BigWalrus

If we want to continue to break even, we can't afford extra wages. We don't have the income to cover it.

Obvious to you, but to many, all they talk about is transfer fees. Some seem to think that because we got £35m for Carroll, we should spend £35m on transfer fees on 4 or 5 players, conveniently ignoring the fact it'll cost another £10m a season to pay these new players.

What's your point?

Don't forget wages. Signing 3 players for £3.5m each on wages of £40k a week is more expensive over 5 years than one player of £15m on £60k per week. Wages are almost always ignored - mostly through naivety - but they are usually the biggest factor in deciding whether a deal goes through or not.

http://www.whoscored.com/Teams/23/Show/England-Newcastle-United The team as a whole. Significant weakness: Defending against attacks down the wings

http://www.whoscored.com/Players/14075/Show/Jons-Gutirrez Stats do the talking!

http://www.whoscored.com/Players/92/Show/Shola-Ameobi

Jonas, if fit, must start. Our midfield is defensively weak as piss.

Keep him for fuck's sake. We finished 5th last season and scored some of the best goals I have ever seen. We should be ok when we have a few of our proper players back. When you are in and amongst that middle group in the PL, you can flit around from 5th to 14th quite easily from season to season. Blame the ridiculous divide that has been created by the huge wealth of bankrolled clubs. It's shit but that is what the game has become.

http://www.readytogo.net/smb/showthread.php?t=752986 Canny funny really, what a horrendous top

LuaLua was also doing it with fresh legs against 10 men trying to get back into the game. Not really a fair comparison.

And Lee Probert is a fucking tool.

Yep, as the senior centre back, its his line and he should be in control of it. If in doubt, drop deeper and actually defend the ball. No real surprise how it turned out although we were particularly bad. Appalled by Obertan. The bloke has no awareness of his team mates or the opposition. He has no heart. Sammy was a wild card entry, but wild cards should be played alongside a more solid midfield. Shite basically, but we have seen it all before.

I'd be chuffed if we bagged Remy - he's a class act. Instinctive, good finisher and technically gifted.

Can't argue with that, but I'd struggle to hold back a smirk if he did his knee in on his debut.

Agreed. He is useful as an impact sub because of his size and strength, but starting games is a bit of a stretch at this level.

Questions why successive managers have all chosen him for over 10 years despite this "laziness".

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Box-Canvas-Print-Paul-Ross/dp/B001N6W8U0 Read the reviews...

Serious question - why does he need to play at right back? He's played at left for 99% of his career, so why (other than him being right footed) change now?

As much as I despise the melty-faced bastard, it was probably widely known within football circles. Ba's "representatives" have no qualms about speaking to anybody and have no doubt systematically told anyone that would listen about the release clause.

As for Santon, as has been said, he is a footballer. Unlike the likes of Simpson, he knows how to kick a ball and he knows how to control a ball coming at him at pace. Positioning can be taught and developed with experience. If you have a shit first touch in your 20's, it's unlikely it'll ever get any better. That said, he's had a few poor games recently, but part of that is no doubt attributable to having very limited understanding with Obertan in front of him.

Replacing Coloccini is no easy task. He is one of the most technically gifted footballers at the club for a start, but he also plays as more of a sweeper. With him as a sweeper, we can play a big lad alongside him to go in for the majority of the aerial stuff, with Coloccini mopping up behind and doing the bulk of the passing. To bring another lad in next to Coloccini, he'd need to be not only strong in the air, but also good on the deck. Douglas could be that man, as he's a lanky bastard but also competent with the ball at his feet. He's nowhere near finished yet mind. His reading of the game is still first class and we are at our absolute weakest when he isn't playing.