Premier League football back on the agenda at SJP
Alright maybe it isn’t quite that extreme but the football season is close to the hearts of many fans of clubs up and down the country and, being realistic, we are no different.
So take this as a little preview of this season if you like. I won’t go into too much depth as Premandup has not long set me a more in depth at what he thinks could happen this season, so I’ll stick with being general about things and ask if you think we are prepared for the new season?
When you look at pre-season you would have to say that it was alright. Nothing spectacular, just alright. We played some good teams and some bad teams, we won games and lost games. Most importantly though a lot of players got a chance to impress and the majority of them took it with both hands and can be expected to be given further chances to impress in the coming weeks.
If there is one thing that is slapping me in the face like a bit wet fish though, it’s the lack of action some of our first team players have seen in our pre-season campaign. Yohan Cabaye has only played something daft like 18 minutes during pre-season, and others like Papiss Cisse and Hatem Ben Arfa haven’t played much more. Tiredness is a reason apparently, although I wonder if their exclusion has at least something to do with wrapping them up in cotton wool?
We shall soon find out I guess…
In terms of transfers in, I’m pretty sure I’m not alone when I say that I’d been hoping for more in through the door than we’ve seen so far. However it’s important to remember that we’ve not lost any of our big hitters so far and at the moment it looks like it is going to stay that way. Our first XI hasn’t been weakened although, much like last season, an injury or two in certain positions will leave us exposed although there is still time for these shortcomings to be addressed.
We have a very tough start to the season, not just in terms of opposition but also in terms of frequency of games. We have three games in the first week of the season, or five games in the first two weeks of the season if you prefer to look at it like that, which is likely to stretch our resources to the maximum early doors. I get the impression that the way our season pans out depends on how we come through the opening two weeks of the season.
Anyway, I’m ready for the new season and I’m looking forward to seeing what we can do.
The question is, what do you think we can manage this season?
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I’m not so sure about the team being ready for a tilt at the PL and Europa but I’m well and truly aching for the season to start. Got a supply of whisky in, bought a new wide screen TV and have no work to go to so can sleep during the day and watch football all night.
Bring it on.
brisvegas now that’s dedication man
What is the time difference between you and the Spurs kick off….?
Like most others (and probably Pardeiu) I am uncomfortable about depth, but I also trust the club to get it right. This is a very different season for us: this is the first time in years when we’ve been just hoping to be as good as the season before!
Ready? Not really? Is anyone?
Toonsy – you probably missed a little gem last night.
I never visit normally but someone highlighted some major crying on .organ.
Anyway – went over and found this gem – by WankyTissue himself “I write this blog as a hobby because I love Newcastle United and several thousand people read it every day. I don’t want to make a penny from it as I have no problems doing that elsewhere and fortunately, I don’t have to stoop to Ashley’s level to do so.”
Suppose he thought the same when he deceived everyone out of their cash!
priceless!
No – My bastard season ticket still hasn’t turned up yet!
MM – 9hrs. Kicks off at 2am. But I’ll be up watching games all night.
Can’t wait till the start of the season now!
Then everyone can get arguing on which players are rubbish rather than the Carroll deal and the like
Stardust@4 what I find interesting is that of the thousands of people who read it every day, decidedly few bother to comment.
brisvegas 2a.m. in the morning shouldn’t disrupt the old body clock too much, but a bottle of JD will help you overcome the hardship..
Howay the lads !!
MM – so true!
Holiday here in Germany today, normally I wouldn’t be on during the day posting gash…
I usually reserve my gash for the evening session… 
I’m looking forward to the start of the season
… my wife is not 
Hi! I can`t wait for it all to start! Our first match and that`s against a big club like Tottenham.. Wow! I really hope we have the man power to get 3 points from these match. Hoping that Colo are fit enough to be the rock in our defence!
I must say i am really impressed with these website. I have watched for updates every day for a long time now and these is my favourite spot on the web! Thanks! Written by a big NUFC fan from Norway where almost 90% of our population are support shit clubs like LFC, MANUTD, CHELSKI!
Off topic I know but Sad to hear about Fabrice Muamba having to give up football on medical advice.good luck to the lad for his future.
I’ve been a Newcastle fan for a long time now and have always looked forward to a new season – although many times I’ve wondered just what it is I’m looking forward to.
There’s nothing better in the world than watching football – well, maybe playing it, but those days are long gone for me. I love the
. I love the 
I love the 
and the 
and the 
but at the end of a game I prefer it when I’m 
.
I’m ready, man, I’m ready.
Norway ToonArmy
Welcome to the blog man !!
Where are you in Norway ?
Yes and hopefully most of this injury talk is just mindgames and trying to excuse players from internationals.
http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/newcastle-united/nufc-news/2012/08/15/dan-gosling-on-standby-to-start-against-tottenham-hotspur-72703-31624674/
I would be concerned if we are relying on this guy for Spurs, he hasn’t looked like he can even fill Guthrie’s boots tbh.
Welcome Norway ToonArmy
Aussie Magpie Fan…my missus is pretty understanding most of the time.
you just need to find a way mate… 
Strangely enough, after an unexpectedly “successful” season last season I managed to iron out my mood swings, and actually enjoyed the majority of my Saturday nights.
Not sure what the new season will bring though, fasten your seat belts, we’re almost ready to rock !!
DJG I’m afraid I don’t rate the lad…. squad player at best, and inferior to Danny Guthrie imo…
I have Guthrie in my fantasy team.
MM hes very one paced mate
Stardust@4 Caught that one as well
Munich Mag: Thanks man! The capital of Norway –> Oslo. Next home match i will be at the st.james park with our colors and hopefully with the name Anita on my back! Can`t wait!
I’d be alot happier if we had our 3 newbies in before now and didn’t have injury concerns over 2 of our most importance defensive players.
But let’s be right, 5 games in 15 days is going to test any squad to be fair – and what a bloody stupid time to have Int friendlies man!!
I always get anxious at the start of every season if I think about it, it’s never til around 7-8 games in that I kinda settle. I’m excited at the same time like, close season has always been too long for the fans tho.
Norway ToonArmy
A good mate of mine used to run the Norway toon army supporters club from Stavanger. I know loads of Norwegian lads who follow NUFC, spread all over the place…. You’re not alone big man !
Keep posting man, this is where it all happens !
Hope your dream comes true and you’re spotted sporting the famous black and white stripes in the toon with a few new stars in the team !
Icedog I agree mate, though he probably was never blessed with great pace, even before his career threatening injury.
I would love him to make a good go of it, but what I have seen so far makes me somewhat sceptical… Maybe this is the year he makes the big break through ?…fingers crossed for the lad..
Imo gosling will come good…he’s not first team material yet but that’s as much about the quality we have in midfield as it is about him. He offers something different from Guthrie who was again decent but again never really a starter.
He’s willing to take a chance and get in the box, and he can grab goals.
Three draws from the first three games is not beyond us, would be a great start imo.
Rumours circulating via text that Anita has just arrived at the Toon.
Fuking can’t wait for saturday to come, then we’ll be able to talk about footie, rather than transfer shite.
but yeah it was a bit a cheek coming of with that shit, but then again I don’t think there is any of the swindled bloggers left on there, so probably thought it was safe coming of with that BS.
Stardy now now don’t be having a pop at your bestest buddy
Is there any news on Colo if he travelled to Germany ? To meet up with the Argies ?
