The Newcastle United Blog

88 responses so far ↓

• 1 GoesseN // Aug 7, 2008 at 11:07

  seen the highlights, guthrie has a brilliant first touch on him, great goal by the lad.

• 2 irish_al // Aug 7, 2008 at 11:10

  good assist from milner also

  gutierrez looked decent running at players swell

• 3 geordiegraham // Aug 7, 2008 at 11:12

  first half was gd. second half was poop. we spent more time jumpin aboot nd singin than we did watchin the match. Is smith goin 2 everton?

• 4 Ian-first one!! // Aug 7, 2008 at 11:15

  Agree with KK and GoesseN , however I cant believe that pre season we do not have one striker to put on the pitch!!!

  That isnt a a warning signal, it is an obvious flaw in the whole plan which must be the priority to sort out. Imagine going 4 premiership games with no real striker available, that would be more or less our hopes of being secure or moving up lost altogether or making it an uphill task for everyone at the very least.

• 5 sweendog // Aug 7, 2008 at 11:27

  guthrie is surprising me .. he is playing more and more like a young rob lee .. he looks a bit like him to.

• 6 Beardsley8 // Aug 7, 2008 at 11:27

  It was an improvement on our previous two performances, but I’m still concerned by the lack of (i) quality and (ii) depth in our squad.

  I’m sure Keegan realises we’re short in several areas, not least midfield, and with Owen’s injury problems, Martins inconsistency, and Smith’s impotence in front of goal, we could well find ourselves short of goals.

  Gutierrez looks a promising signing, and certainly can’t be any worse at crossing a ball than Milner, but I’ve lost patience with Duff. Butt and Geremi are past it. Guthrie, for me, is one for the future, but we have so few options in the middle of the park, he may be a regular starter. Bassong looks a decent buy as well, but will need time to settle.

  We are in desperate need of some creativity in midfield and a reliable striker.

  I can honestly see us fighting relegation unless we can add some quality to our squad.

  I wish we would show the same ambition as Spurs in the transfer market.

• 7 antz // Aug 7, 2008 at 11:29

  ok ed, i know you now reside in the states, but you are an englishman, and a geordie at that, please please please remember its ‘DEFENCE’ not defense

  :-):-)

• 8 Faustino // Aug 7, 2008 at 11:32

  Ed… please add ‘Spurs’ to the post filter please. I feel it should become a banned expression.

• 9 Matt // Aug 7, 2008 at 11:33

  ED, it was the second goal the Milner set up Guthrie for

  Couple of signings and we’ll be sorted.

• 10 adam // Aug 7, 2008 at 11:34

  completely agree with Faustino, spurs is a dirty word

• 11 Ivan // Aug 7, 2008 at 11:35

  where to watch highlight?

• 12 shearer4pm // Aug 7, 2008 at 11:38

  http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11854_3944403,00.html

  i hope not

• 13 Beastie // Aug 7, 2008 at 11:41

  Has everyone seen the sad news on sir bobby robson?

• 14 Faustino // Aug 7, 2008 at 11:41

  ha ha aye a 32 year old Ghanain legend - sounds just like our remit for players at present

• 15 Spyro // Aug 7, 2008 at 11:51

  Faustino, Kauffour is class, a real enforcer, if we can get him on a free it will be good business. This leads me to believe we are going to lose a couple of CB’s

• 16 Tom // Aug 7, 2008 at 11:53

  Kuffour might not be too bad as a backup, if we were going to get rid fo Cacapa.

• 17 Midjew // Aug 7, 2008 at 11:54

  Looks like Aston Villa are gonna get Young and Shorey.

  Damn they are good Full backs.

• 18 toonfan1 // Aug 7, 2008 at 11:56

  lol ed- you have an advert about rock hard erections on your site

• 19 chinzaknuk // Aug 7, 2008 at 12:03

  I know it was just a pre-season friendly but let’s not forget that PSV were Dutch Champions last year and at times we had them rattled, and we didn’t have any recognised strikers on the pitch.

  This is the team i’d like to see start any Manure

  Given

  Enrique
  Coco
  Taylor
  Beye

  Jonas
  Guthrie
  Milner
  Duff

  Oba
  Owen

  Let Jonas and Duff the freedom to swap flanks and make sure they give cover to Enrique, especially Jonas he’s shown he can be a box to box player and has strength and skill to play the role well

• 20 A geordiedoonsooth // Aug 7, 2008 at 12:05

  Neither Young nor Shorey are better than the fullbacks we have. I live near Reading and their fans aren’t sorry to see Shorey go. He is good going forward but is not fast enough for the premier league.

