LFEE

Always the case tbh. Yep, despite the best efforts of others to hope he was a replacement for Simmo, Pardew clearly rates Simmo highly. Looking forward to further debate in the next couple of transfer windows after everyone has seen him play... Happy to stick my kneck out now and say he should be playing right back... He's very right/one footed from the times I've seen him and only offers anything going forward when playing on the right... Let's see how it all pans out... Definitely brings more pace to the position and aerial strength...

I agree... In fact I don't think any loans should be allowed... Would make for a more balanced league pyramid and make young talent think more seriously about their career paths... The big clubs are just hoovering up and stockpiling then loaning out until required...

Sell Best? Why would we do that when Ranger and Lovenkrands are far more expendable? Think that one went over your head... (Because Best is the only one wearing the number 20 shirt!...)

Santon is our left back...... Everyone is assuming so and quite rightly... But he should be our right back having seen him... Let's see what happens tomorrow... Lyon have just bought a new full-back in the last hour...

Sell Best then and get in Sturridge and the masterplan is complete! :-)

Interesting... Would love to get him... That would fit with my hope of Santon playing RB... Noticed though Santon was holding up the number 3... Oh well... Can but hope!

Glad this one is over the line... Just need a left back now to complete the defence...

No way. No striker yet, and Macheda is heavily rumoured. I think you've missed my point... Go back 20 pages approx!

Muntari to Spurs/Fulham so people can relax now...

He won't go anywhere, he's got two years left on a good contract. Let's see... If he fails to make the bench when fully fit I can't see him wanting to hang around for the duration of his contract... Though I agree it will be a good contract... Has anyone any ideas how much a week he's on these days? Guessing he must be at the top end of our new £55k a week pay structure?... I'm sure he'd prefer to move but who's going to pay him what we are? Where will he go? Bear in mind this is a keeper who was happy to sit on the bench for so many years as long as he could stay in Newcastle. Not saying he wouldn't be happy/accept sitting on the bench... Just have a feeling he has a little bit more pride and dignity to be happy being 3rd choice than we give him credit for... Looking at his career so far I understand why people would assume he would just sit and take the money... But in the GK position there is such a big difference to being 3rd choice than 2nd as I suppose there is being 1st rather than 2nd which is where he's fallen from during the summer...

He's as about as right/one footed as they come from what I've seen of him... How do you equate adequate?... If he's adequate he could at least pass with his left, maybe even put a cross in? Then he's not adequate from everything I've seen of him... Makings of a very good RB though... It's a disgrace that we have tracked and seem like we might buy this bloke without even realising, as you to your credit have easily done via Youtube, that he's not a f***ing left back. Graham Carr is a f***ing joke, and our club is yet again a national embarrassment. Hard to tell if that reply is laced with sarcasm or not... Either way happy we've got this lad on board... No doubt things will be clearer when we hear AP's plans for him when asked directly... But going off the handful of games I've seen him play in the CL and the couple of Italy national games along with the YT archives I wouldn't be surprised if we go for a LB in January if not this window...

He's as about as right/one footed as they come from what I've seen of him... How do you equate adequate?... If he's adequate he could at least pass with his left, maybe even put a cross in? Then he's not adequate from everything I've seen of him... Makings of a very good RB though...

He won't go anywhere, he's got two years left on a good contract. Let's see... If he fails to make the bench when fully fit I can't see him wanting to hang around for the duration of his contract... Though I agree it will be a good contract... Has anyone any ideas how much a week he's on these days? Guessing he must be at the top end of our new £55k a week pay structure?...

He's as about as right/one footed as they come from what I've seen of him... How do you equate adequate?...

Endgame for Harper...

I've watched most of his career and he has played more at LB than RB. Not disagreeing with that point at all... But looking at him in isolation via YT it is clear to me he's more effective and more comfortable playing RB than LB... With the LB clips showing him to look worryingly uncomfortable and resulting in creating little space when inevitably cutting across (not in) everytime on his right foot... Yet he made his name as a LB, played against Ronaldo as a LB... I'm sure he's going to be more than good enough for us in that position. And at the end of the day, we can always go out and sign a more specialist LB next window/summer, and shift him to RB if necessary. I think your 2nd point explains your first point and how he initially made his name as a LB as Inter would have Maicon for example as competition at RB... Don't think I'm trying to rain on the parade as I'm happy with the signing but it only if long term he becomes the RB... Still hoping we can snare Lyon's LB this window and that is the back four in place for the season with Raylor as RB cover and Ferguson as LB cover...

I've watched most of his career and he has played more at LB than RB. Not disagreeing with that point at all... But looking at him in isolation via YT it is clear to me he's more effective and more comfortable playing RB than LB... With the LB clips showing him to look worryingly uncomfortable and resulting in creating little space when inevitably cutting across (not in) everytime on his right foot...

A lot of heads in sand in this thread... Going off all the YT clips of him available and analysing them he is quite clearly right footed and not comfortable using his left... Thought it was telling that the clips he looked best in were as RB... And even more telling that he was playing RB in the majority of the clips... More than happy if RB is the plan for him as clearly an upgrade on Simpson...

Just did a bit YT scouting... Oh dear... How right footed is he!... Heavy touch as well... Good recovery pace and height though... Would be happy if he turns out to be our RB... not so if to be our new LB... Hope I'm wrong... Still think we need to pay Lyon another visit...

From Skunkers but with no source quoted : Straight after Bilbao's 1-1 home draw with Rayo Vallecano, Llorente took off from Bilbao airport to London to meet with Newcastle United club officials. Personal terms are being thrashed out as we speak. Look set to beat competition from PSG and Valencia for his signature. Not what we need regardless... Overloaded with slightly static target men...

The inclusion of the ? lacks positivity...

Thread title change... Or is that jumping the gun?... Look forward to seeing the pics uploaded...

Always felt he was being used to smoke others out... Even more so reading between the lines of the last few days...

Expect to be wrong...

I've a feeling we will...