Newkie, you’re right there, over Guthrie, Gosling does pose a goalscoring threat in the box, that’s for sure. Whereas Guthers had a mean long distance shot on him…
MM, can usually tell what a player is going to be like from what fans of other clubs say and Everton fans were not bothered about losing him for nothing and said he had no pace and was a cover player. Just shows that Everton are a club that despite their ‘poverty’ have a good squad and have been on an equal footing to us during the Moyes era. I think Gosling would have benefited from going to a ‘lesser’ club tbh. Possibly in the championship or to a club like Reading where Guthrie will no doubt do very well. Bigirimana with his pace and energy already looks a better prospect IMO. Hopefully Gosling will prove me wrong but I’m not holding my breath till I’m blue in the face.
Yep it’s on nufc.com that he’s arrived.
Buzzing for the kick off. Depending on the team we’re able to field I think we could be in with a chance of a decent result against the spuds. they’ve got many problems of their own.
Wantaway players, huge gaps in the team, loss of their captain, players still must be mentally drained after finishing 4th but not making CL.
Guthrie scored goals for us though, how many has Gosling scored so far?
Dave – I’ve never been a vengeful person, but I have enjoyed his demise – which he caused himself by just being himself – a thoroughly dishonest man.
Also on a funny note – don’t think I have ever been on there without reading we have signed this new player “Straw man” anyone know what position he plays – they seem to really rate him – he is their star player
Munich-Aye, Guthrie was a good squaddie and undoubtedly his goals were/will be better than most Gosling gets
his problem is he was an inferior version of Cabaye really and was only a year younger than him.
Gosling is the squad’s only traditional box to box midfielder, and is more likely to at least make an impact as a sub-something which Guthrie-through no fault of his own, simply because of his style-couldn’t really accomplish…
Excited for Saturday and the end of the Great Transfer Panic of 2012. Then I realized I’m away my friend’s hunting cabin for the weekend with no TV, cell service or internet.
Looks like I’m recording the match and watching it on Sunday then
Munich Mag:
Aha.. Okey! Yeah, i did knew that guy from our support group. Unfortunate he past away on the shooting incident last summer
Thanks Munich! My dreams will come true.. I have faith
DJG-I’m not going to go heavy into stats, but Guthrie played 16 times in the league for us with one goal. Gosling played 12, with the majority coming from off the bench, and also scored one against Man City.
Norway ToonArmy says:
August 15, 2012 at 14:33
Munich Mag:
Aha.. Okey! Yeah, i did knew that guy from our support group. Unfortunate he past away on the shooting incident last summer
——————————–
@39. Really? That’s a shame..
Welcome to the site. You’ll learn who to ignore very quickly
Norway Toon Army, I know of the lad you mean, an unbelievably sad situation which belongs to another forum, not here…
Howay the lads, keep on posting man !!
Can’t wait .I have become bored shitless only getting temporary relief from the distraction of the Olympics and Euros . Next year will be awfull as we won’t have any distractions other than golf and cricket and bloody Wimbledon
.
Really concerned on a number of things for first game ,not least the ‘ injuries’ to so many key players and no real reinforcments in yet.
Welcome ,Norway Toon@13 ,You obviously don’t follow the sheep like the other 90% so good on you.
Stardust@36….
The “straw man” seems to be usually quoted when the argument or discussion actually being debated isn’t going the way of ….ahem…. err… well, you know…
I have my spondoolicks intact fortunately, had just arrived at the blog as it was all kicking off. In fact that’s what maybe inticed me, Blog-wars revisited…
Yallreet Kimtoon…..
Don’t fret, we’ll hopefully remain undefeated for the three opening games, which will be success imo..
The problem with Gosling and his first team chances IMO is that he just doesn’t fit into the midfield system that we have at the club. If he is going to be a CM where he goes ‘box-to-box’ and getting into deep striker positions like Nolan, who is going to be back in midfield? Therefore he would have to play with Tiote or Anita in a deeper role so that he can get in the more forward positions. The problem with that is we are then sacrificing a Cabaye type player who sits alongside the DCM. The thing about Guthrie was he could come in and perform that role when Cabaye was out and also could cover for Tiote. I just don’t think Gosling has the pace or the movement to play those roles. He is more suited to a Nolan type role which we just didn’t play anymore last season. This is why I think we will need a defensive type central player to come in and Bigi and/or Anita will jump up the pecking order from Gosling. The attacking will be the strikers and the wide players. Gosling will be restricted to cup games IMO or when there is an injury crisis.
Pah, who wants draws? Shola will destroy Spurs, just like last time
Munich @45 Was so looking forward to thrashing Spuds ,now just hope we don’t get really thumped.
I can only hope this injury crisis galvanizes MA to splash the cash.
I see the bookies have us as slight favourites against the Spuds
Lee ryders just caught up after trawling the net for 2nd hand info, Finger on the pulse as ever…
DJG-I know what you mean, he’s obviously a different player to what we have. I don’t think we’d be sacrificing a Cabaye player though, in our current 3 in the middle we had the two holding (Tiote, Jonas) and Cabaye who could perform brilliantly in defence but would obviously be free to roam forward and supply the strikers.
With Gosling well, whilst not being the fastest player I do think he has a decent engine, acceleration is something that can be worked on and imo he should. I know you get natural “pace” but he’d be capable of stepping it up a few gears with the right training. I don’t really think he’s any slower than Guthrie to be honest, and I think he puts himself a bit more.
If he’s sitting in a DM spot alongside Tiote he could just make a steady run up field whilst Cabaye has the ball and Tiote stays back ready to break up play and stop quick counters. Although if we did bring in Anita/Biggy continues to show his talent I agree his chances will be very limited.
Still with the Europa league and all the rotation we’ll be employing, I don’t think we’ll be using the same tactics constantly. He might work well with Ba, with both of them preferring to roam the midfield and pick up the ball, and run from deep. Who knows? Providing he can stay fit i’m interested to see what he can do. I don’t expect fireworks, but i don’t want to right him off just yet.
Anita having medical at Toon SSN
Cant wait for Sat , feels like an age since end of the season, Hopefully we get off to a good start as we have a tough few opening fixtures. Great that the Anita deal appears to be been concluded and hopefully we can get in 1 or 2 more after him before the window shuts.
Stardy have to say you know niwt about CB’s
but your spot on there, you reap what you sow in life, and you can only get away with treating people like shit so much but then you will have to pay the price for it. As for strawman yeah he must be a good friend of his or maybe even his partner because he’s always talking about him. 
Apparently Olsson the Swedish centre back at WBA is in the final year of his contract, and available for nowt soon… He would be a canny signing imo…
Kimtoon@52….have you seen that yerself on the tele ? There is so much speculation going on at the mo…
mm,yeah it’s just come through on SSN as breaking news.
On Olsson he’s 29 so even though he’s free he doesn’t fit our age remit,though they might make an exception for a freebie
,good player I agree.
munich
Rate Olsson certainly price and wages wise he would be a canny signing but could see fat mick being put off by his age…
The main aim in summer imo was to keep what we had ..which was good enough to be challenging to the last day for a CL place.
So far we have managed to do that despite rumours at some point that the full 1st XI is leaving
and at same time added some new young blood and hopefully welcomed back for an extended period marveaux and saylor
Would be nice to have had a couple new signings fighting for 1st team places but we are not going to pay over the odds and due to past signings no one is selling to us on the cheap anymore.Oh well nowt we can do about that except give some of our potential stars a chance.
