ponsaelius

The loan fee is fine for me. It's nowt relatively.

If we fuck this up I'll cry. That is all.

KPB plays nowhere near as deep as you're making out though. He's very much an attacking midfielder. It would have made slightly more sense if you'd posted a 4-4-1-1 with KPB alongside Barton/Guthrie rather than making it look utterly barmy.

Our lack of holding midfielder makes it imperative that we play 2 box-to-box/central midfielders in either a flat 4-4-2 or 4-5-1. Sure if have an athletic, discipline holding player you can start to place more attack minded players further up the pitch, but that formation would just never ever work with out personel.

Did you even watch KPB in the world cup? When Ghana lost the ball he dropped back central and was tenacious along with anan in the middle, part of the reason why they progressed so far. Then why the fuck have you got him playing almost as a striker in that line-up? I don't care what you say that team is batshit mental.

What team do you know that plays 2 wingers and 2 attacking midfielders in the same team? The strain that line-up places on Guthrie/Barton is absolutely insane man

Jesus Christ. Do you understand that Jonas and Routledge are both out and out wingers while KPB and Ben Arfa in that formation would basically be in the same position as each other. That formation in reality is basically 4-1-5.

You would be happier with smith and nolan then? No. That team has one central midfielder and a set of wingers and second strikers/strikers. There is absolutely no balance and we'd get ripped to shreads.

It's the fact you're relying on one of Guthrie or Barton to cover the defence for that array of attack minded players.

He certainly does lack mobility, and he's basically a ponderous midfield player now. Still got good ability, but like I said, definitely not what we need.

That's a suicidal team.

I'd rather have the other Ghanaian midfielder. The one that Norwegian journo linked us to.

Nah. Classy player but really not what we need right now.

Boateng's got tattoos and looks a bit mean though, could see him fighting with Ben Arfa on their first training session. [/Taylor27]

Do you realise that both Wes Brown and Paul Robinson are older than Shearer was when he retired from international football? Yes. Areet then. Was glad Shearer retired at 30 personally. Didn't do us any harm. Of course, it benefited us greatly. Doesn't change my personal opinion of Shearer in that instance though, in principle it still winds me up hugely that a player is willing to quit playing for their country. Beckham has the right idea, never moaned when McClaren fobbed him off and says he'll be available for selection until the day he retires. Whether he or any player is up to it is in the hands of the manager. so you think players should be forced to play international football, cos quite simply club football is far far important for players nowadays Forced? Jesus Christ man, nearly every Englishman in the country would see it as a f***ing honour to pull on an international shirt. Same shouldn't be any different for the players actually in contention. Whatever they prioritise is up to them but turning your back on your country completely is arrogance defined. No other country in the world is the same, can you imagine the Brazilian players turning down the chance to play for their country? Fat chance.

What the f***? I think I'll announce my retirement from international duty then, since that c*** Fabio didn't think I was good enough. Whether the manager chooses to pick you or not should be out of the question, all players should be ready and available for selection - playing for your country is an honour not something you should just excpect and then throw the toys out of the pram when it doesn't happen. capello has burned a lot of bridges with players with his world cup selection, and now he's totally paying the price! the fact that he gave scholes 2 hours to make his mind up about coming out of retirement, and couldn't be bothered to speak to him personally show's you everything about the man! You know him personally like? Scholes is another one who retired like a cunt. The players have far too high an opinion of themselves as far as I'm concerned. Not a humble one amongst them.

Do you realise that both Wes Brown and Paul Robinson are older than Shearer was when he retired from international football? Yes. Areet then. Was glad Shearer retired at 30 personally. Didn't do us any harm. Of course, it benefited us greatly. Doesn't change my personal opinion of Shearer in that instance though, in principle it still winds me up hugely that a player is willing to quit playing for their country. Beckham has the right idea, never moaned when McClaren fobbed him off and says he'll be available for selection until the day he retires. Whether he or any player is up to it is in the hands of the manager.

Do you realise that both Wes Brown and Paul Robinson are older than Shearer was when he retired from international football? Yes.

Anybody who retires from international football at a stupidly early stage is a massive c*** imo. What the fuck? I think I'll announce my retirement from international duty then, since that cunt Fabio didn't think I was good enough. Whether the manager chooses to pick you or not should be out of the question, all players should be ready and available for selection - playing for your country is an honour not something you should just excpect and then throw the toys out of the pram when it doesn't happen.

Until he is photographed with a Newcastle shirt then doubts will remain. I hope he signs officially before international duty, don't want this to be dragged out any longer.

It is but that's the only quotes I have read from Hughton about Ben Arfa. Unless you have heard more from him? Okay, yeah that's the only time he's mentioned him personally. The fact we've been silent on the subject for 2 weeks while the story has been continually plugged speaks volumes.

28th July? A lot has happened since that article, in particular the Marseille owner announcing on TV that he will join us

When did he say that?

citeh hardly need the cash, a loan may suit them ? Possibly. I just think he'd be perfect for us. Would give us much needed athleticism at the back and can play both full back positions aswell as CB.

It's a shame he's out of our price range, but Mancini has said Onuoha is surplus to requirements at City. He'd plug the RB problem perfectly.