Deano

Apart from the obvious group to finish top 6 (Man Utd, Man City, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Spurs) who are we challenging with for 7th? Everton? Villa? Fulham? Bolton? Sunderland? Personally i'd say we are a better team than them.

Cant you guys just have an actual opinion on the squad rite now and how you think we could do? Stop sitting on the fence As for Ben Arfa....I know what your saying but i just think players like himself (the boys a bit special) CAN have a huge impact on the PL...theres not many of them to be honest.

Ok so people are making predictions as to who will finish where this season and who will be challenging for what. But more importantly... How well do you think we will or can do this season? Im confident of a top 10 finish this season and beleive that if we get a little luck with injuries and we settle into a good solid run of form with a positive approach (which i think we will) then theres no reason why we cant finish 7th and have a very good cup run. Improve our home form, stay solid away and play an attractive positive brand of football whilst attacking the FA Cup for our first bit of silverwear and using it as a second option into europe if we dont get 7th. Personally i think we are more than capable and next season will be an exciting one. We have a pretty good starting 11 and a few decent players on the bench with surely more to come in before Sept 1st...Hopefully a top class striker to really push our charge for 7th. Why cant we have a good cup run neither? Play a strong team in the FA Cup rotating a few fringe players (Ameobi, Lovenkrands, R.Taylor, Guthrie and Williamson) resting a few key players keeping them fresh for the league and putting our "developement squad" out in the League Cup with a few senior players for experience. This would give us the best way to have it all ways...Push hard in the league and keep key players fresh, play a strong side in the FA Cup and get to see a few young lads like Abeid, Vuckic, Kadar, Ferguson, Dummet, Airey and Folan in the League Cup. Sounds good to me and i honestly think we could have a great season like this! Hopefully the new lads settle quick and we find a good brand of football and improve on last season. As it stands i think our top scorers will be... Ba...10 Ben Arfa...10 Cabaye...8 Barton...5 Marveaux...5 Shola...5 Lovenkrands...5 48 goals from just them not to mention a few here in their from others like Jonas, Guthrie, S.Taylor and Coloccini as well as a likely new striker who should also get about 15 goals. Im confident

Dint we do something like this not so long ago? Im sure i got mocked for saying we would finish 7th (So does Stevie btw) Top 5... Chelsea Man Utd Man Citeh Liverpool Arsenal Bottom 3... Norwich West Brom Swansea Us to finish 7th

True enough. I dont think charlie is needed but would definitely strengthen the 1st team and squad what with having Marveaux as backup but i'd be more than happy to see how Marveuax does. If Barton stays then i would probably imagine him to start wide right ahead of Jonas or we may play 3 CM'S (Cabaye, Tiote and Barton) with Barfa and Jonas or Marveuax on the flanks. Either way we have plenty of options in how we set our midfield up if we play with one striker. If we are to play one striker then one more striker would probably suffice. If said new striker is to go straight into the 1st team then we would have Ba, Shola and Lovenkrands as back up presuming Best and Ranger leave. But like i said 2 new strikers would be ideal...its just whether there are 2 quality obtainable strikers out there and whether FMA wants to spend. I think he'll play 4-5-1 like. Barton and Jonas wide, Tiote and Cabaye in the middle with Ben Arfa in front of them. It's really all he can do in terms of what he has available in the midfield. Though, owt could change from now until September. Hopefully Jonas doesn't leave because he'll be a big miss to the midfield, more than people realise. Yeah a variation of 4-5-1 is most likely...i'd think it would be more likely a mix of 4-4-1-1 and 4-2-3-1 rather than a conventional 4-5-1 which typically is quite a negative and defensive formation. The wingers could play in line with the central midfielders off the ball or under pressure and when in possesion or when we are on top i think the wingers would take up a higher position to more in line with Ben Arfa in the hole. You think Barton and Jonas will play out wide and Marveaux on the bench then? Either way it looks like once we get in a target man we have a good few options. Im enthusiastic....as always.

True enough. I dont think charlie is needed but would definitely strengthen the 1st team and squad what with having Marveaux as backup but i'd be more than happy to see how Marveuax does. If Barton stays then i would probably imagine him to start wide right ahead of Jonas or we may play 3 CM'S (Cabaye, Tiote and Barton) with Barfa and Jonas or Marveuax on the flanks. Either way we have plenty of options in how we set our midfield up if we play with one striker. If we are to play one striker then one more striker would probably suffice. If said new striker is to go straight into the 1st team then we would have Ba, Shola and Lovenkrands as back up presuming Best and Ranger leave. But like i said 2 new strikers would be ideal...its just whether there are 2 quality obtainable strikers out there and whether FMA wants to spend.