But given luck with injuries Chelski can spend their £100 mil +to catch us up
Spurs aint strengthened,
Gooner signings will just replace RVP,
Manure on decline (with RVP or not)
Citeh i think walk the league , for same reason i feel we will do well this year, yeah they added Rodwell but their first XI will be basically be the same as last year and keeping a group of quality players together and again putting your trust in the same , is more important than the Chelski lot screaming for an over rated £30 mil Belgian or a little Brazilian who cries at the slightest knock
For once we go into a season with true quality throughout the team with a team spirit 2nd to none
Am i ready for the big kick off …was ready in May
Spuds beware coz come Saturday Papis coming to get you
MM, Anita obviously got the assurances he was seeking as to where he plays as it’s all moving quite quickly now,must also be happy with our stingy wage structure too.
Well, the whole point is “resale” value right? Sign Olsson up for three years, sell him in two for 50k. There’s resale value, we bought him for free!
Agree he’d be worth signing…
Spyro@59 ,Cisse is injured along with most our best guys ,Spurs will be hard work I reckon.
Have Spurs got a striker yet? lol They only have Jermain Defoe, Danny Rose and Dos Santos. They would pose less of a threat without Adebayor, although their midfield would still be strong which is why we need Tiote, Jonas, Cabaye fit.
Newkie @61 ,Trouble is signing on fees and parasite agents cuts , no such thing as a real freebie anymore sadly.
Aye Kim I know what you mean, I just mean it can be done within the clubs stated intention of resale value. Can’t imagine there’d be much competition for Olsson, but then again I guess you never know.
Have they still got Modric there ,he aint been sold as he?
Doh….is Olsson 29…my bad….
Still make a canny signing though, and he’s muckle, he gave Shola a good battering a few years ago I recall, and say what you like about him, the Makkem Slayer is a big lad…
They have Modric but he hasn’t played any of their pre season matches. Frankly if he’s on the pitch and Cabaye isn’t i’d be amazed.
Pardew has always said that ”control the midfield control the game”
Anita, cabaye, tiote arguably is a control the midfield line up….
Lovely
CB and ST please now mr pards
Munich M ag ,update for you ,Anita having a medical and talks on personal terms ongoing ,hopeing to tie up deal in next 24hrs. So unless there is a stalemate on terms or a failed medical ,he should be ours soon. SSN
Toonsy,
Guess you going to have to edit my thread to… “to date we have only.made the signing of Vurnon Anita…
“
Jesus ,it’s howling wind here ,it’s like bloody winter
It’s a shame Anita is so slight and Tiote such a….loose cannon? Otherwise they could be dropped back to CB…
Very intrigued to see how we’ll line up with a fit starting XI
Signing of Anita would surely mean either Ba or Jonas dropped to the bench. (Ba dropped as we play Jonas LW and Anita defensive mid).
Think that because Anita can cover left back we will hold off on Debuchy and try and get him in Jan like we did with Cisse. Not a necessary purchase anyway. If Simpson gets injured, Tav can play there or Santon with Anita/Raylor at LB.
Certain that it means 4-2-3-1 will be our formation of choice.
Not sure Ashley will take the plunge and buy a striker as this formation may mean Ba sits out a number of games. He’s a gambling man and he will probably wait to see the Ivory Coast – Senegal outcome.
Just need an experienced CB now and I’ll be fairly happy.
ST-Aye I’m not just not sure what to make of Ba will play through the centre 90% of the time…I can’t work a formation where he’d do that with Anita now coming in, and Cabaye, Tiote, Benny and Cisse all guaranteed to start.
@Newkie
Originally thought it might mean Cabaye dropping back next to Tiote and Ba playing behind the striker, doesn’t look like it now with the Anita signing though.
Maybe misquote?
Maybe it means 90% of “the time he plays”, ie that he’ll be on the bench but when he does play it will be up front.
Excited though, if Anita settles and Santon firmly finds his feet this year we’ll be up to 9 European class players. Even Saylor may join that bracket if he stays injury free.
Agree Solano, centre back is a MUST and then we should have enough to get through to January.
We have one striker and with Parker,Sandro and probably Modric not playing i would be very happy with a point.
Good luck for the season.
Do people think we should really go at Spurs or play it more defensively? *If* we can get the majority of our big guns fit then i’d like to see us go for the kill
Bit wary of a repeat of that horrible Saturday night last February, but they look (on paper at least) a weaker team right now. I really hope they don’t get Adabayor in before saturday. That guy always seems to tear us to bits 
ST-Yeah that’s what I thought, and that’s where I wanted him to be honest. I know what you mean about the “misquote” as I agree it could be interpreted as Cisse and Ba will take turns rotating as the main striker…but I’m not sure they’d be happy with that for the whole season or not. Obviously our 5 games in 15 days or whatever is understandable…maybe Pards is relying on one of them getting injured and making it easy for him
Still, unless Anita is sublime i’d still say our strongest formation would have Cabaye sitting alongside Tiote, Marv and Benny on the wings and Ba playing behind Cisse.
Solano @74 See what your saying about waiting until Jan for a striker,but if by some fluke Senegal beat Ivory coast and we lose the Dembas then every club know we need a striker and will hold us to ransom. Reckon that’s a bad gamble to take myself . Would rather we got one in now but still want a CB in first.
Wyart lane@78 with all our injuries I would be happy with a point.Good luck to you too ,well after you play us that is
@Kim Yep true. Unfortunately Ashley loves a flutter. Wouldn’t mind as much if we had a youngster on the fringes but we don’t really. Campbell is still a season or two off being in the same position as Sameobi/Tav etc I’d think.
Take Guidetti on loan, sign Olsson. I’d be happy with that
Solano @83 Agree.
Newkie@84 I could live with that
Assuming we find ourselves in a few comfortable situations throughout the year I’d be happy for Campbell to get some game time….If your good enough your old enough and all that. He seems to have the attitude, may as well give him some cameos. Even just 10min going up against some opposition PL centre halves, he’d learn a lot..
Kim @64
yeah too many big names on treatment table , reckon a few could be like “lazerus” come Saturday night if not PC then DB , if not a deflected shot off Simmos arse in the 90 th minute as long as its 3 points will do lol
Hope they play Modric because he dont want to be there , no heart or passion anymore and difference last year Adebayor seems to be sat in his nice Manchester home at min waiting to rip Levy off
If we are to challenge for top 4 this year (which i think we will) we can ill afford to drop points at home id prefer those to come in better quality opposition than Spuds
Wyart lane – will modric defo not play?
Excited for the inevitable. Allen to flop and Anita to take the Premiership by storm, leaving Liverpool fans questioning their transfer policy
They just don’t seem to learn that “flavour of the month” buys like Carroll/Adam/Henderson don’t work if they don’t fit the team!
Cant understand all the full back talk we need a CB really and with senegal likely to get knocked out of ACON we will have shola, Ba, cisse, HBA, sameobi, and maybe this lil young le mans lad who could hold on for us until jan.
CB is must
LST kna mate not playing been told he wont get call up either for his country till fit
Solano …dont forget Downing lol
Newkie I really can’t see what else Pards could mean other than if Ba is fit he will play as a central striker, which imo means Cisse and maybe Benny just behind, but I still think that was a big mistake to assure him of a start in the middle for 90% of the time, because if its better for the team to have Cisse or anyone else there then Ba should have to live with that, theres no I in team
Cheers ice
Dave – I wouldnt take pards 90% too literally but can see Ba, cisse and HBA as attacking three as pards seems to favour that style
Hi Liam,Modric is training on his own and has not been involved in any pre-season games very unlikely he will play.
