Dyeyzzon

Yeah, except they managed to get stripes all the way at the back.

Seems that they know we've got the scouting so they're blatantly waiting for us to put someone on the spot and say he's cheap before they make their move tbh

This. Tiote Anita Cabaye Ben Arfa Cisse Ba

Debuchy, Douglas and Anita? Well, it did say "three players pursued on bids", and we've only bid for Debuchy, Carroll and Douglas.

Okay. I've supported such a move long enough, but 20m is just ridiculous for a club with our kind of business model. Ultimately, the next twist lies on Carroll's next move, whether he accepts a stay or he wants to push for a move.

Think the real plan is to get him on loan first then Debuchy, Anita and Douglas on transfers. We'd solve all depth problems and improve our starting eleven while staying within our budget this season. Next summer I could foresee us needing strikers, and that's when we would probably take up the option of buying Carroll for A) A much cheaper fee, B) when he has indeed proven himself to be what we need and C) when we have a fresh new transfer kitty to work with at the start of next season, which could be boosted if we perform in the league and have a long cup or European run.

Not his first choice certainly, that was de Jong. But the way we approached Carroll after that failed probably suggests that he was the second name there, especially after Liverpool hinted that he could be available.

This is my only worry. Haven't seen Carroll excel much in a game plan that involves him being the target of long balls and crosses. We'd certainly have to go ditch the 4-3-3 as well with him there, as there's no way we're dropping Cisse or relegating him to the wing. Carroll-Cisse and Carroll-Ba might work, but playing three of them at once will not, imo.

Went to the Europa League page just to see the teams in and check our profile, but I love how it doesn't seem to have been updated since our last European outing http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/season=2013/clubs/club=59324/index.html Well, apart from Milner leaving for a Europa league Villa

The back looks so much like the one off the Championship That and the spikes aside (not visible when on the pitch tho), love the kit.

I'm starting to want this more now after seeing the depth options we have at striker. I mean, let's say our depth weak points suffer problems this season. At Fullback, Simpson/Raylor/Santon/Jonas aren't too shabby. At CB, Williamson and Perch give their best on the pitch despite their limitations, and they share a good understanding. But the thought of being deprived of the Dembas would leave us with Shola and Xisco, or Shola up top on his own, and that's possibly the worst of the fallback options we have. With that, I think I'd be happier now with a new striker more than anything else.

Midfield i'm happy with, on the other hand the depth upfront and in defence needs sorting. This. Fullback, Centre back and Striker.

Pretty much like my take on it. If he goes, Pards will be happy to get another body over the line. If not, it's fine with him too. And I think it's good imo that he's trying to distance himself from what could be this summer's biggest transfer saga and focus on getting the lads ready for the new season.

Just wondering, is the sizing smaller than last season's shirt? Like if you got an L last season, would you get an XL this time round? I'm basing the sizing off of the first Puma kit we had, I wore a small in that and it fit pretty snug - I think the equivalent of that in the "Italy model" would be a Medium, which I tried both home and away in a medium. I noticed last season's kit's Medium looked more like a Large and the Small looked more like a medium. But please, anyone who has last season's kit correct me if I am wrong. My take is the new puma kits sizes all run a size smaller than usual? I only stress about sizing as I order these online. Thanks m8. Actually in the first puma kit i got an XL that's a wee bit baggy sleeves-wise, then last season, i went large then it proved to be fit. I think XL's the safe bet as I'm ordering online as well.

Just wondering, is the sizing smaller than last season's shirt? Like if you got an L last season, would you get an XL this time round?

Cabaye and Ben Arfa weren't on our plane to Germany either.

It did say on one of the albums of the Chemnitzer game "a chance for a look at the new home kit" but that's pretty much it. Blatantly waiting for Cabaye and maybe Debuchy to come in and model it like, the handsome b******s.

Agreed. He was superb playing for his true team, but all the concern seems to be coming from whether A) He'd fit in with our style and B) If it would be wise to take that risk for most of our transfer budget. Personally, I'll just be happy as any new signing if this comes off, and I won't be too disappointed if it doesn't.

Think he won't be a surefire starter right away, but with the extra European and cup games we'd tinker around more oft, so he'll get his chance.

Could use a thread title change now

Missed the fun of this. Much appreciated, timezone. Anyway, when Carroll left for 35m, I always had this strange feeling that that wan't the last of him in a Newcastle shirt. I felt that, whether or not he'd succeed in Liverpool, he'd come home the moment we're built up to be one hell of a team again. Now that we seem to be on the up, I'd be happy to see this push through. It ticks all boxes for me: we'd get another young player in, we'll get depth in strikers, we'll get to put on a smug grin on them bin dippers on every game against them, and we'll get a Geordie up front during a bright time for the club. Carroll's been in good form over the past few months as well, and this move would probably be what it takes to get thim to kick on. A win-win for both parties imo, and the only ones I can see not benefiting from such a move would be Loserfool. Though it's hard to think of reasons why we wouldn't want it to be that way, wouldn't it? So, if it happens, get in, and if it doesn't, I'd still have faith that we'd eventually get our striking depth sorted out with the scouting we have.

Gosling's been doing the weights, like.

Puma's kits always seem to be a case of whether you love em or hate them. Always divides opinion.

Just seen this