• 21 craig chisholm // Aug 7, 2008 at 12:07

  our squad is just not good enough as it stands. we need in addition to coluccini, a LB, world class gifted midfielder and a tall striker. otherwise is gonna be a relegation dog fight all season long. we all know really.

• 22 toonfan1 // Aug 7, 2008 at 12:08

  chinzaknuk- i think that newcastle will start with faye and coloccini instead of taylor.

• 23 Ian-first one!! // Aug 7, 2008 at 12:09

  Cisse latest, he is still holding out hope for a move to England, he has spoke to several english clubs, West Ham the most serious, no-one has placed an offer yet.

  His manager is saying he is staying, but Cisse and his agent are waiting for the first serious offer, that must mean he isnt interested in a Roma move above a premiership move.

  Newcastle be first to put in an offer, this fella is an absolute bargain for the money and he has an excellent attendance record in spite of his much publicised leg breaks, they havent slowed him down unlike Smith’s and Owen’s injuries.

  I would love us to have the choice from that line up, Martins, Owen, Viduka and Cisse.

  It might just happen with the latest striker problems.

• 24 NANDO // Aug 7, 2008 at 12:09

  WOOHOO. we will qualify for europe this season, no problem. guthrie will be a legend.

• 25 Spyro // Aug 7, 2008 at 12:10

  i agree doonsooth, there is far too much made about Shorey on here, i dont really care if we miss out on him, he aint nothing special.

• 26 Spyro // Aug 7, 2008 at 12:12

  We wont sign Cisse as MA wont want another Striker on ridiculous wages, we already have Owen on 100k and Viduka on 60k (i think). Cisse would want around 90k as he is already earning mega bucks at marseille

• 27 Tom Cairns // Aug 7, 2008 at 12:12

  can anyone tell me a site i can see the highlights of last night?

• 28 Sun'lun's Burnin' // Aug 7, 2008 at 12:16

  Affelay is available for 15 million Euros…..

  SIGN HIM UP!!!

• 29 scott9 // Aug 7, 2008 at 12:17

  i hope if we dnt get a new striker he just goes for it and plays owen and martins up top if he plays smith and owen thats is a disgrace but i can see it happening playin smith over martins wud be mad cause smith cnt even hold it up that well.

• 30 JOeT // Aug 7, 2008 at 12:20

  couldnt care less about shorey…..we’re interested in walnock anyway - hence the bids! May be a late one with the LB though as think blackburn will want to recruit a fair few first teamers first - there fans are not happy with them being seen as a ’selling club’ too soon after the sale of bentley and now maybe mcCARTHY would cause uproar

• 31 CRAIGG // Aug 7, 2008 at 12:21

  If we are really interested in signing Kuffour then it must mean that its really true about Faye wanting to go back to lancashire.

  Even if Faye does leave i think two out of Collocini, Taylor, Bassong, Edgar and Cacapa are decent enough without wasting time on another has been who will hardly play like Diatta last season.

• 32 gavilan // Aug 7, 2008 at 12:23

  Goesse where did you see the highlights may I ask?

• 33 Spyro // Aug 7, 2008 at 12:26

  I said that yesterday Sun’Lun

  Craigg, Kuffour is a really good player available on a free, he is very fit and a real enforcer. I rate Faye, but he is a better version of Faye as he can read the game better. If we lost Faye and signed Kuffour we would have the better player

• 34 Macas // Aug 7, 2008 at 12:26

  Faye won’t be leaving and we wont get Kuffour, its just lazy journalism linking him to us, as we have been interested in the past.

• 35 CRAIGG // Aug 7, 2008 at 12:27

  Did anyone read that thing about Ince alienating himself from all the players at Blackburn apparently he makes them do 20 press ups for minor things like crossing their arms and they slammed his and his coaches training methods as ameuteurish,

  Bentley stamped out of one of his sessions and Friedel apparently left because of him so surely nows the time to sign Warnock and maybe have a punt at McCarthy looks like he might be going to the mackems!

• 36 gavilan // Aug 7, 2008 at 12:29

  Chinzaknuk…. that’s a decent side I wouldn’t argue much with that although I think we are grasping at straws having milner as our attacking central midfielder- he isn’t intelligent enough alas for that position.
  Affelay is a robben-esque little dynamo and I’ve always been a fan… that would be a good signing but who says PSV would sell him? They haemmorage players every summer - no Farfan now - who we SHOULD have had by the way..