Wyart – what a mug eh not being disrespectful he is a good player but hes no world beater to think he above playing for spurs.
Where would he get into the madrid team anyway? Ahead of ozil, khederia, alonso, Di maria…..
Another ponce
Dave-Agreed. Although recently I think Ba has said on twitter that he enjoys playing wherever and whenever, and he’s happy to play for the team…so maybe Pards has talked with him again and convinced him?
Or we’d be lining up as
–Cisse—-Ba
——Barfa—–
Tiote-Cabaye-Anita
Or Ba alongside Barfa behind Cisse.
Still looks central, on a chalk board
@Newkie
Would be incredible.
Ahhh I reckon you’ve cracked it. Bet that’s the formation Pardew has in mind. With Cabaye on the right of it to possibly whip balls in and Anita on the left.
Imagine that formation with Santon and Debuchy tearing up either flanks
Solano-Aye, and then we’re free to switch it up either with the same players on and go back to last years 4-3-3 or bring on Marv/or whoever to add width or Obertan as a pace outlet if we’re under pressure..
Personally I’d keep Cabaye in the middle so he can sort of roam up field a little more, and see more of the ball in general. Agree on Anita on the left, Tiote on the right, Tiote’s crossing actually improved loads last season I thought, and both of them should be able to provide decent service from defensive positions, as well as the odd wonder goal
WHy dont we sign these players months ago
LST-i’d imagine negotiations have been going on for weeks, if not over a month.
Spyro@87 yeah a few in off the arse would be fine
Dave@93 Agree.
Interesting ,I just watched Dave Whelan on SSN talking about Wigan. He was asked where he wants the club to be this season .He says they are aiming for top 8 place and eventually want to be in the top 6 teams in England. This is a team that finished 15th last time out with 17 losses and 10 draws (43points). A few of us on here have been ridiculed for suggesting Toon need another top 6 finish and other teams were mentioned as comparisons with many saying would they expect a high finish again or feel it a failure with suggestions they wouldn’t .Well we have the owner of a club stating he wants a top 8 finish after finishing 15th and I suspect every club out of the usual top 6 wants top6/8 and why not I say ,it’s not being delusional it’s aiming high and playing for something other than an also ran. Wanting top 6 again is not being a deluded Toon fan it’s just what every fan wants.
I would like to think a million or so added onto the original Carroll bid might just be accepted now.
If we are seen to get Anita and one other in then it’s got to look impressive to most players, providing we don’t offload. !
@Kimtoon
It’s not delusional wanting a top 6 finish next season when we finished 5th last term.
It’s negative to suggest we can’t expect the same again. Some on here have said that.
Kim-It’s not delusional wanting a top 8 finish. However expecting it, and regarding anything less no matter the circumstances as a complete failure of a season-to me is a bit ridiculous. That’s where i’d draw the line personally.
Modric flying to spain tomorrow, according to ssn..
modric flys to spain tomoz
@Kim I just think there’s a difference between fans like you wanting it, and other fans expecting it.
Every fan wants top 6. Every fan can’t get it though. We can’t expect something when there are so many teams capable of also achieving it.
I’m sure Man City don’t “expect” the title. We can “expect to challenge for it.”
But we must accept that we haven’t had to juggle this amount of games in years and that our squad is still very much a work in progress.
Which is why falling short of top 6 is not a failure.
@newkie
Agree. Tbh I think relegation released me expecting unrealistically and I’ve enjoyed supporting us loads since. Before that every season I expected top 6 (though the sums we were paying it was justified) but the talent wasn’t particularly there and I ended up disappointed each year.
We should beat spurs if they don’t have modric(and parker is injured) even with all of our injuries.
Plus, can you imagine Dave Wheelan coming out and saying “I think we’ll aim for another season where we struggle to stay in the league, fanny around for most of the season and pull it out the bag at the end, again” ??
Saying “we’re aiming for mid table” is also, just boring
ST
I don’t think relegation quite had the same effect with WH as it did with us with all they’re ridiculous spending. I mean a newly promoted club willing to offer 18m for Caroll is ridiculous.
@Newkie & Trumpet
I see failing to qualify for Europa next season as a failure IF it’s because we haven’t bought or bought wisely in the transfer window.
Nothing can be expected in life BUT if you fail because of lack of vision, preperstion or effort then it’s failure in my book.
If we have done all of the above and fail to qualify then I wouldnt put it down to failure providing we knocked on the door and just missed out.
If we end up mid table then I would question last seasons result.
What do you think?
Solano-Agree with you completely, i’m basically the same. Ever since 2005 I’d been so angry and continuously disappointed, with the players we had, the managers, the antics, the performances, the results, the football being played.
Relegation did kind of rejuvenate me, just like it did the club….
Preperation
You gunna expand on that(115) troy?
Oh I see
you were correcting a mistake in 113 
Troy-Yeah I can understand that point of view. That being said, if we brought in Douglas and he was unsure at first (as many foreign players are) we lost Staylor (because we always do) Colo picked up a serious injury, or Krul did, or Ba/Cisse didn’t replicate their quite frankly insane form last year or teams like Everton turned around their notoriously poor start to the season and went great from the start, and Liverpool finally played to their price tag, Chelski overtook us because they can spend 100mil in a summer and Villa got their act together and put a decent string of results together, and we went all out to win won or three cups well….I think I’d forgive us finishing 9/10th.
I’d say a “failure” is not managing to hit your targets as a business.
I’d also say our target this coming season is top 6.
…so by that logic, ‘failure’ to reach the top 6 this coming season would be just that – a failure.
That’s how I see it anyway.
@ Andy
I know it’s just mental. My non Newcastle supporting friends hate it when I preach to them but clubs really should just look to us for a blueprint
@ Troy
Yeah, if we didn’t sign a CB with Saylor/Colo getting injured and Cisse/Ba going off to the ACON then the board would have to shoulder much the blame.
But every club has this issue, Man Utd had a ramshackle back 4 for half of last season. It’s difficult getting in the perfect back up of someone good enough for first team and happy enough to sit on the bench.
I can understand if we are beset with injuries and have no adequate backup that we will struggle that’s a given .But with a full strength squad and additions we should really expect top 6 again imo . We can play fringe players and younguns in the Europa cup as it pays out sweet fa if you win anyway. PL is our bread and butter and we should concentrate on that and the FAcup . Bearing in mind that the T.V revenue gets more impressive the higher you finish apparently ,I’m pretty sure MA will be expecting a top 6 if not 4 finish .
We just need some players in.
Fail to prepare and prepare to fail.
I know nothing of Anita but as a balance I must remind you of this comment made when we initially got linked to him;
The Kid
2 mos ago
Not seen this guy myself, but spoken to some Ajax fans and they have said he’s nothing great. Certainly not good enough to replace Tiote…
Is Kid about to see if he has owt more to add?
Rod@122 Exactly.
It’s not rocket science is it.
Troy you think it will be a failure to qualify for europe
you will need to get your tin helmet on and get ready to be told your ridiculous, childish and not a real footie fan etc etc 
Troy, I seem to remember The Kid saying something else about Anita on Monday’s thread.
@BD
I haven’t had time to take my tin hat off for 48hrs as B&B is in the opposing trench throwing mortar bombs!
I have left him a list of questions which he has failed to answer but I put that down to him reloaded his bazooka!
