Isegrim

I bought the complete works of Bach last week. 155 CDs for 99 Euro.

Because every club has its share of w*nkers?

Dates it a bit, mind. But it certainly won't stop Craig to post it in a couple of years again.

Rather telegenic than political reasons tbh.

He's not even 22 ffs, so there is still enough time to make us of his (raw) talents. I don't think there are that many players out there of his age with the same potential. Most of them are not available, so I'd rather try to get the best out of the player who the club actually has to its disposal.

Never heard of it. Will keep an eye for it though. That's why I'd rather call it unknown than underrated. I never knew it got dubbed.

I don't see the point of changing a winning team. There has to be something he can be not happy with.

I had to check the date again.

That's the problem when your wage balance gets out of hands. Taylor probably will see that crocks and has beens (Emre, Duff, Carr et al) earn far more than him and demand parity as he seems himself as a talented player and regular starter. Edit: And too late again. I stop posting for today now...

I don't believe you. Especially the bit about you having a lass. I hear he "conquered" her on a brief sortie into Polish border territory. That kind of invasions are normally very short-dated, so I'd be free in July anyway...

I don't believe you. Especially the bit about you having a lass.

Things have changed for me over the weekend as well. Last weekend of July is still a bad date, but it now looks like my girlfriend and I will be in (south) England for a couple of weeks in late July/August. Depending on the date of our sailing trip I probably could get a free weekend or convince her of a couple of days in the north. So maybe if we can put back the date for a week or two (don't know when the season is starting) I might be able to turn up. I can't make any commitments though.

They'll start sending scouts to maternity clinics next.

He actually looked decent in the first couple of matches but was then struggling with the physical nature of English football. If he can adapt to it, he can still be a decent squad player. I wouldn't mind if we can get sell him for decent money though.

Did we?

You're harbouring doubts about more or less everything though.

Is Kuijt really a good example? I think he is grossly underrated by loads of people who reduce him to his goal scoring record, which is obviously not the best. Of course he scored loads of goals in Holland, but this was never the most important part of the game. He is a workhorse with quite good understanding of the game. In a supporting role he does quite well to get the best out of team mates imho. That's the diference to players like Kezman (or Huntelaar) who are foremost goal scorers and who indeed are liabilites when they don't score.

No chance. Aren't Man United apparently sniffing around? It's about jumping the queue then, isn't. Not that I think that Huntelaar is really the player needed, butsing the example of van der Vaart again, loads of big European teams were "sniffing around" when he was at Ajax. They got caught by total surprise when Hamburg lured him by showing him their intention and ambition.

I'm a big fan of N'Zogbia and would like us to hang on to him as I still think he is an exceptional talent. But Barton and Geremi are better suited to the current formation with their defensive and positional abilities. N'Zogbia has been best used wide left so far. I reckon he could do a very good job behind the strikers without many defensive duties, but failed to impress most times he played there. That's why Owen is the best option we do have for it at the moment. Edit: Or in short words: As alex already said.

I agree. His is/was the perfect player to step in when you need him without the team suffering from a gap in quality between first and second 'keeper. He might now even be considered as first keeper. But promoting him even another level it's probably far too much (even though considering the very poor quality of other English 'keepers).

Diego did cost Bremen 5m Euro, van der Vaart did cost Hamburg 5.5m Euro. You don't have to be lavish, you just have to be clever. Totally agree. But we have to also be aware that top marquee players attract other big players. So ambition must be worn on the sleeve. **I'm not interested in discussing the past before the usual suspects pipe up. Totally agree about "ambition". The factor "attraction" is a reason why I wouldn't as easily get rid of Owen as others probably would do as long as he is able to actually play decent as well. But there are players who maybe have a decent name, but whose career has stalled or they are unhappy for one or another reason who are probably easier to attract. It's just a case of doing your homework (that's the job for the wise men now). At the current moment of time Newcastle are not able to lure happy players from big clubs anyway, regardless of the money they were offering.

Diego did cost Bremen 5m Euro, van der Vaart did cost Hamburg 5.5m Euro. You don't have to be lavish, you just have to be clever.

Done deal yesterday. am a day behind The photo in an earlier post was a bit of a subtle hint...