I didnt want us to sign N'zogbia but the more i think about it he could be a big part for us next season. If we dont its not biggy though as we'd see more of Marveaux anyway. Could Barton player higher up instead of Jonas? But yeah Jonas is more likely to be dropped than Barton thinkin about it. As for the strikers, i get your point about fitness but Ba has been fit since coming to the PL and Lovenkrands and Shola have had their problems but i'd not consider them to be crocks. If Best and Ranger leave imo its no great loss but i agree ideally we need two new strikers.

To be honest i think the window has gone well so far. 4 in and 1 out...2 more expected as it stands. Nolan leaving was a bit of a shock but not one that we cant survive, imo he wasnt going to be playing a key role on the pitch anyway but we may miss his leadership qualities. Our hands are tied with the Enrique saga and for all he is a great LB he is starting to piss me off with his contempt for the club and the arrogance in which he has decided not to even talk to the club about his future. I'd like him to stay obviously but if he went for a decent price (8mil+) and we brought in either Warnock or M'Bengue then i'd be ok with that. On Barton i think its as simple as the club dont want to be tied to a long expensive contract and are willing to let his contract run down, get another good season out of him, be open to bids and also open to the possibility of offering him a years extention in January. Demba Ba is a better option than Best or Ranger...Good signing. Cabaye potentially will give us a lot more than Nolan would on the pitch and hopefully will be our creative force from CM...Very good signing potentially. Marveaux will give us more pace and trickery out wide and also has a very good delivery apparently. Abeid is one with potential and i imagine will be in the reserves enitially but will break into the 1st team squad before christmas. Best, Smith and Ranger being offered about and Lua Lua on another loan deal. Only really Best and Ranger possible of gettin 1st team action but in reality shouldnt be close to the 1st team. Should any of them leave it will weaken the squad in numeric value but not really on quality...none of them should be in the 1st team. I think we will bring in N'Zogbia and a number 9 and possibly Neil Taylor....If Enrique goes we will replace but if Barton goes i dont think we will bring in a replacement as we would be well stocked anyway. Come the 1st of September i predict 7 in (Ba, Cabaye, Marveaux, Abeid, N'Zogbia, Neil Taylor and a striker) and 4 out (Nolan, Best, Smith and Ranger) which makes our 1st team squad 3 stronger in numeric value and ALOT stronger in terms of quality. Even if Enrique goes he will be replaced so we wont be down on numbers and even if Barton goes we will still be 2 stronger. ---Krul--- Simpson---S.Taylor---Coloccini---Enrique ---Cabaye---Tiote--- Jonas-----Ben Arfa-----N'Zogbia ---New Striker---- Subs: Harper, Williamson, R.Taylor, N.Taylor, Gosling, Marveaux and Ba.

Potential wages of the scale? Cant see him being on more than 25k a week like.

Annoyed with this. Great signing for the filth but its one we should of been ahead of them in. Call it bitter but i hope the lads a flop. And on the same day we are said to not be interested in Sturridge who WBA and Stoke are after......... Come on Mike pull ya fuckin finger out you fat fuckin clown.

Is he better than Guthrie though? Guthrie is frustrating....He can have a great game and remind me of Rob Lee one time and then be absolutely gash the next. He has ability and vision on the ball and we've seen a few times with a few quality goals but like you say he suffers from disapeering in games too.....Why is that? Is it lack of fitness or confidence?

Its a confusing one and i too dont see the point. That 5mil is better put towards new strikers, a replacement LB and RM/CM if Jose and Barton go.

All good. I think the young lads should be loaned out as soon as they are showing promise. That way you can see if they can handle the day to day footballer mentality and still progress. Ranger, LuaLua, Ferguson, Airey, Donaldson, Richardson, Tavernier, Folan and Dummett all look like they could make it so a full season out on loan will be good for them and us. As for Vuckic, he has been fantastic for the reserves when fit, played in a couple of cup games and looked decent especially against chelsea. I too think he will get a good few more chances this season. I think he can develope into a van persie kind of player. Kadar should get more chances too if he is going to progress.