Mind, to be fair, he’s been hitting with pebbles so far. Easiest battle I’ve had with him for years. It’s do much easier when it’s all written down and he can be corrected on his misquotes and muddy water tic tacs!
I’ve got him over the barrell having been dunked half a dozen times and he’s gasping for air.
You there B&B?
Rod yeah I think he said something else about Anita this time round
Breaking news: Louis Saha seen going into Greggs in The Bridges
Dave, top 6 is essentially the top third (more or less) and it’s where we belong IMO. I’m not saying I want 1st, 2nd or 3rd, although I wouldn’t mind. That would be unrealistic expectations. I can’t understand how anyone can say it’s unrealistic to ‘expect’ top 6. The last time I ‘expected’ top 6 was about 7 years ago, I haven’t since then but we’ve came a long way in the last few years and I now expect it again.
Troy are you and big bro still arguing?!
I wouldn’t mind Saha as a back-up striker, mind I doubt he’ll like it.
Rod ,With the calibre of players we have all over the pitch it’s not an unrealistic expectation I agree. Every year for so long I have worried about relegation ,this is the first time in yonks I have felt we are on the verge of something really good ,just hope MA feels the same and invest in some more talent.
@rodz
He finished off last night by sneaking on when I went to bed and wrote so many misquotes and twisted meanings that when I read the post I thought he must be talking about someone else.
I’ve corrected him this morning and asked him a list of questions which he’s failed to answer.
He may be at work but I can’t wait to hear his answers.
As I’ve said, he twists and misquotes all the time but cos its not normally written down he believes his own mind.
There’s no hiding on here and that’s why I like it.
Troy
Rod I agree 100% with you mate and have maintained that from the end of last season.
or maybe it’s just me he has a problem with 
But I will be interested to see if Solano starts to rant and rave telling you, kim, Troy and a few others that are expecting top 6 that you’s are ridiculous for putting too much pressure on the team etc, the same way he tried to do to me.
So look forward to finishing later and checking it out
Go on any Liverpool forum and they are ALL thinking they will be top 4 nevermind 6 . I wouldn’t swap Toon squad for theirs in a million years .They may well have more passing in their game now bucks there but they won’t win the league and I don’t see top 4 for them either .Non the less they all expect it.
Exactly Kim, like you say, it ain’t rocket science. Speculate to accumulate and all that. There are probably a thousand sayings which express our current situation. It’s good to see this Anita move looking like it’s on anyway, although I ain’t counting chickens yet! Hopefully there’s a couple more on their way in I.E. a striker and a centre back.
Looking forward to Saturday, although I’ll be in Glasgow doing our annual Fantasy League auction at a mate’s house, so it’ll be a football blackout until the evening for me. I’m hoping they’re gona record the Spurs game and play it later on. There’ll be some proper dummy-spitting on my part if not.
Troy, hopefully it’ll re-ignite later then
– most entertaining.
Dave, I’m fine with other people’s opinions. If it’s a subjective argument then nobody is ‘right’ anyway.
Hope Modric going doesn’t mean spurs get Adebayor in for Saturday
@Big Dave
My comment @108 just about covers my feeling on the matter.
I’m very wary that we are “expecting” to finish above teams that have been finishing above us for years.
If Everton start like they finish they will be a big threat. If Liverpool realise you can hit the ball inside the woodwork they will be a threat.
I’m guessing most of us want to give the Europa League a real go yeah? Well that means players like Colo etc having an extra 10 (hopefully) odd games.
So if we finish 7th, make the Europa final and win the Carlking Cup, it will somehow be an unsuccessful season? I don’t think any fan really believes that if they are being honest.
Dub
Aye hopefully the modric deal goes through late on Friday night.
MDS
Replace winningthe Carling(Now Capital one) cup with Europa and we reach a cup final but finish 7th and I’ll be delighted as we’ll be a recognised name throughout Europe and will have silverware.
MDS, you’re twisting my worms there mate. Of course that wouldn’t be ‘unsuccessful’. There are circumstantial exceptions for most outcomes.
I’d say it had been an unsuccessful season if we won the league; but in the last month of the season Tiote lost an arm in a shark attack on Tynemouth beach, SJP pitch collapsed due to underground mineshafts, and Cisse decapitated himself in a freak convertible/low bridge accident.
MDS ,I would love a cup win .If we were to win the FAcup and qualify for Europe again 7th place would be fine as we are showing progress by winning a cup something we ain’t done for years . A cup win would make up for 7th place yes ,for me anyway.
Rodz
Watching a bit too much final destination have we?
Troy @498 (other thread) Pointing out your bull shite really is getting tiresome now. You accuse me of replying to your questions with questions. The trouble is you’re like a drunken sailor on deck in a storm; you’re all over the place. It’s no wonder I have to come back with question after question because you’re so difficult to pin down. You need to revisit my questions to you @225, 232, 241 and a whole load of other posts. You will see you dodge them and simply reply with questions of your own. Hypocritical.
You say “twisting quotes again”. No twisting quotes, fella. Everything in quotes is your words; cut and pasted, pal.
You say, “Finally, you accused me of misquoting someone in your last post and advised me to check what comes out of my mouth before criticising others. I replied to that and stated I had never misquoted anyone Anns pointed out JJ misquoted me.”
CC @319 questions your Llambias quote and you say @359, “(Sorry I said Llambias instead of saying Pardew who was quoting Llambias’ boss. )” Really!
You say, “As far as Wellington goes. I can only assume you haven’t read his post either? If you have then no one was accusing anyone of misquoting.” What did Wellington mean @411 when, following your quote, he says “This is false.”?
You say @375, “But let’s not digress from the very first issue that this is all about. You stated, Most if not all of the £35m had been spent. I’ve explained time and time again why I believe it hasn’t on players, which is where Ashley stated it would be spent. I’m still waiting for you to explain where it’s gone as all I get its gone, as I’ve all I’ve had is irrelevant finances (laughable in itself) and statements about players fees, agents, youth teams.
You talk about twisting things. When have I argued that the money has all been spent on players? I simply said “spent”. You could argue, reasonably in my view, that most, if not all of it, has been spent on players, if some of it was used to pay off millions owing on players.
But this was never the wrong you were trying to right. You were arguing against my comment that there is little, if any, of the £35M left with which to buy players.
In answer to whumpie @362 “This is not moaning about the club, it was me trying to stop people making sweeping statements that really are utter rubbish.” In fact your tirade against Ashley @369 is a moan. Everything you’ve said is about you holding the regime to account for broken promises. You wanting a further £30M or so spent.
You say @359 “If you are content with Ashley promising the cash will be spent in players at the point of sale then reneging 6months down the line and saying it will now be reinvested in the club, then more fool you.”
You ask, “Have I once said I wanted all the Carroll money spent?”
This is a point I’ve been asking you to clarify as the whole thrust of your thread is that you have wanted all the Carroll money to be spent. In my view, your statement, “We are still waiting for the Carroll money to be spent” was a clear criticism of the regime. If you do not want all the Carroll money to be spent, why do you say you are still waiting for the Carroll money to be spent?
You say, “I’m questioning why there was no money when we have a surplus of £25m -£30m on transfers since Carroll was sold.” You also say, “Am I not just stating that money should have been made available to buy a CB of quality and we might have been one step closer to building Rome by being in the CL.”
No, you are not just saying that, although you have changed your ground substantially. It’s a good job for you that that did not happen because you were so confident that we would not get anywhere near the top four that you almost lost £5,000! The least you say about that the better.