• 37 CRAIGG // Aug 7, 2008 at 12:31

  Spyro

  Kuffour was and is probably as i havent seen him in a few years still a very good centre half.

  But even without Faye do you not think that this should be an afterthought now we have collocini and we should concentrate on another Left Back, A quality midfield player and another Striker.

• 38 AndyNUFC // Aug 7, 2008 at 12:34

  If Duff and Geremi had put their easy chances away we would have wrapped the game up.

• 39 Spyro // Aug 7, 2008 at 12:35

  i think if its on a free it cant be too bad as it will give us depth in defence. However i agree with most that our priority is midfield. Yesterday i suggested Affelay as he fits what we are after perfectly; versatile, young, fairly low wages, and there has been no transfer speculation concerning him thus far. He would cost around 12-13million. You never know, maybe the friendly was part of the deal…doubt it though. Opinions?

• 40 Ian-first one!! // Aug 7, 2008 at 12:35

  Spyro, he is on £74k per week (Cisse) he wants back to England so he may work for the same, but I am fairly certain we would pay under £80k per week for him.

  To me he is an absolute giveway. I suspect Moyes wanted him for the Johnson role but they have financial problems, Man City look as if they have fund troubles they were trying for a loan no way would they loan him out they are trying to keep him, I am surprised Man Utd arent looking for a striker but he isnt their type of player, Chelsea have no vacancies, Blackburn have problems, West Ham surely cant buy more players, Portsmouth dont need anyone, surely he wouldnt go to Wigan?

  We have an opportunity here, if another club gets the funds I think he will be gone.

• 41 Spyro // Aug 7, 2008 at 12:38

  Ian, i agree Cisse is class, but im just saying MA wont be willing to add another highly paid striker because we already have Viduka, Owen and Smith

• 42 Cooper // Aug 7, 2008 at 12:39

  It would be brill to get cisse in but i doubt it will happen

  Can any of you remember a few years back when cisse was at liverpool and he had a go at our fans when they came to s.t jamses ?

• 43 chuck // Aug 7, 2008 at 12:39

  Yo Ed. Just curious, who other than yourself is the WE, in we think this and that ?
  Your blog (and its a great one) but yours is an opinion just like everyone else putting in his 2 cents.
  Sure KK has to put apoitive spin on a team lacking a single CF, its his job.
  But how did this situation arise, every dog in the street knew M.O. & Duke were never going to get through a season without injury and who does that leave us with. (Martens)
  A transfer listed player, a striker who does`nt score and an unproven kid.
  This team needs help both in numbers and talented players.
  At leas one proven striker, someone to run the midfield and a CD come FB.
  CF=Bent/Anelka.
  MF=Veloso/Moutinho.
  D = Cuellar.
  I know unrealistic , big bucks, okay lets forget it and go for survival, next year things will be different.

• 44 Ian-first one!! // Aug 7, 2008 at 12:39

  I wouldnt have a go at Mccarthy, he was cheap before he went to Blackburn, fired up, and very good value, since then he has done a Smith and lost his confidence a bit, he does score but has lost something, so let him go to our neighbours.
  Shame if he can get it back he is a brilliant player, but we can do without another gamble.

• 45 Boater // Aug 7, 2008 at 12:40

  I just read the article about Sir Bobby Robson and his ongoing battle with cancer.

  http://www.newcastleunited-mad.co.uk/news/loadnews.asp?cid=TMNW&id=400472

  I think the club showed unforgivable cowardice in their sacking of Robson after he hauled us into the Champions league positions TWICE from nowhere…. ‘he’s past it’ everyone said when we finished … ahem… 5th.
  Anyway… that’s gone but for me - he achieved every bit what KK did for the club - without the super-signing mentality, and yet he is rarely talked about with the same affection.

• 46 51times // Aug 7, 2008 at 12:41

  gavilan - Farfan doesn’t want to play in England.

• 47 JOeT // Aug 7, 2008 at 12:44

  cisse would be great - transfer fee 6-7m……expensive wages tho - if he wants a move back to prem that much he may be willing to take 60k a week. man that sounds so bad! Ship smith out - like for like on wages and i know who id prefer to have!

• 48 CRAIGG // Aug 7, 2008 at 12:45

  Boater he is a legend and he does get a lot of praise on this blog, He was treated appallingly by this football club both during and after his reign with Douglas Hall sticking the boot in to justify his sacking saying things like: “we would have been relegated if Robson had stayed”

  On what evidence 4th, 3rd, 5th in Bobbys last 3 seasons and 14th in less than one season under Souness.

