Super Duper Branko Strupar

When you consider those qualities were present in many teams who were weaker on paper than us in our relegation season who then finished above us it puts things in perspective. I don't think Hull or Stoke players were earning a quarter of what our superstar squad was but they did much better. Even on paper it's not that much worse when you think about it. Is Routledge worse than Duff? Probably not. Is Lovenkrands any worse than Owen nowadays? Not in terms of impact. Carroll any worse than Viduka? Maybe, but much fitter and younger. I wouldn't swap the current team for the previous one. Most of the players that went, we wanted them out anyway... and for good reasons. Beye for Simpson? Bassong for Williamson? Martins for Best?

Aye, the home game against Alkmaar was quality. 3 goals in however many minutes. I was sitting on the sofa when Oba scored and I literally jumped so high i punched the ceiling. Quality night out after that

Crazy stuff

Tbf Hughton is twice his age. But half the man

Johnson from City? They're only going to strengthen further in the summer pushing him further down the pecking list. We'd still need to invest in someone more heavy weight in alongside him but he's a very tricky player. I think definitely Carlton Cole as well as long as West Ham go down otherwise he'd probably cost too much. And then I think a right back, probably from abroad as looking at what we can get in the PL or CC wouldn't be good enough or cost effective. Not sure who but we do need to make another shrewd signing at RB to even out the wings then we should be quite strong down the flanks next season which will stand us in good stead. I think a Barton/Guthrie CM pairing should be our sub pairing. We need a ball winner and a good centre mid provider to make things that bit tighter. ....all that may cost a bit mind.

Buy better, not necessarily outspend

I'd rather buy a new RB to start every game rather than a sub centre back and play Taylor there. Same as a winger would rather buy a stronger player in another position than another sub.

Carew has started 4 league games this season. Heskey has started 8 league games this season. Agbonlahor has started 27. http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/PlayerProfiles/0,,10265~28715,00.html

Mokoena is turboshit mush Belhadj is off to Russia Boateng will be off before we get in there. Im surprised Mokoena still plays in the Prem. Cheeky 2 million bid for Beattie anyone? He's looked tenacious enough when ive seen him, not that he's brilliant or anything but would win us the ball in midfield

Mokeona, Boateng, belhadj from Pompy

Just seen the interview from Shola and Jose after the game. Love how happy Jose looks about everything! He is blatantly well chuffed with his goal, the win and life up in Newcastle in general. We may have a real legend of a player on our hands here.... cant wait.

If next season the quality in the Prem is the saem as this season I don't think we need to worry all that much about £20+. As long as we get solid guaranteed starting player for each the defence, midfield and up top, even the players we consider gash will be able to cut it against the bottom 5-7 teams. I dont think we want a big over haul, just clever buying, keeping a settled confident team and adding quality to it, however much they cost, is all we need. Don't want to make the mistakes we have in the past and create a team of players who don't know how to play together ending up playing terrible football. Look at Birmingham this year.

Where is he anyway? Thought this place had been quiet for a week or so

Much rather have O'Hara!

long memories considering it goes back to the early (jobs) and mid (scabs) 80's. Fans of Chile, when they're playing Bolivia, chant "Let's go to the beach!", referring to a war which resulted in Chile taking Bolivia's only stretch of Pacific coastline -- in 1879! Passions ran very high during the miners' strike. I don't often get into fights, but I remember a conversation I had with a guy from Nottingham in a bar in Majorca quickly come to blows in summer 1985. Some Spaniards had to pull us apart. i mean its fun to hear young lads whose politics would actually have been thatcherite had they been out if nappies shouting "scab". Aye, indeed. And not even knowing what a scab is. Thats why its good you lads are here.... Don't let us forget it, or why it happeed. Dont' want to end up having another Tory gov.!!!

Was hoping Reading - Baggies would be first game on

Colo and Williamson will have Earnshaw & Blackstock in their back pockets!

the net took me f**king ages, no quick way to do it, looks good though. any excuse to have a Darren Peacock reference!

http://i898.photobucket.com/albums/ac186/jdcrichton/untitled34.jpg Looks over the line to me

Thats brilliant!

Keane to Celtic, Shearer to Ipswich?

On a similar theme..... Dexter Blackstock

Can't see Harper being able to hack it next year going on recent performances. He doesnt seem to have any reactions or urgency about him when the ball is in the box. He's still a good shot stopper, but he's seemed lost at times. I reckon chuck Krul in and get Foster up onto the bench next season

Mark Wahlberg http://www.independent.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00063/pg-54-barton-getty_63016t.jpg Joe Barton http://images.newcelebritypics.com/img/celebs/images/m/mark_wahlberg-2288.jpg

This. 2-0. A win without too much hassle I reckon