How is there no money anyway? The club is working on transfers at the moment so there is clearly a transfer budget. However, there’s certainly not the £25M – £30M that you are waiting to be spent, unless the maverick Ashley sees a huge bargain (buy Carroll, sell Carroll?).
To piece together what you seem to be saying: we have £25M to £30M to spend; you are waiting for the regime to meet its promises and spend it; in the end, when pressed, you end up by saying you just want them to buy a centreback.
You keep saying Pards has been denied a centre back to the detriment of the club. If Pards wants a centreback as a priority, why is the club using what money there is to capture another midfielder? Be patient, stop criticising, and we will get a centre back.
What best sums you up is your argument that the accounts that include the Carroll cash are irrelevant when considering the amount of Carroll cash available for transfers.
By the way, your correction @115 of your spelling is still wrong. Can you get nowt right? Its no wonder you’re so hard to follow; Munich Mag was in knots with you @227.
Andy, I ain’t seen it actually. But I’ll assume there’s a decapitation scene in there.
BLIMEY B&B!
I’ll read that when I put mi tea oot… 
Rodz – Was it you who said arguing with Troy is like trying to pin water to a tree? I cannot think of a more appropriate analogy. He’s sure to come back. However, I’m simply no good at pinning water to trees, and I’ll have to let him have the last word.
BB sorry but the statement i made was trying to staple water to a tree but your close
B&B@149, it appears Ice said it mate.
.
I tend to just play the ‘agree to disagree’ card if an argument keeps going around in circles. I’ve never really liked arguing and try to avoid them. I’m too defensive.
Ice – Spot on, fella. I don’t know how more people don’t see it. Can you imagine what its like when he’s had a drink?
Off topic, and I’m sure it’s been said before, but who the fuck decided International friendlies 2 days before the Premier League starts was a good idea. What’s the point? I really don’t get it.
One thing I don’t understand….why do people want Europe only to focus virtually solely on the league? If there’s no real financial gain to Europe and people aren’t fussed about winning it as a cup, why even bother to finish top 6? Just for that extra 750k we get per place?
Rodz….it’s a FIFA decision…nuff said
Rodz-It’s so the national teams get the players when ideally they’re in decent shape, before they have the chance to get injured
Rodz @153 – Dead right. What’s that about? The same person who thought it was a good idea to order that kids need to have the same colour tape to keep up their socks as the socks. Different colour, can’t play.
MDS 141-Bang on.
Fuck me…nowt changes here does it. Someone’s always winding some fucker up….
B&B, different colour tape to socks?!?! Why, that’s an OUTRAGE I say, an OOOOOOOOOOOOTRAGE
…all that ‘red tape’ for a pair of blue socks eh
ROD you found the two wheeled bandits yet?
batty had one on e-bay 
I would expect us to finish top 10 , I think we will finish top 8, depending on injuries form new players in etc etc there is no reason why we cant attack the top 6 and top 4 again. But we will need a bit of luck and need 2 or 3 players in. We need our players to show their form from last year. Be tough but it can be done
Ice@161, no mate. Still waiting for the dumb farts at my insurance to get back to me over how much they’ll give me. Bloke who’s dealing with it is like the fkn Scarlet Pimpernel.
I’m back mobile though, I got my other (older, about 1990) bike fixed at a frame builders over the weekend and it’s running like a dream again. Proper hand-built frame and forks with all the trimmings. I’m glad they nicked the Orange and not the good ol’ Saracen. Other one looked nicer, all shiny with disc brakes but was probably worth less. Needed a lot of work doing to it too and was a bit dangerous. I hope the fucker ended up under a bus.
…yeah I saw Batty’s one on eBay, that was a penny farthing though. Too big for me, I’m only 4ft 6.
Johno, that’s it. It’s all riding on these 2 or 3 ins that everyone knows we need. Hopefully it’ll happen. I’m sure Charnley and Owlheed aren’t just stuffing their faces with custard creams in the boardroom.
ROD 4ft 6,thats a foot taller than jay jay
About 10minutes into the england game, Adam Johnson proving again he’s the only englishman that can actually take on and beat a player…bar Rooney, when he’s not playing for England
See Shane Ferguson scored the opener in Northern Irelands game .
Ice, I’ll have to meet up with him sometime then. Be nice to be the slapper rather than the slapee for a change.
…that sounded wrong actually. I don’t aspire to be a slapper.
I’m not watching the Inglun game. Watching the Argie game.
Jormins down to 10 men. Keeper sent off.
Argie penalty………
Absolutely SHITE penalty by Messi.
Saved.
ROD is colo playing?
I’m sure some point last season Messi had a stat where he’d missed 4 out of his last 8 pens or something ridiculous.
Average player, he’s no Shearer like
Or Ameobi…..
Nah Ice.
Newkie, it was one of those fucking ridiculous skippy-stally-namby-pamby-stoppy-starty side-foot bollocks efforts. They get on my tits.
It’s a penalty FFS, just run at the ball and belt it!
If the ‘keeper gets a hand to it he’s breaking his wrist.
Rod-Aye, that was my tactic as well
I mean, I guess Messi isn’t your typical build for *smashing it* and hurting anyone but at the end of the day, how he misses penalties is beyond me.
Rodzilla says:
August 15, 2012 at 20:10
Johno, that’s it. It’s all riding on these 2 or 3 ins that everyone knows we need. Hopefully it’ll happen. I’m sure Charnley and Owlheed aren’t just stuffing their faces with custard creams in the boardroom.
If I was Managing Director of any company that is what I would do. And drink tea. And that is why Im not Managing Director of anything
OWN GOAL!
(that bloke who looks like Milan Baros)
Argies 1 up in stoppage time. Half time…
Yeah Newkie, he’s hardly low on confidence is he.
…maybe that’s the problem. Too cocky.
In answer to the initial question. No I am not ready. No season ticket as yet. Haven’t bothered phoning the box office as I live 80 plus miles away and can’t collect anything till saturday. Has anyone had similar problems and contacted the box office. They are not renowned for their helpfulness
….I thought they were illegal penalties anyway
I can remember watching a game a while back where the player got made to re-take his penalty 3 times. Can’t remember who it was but he scored all 4.
Johno, if I was MD they wouldn’t be Custard Creams, I’ll tell ye that for nowt!
…at least Penguins. Mebbees push the boat oot for Wagon Wheels.
You must be a posh fucker so Rod
Debuchy hobbled of for france
Rod- I think it’s illegal if you actually stop before you shoot, but if you just slow your running and fake it its allowed? Or summit daft..
Johno, I’m held in high regard in the biscuit world.
Bats, did you see why? Could’ve been tactical? (I.E. bullshit)
…I’m sure Lille’s president wouldn’t want a wantaway transfer target getting injured. Or any potential club he’s moving to for that matter.
TLR, that’s shite how you ain’t got your season ticket yet. Talk about ‘putting your clients first’ and all that.
…Newks@185, yeah sumik like that I think, but how do you distinguish what’s a stop and what’s a slowing down of pace over 5 strides or so? Typical case of overcomplicating the rulebook. They tied themselves up in knots over offsides with the ‘daylight rule’ a while back.
Whatever happened to common sense and the referees word being final in subjective conditions. You can’t ‘proceduralise’ everything and live by the book. There are always grey areas, and that’s why you hire a human being to give the final word.
Ooooh, cracking finish by Messi.
2 nowt.
my son hasn’t got his ticket yet. i got mine a few days ago
Ahh Defoe is on….come on, take him out, take him out!
