David Kelly

I agree he's improved since he left the wall pushers but I still don't rate him and really can't stand him (that might cloud my judgment of his ability). I'm not sure that you're doing this, but I've seen a few people compare him to Colback and say he's a better player because he does more going forward. Of course he does but that's clearly not Colback's game. I don't blame Colback for not doing that role, I blame McClaren for playing two defensive minded players in the middle and more so blame our recruitment team for creating a squad that doesn't have players to fill all the positions we need.

Taking a punt on a player is fine, as Gloomy says, if we're mid table or above. It's absolutely ridiculous when we're in the shit like we are now (unless it's acompanied with the signing of players who are what we need now). Re the coaching, personally I currently think it's difficult to rate any of them but looking at their records you would expect them to be competent. I actually still think this is the case but you can only work with what's put in front of you. And what the've been given is a squad lacking in confidence, ability and interest.

You think Sissoko has been a success? Personally I consider a signing to be a success if he consistantly plays well. Occasional bursts of brilliance isn't good enough for me. I would much rather see someone who is consistently decent than someone who can be unstoppable for three games a season when he fancies it. Admittedly I don't think it's an ability issue with Sissoko. I also don't think Sissoko fits into the category of player I was talking about as he was pretty young when we signed him and starting to get into the French team. Gouffran and Saivet have never managed that.

Fish were you not waxing lyrical about our new coaching set up in the summer? The players aren't good enough to go straight into the team man. This is what we need not punts on player who might make it and we might be able to sell at a profit.

The player who's name is at the top of this thread. The players we've signed from France or elsewhere who have done well (Cabaye, Debuchy, Janmaat, Gini, Ben Arfa & Cisse to an extent) are all players who have some experience and have performed in their career. Most of the young lads we've signed have struggled because it's obviously difficuly for young lads to come to a better league in a new country and perform from day one. If they're in a team that's struggling badly then it's difficult for them to ever perform. Signing players like Thauvin, Riviere, Cabella, Mitrovic etc is a massive risk because because they don't have the experience to come into a struggling team and turn stuff around. Mbemba is an exception to this (of course he might be nearer to 30 than 20) but you can't expect kids to come here and start as well as him. Then you have signings like Goufrran & Amalfiantano who have never shown any signs of being good enough throughout their career. Saivet appears to be in exactly the same mould to me hence I have no expectation of him doing anything. Carr has never brought over someone like that who's been a success. Obviously if he signs I hope I'm wrong.

I doubt Tony Gale's IQ is above 50.

Obviously we'd all like to see us sign quality players from with premiership experience but as you point out it's going to be difficult to get them to come here (although there's talk about Bony going back to Swansea so they shoudl be no reason why we can't compete with them for him if that is true)> But that doesn't mean we should then look to sign a player who's done pretty much nothing in his career and only managed seven league starts last season. Surely there are players out there in other leagues who at least have experience abroad who aren't just also rans. Surely our options aren't just complete duds who have experience here, young kids from abroad with very little experience anywhere or players who have a bit of experience somewhere but have never performed in their career?

Changed your tune haven't you Stevie? Didn't you once say that he'd end up dropping right down the leagues (or something like that). Personally I still agree with your previous feelings about him but the sad fact is, he probably would improve us now. Much rather see us go for better but how we'd get anyone better to come here now is beyond my powers of deduction.

Not at all impressed by the thought of signing this guy. We don't need another average Frenchie who has no experiance in this league and done very little in his own league. I've also no confidence in our master scout at picking up unknown (apart from his days as a wonderkid on Champ Man) players from France who can be quality players in the premiership. We spent £13m on Thauvin and he's been a massive flop so far and similar on Mitro and he's also struggling. £2m or £3m on someone that barely anyone has heard of isn't going to be a signing that drags us out of the shit we're in. For all the bollocks that the fat cunt, Penfold and Schteve spout, we're still looking to shop in the bargin basement and do anything but make our own luck.

I've been trying this https://seo-michael.co.uk/how-to-install-zemtv-for-xbmc-kodi/ over the weekend and so far it's been brilliant for Sky & BT Sports streams. I'm sure it's already been on the beast for weeks so it's not going to be news to everyone but for those of us going it alone it seems an excellent new add on. Obviously there's been no premiership over the weekend but I've used it for some of the FA Cup games, cricket and NFL and it's barely buffered at all.

Hatefull Eight. Tarantino was hoping for it to be his The Good The Bad & The Ugly but whereas that film never drags for a second, I found this a bit dull when they first got to Minnie's. But it got going again and overall I enjoyed it. Thought it was better than The Revenant.

Absolute legend. Really gutted about this news RIP

Any radio even? Radio Newcastle has the fucking tramps on!

Had it on all afternoon and I don't find it particularly weird at all. Bit of a Kid A feel to it. But I suppose some would class that as weird!

I would have definitely included the tv producer who was so excited that someone had been murdered so they could make a program about it. She only appeared in one scene but it was a cameo that compares to Bill Murray in Zombieland in the impact that she had.

I think I would have had to take the opportunity to chuck a half pint of prawns over him!

I said beloved!

The brothers? . Well thank christ for the Wire. Twin Peaks and Deadwood?

That would actually please me no end. Especially if he could add Game Of Thrones and The Wire into the mix.

Roma seem to be favourites. Isn't his old boss there?

A thread about the death of a beloved north east TV personality was definitely the best place to post that joke

It's been the high point of my day so far.

Sex in the back of an Escort!