Apparently been allowed to talk to Sunderland and we are to match the 5mil offer in the next 24 hours. I think he looks like a decent player and a great strike on him but where is he gonna fit in? Its not like he can play on the right and would be a possibly replacement for Barton neither. More likely a replacement for Nolan and a decent deal at half a mil more than what we got for Nolan. Thing is we've brought in Cabaye, Barton will probably stay, Gosling back in contention as well as Guthrie to choose from to play alongside Tiote i just dont see the point in this move. Especially when Gibson will want a move for 1st team football.

Seen him 5-6 times on TV and once in person at SJP (where he was the best player on the park by a mile). He's totally unproven as a top level player, but such is the nature of the current transfer market. The potential there is huge though. Same. Seen him on sky a good few times last season, actually watched the Ipswich game just to see what this lad was about and then again at St James Park. Like Stevie said i also see alot of Rooney in him, he's skillful and can move a bit and he's just got that "wonderkid" look about him on the pitch. Personally i think we go to Ipswich and say here is 8mil upfront and possibly a 2mil add on if he scores 10 in his first season here. I'd probably like us to offer a similar kind of deal for Sturridge too. I know people will disagree but if we got them two and no other strikers i'd still be VERY happy and optimistic going into the new season. Sturridge and Barfa as first choice, Wickham, Ba and Shola as backup/impact players.

The way I'd look at the fee is if I was a mackem, they've swapped Henderson for Wickahm (diff positions I know) and made £7m profit. It doesn't even make sense. The most overrated player in NE FOOTBALL HISTORY, against the best U19 prospect in the country, I know what I'd be happy with. I know what your saying and to them they are in a very good position to do so. So should we be though thats the thing...we have the carroll money and wages saved from outgoings, we've only spent 4.3mil and any fees to agents so with ST being a priority and this kid lookin massive we should really be in for him AND sturridge.

It is good ambition from the mackems, ambition that we should be showing too. 13mil for wickham is too much though..10mil tops. But then again if figures of 6-8mil for sturridge are true then there is no way wickham is worth 10. I'd love us to go get them both.

Apparently his 1m release is worded similar to Phi Jones, and Swansea say it only allow us to talk to him. Not happening now. Dont quite understand whats went on here. One minute its about to be confirmed then theres dispute about the release clause and now Swansea have officially said he is staying and play a big part for them. Not arsed really. I dont like the welsh.

Would of been nice to of got him but like its been said we dont really need any more CM's. Tiote, Barton, Cabaye, Guthrie, Gosling. Theres more pressing areas. Cabaye has been brought in to create chance through the middle and i'd imagine he will give us more off the ball too.

Treacy is gash. Whens this Naylor deal gettin done or has that died a death? Linked with another CM today...and a quality one...Moussa Sissoko. His agent is quoted saying "in negotiations with newcastle" as well as liverpool and inter. No chance then.

which was posted 7 hours ago by a nightclub in jamaica.. There we go then.

I met him twice at croft park. An absolute golden geeza! He did however proper snap at this one kid who wanted him to sign a bit of chip paper! It was in blyth like. Talkin of meetin people...i stood talkin to beardsley outside the travel agents next to my dads studio....really nice guy. Remembered me from the masters.

Mate on Facebook just said this, and he's not normally one to gan on about football and that. Make of it what you will My mate who works with the academy txt me this mornin sayin he seen Sturridge. I thought he was bullshittin but if your mates sayin it also it could be true! Then again...skysports would be all over it though wouldnt they?

careful we aren't overcharged half a million quid for a promising player and end up paying 2m quid for Jay Boothroyd instead because its "better value for money" To be honest leazes i would expect to pay about 12mil for him so its a suprise to me Stoke going in with half of that. If we could get him for about 8mil then i'd be delighted. 4mil more to spend on the rest of the squad eh? Dont think we will end up with any shite like Boothroyd. We've already shown our intent in the standard of player we are after. Boothroyd is shite. We wont sign him. Put that in the prediction thread.

Stoke have opened the bidding for Sturridge tonight with a 6mil bid. Thats actually suprisingly low and i'd imagine it would be quickly rejected. But if that is the general valuation or even close then i'd hope we would go in their with a 7.5mil bid for him tomorrow! If FMA wants to show his intention for us and what he wants to acheive next year then we NEED to be going in for him and bringing him up here and giving him the number 9 shirt.