JOHNO and RODZILLA i reckon their munching Jaffa cakes .
Do you think Lille will sell him to us cheaper if we take him injured
187-Aye exactly.
But referees aren’t human beings. They seem to be strange looking imitations, with little to no common sense…
Don’t understand why RVP to Man Utd has happened at all. Obviously a class player, but where do they fit him in!
Very surprised Fergie went for him. He’s 29 and injury prone. Would’ve thought central midfield and central defence would be of much greater importance.
Solano @194 ,I can’t believe Arsenal let him go to a big rival
Solano-Simple, they put him as their striker sitting ahead of Rooney. He’s better than Welbeck, Hernandez and Berbatov, no question. Meanwhile those youngsters can be impact subs and get rotated, never really thought much of the Welbeck/Rooney partnership.
Axel, interesting concept there.
The Jaffa Cake theory would suggest to me they’re dipping their mucky paws into the half-time energy biscuit supply; the same biscuit stockpile which is supposed to be used on players.
I can’t believe they let him go for 24mil though…I mean, 1year left okay, oldish okay, some injury problems sure…but in terms of quality…best finisher in the league.
Bar Cisse
Kimtoon-It worked with the H-Bomb
SJP Biscuit Scandal.
Back page of the Daily Mail tomorrow……
RVP’s gone then? I missed that. Too busy talking about biscuits.
Better check newsnoo……..
Story of my life.
Axel I like your thinking, its that sort of thinking that could get you a seat on the board of directors
@B&B
I’m sure you find this tiresome as it must be awful getting pulled up for misquoting others and twisting opinions. Personally, this is a breath of fresh air and I’m finally able to gather hard evidence against you.
First of all you state;
You say “twisting quotes again”. No twisting quotes, fella. Everything in quotes is your words; cut and pasted, pal.
Let’s get this in order. I set out 5 questions and you have set your post out as if it’s a conundrum and I have to guess which answer is linked to the questions I pose.
In order of questions i posed to you .
Q.1. Please can you produce the quote where I said I want all the Carroll money spent?
Your answer in the middle of the jumble;
B&B – We are still waiting for the Carroll money to be spent”
- was a clear criticism of the regime.
If you do not want all the Carroll money to be spent, why do you say you are still waiting for the Carroll money to be spent?
You conveniently miss out where I’ve repeatedly stated throughout and from the outset that the money should be made available to Pardew when he wanted a CB. This is the main thread throughout and I have reiterated that at no time do I expect all the cash to be spent but made available when required.
Post 375 13.12hrs I state;
I believe a great deal of the cash could have been invested over the period since Carroll was sold. I trust the judgement of Pards and Carr to identify players and they repeatedly have done so. Pards is still waiting for his CB.
This is the first example of a twisted quote.
Q.2 Who is the CB that you believe is up to the standard to step in the first team now which is what we need?
(this was in response to you telling me a centre Back had been bought and may be the best in the team by Xmas)
B&B- You keep saying Pards has been denied a centre back to the detriment of the club. If Pards wants a centreback as a priority, why is the club using what money there is to capture another midfielder? Be patient, stop criticising, and we will get a centre back.
STRANGE COS YOU ACTUALLY SAID WE BOUGHT ONE?
Why didn’t you answer the question correctly?
Even for instance if you hadn’t mentioned the imaginary CB, have you conveniently forgot that Pardew stated he was after a centre back. I know you have criticised the club for not getting aCB in and I would enjoy it if you say I’m misrepresenting you on this issue.
Q.3 why did you ask me a question that we knew the answer to at the very first post I sent you over 48hrs ago?
(this was in response to you asking me how we could spend it when Llambias had used all the money)
You provide a quite long dialogue stating I’ve changed my stance substantially. A total mismatch of twisted thoughts.
I have always maintained that Ashley stated at the point of sale that all the cash would be used for the team. I have always maintained the same figures throughout. IRO £55m sales £25m purchased.
My stance has never changed never mind substantially. You don’t provide any evidence in your post to say its changed.
You try and muddy the waters again by mentioning a bet I had which I won and never had anything to do with the subject we are talking about. Why bring that up? Absolute desperation.
Q4 . I wanted to know what you thought was wrong with my opinion that money from the surplus transfer cash should not have been made available for a CB.
The only answer I can find in your jumble is this one ; If Pards wants a centreback as a priority, why is the club using what money there is to capture another midfielder? Be patient, stop criticising, and we will get a centre back.
Again, you have stated over a considerable period a CB was a priority. Pardew made it known throughout last summer it was.
Are you really suggesting it mustn’t have been?
It was a priority last summer and nothing’s changed. I’ve maintained throughout the money should have been made available. If one comes, it’s a year too late.
Q5. I ask why you accused me of misquoting people and asked you to name those I had. I even explained the circumstances to you in that JJ had accused me and neither Wellington nor me accused each other.
You still comeback and state; You say, “As far as Wellington goes. I can only assume you haven’t read his post either? If you have then no one was accusing anyone of misquoting.” What did Wellington mean @411 when, following your quote, he says “This is false.”?
Have you actually read his post and link he provided? Have you read the post I returned. He doesn’t accuse me of misquoting anyone. He refers to his opinion what Ashley meant by stating the cash would be invested in the team. It was an interpretation what it meant.
You then state CC pulled me up about a quote;
CC @319 questions your Llambias quote and you say @359, “(Sorry I said Llambias instead of saying Pardew who was quoting Llambias’ boss. )” Really!
I responded to his post and stated I got it wrong, it wasn’t Llambias it was Ashley who told Pardew.
How desperate are you looking now. I got the quote correct but the name wrong but it was beneficial to me as it was Llambias’ boss that said it.
I see you fail to mention JJ. ? Why? You even stated that you thought I had misquoted JJ. You talk about me not getting anything correct.
All my posts are done on a mobile phone and don’t have the benefit of reviewing the post thoroughly.
JJ apologised today for misquoting me btw.
You say Munich Mag had me in knots at 227.
Really? He is simply questioned a Quote which was addressed to you and if he had been following the debate between us he would easily have recognised I missed out Carroll in the sentence.
He questions what the word IRO means which is an abbreviation of In Region Of – which is commonly used when talking of figures particularly selling mags.
Wow! In knots?
You really are struggling fella.
My stance remains the same throughout this debate.
You try and bring underhand issues such as irrelevant bets, misquotes which you have failed to substantiate and twisting my words.
Grandad Les whispered to me on his deathbed.
” watch out for Brownlie kidda, he will misquote and misrepresent you. Don’t let him get away with it”:-)
Anyway, tell me where most if not all that Carroll money disappeared to.
I’m still waiting.
You have your priorities right Rod! Fuck Man u and Arsenal
Tell Mr kipling I want him in the board room in the morning
talk about wind and water ffs
I see you’re moving up in the world Johno, at a rapid rate at that!
As for Mr Kipling, I’m afraid he’s been arrested and detained in custardy for peddling tarts.
Just heard that Garrabalddi has left the club , staiting their was no room left for Italian biscuits at the club . He claims the scottish shortbreads are taking over with help from the Rich teas .
Hopefully Arsenal have already bought the players they’re planning on using to replace RVP….Giroud and Podolski? We can compete with that
That defoe goal was alright mind.
Troy, I bet you always used to camel-bite B&B as a kid when Granda Les wasn’t looking, then get him grounded when he retaliated.
…could the accused Mr B&B please step forward. What have you got to say in your defence……….?