  It will be a very sad day when Bobby dies.

• 49 Ian-first one!! // Aug 7, 2008 at 12:46

  Cooper he needs to pack that in!! He is like a boxer who is winning a fight, ok in front of your home fans but not the opposition.

  However it is that determination and arrogance that I like so much, Smith and Mcarthy stop scoring and they dont seem to be able to improve, Cisse with his arrogant nature had a bad start to last season, the whole crowd was on his back so he turned it around ended up third top scorer and now they are all begging him to stay. He wont lie down, wont give up that is why he has silverware and player awards.
  You just have to look at his fitness and speed to see how hard he works at staying a top sportsman.

  You are right though it probably will not happen.

• 50 JOeT // Aug 7, 2008 at 12:46

  I remember when he was at Auxerre 6-7 yrs ago and breaking into the first team - frightening pace and an eye for goal. Used to hate him at liverpool but sometimes teams need that sort of attitude on the field - winners attitude like ronaldo, bentley etc

  Confidence is key and this lad definately posses that in abundance

• 51 Stami // Aug 7, 2008 at 12:49

  CRAIGG

  you got a link to that story bout Ince?

• 52 ClarenceoAcuna // Aug 7, 2008 at 12:55

  Sky sports saying that Affelay is having a medical at prem club?? Could it be - I hope so. Haway Ashley sign this boy for the midfield slot!!! pleeease!

• 53 Ian-first one!! // Aug 7, 2008 at 12:55

  Craigg/boater I agree Sir John Hall had Douglas and others vote against Freddy to make sure Bobby Robson got the sack, then nicked off on holiday to leave fat Freddy to sack his chum!!!!

  I wasnt happy at Shearer either over that, that is why I wonder if Shearer will ever make a good manager if young kids doing silly stuff gets him annoyed, ie texts from Bellamy.

  Bobby Robson simply said these are young lads, full of beans and sometimes they do silly things, it is part of being young.

  The crap that he had lost control of the dressing room when they were 5th is the biggest loads of b*llocks I have ever heard, how can a team 5th in the premiership not be organised, probably they were having fun too and allowed a little room to express themselves, totally different to being out of control.

• 54 Macas // Aug 7, 2008 at 12:57

  Robson was a great manager for us but his time had come, his treatment of Solano was just one example of how he was plosing the plot. It wasnt cowardice at all, it was just time for a change. The only problem was that we made the wrong choice of manager to replace him.

• 55 Bill F SPLASH THE CASH ASH // Aug 7, 2008 at 12:57

  Glad to see KK took my advice and played Taylor as a striker.

• 56 chinzaknuk // Aug 7, 2008 at 12:59

  Skysports saying Shorey undergoin medical at Villa

  http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_3944740,00.html

  Pleased as i don’t rate him as better than we already have. Hasn’;t Bassong played LB before?

• 57 Fergie // Aug 7, 2008 at 12:59

  I see Alan Oliver has linked us with David Healy today. I hope (for once) he is right and that we do go for Healy. As I said yesterday, we don’t need to buy that big a name striker, just a decent back-up for the first choice 3. Someone who is a proven goalscorer with pace and movement, who will create opportunities not just for themslves, but for others with such movement. Basically, somthing that neither smith or ameobi offer. We need a cheap/ish back up who will probably play a lot anyway due to owen and viduka’s fitness problems. And when they are fit, we need someone to come off the bench and change things (in myn opinion, something we have lacked since we sold Lomano Lua-Lua). I suggested Steven Fletcher of Hibs or McFadden/Forssell of Birmingham or even Kevin Doyle at Reading but hopefully the Healy link is true as he would be a perfect back up player and i would presume he wouldn’t mind that as he doesn’t play much for Fulham anyway. It could prove to be a 3 way player swap of Johnson to Fulham, Healy to Newcastle and Smith to Everton. I hope so…

• 58 CRAIGG // Aug 7, 2008 at 12:59

  STAMI, IM SH*T ON COMPUTERS I ONLY JUST ABOUT KNOW HOW TO CUT AND PASTE LET ALONE DO THESE “LINKS” YOU SPEAK OF.

  Blackburn Rovers players are reportedly on the verge of mutiny after losing faith in Paul Ince just weeks after his appointment as the club’s manager.

