Soldato
- Joined
- 17 Oct 2002
- Posts
- 9,055
- Location
- In my penthouse, Park Ave
They signed a new cleaner for the away changing rooms.
All New Summer 2008 Transfer Merry Go Round/Rumour Mill
- Thread starter Twinblade
- Start date
Whatever happened to Dong? He's not been given a squad number which must mean he is on his way out. Shame really. He could have been the next Ronaldo.....
Us and Everton are the only Premiership teams to have not signed anyone yet. Depressing stuff. Wasn't there a direct quote from Fergie last weekend saying we'd be signing someone within the next 48hrs? If so, he lied.
Everton got Pioneer so just you
Soldato
- Joined
- 31 Oct 2005
- Posts
- 8,849
- Location
- Leeds
It's like shooting ducks in a barrel
I mean Liverpool's belief that they could win the Premiership is consistently mocked and given our record some would say rightly so. Newcastle actually think they are nearly up there with us, LOL.
this right cheeses me off, the media potrays us toon fans as expecting to win the Premiership every year, I mean have you really spoke to the prolific toon fans on these boards for example?
Me, visonary, DOD asprillia and vandle (IIRC)
All say that we'd be have / expect maybe at a push a top 8 position, something to build on for the season after that
Mike ashley is intent on cutting our silly wage bill, we are no longer going to be held ransom over wages, this has meant we have lost out on certain players
Think most of my waffle has been Pool related. Just think borough look alright this season. That said, Wheater was rampaging last week, lets hope they play Hoyte
how are we judging the size btw? I wouldnt really know, but iv lived in the north east all my life and have seen how big a club newcastle are within the local proximity, and assumed everton been where they are would be overshadowed by nearby slightly bigger/more successful teams
In Liverpool it is pretty much a 50-50 split. Most Everton fans try to convince you they are actually the bigger club in the city, but it's wishful thinking (or Small Club syndrome). As soon as you go outside the City Centre and the immediate suburbs the split is more like 90-10 though.
He'd better be a good cleaner at least.
Everton got Pioneer so just you
Balls...
It was a gross generalisation based on the past few years of Toon fans (unrealistically) thinking they will be a solid top half team. I do think most toon fan's have got more realistic over the past few years, but even you are still talking in terms of a top 8 finish. With Tottenham, Villa, City, Everton, Pompy and Blackburn around I think it is still unlikely. Any of the above has a significantly better team and/or manager. Funny old game though so maybe this will be your season.
interesting, personally i think most of them would get into the middlesbrough side, spurs maybe not however they are now what i consider a top 8 side.
and as for Newcastle we'll see IU think sunderland will finish higher than you this season for a start
We may have the money "in place" to spend £18m on a player. More cash never hurts though. If he fully cleared out Hypia, Voronin, Penant, Finnan, Aurelio and maybe even Kuyt (depending on who he brought in), then there would be money (and wages) for two £20m-£30m transfers. Last summer this could potentially have been Queresma and Alves, I would bet money they would have been more effective for us.
The fact that he is on an old contract probably means his wages are still high. I am sure he is happy, doesn't mean he is worth a fortune either sat on the bench. Worse yet is the fact that Benitez is never going to let a strong regular partnership form in the middle if he is constantly trying to keep other players happy and match fit (One of the main reasons for his daft rotation policy). Personally I would start every match I could with Agger and Skrtel in the middle, Carra on the right or left. Eventually this is surely the central pair we are working towards so we should really test it out. If it isn't working and Carra is already on the pitch it is just one sub to change things around.
Didn't the other Toon fan on here just say that he and other Toon fans thought a top 8 push was kind of expected?
Seriously though, I will admit that the media does play you all out as having daft aspirations when I am sure there are plenty of more realistic fans out there too. I would imagine it is very similar to the Liverpool situation. On the media they make out that every year we all presume this "will be our season". That simply isn't the case. I would say the majority just hope it will and can see that it is not an impossible task (just a difficult one).
8th/9th for Newcastle isn't unrealistic I don't think, our team is better than last season (haven't lost anyone players we would want to keep, unlike Blackburn, Spurs etc.). Keegan has had full pre-season unlike last season, and is building his own team, instead of using Allardyce's.
1. Chelsea
2. Man U
3. Liverpool
4. Arsenal
5. Spurs
6. Villa
7. Everton/Pompey
8. Everton/Pompey/Newcastle
9.Pompey/Newcastle
I dunno how that 7-9th thing works But you get my idea.
1. Chelsea
2. Man U
3. Liverpool
4. Arsenal
5. Spurs
6. Villa
7. Everton/Pompey
8. Everton/Pompey/Newcastle
9.Pompey/Newcastle
I dunno how that 7-9th thing works
But you get my idea.
Of course more cash doesn't hurt but looking at the sale of Hyypia in isolation, we'll not be able to bring in a better replacement nor will it allow us to sign another top player in another position.
As for selling all of those players; you can't go out and sell 5 or 6 players and replace them with 1 or 2. Hyypia, Aurelio and Kuyt are still important members of our squad and in the case of injuries are all capable of starting regularly
That's a load of rubbish imo. Benitez has never regularly changed his cb pairing to keep player happy or match fit and won't do so now.
Edited for truth
I couldn't decide between Man U and Chelsea really, too hard to predict this early.
Looks like Santa cruz isnt going anywhere now,
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/blackburn_rovers/7576797.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/blackburn_rovers/7576797.stm
But you can't just look at things in isolation when you are trying to improve a team. That's why i am considering sales as moves towards a stronger squad rather than looking at it on it's own.
Off course you can reduce your squad by 4 players when your current first team squad has 35 numbered players, 23 being recognised 1st team players and the other 12 of which being reserve and youth players occasionally stepping into games. We also have a further 24 non numbered 1st team players including promising lads like Putterill, Pacheco and Brouwer. Having gone to a few reserve matches last season and seen our squad of kids completely dominate the league, they need to be given a chance. This was especially fun when they took the mick out of a fat Gary Neville
I would only sell Kuyt if both the additions are offensive, that's why I said to sell Kuyt depending on who we brought in. You have four spots to fill with offensive players and we would have two 20m-30m player, Gerrard, Torres, Keane, Benyoun, Babel and Ngog, as such Kuyt really isn't needed.
Really still don't see why you feel we need Hypia and Aurelio. I have explained my views on Hypia and you disagree, Aurelio is even harder to justify. We have Dossena, Carra and Arbeloa who can play in Aurelio's usual position, along with Insua coming through the ranks. We then have Gerrard, Babel and Benyoun that can play on left mid. I would also imagine that one of the two big name players we would sign would preferably be a lefty. Add the fact that he has been constantly injured and he is just a defensive Harry Kewell.
Of course he does, why do you think Hypia and Carra started against Sunderland with Agger and Skrtel fit on the bench. I think it is pretty clear that Agger is above him in the pecking order and I have a sneaking suspicion Skrtel is too. The pairing of Carra and Agger was the one fairly consitant position till Agger's injury and the bringing in of Skrtel. Since then it has been chopped and changed almost every game as he is not sure which combo is best and needs to give them all games (they are all too good to constantly warm a bench)
If we go of first match then Chelsea is going to be miles ahead by the time Ronaldo gets fit. Robinho may be there soon too, even tougher for us to break in this season
