GeordieT

'Ginger Pirlo' according to Adrian Durham http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2728574/Wayne-Rooney-Manchester-United-s-natural-leader-Ginger-Pirlo-Jack-Colback-deserves-England-call-Jordan-Henderson-Steven-Gerrard.html

Is it not several thousand pounds?

I thought someone off here has it? With the protest fund we should be able to charter a taxi to bring in from Berwick anyway.

Very apt that he is going on this little event a few hours after the club are going on the PR offensive with an open training session (and associated events). Will definitely pop in for a while.

Was that the crowd asking for a wave? ffs.

I've got Nasri for my City presence in midfield. Relatively cheap option and I think he is going to have a big season.

Haidara and Gouffran at Babucho earlier. They were sat outside and there was a constant stream of people asking for photos with Gouffran and totally ignoring Haidara.

I can't see us bringing in another striker unless it is someone that can also operate out wide (preferably on the right). Aubameyang would have been perfect. But if you gave me a choice of signing another striker or a CB, I would chose the latter every time. I have little doubt we will continue to concede a s*** load this season unless there is a change in personnel.

would have preferred a recall clause for them in jan if for example the cb wasn't playing he may as well be here in that case or if Krul or Elliott pick up a major injury to have some backup ready. That would be my main concern, the CB in particular needs as much game time as he can get - but from what it sounds like, he isn't nailed on for a starting place.

Loan that includes no recall clause according to Ryder.

Oh yeah, I know I am totally jumping the gun on this one. But if he is going to be a mainstay of our midfield, it is significant concern.

As bad as it is to make any kind of judgement of a player in pre-season - this guy has been total s**** so far. Anonymous almost throughout today. I know it's been pointed out on many occasion, but considering he has meagre four goals and three assists in the League (and averages a pretty poor 30 passes a game) - what exactly is he offering? It's fair to say he isn't about to chip in with goals at the business end of the pitch and looks very unlikely to be controlling games either.

Need a real leader in midfield if nothing else.

http://www1.skysports.com/gameoftheseason Naturally RTG have hijacked this. But it says everything about how s**** we were last season that the only two games of fifty listed there are the 4-0 loss to City on the opening day and the 2-1 loss at the SOL. Increasing irrelevant under Pardew.

Just a few thoughts from last night: Perez - Watching in the flesh, his movement off the ball was very good, worked hard. I am not what his remit was when he was originally signed, but he can definitely contribute this season. I am sure he will struggle initially with the physical side of things, but he looks a very good first team prospect. Obertan - Needlessly offside on a number of occasions. He was pretty effective going forward, but that was more to do with the high line Wednesday were playing. Plain to see the lack of a footballing brain holds him back from ever being a decent player. Riviere - Lively, similar performance to what we have seen in NZ. Looks a nuisance physically, think he will do well here - although obviously I would hate him to be tasked with being the main goal contributor. Dummett + Satka - The former looked incredibly uncomfortable at CB, number of dodgy moments. Equally, Satka look suspect at RB and fairly lost in their half of the pitch. A manager with half a brain would have solved this conundrum instantly but....

Kieron Dyer has had a shitter.. always wondered where Big Al and Bellamy where when that pic was taken Was that the one when he went missing on the back post?

Yeah, half a dozen smoke grenade things, lot of people acting like twats at the top of the stand - which I assume were largely people who had paid on the night. Was a young, but very vocal minority. Heard a few choruses of 'ten mackem bastards in the air', which is obviously just pig ignorant of them. Equally frustrating to witness, was the "Pardew give us a wave chants" which, he obliged on a number of occasions.

2016.

Douglas seems to reckon on twitter that he is open to the move. Total bollocks in the Chronicle and Journal recently mind 'according to reports in...' - just making it up to fill pages and covering their back when nothing comes of it.

I'm heading down, not expecting anything given Pardew's comments this morning.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/28522535

I've gone for Giroud-Rooney-Dzeko upfront, quite happy with that. I think Aguero at 12mil is such a risk in the first few fixtures, with the WC and his recent injury record, I reckon Pellegrini will opt to ease him in slowly. Anyway, for the first time in many a year I am reasonably happy with my initial squad to date. Not convinced about Albrighton (4.5) or that Targett (4.0) will be an automatic choice for LB come the start of the season. If Steven Taylor (4.0) looks likely to start ahead of Williamson I will probably pick him for my bench. Slightly worried about leaving Sanchez out as well.

I really liked the lad when he was here. Shame.

http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/11365806.Newcastle_keen_to_give_youth_a_chance_as_Pardew_weighs_up_Arsenal_options/?ref=var_0 No thanks. Not sure why we can't give our young players a run in the side.

Said it in another thread, can see the new training ground being used as a justification for not spending the increased TV money.