  Ince has never managed a Premier League side before and, at the age of 40, is one of the youngest bosses in the league. According to The Daily Mail, he is already struggling to quell the threat of a rebellion after disillusioning his players ‘by the way he has tried to impose his personality on the club’.

  ‘Some players have been less than enthusiastic about Ince’s approach to training, which is said to vary drastically from Hughes’s meticulous, scientific method, while others have complained that the former Manchester United midfielder is too egotistical,’ the newspaper reports.

  David Bentley, who has since left the club, is reported to have walked out of training in disgust after being ordered to do 20 press-ups ‘as punishment for having his arms folded’.

  An unnamed but ’senior player’ is quoted as complaining: “We’ve gone from a well-organised, well-drilled back-room staff to one that feels like it’s been patched together. A lot of us wanted to give him a chance to see how it worked out, but it’s not looking too good.”

• 59 Ian-first one!! // Aug 7, 2008 at 12:59

  JoeT remember at Liverpool he was played on the wing, so really those appearances for Rafa should be judged as a winger’s goal scoring level, not as a striker, he has a high hit rate, but it would have been higher if he played in his correct position at Liverpool.

  It does show that Shearer is absolutely right about players who are willing to be played elswhere, he said he wouldnt do it as it damages their career.

  Everyone keeps referring to how bad Cisse was at Liverpool, it proves the point.

  total lifetime appearances he scores one out of every two games even though he has recovered from two broken legs and been stuck on the wing by Rafa.

  that is a very good record.

• 60 King Habib // Aug 7, 2008 at 13:01

  http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/bobbyrobson/index.html

• 61 ObaFan2 // Aug 7, 2008 at 13:06

  Wasn’t that impressed with Affelay last night but suppose it was a pre-season friendly ( a friendly where he kept trying to take Spidey out!).

• 62 greg // Aug 7, 2008 at 13:07

  I wonder if KK’s team selections are designed to get MA to open his wallet?

  Smith & Ameobi - look how gash they were?
  Smith on his own - where was he?

  Next match - no strikers!

  SIGN SOME, MA, THAT’S WHAT KK IS SAYING!

• 63 Boater // Aug 7, 2008 at 13:08

  Ian… very true. There was some 1980′ bollocks bravado in the club at the time about having real Geordie men and sorting out the lippy young chancers… So they get Souness in who just sells them…. ???

  Anyway, all this has been said before but despite the (seemingly) lack of transfer kitty this summer, Ashley made - for me - a very good move in sacking Allardyce who - despite what outsiders continually say - had 6 months too long in the job. MA at least recognised - with keegan - that the best way to progress or ‘win something’ is to play flair football with daft emotional characters- so we come full circle.

  Affelay?? that would be nice.

• 64 Tom_Toon // Aug 7, 2008 at 13:08

  Anyone watching the olympics?

  Gervinho is showing up the whole Argentine team.

  Kuffor is injury prone now, slow and well past his bes, he was good.

• 65 sweendog // Aug 7, 2008 at 13:14

  Cisse .. come on now .. he’s got pace and can strike the ball but the key part of being a good striker .. being able to place the ball is his downfall .. we’ve got Martins and Owen who are both similar but better than Cisse .. we need a target man .. somebody who can hold the ball etc .. old fashioned centre forward .. derdiyok/Pandev spring to mind .. as for Cisse, only if martins/owen were out for the season.

• 66 ObaFan2 // Aug 7, 2008 at 13:15

  No olympics for me this time around, don’t think China should have been given them in the first place and they certainly haven’t improved their human rights in recent years.

  Shame as I’d love to watch the footy and many more of the events but no ty.

• 67 sweendog // Aug 7, 2008 at 13:16

  Hopes its true …

  http://www.shieldsgazette.com/nufc/Alan-Smith-on-his-way.4368383.jp

• 68 sweendog // Aug 7, 2008 at 13:19

  Now if we can go for Derdiyok and a more established centre forward .. seeing that smiths wages were so high … then Center midfield playmaker and a left back .. and next season I’ll be looking to top 6 for sure …
  Also not to be greedy .. swap Duff for Warnock and bring in Arda .. best team in the league ..
  Howay the lads …

• 69 ObaFan2 // Aug 7, 2008 at 13:19

  sweendog, yep fingers crossed.

• 70 Stardust // Aug 7, 2008 at 13:20

  Ian we often disagree but i totally agree with you re Sir Bobby - With older age people are more accepting of others (Dyer and Co) and more resolute in their own ideas. He had never lost the dressing room, as the players played for him but some of the senior pro’s werent as understanding as him and more egocentric. (as bad as the kids causing problems).

