for debate here, but on balance I think it would. So I'd prefer to have Bent rather than Oba.

I think Bent is better than Martins, shame that didn't go through.

Ok, next time I decide I hate a club, I'll make sure to run it by you first. Just making the point that I don't understand why lots of Newcastle fans have a particular problem with Spurs, pet, no need to get all defensive and narky about it. Wasn't passing any judgement; was rather hoping that some people who felt like that might explain why they do in the interests of debate and conversation. Run along now.

Finished 3-1 Spurs. On a side note, I so don't get why so many people hate Spurs as much as they do amongst our support. Plenty of more local and relevant clubs to hate from an NUFC perspective IMO.

Former footballer Wayne Bridge given permission to talk to Man City: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_city/7807951.stm Wonder whether he'll specify a non-playing clause in his contract that forces City to play Michael Ball ahead of him every week while he picks up his lucre...?

Their ineptitude is shown the moment you turn it on, they cant even wipe their cameras when theyre caked in rain. The camera thing is driving me crazy here! There should be laws passed to ensure these mongs never get the rights to broadcast televised football ever again!

Because their ineptitude in covering football is bettered only by Channel 5?

Yeah, I'm sure with them rejecting bids in excess of £20m from Man Utd for Berbatov, they'd bite our hands off for a straight swap with Owen(!)

They're not accepting Spurs' bid of around £17m: let's bid £13m...

especially this bit: Yet I'll bet that a straw poll would reveal that more people think Arshavin would flop in this league than those that feel Arshavin would. Typo - edited!

Significant upgrade based on what evidence? And in his most important international, the Euro 2008 semis, he might as well have not been on the pitch. Funny how everybody on here seems to be convinced that Colo is a significant upgrade on our current centre backs when the same reasoning applies.. I have no doubt about Arhsavin, he is a class act and will do well at Spurs. Wish we went in for him when we seemingly had the chance. This. If Arshavin (or Modric, or Cuellar, or whoever else other Prem clubs bring in from overseas) had been signing for us, you can GUARANTEE that there would be a positive buzz on these boards around it. Yet because they sign for another club, suddenly we doubt their credentials in a manner we wouldn't do for ourselves. I'll support NUFC as much as it's possible to do so, but I HATE it when people get all sour grapes on other clubs' players because they aren't coming to us (regardless of whether we were linked with them or not). There is no less reason to believe that Jonas will flop than there is Arshavin. Yet I'll bet that a straw poll would reveal that more people think Arshavin would flop in this league than those that feel Jonas would. Fair enough if people GENUINELY don't rate a player, but I believe in more cases than not people don't give other team's signings the credit they deserve. You can do that without being any less of a Newcastle fan, it doesn't hurt.

Before the Man City match on Chn 5 at the minute, commentators said they had breaking news that Stephen Ireland was set to sign for the Mackems: a more predictable signing you couldn't name... Corluka not in their team or on the bench, presume that means he's off to Spurs then. Man City are gonna be in trouble this season if they're selling to the first bidders for their players.

yup, hope they do sign him...isn't he a year older than berbatov as well? poor move imo According to wikipedia he's about a year younger (Berbatov born January 1981, Pavlyuchenko born December 1981), but there's no way he's as good as Berbatov.

Cos the thread starter has a decent sense of humour and realises that the N-OL obsession with Spurs stopped being funny ages and ages ago...

If Man Utd get Berbatov and manage to keep hold of Ronaldo, they'll be unstoppable.

This. This thread needs locking up like Gary Glitter.

Can't believe this thread has got to 3 pages long when it's blatantly obvious that there is going to be no deal involving Given and Blackburn: I bet a bazillion English pounds that Blackburn will sign Robinson from Spurs, and it will probably have some bearing on Bentley going the other way as well.

While what you say is true, I think it's silly to have an undertone of scorn in that post: we'd love to be in a position to be a "stepping stone club" at the moment, at least it would mean we'd have a few players that the quality teams actually want...

For a striker who's scored 20+ goals for the last 3 seasons running? And is his country's leading goalscorer ever? That's the going market rate. (Fwiw, I think Keane is a fantastic player and would love to see him at Newcastle, not that it's ever going to happen.)

You do still have Aurelio though and Arbeloa played at left back at times also, but I do agree in general, it would be surprising if he was allowed to leave. Liverpool Fan here: I agree with Rafa. I dont think Insua was ever offered to Newcastle in exchange for Milner. He is that highly rated in the academy. Most insiders in liverpool forums were calling that previous article by Oliver, bollocks. I would be surprised even if he went out on loan though. Rafa is looking to sell Finnan and Degen is unproven. So Arbeloa maybe our first choice right back. On the left we have Dossena and Aurelio ( who gets crocked after playing 3 games). He has already talked about fullbacks being more attacking next season with the width coming from them. He has mentioned Dossena, Aurelio and Insua as the three left back options for next season. In case he ends up joining you on loan this is an overview of himm. According to reserve coach Ablett, the only reason Insua has not got more games is that he still needs to work on his positioning. He still does not have a balance between attack and defense. Either he is too defensive or too attacking. But when he is on the top of his game the lad is an absolute quality player. He is extremely comfortable on the ball, has a rocket of a shot, good crossing ability and has some decent collection of dribbling tricks. He can cover in central defense also. That was his position in Boca juniors. Interesting. Midfield diamond perhaps? Mascherano deep, Barry narrow left, Gerrard narrow right and Keane just behind the strikers. Torres and Kuyt upfront. I could so do a better job than Rafa Not if you think that playing Dirk Kuyt as a central striker is a good idea, especially if you're including Robbie Keane as being a Liverpool player available for selection up front too...

I don't care about Villa or Liverpool, I'm as close to neutral as it's possible to get when it comes to these two clubs, but the feeling I get is that Brummie is speaking a lot of sense and truth in this post. The Liverpool fans defending Benitez's/Gerrard's conduct in this story just come across as apologists, really. Not that Barry himself has been any more of an example, but there you go.

Happens with every club's fans everywhere, including us. We're no better (and no worse) than any other club's set of fans for this kind of thing: there is a bazillion-page thread on Luka Modric on these boards to prove it...