geordieshandy

And I'm not sure Mido is the right man to score those goals. Chopra, for me, needs a big lad with a good attitude beside him. If he gets that then maybe he can score some goals, but without that defences will bully him out of the game. If they get a canny striker who Chopra can get about I think they'll stop up, but I don't either Samaras (who I think they're looking at as well) or Mido is the right man. They should have gone for Harewood. But maybe they'll shock everyone again and spunk £18m on a centre forward.

That line there is bollocks. One of his best strengths is his positional sense! fair enough but is luque a winger or a centre forward? Left forward Left behind more like.

are you happier than you were this time last season? Got to be happier than last season, it doesn't take much though. Having said that I can remember being excited about Martins and Duff coming in, although it ended as a bit of a false dawn with a lack of defensive improvements. is the squad big enough? Allardyce has, for me, improved the squad across the board. There a plenty of options to play different ways, and if everyone stays fit, we should have enough. Even though we haven't increased the numbers as I originally thought necessary we have bought versatility and I think that's what counts. Then again, if we have injuries like last term then the squad will never be big enough. do you expect us to challenge for more with the new players and the new manager than we did under roeder and souness? I don't expect us to win anything, no. I do expect more of a battling spirit in games though, and if we can couple that with a bit of verve and ingenuity, and just bloody well get the basics right I'll be much happier than the last few seasons. The new manager also gives us something we haven't seen at St James for many a moon, and that's a tactician who can see what's working and more importantly what's not, and with the players at his disposal, do something about rather than expect the players to do it themselves. how many players short are we from challenging the top 4-6? God knows. The league is in a state of flux at the moment. That top 6 could be anyone from about 13 teams. I think it comes down more to how we are set up to play each opposition rather than being lacking a certain player. I do believe however to crack into the upper echelons we will need a classy right back, another left footed defender, of obvious class, and exceptional passer in the centre of the park and world class centre forward, and a great crosser of the ball to hit his man every time. So I'll say five. do you expect any more arrivals before the window closes? Maybe a left footed defender will come in to cover left back/centre half. Bringing in defenders is a tricky thing though, defense is the one area for me that you don't want to be changing personel willy nilly. We need a settled back four and buying defenders who are just going to make up the numbers in the reserves is pointless as you end up with poorer quality. The left back we have brought in is just a young un as well, and if he is going to be our first choice, then his back up will probably not get a look in for a good few years, injuries permitting. So unless it's an even younger player they'll be unlikely to want to do that if they're of any real quality. if you could sign one player or type of player who or what would it be? Probably a ball playing defensive midfielder, or maybe a trciky pacy right winger who can cross the ball.

I reckon he'll definitely be looking at bigger teams than us. Also I'm not sure we'll be going after a right back at all this summer, although we could do with a quality one. We have a number of players who can play there, without being especially good. We're more likely to get another left footed defender to be honest. Which we require much more urgently.

Hopefully DEFRA learn some lessons from the shit way it was handled in 2001. It's a hellish state of affairs all together. Hopefully their culling techiniques have improved as well. It fair ripped through Northumberland and Cumbria last time, but the way transport has been cracked down on this time will hopefully mean that it's contained a bit better. The biggest difference though will be the fact that at the minute most livestock is outside, whilst it was March time when it kicked off last time and a lot of cattle were inside. My thoughts are definitely with those farmers and their families in Surrey at the moment.

Top 3 Man U Liverpool Chelsea Bottom 3 Fulham Wigan Derby FA Cup Arsenal Carling Cup Liverpool Uefa cup Bayern Munich Champions League Barcelona Best Buy Pizzaro probably, or Viduka. One to watch Tevez

Fair enough. I'll have to have a word with me father then.

I thought Russell Cushing left at the same time as Doug Hall. Obviously not according to what's said there.

I don't want to see that from any of our players tbh. I think it shows grit and determination and the fact he cares about scoring a goal so much in a friendly gives me the impression he's up for the fight this season. Quoted for truth. Aye but wasn't the head ref on telly last week saying that foul language was something that would be cracked down on this season.

Love it.

Lyx is where it's at.

Canny handy, but wrong forum.

Good pub to get mortal in, especially with the charva carpet and the HUGE bottles.

Says Mr Death, who lives......... Probably because he doesn't want his property pelted with god knows what just because we haven't signed a left back.

Spot on, that's what these dunderheeds don't realise. They have trouble observing murals.

Aye, but aren't their rumours created in the same way as Family Guy storylines? Selected by manatees?

And his vision and eye for goal seemed very good as well. What I'm saying is that he could see.

?? where's the good news in there then? Actually being linked with people, and one of them plays at left back. Give me something to talk about untill the season starts. He signed for someone else last night.. Who did he sign for? Sochaux I believe.

And why exactly would Middlesbrough want another right back?

The barmaid falling into the cellar? Aye.

And it's always the morning after that catches folk out.

I do like a pint of real ale now and again, I must admit. Yum yum So long as it's not cherry flavoured...

We're going tonight. I'm actually quite excited.

Seems likely doesn't it?

They were actually whining last night about a teacher in their department who had to have extra time off due to stress. Plus you can get away with incompetence in teaching on a scale never before realised in any other field, apart from perhaps academia.