donaldstott

Not only would he have got the crowd off his back, but a decent number nine would have paid for himself in increased ticket sales in two-three seasons. I fear that FMA may have to get used to crowds of 42k.

Lot of talk about strikers, but we are arguably more short at the other end of the pitch. We're in serious sh1t if either Steven Taylor or Collocini get a longish term knock. Everyone wanted a new striker and we could do with someone more mobile, but a fit Bafra behind either Best, Ba or Shola isn't the end of the world.

confirmed on .cock

In fairness Ryder doesn't write the headlines, so I doubt they'd get the lads name wrong...

Wondering why Mourihno didn't buy him Maybe something to do with just signing a LB for 21mil Thought the wink would've sufficed like. However, if you want to pretend I was being serious, surely, the new Zanetti / Maldini being available for £16m less would've been better purchase. I suspect Mourinho was just talking the kid up a bit though. JM seems to be a very good man-manager so maybe this lad is the sort who needs to be bigged up. His comments about him needing a manager who can stand by him also suggests that might be the case. Lets hope his missus isn't introduced to ours. Speaking of Mourinho aparently Drenthe is to be left out of his 25 man squad, according to Graham Hunter this morning.

Would be a ridiculous idea...

Thank fuck for that....

That went through my head like.. In fairness to Raylor his delivery from set pieces and open play has been excellent. He has always looked pony there though.

Raylor looks undroppable at the minute. He's got us out of two holes and given the lack of goals throughout the team his free kicks are vital.

I thought best and gosling were just rusty. Gosling seems to get in to great positions and is happy to push on. We need some goals from midfield and he looks most likely to get them. As for best I think he lead the line very well, won his headers, drew fouls. His finishing and offside running let him down. Great game to watch though.

This is not the first story that .com has written on Colo leaving this summer. In the past that would have meant something was in the offing, not so sure that the club source is as reliable nowadays.

Although I did live in quite a few places and at one stage it would have been... 3.57 miles PR Sunderland FC 10.99 miles PR Newcastle United Football Club

Growing Up 2.14 miles PR Newcastle United Football Club Now 3.09 miles CH Reading Football Club 243.91 miles PR Newcastle United Football Club

he draws fouls like no footballer i've ever seen... exactly what you need in that type of game...

he draws fouls like no footballer i've ever seen... exactly what you need in that type of game...

Great river today like. Blinding result. I had us down for 0 points from 6. 4 is a big bonus.

Great river today like. Blinding result. I had us down for 0 points from 6. 4 is a big bonus.

Both teams charged by FA with failing to control players acc the Beeb

Looks like we're definitely in for him... As Stevie says, never heard of him. Presumably going to the ANC. Skysports.com Modibo Maiga is refusing to play for Sochaux in order to force through a move to Newcastle United. Newcastle have made a bid for the Malian international, which is understood to be in the region of €8million (£7million). However, Sochaux are refusing to do business, which has angered the 23-year-old and he refused to play in the weekend's defeat to Caen. Maiga has now told Sochaux that he does not want to play for them again and wants to join Newcastle. He has been offered a new contract by Sochaux, but that only happened after Newcastle made their move. "Yes [they have made me an offer], but before the Newcastle offer I have not been offered anything, but now I would like the chairman to consider my interest. I want to leave. "I met everyone at Newcastle. They want me and it is not just any club. Premier League is a dream. "That is the kind of game I like, it suits me and it is good for my career. I want to leave, he has to accept that and negotiate. "I told the coach I would play and respect my contract, but the chairman has to talk about my transfer first. I don't want to annoy Sochaux, but I want it to be sorted out with Newcastle." Not happy Maiga is not happy that the initial offer was rejected, and he has told Sochaux of his displeasure. "Offers have now come for me and the chairman refused to talk," Maiga, who scored 15 goals last season, told L'Equipe. "I had a meeting with him and I could not accept his position, it is just like a big slap in the face. "It was the very first time I asked for something and I believe it is lack of respect. Why refusing to talk? It is selfish, I can't understand. "You can't refuse such an offer. The sums are huge, both for me and for the club. Sochaux will not lose." Maiga, who can play out wide or up front, only joined Sochaux last year when he moved from Le Mans and he was hugely impressive in his first season finishing as one of the top scorers in France.

Pardew confirmed that no replacement left back will be coming in before the game... Worrying, even Perch has spent pre-season with the reserves.

We've only got ourselves to blame. Giving him 60k a week when he first joined was a ridiculous amount of money and frankly a lot more than he was worth for the first two seasons. I personally think two poor to average seasons followed by one good season in the championship and a good season in the PL does not warrant a pay rise, which is what he expected.

Pulis has a done a great job in stabilising them as a prem fixture. They've attracted some decent players and managed to keep hold of their better players. Don't like the style of football, but it's effective.

had the phone line croaked? Oooh, broken phones you say. That'll need some investment from the club. 6-8 million I reckon

He was asked where he'd be in 10 years? He's not mentioned NUFC once in an hour long tirade, which is a positive!!

I was thinking the other day about the investment in our forward line. Can anyone else name a team in the Premier League (or even the Championship) whose first choice four strikers cost a combined £1.5m?