Hughesy

So he can give away the ball and then a free-kick soon after? Enough's enough. I'd rather play with 10 men. That's just taking it to extremes. Can't believe I'm actually defending Smith here, but to suggest that you'd rather play with 10 men is just 'forum' exaggeration for effect. He is extremely limited as a player.. but seriously, he is not that bad.

Much as I don't like or rate Smith - people are going massively over the top on this one. There is no merit whatsoever in just paying him £3,000,000 to leave. In an absolute disasterous run of injuries, I would probably rather have him filling in for a few games than a Michael Richardson or Inman.

For what reason? Unless you reach some sort of agreement whereby you give Smith less than his wages, it makes no sense to pay him off in full and lose his services. However limited and awful those services might be.

Same here..

Would probably be one of the few summers where I was actually genuinely excited about the players we brought in. Last time that happened was under Souness when we bought Parker, Emre, Luque, Owen and Solano. Oh well...

N'Zog and Gervinho? Still seems unlikely we will go for both as I assume they must realise we need a striker as well. Unless we are going to for a 4-6-0 formation. The future of football..

Strange how suddenly Henderson isn't very good according to the Sunderland fans...

If he's that great a guy in the dressing room and the model pro most profess him to be, he shouldn't be sulking.

Because Pardew has done such a bad job so far. I despair of this forum sometimes.

Ignoring the fact that he wants three years and you've no idea how much he wants... He gets that all at once does he? And the Sky money stops coming in too does it in the next four years? And the gates dwindle to 0 in the next four years do they? This idea that we have to let key players go because they might have to get paid is absolutely The idea of paying players over their worth and keeping them on big contracts just to keep them happy but to the detriment of the club long term. Is even more laughable tbh. Should we assume he wants a tenner and a packet of crisps then? It is almost certain that the figure requested (assuming the various newpaper reports are even close to being accurate) is north of 40k a week. Are those the only options like? Either big contracts 'over their worth' or f*** all? I always assumed most players settle for something in between. Right - assumption time. Can we agree that Barton is probably on between 55-65k a week? Pretty much every newspaper has reported this and I think this is pretty much accepted? Barton seems to have suggested he is willing to take a paycut. Do you genuinely think that he is going to accept being on 25k to 35k? I don't. Not for England's best midfielder. He needs more than that. I reckon 40k absolute minimum.

Ignoring the fact that he wants three years and you've no idea how much he wants... He gets that all at once does he? And the Sky money stops coming in too does it in the next four years? And the gates dwindle to 0 in the next four years do they? This idea that we have to let key players go because they might have to get paid is absolutely The idea of paying players over their worth and keeping them on big contracts just to keep them happy but to the detriment of the club long term. Is even more laughable tbh. Should we assume he wants a tenner and a packet of crisps then? It is almost certain that the figure requested (assuming the various newpaper reports are even close to being accurate) is north of 40k a week.

Ignoring the fact that he wants three years and you've no idea how much he wants... He gets that all at once does he? And the Sky money stops coming in too does it in the next four years? And the gates dwindle to 0 in the next four years do they? This idea that we have to let key players go because they might have to get paid is absolutely Ummm - no, he doesn't get that all at once. Struggling to see where I have said that. Could you let me know? Maybe you could do the same with your slightly senile comments about Sky money and attendances? I could be wrong, but doesn't Barton want another three years on top of his existing 1 year left? Doesn't that make a 4 year contract? Again, let me know if I am wrong. You can also tack on bonuses, signing on fees and agent's fees if we are being a bit picky.

I've never seen Cabaye play mate, not even once. He could be a huge success, he could be a huge failure. It's utterly ridiculous to try and guess whether he'll be worth his wages this season, let alone in two year's time. If he even signs. Ben Arfa has barely played for us and I'm sorry but despite his obvious quality on the ball he's still completely unproven for us. Not least because he's just broken his leg. You couldn't pick a worse pair of players to compare the 'worth' of wages to. Perfect choice to compare with imo. Ben Arfa and Cabaye are in the prime of their career and will be viewed as key first team players. Will that apply to Nolan and Barton when their contracts are up? And what if they're s*** or disruptive? Then what? Because Barton hasn't been a disruptive player?

If Barton was to sign a 4 year deal at 50k a week - 10.4 million. So quite a lot.

Appreciate what they do, give them the contract, and have faith that the manager will persuade them to move on if they are no longer wanted. Trouble is the board are scared of another Nicky Butt scenario, where despite being uncertainties over relegation or whether we even wanted him, Butt announced to them all that he was taking an option out to extend his own £50k a week contract, while taking out loads of bonuses. Eh? Hope the manager can persuade them to move on from their 50k plus a week 4 year deal?? How? I know Pards is a silver tongued charmer, but I think you are overestimating his charm. I don't think any sensible business model in the world is built around people being persuaded to leave their highly paid jobs. I trust Barton and Nolan to leave the club if they are no longer wanted. In that case, you must have a far greater degree of faith in mankind than I do.

No-one. It's just that it makes for an easier argument for certain people.

Appreciate what they do, give them the contract, and have faith that the manager will persuade them to move on if they are no longer wanted. Trouble is the board are scared of another Nicky Butt scenario, where despite being uncertainties over relegation or whether we even wanted him, Butt announced to them all that he was taking an option out to extend his own £50k a week contract, while taking out loads of bonuses. Eh? Hope the manager can persuade them to move on from their 50k plus a week 4 year deal?? How? I know Pards is a silver tongued charmer, but I think you are overestimating his charm. I don't think any sensible business model in the world is built around people being persuaded to leave their highly paid jobs.

I don't think many, if any, people are advocating getting rid of Nolan or Barton this summer. Most people are quite sensibly questioning the wisdom of securing them on lucrative, long term contracts up to a point in their career where their effectiveness would be in huge doubt for a variety of reasons. Further to that, most people are also questioning whether either player has done enough over the course of their career with NUFC to date to warrant such a contract. Quite straightforward really.

How awful it would be to have a team full of random foreigners. Like say for example - Arsenal. Would hate to be like Arsenal. Champions League football every year - no, not for me. All you need is a good old bit of English grit and determination.

Would love to have a 33 year old Nolan on 50k a week. Oh wait a minute. No I wouldn't. Ridiculous idea.

I'd be devastated.

Van Persie is nearly 6 foot 3. Yeah, not that tall is he. Is he 6 foot 3 or not? Either he is or isn't. If he's nearly 6 foot 3, the chances are - he is 6 foot 2.

Patience is a Virtue Lad! Plus this is Newcastle, When have they EVER done anythin quickly (apart fropm sacking people) This whole summer has been about doing things quickly to be fair. /Which is good because I doubt we'll hit the bullseye on the majority of our targets. //Still, better to be looking up at the stars. there is a rumour doing the rounds that we have agreed fees and such with 2 players but not anyone mentioned so far. bearing in mind the tiote deal where we had agreed stuff with another incase tiote didn't come here (urugauayan or chilean i think)........maybe they do have a plan ? I'd heard from someone that we had agreed to sign two Toulouse players (posted it a while back) - so not sure who they are. Wonder if it's the same rumour?

Does he pass the ball across his own penalty area to an opposition player?

By that logic, there must always be a point where a manager was not good? And suddenly they become good?