  I too think Shearer could have handled it differently but the fact was Shearer wasnt benefitting from the age and experience Robson had - kids will be kids, simply teach them over time and they will learn from experience. Bobby embraced them as knew he could guide them from the inside instead of scolding and alienating.

  One other if you are the Ian I think you are, why did they sack Sir Bobby? the real reason?

• 71 sweendog // Aug 7, 2008 at 13:24

  Fat freddy was the cause of sir bobby getting sacked ..

• 72 GM // Aug 7, 2008 at 13:26

  Sweendog - I hope that is true, although if it does what was KK on about saying he wasnt going and that he was injured !! makes him look a bit…..daft

• 73 Macas // Aug 7, 2008 at 13:27

  Sweendog - that would almost be as exciting as getting a new signing!

• 74 sweendog // Aug 7, 2008 at 13:28

  Just quoting the papers .. we all know they are probably thrash .. but you can always dream

• 75 GM // Aug 7, 2008 at 13:30

  http://www.shieldsgazette.com/sport/Toon-in-new-takeover-talks.4368728.jp

• 76 HATE PRAWN SANDWICHES // Aug 7, 2008 at 13:35

  is this why Coloccini hasn’t yet been signed?

• 77 GM // Aug 7, 2008 at 13:44

  Was listening to the 3 legends on century last night and Bobby Moncur said that there was going to be a very big announcement either today/tomorrow but wouldnt divulge anything more, I thought it might be a suprise signing like Spiderman but maybe its McMahon thing?

• 78 GM // Aug 7, 2008 at 13:45

  Blown that one out of the water…..next runour

  http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/nufc/newcastle-united-news/2008/08/07/mcmahon-s-not-in-toon-to-buy-up-the-magpies-72703-21486045/

• 79 HATE PRAWN SANDWICHES // Aug 7, 2008 at 13:49

  GM - what I have been reading coloccini is signing his release forms at deportivo and saying bye to there fans then flyn to newcastle for a medical tonight?!!

• 80 AndyNUFC // Aug 7, 2008 at 13:52

  Coloccini’s been having a medical for the last 3 days from what i’ve been reading.

• 81 Ian-first one!! // Aug 7, 2008 at 13:55

  I do not know Stardust. I know Freddy was the messenger but also it is clear he didnt want him sacked, he stated this and John Hall didnt reply, Bobby Robson and Freddy have remained friends as seen on match days.

  Why would John Hall ruin a time when Newcastle had not been so stable in decades??

  Have the Halls and the Shepherds fallen out?

• 82 Punk Skunk // Aug 7, 2008 at 14:01

  ‘cos john hall is a tory tw*t?..

• 83 TerryMacsPerm // Aug 7, 2008 at 14:07

  Seen the David Healy Rumour in the Ronny? Utterly Ridiculous Anal’s lost all connections with the club since Ashley took over and he’s talking more crud now than he ever has before and that’s sayin somethin!

• 84 sweendog // Aug 7, 2008 at 14:20

  David healy .. my a*se .. he’s not as good as Owen or Martins and I’m from Northern Ireland. .. not a chance in hell he’s being bought..

• 85 normski1930z // Aug 7, 2008 at 14:27

  david f**king healy god and bennett give me strength… i have stayed off here all day on purpose and whats the first things i read- colo still hasnt signed and david f**king healy…… wheres that rope..

• 86 Macas // Aug 7, 2008 at 14:41

  AndyNUFC - apparently his hair keeps getting in the way

• 87 Michael // Aug 7, 2008 at 15:23

  I was at the match last night. Jonas again looked quality however he does like a lot of time on the ball which wont be possible in the Premiership.
  Duff and Milner did more upfront than our two ’strikers’ Ameobi and Smith did in 3 games.

  The game highlighted our need for a target man upfront because when we got in positions to cross there was nobody to aim for.

  I was impressed with Guthrie who was spreading the ball about well and never stopped running. However he doesn’t seem to have that killer pass in him which we need.

  Nicky Butt was shown up by the outstanding Ibrahim Afellay. Afellay was playing in the centre where he always wanted the ball, used it well, always looked a threat and got on the scoresheet. If we sign a creative midfielder it should definitely be him! Whatever the price.

• 88 alle // Aug 8, 2008 at 10:09

  i think ibrahim afellay will be a superb addition to the squad, but at the expense of some of the players that served us well last season.. what we should be looking at is a big striker like santa cruz to replace viduka..

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