Axel-you heard wrong mate, the Scottish shortbreads are running out of business. Ashley invested 10% into them for personal use though, so they might come through….
Great goal by Defoe. Pull a hammy…pull a fecking hammy…
…well that’s 50 quid in the bag for me with an Argie win. Knew watching the England game would be fruitless.
NEWKIE i think one or two of these new players at diff clubs will get a bit of a shock in PL and take a while to settle imo,we have been very lucky in that respect giroud and hazzard at chelsea come to mind
I am indeed Rod , im like a fox viennese biscuit!
I reckon Sir Alex chucked a twinpack of bourbons in on the deal to clinch it for RVP ,all makes sense now like.
Axel, I heard Garibaldi had been Hobnobbing with the big cheeses in the biscuit world, so it comes as no surprise really. He was always a Breakaway type player.
Ice-Agreed..would be nice for Giroud to end up like Chamakh, but he’s got a bit more about him I think.
Podolski though…even if he “adjusts” it shouldn’t matter too much, really overrated player imo although he plays well for his “country” and Germany always do well so people here rate him.
ROD you can’t blame him for breaking away if he had a big cheese on his hob knob
Ice, I have a feeling Hazard will get a shock like. I’m not too sure about him.
…it is mental though, how the big I.E. super rich clubs, don’t seem confident about buying players unless they cost more than 10m.
Axel, he’d be crackers not to, I guess.
Well anymore word on Anita
ROD @219 aye you could be reet there m8
Rod-I think its a fan thing as well. Everyone knows about Hazard. Mainly from football manager…but they know, makes them feel confident that they’re a real footballer and makes them feel like they’re real fans….*cough glory hunters*
aye dave he is staying at whitley caravan park tonight before signing tomoz
Dave-Imagine they’d announce it tomorrow, unless they’re still talking terms
It’s funny that of all City’s spending, their best player is probably Vincent Kompany, purchased by Mark Hughes for £6m.
If you look at last season’s new signings across the PL I would guess that there’s almost no correlation between price and performance. Some clubs definitely need new scouts
Thankfully not us 
BIG DAVE she is brewing up , last news is she will be serving Chocolate covered digestives when the kettle’s boiled .
Jon R-It’s a similar story with Liverpool and Jose Enrique.
You know that guy, the obscure 4th choice Spanish left back
Well i’ll believe it when he’s got his shirt held up in front of the big SD sign
Batts would you not nip down and check if he needs owt, maybe flog him Rodz old mountain bike
Axel is Anita still with the Queen guitarist
Bats, I saw him get chucked oot of the Empress for strimming at about 6.40pm.
…he was in the beach shelter with Andy Carroll drinking cans after that. Anar the bizzies were rund earlier like, think they’d been nicking hubcaps. Hopefully he has a good solicitor.
dave iam sick of selling rods bikes ,you should of seen the 1 he was with last night a rite dog
Newks@223, the main reason I know about Hazard is down to all the media hype surrounding him for the last 3 years. It’s a dangerous position to be in as a young player. The weight of expectation on his shoulders is fucking HHHHEEEEEEEYYYYYYAAAAAAAWWWWGGGGE!
…I personally don’t think he’ll live up to it.
…too much pressure.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0A8vBmfzWU
DAVE batty has rented that caravan to him,did he not buy it off you a while back?
dog aye ive done a revamp since then new curains and cushions
Ice is that the one he’s in
I thought Batts told me he was going to sell it to you as soon as you got a mortgage for it 
@Axel
Anita the tea lady gags dont lose there humour no matter how many times it’s said.
Bats@231, you’ll always be my No.1 pimp.
….get rid of that crushed velvet zoot suit though, it’s not a good look with your tiny legs. Ye look like Toulouse Lautrec playing Joseph in his technicolour dreamcoat.
DAVE kna i never got that one, batty says you screwed him on yours payed well owr the odds its cost more to put it reet,didnt think you would screw a honest lad like batty after he helped you pay your rent all that time
Ice time’s were hard mate, and a man has to do whatever it takes
This is what Batty looks like in real life:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STUFus3xYyo&feature=related
Rod-Agreed….the media speculation has only been so big because he was so good on football manager mind, EVERYONE PLAYS THAT GAME!
In all seriousness, he looks to have the talent, but not the attitude-mainly he’s a right twat. Should fit in well at Les Bleus.
Rodz I thought he took that one off
Reet thats me catch you’s tomorrow
Newks, I don’t play Football Manager, so I guess I’m the exception there.
I prefer action RPGs, such as Fallout, Fable and Skyrim.
Indeed, the hype surrounding him will have been taken into account when the researchers and developers ‘valued’ him in the FM franchise.
I blame the internet for EVERYTHING!!!
(good and bad)
Knowledge is power, but there becomes a problem when that power is readily available and on tap to dimwits.
…hahaha, I remember when there used to be libraries!
…neet Dave
I used to play Football Manager, until I got an arrow in the knee.
….and the heed
…forgot aboot that one.
In response to Troy’s earlier tweet:
Yes, the Ajax fans I spoke to at the time didn’t rate Anita, but I’ve spoken to some since and had mixed feedback.
I saw him myself when they played AZ and I liked what I saw. Very intelligent holding player as he doesn’t attack the ball, but instead the space near it. He limits the options of the opposition very well and after intercepting the ball just plays it simple to a fellow teammate. Good player and happy he is onboard.
What’s all this esoteric Tweet deployment!
…there’ll be no Tweeting here
Rodz, aye I know i’m just messing….
Although, did you know Everton bought the rights to view the stats of the players before each installation of FM went on sale? See, Moyesy knows how to bring quality footballers in, and where to find them, genius!
Ahh yes, arrows and knees. I liked Skyrim but I think I overdid it, its a bit, meh now.
The Kid-can he play it more than “just simply” ? I assumed he’d be a bit of an upgrade on tiote passing wise but obviously would lack the physical presence and tackling style/ability. That being said, Tiote does seem to be getting beter himself, playing alongside Cabaye.
Newks…re:…”did you know Everton bought the rights to view the stats of the players before each installation of FM went on sale?”
Me:…….aye. Next….
BTW, you’re all a bit ‘meh’
Well I thought it was a cool story. Fuck you very much
So fucking bored, hurry up football…
…why thank you; most major fuck yous are accepted.
Please now tell me the long number across the middle of your card…
5under1and?
1337 F00TB411 5C0R35
Valiant effort.
I asked for numbers though.
…not fucking registration plates for the obsessive compulsive dyslexic.
…all cunts anyway.
Nee wurries
…I think
looks like Premandup actually.
….maybe it’s the same thing?
(I’m sure it is)
…long number in the middle of your credit card please Mr Ice Dog………….
ahh, fuck off, bunch of twats
Numbers shnumbers.
I know what you mean about Premandup
I like to think that’s me. Although, my teeth aren’t quite up to that standard.
you can stick your teeth up your arse
though..
…that’s always gona be a party piece.
Personally, I prefer Coconut Macaroons.
…aye alreet (
)
…
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..RELEASE THE FAAAANS, PLEEEEASE
….
…… , ….
…….
……….
……………..H……P………S…………C………………..E….
…
……………………………………A..U……..
……..scotchegg
…
too fast 
Talk to my solicitor.
Good Morrow.
@The Kid
Well thats more promising. Most if not all the Carroll money has been spent, oops, sorry
, I meant most if not all people who have commented on Anita have gave positive reviews.
We need to get him in the bag.
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