So, would you sign for us?

kimtoon

confused footballI was reading the latest article from Olivier Bernard in the Chronicle today, (http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/players-thinking-twice-joining-newcastle-9485041 ) and you have to say he makes some thought provoking points.

He argues we need around 10 new players and the need to build a spine of a new Centreback, central midfielder and center forward with Premier league experience and that’s hoping we avoid costly injuries along the way.

Still the thing that stood out for me, was the who would want to sign for us bit of the article. Given the chaos of last season and the not so good previous one and the apparent lack of ambition, then who indeed would want to sign? Factor in the whole attitude the regime has towards players, (Jonas treatment whilst poorly and the manner in which he and Ryan Taylor were let go ) and we look a cheap and nasty outfit to the outside observer.

When Mike Ashley stood before that sky interviewer on our last game of the season and said things would improve and he took the blame, I allowed myself a mediocum of hope but remained wary given his level of ambition over the past few seasons. All the same I had hoped the close shave with relegation and the poor previous season had made him really stop and think about his long term plans for the club.

Now it’s early doors, the transfer window is yet to open, but I’m getting that same old feeling that we just aren’t at the races again. The new momentum we all expected seems to be vanishing with the slow appointment of Steve McClaren and now the long wait for his assistants to arrive as well, and that’s before we even see a bid for a player materialise. Liverpool, Swansea ,Southampton and Chelsea have all been busy sorting Transfers already and their need is no where near as urgent as ours is.

Without a key quality signing it will be extremely difficult to attract players of the relevant skill to our club, likewise they will want to see quality coaches here as well. Given the way some of our players have been treated by the club, and the

lack of player replacements when our top players are sold, what player in their right mind will want to join us?

Bernards point that Palace look a less risky bet to players seeking a move is a valid one. They look more settled than us and all the fans are united behind the team and manager and the board are giving Pardew funds to improve the team with quality signings.

Meanwhile Newcastle have so far been linked to a lot of championship players, not surprising given that’s where our new coach has been previous to joining us; and a couple of mid table quality players at extortionate prices. Well if we ever end up paying £20million for Troy Deeney, we need sectioning as a club. How can a championship player who hasn’t even proved himself capable at Premier League level be worth that kind of sum?

And this is the problem we face, the whole of football knows we are desperate for reinforcements and will attempt to hold us to ransom. Ofcourse we will bulk at the fees being asked and walk away and bring in our 2nd, 3rd or 4th choices and a few foreign up and comings and hope for the best. We might even go with what we have and try for better deals come january 2016, it’s not like we havn’t before.

But the real key is what do the players want. If you were a decent player looking at us from the outside, would you see a fresh start with a healthy dose of ambition? Or do you see the basket case other clubs fans and the media have portrayed us as?

I do not see a fresh start, sorry but I don’t. I know a lot of you don’t care about what happened with McClarens first press conference and in truth a few hacked off journo’s doesn’t overly trouble me either. But the reality is, that one little act tells you nothing has changed, the regime are still insular,secretive and aloof unless cash is involved. It sets the press and media against us before a ball is even kicked for the new season . They had the perfect chance to start afresh and foster a new understanding with fans and media alike, isn’t that what THAT interview was all about.

If real investment isn’t made and that’s more than the reported £25million, then the fan unrest of last season will become even more toxic . With lots of empty seats it will be interesting to see how the regimes preferred partner Sky feels about their cosy relationship. More to the point, players will be looking at our level of ambition in who we sign over the coming weeks and I suspect that Bernard may of hit the nail on the head with his article.

We may have fifty odd thousand cheering players on and a beautiful stadium but it means nothing without real ambition and desire to improve. At this point we should be pulling out all the stops to attract players, I remember freddie Shepherd saying the fact we aren’t London is a stumbling block so we have to really sell the club and area. Let’s hope Lee and company are doing just that, otherwise it could be another long season.

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421 thoughts on “So, would you sign for us?”

  1. Ice, aye too right, what a player he was.
    Sharpy, Don’t understand why he hasn’t been looking at video’s of our PL games, wouldn’t take the guy long to realise who’s ***** and needs hooking 😉

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  2. I find it pretty difficult to understand why McClaren wouldn’t be making decisions on his own regards new players and current players. Especially when he sees time is getting on and he’s the guy who will be held responsible anyway.

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  3. Kim – I still maintain that this squad is better than it has performed in the last 18mths plus. I think McClaren will want to take a seriously look at players like Anita, Cabella, Rivière and Tiote and looking to get more from them. Also players like Aarons, De Jong and Armstrong and seeing how they fit in. We clearly need to strengthen, but he won’t be able to establish to exactly what extent from watching a video.

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  5. So what will his new coaches know about the current players that McClaren doesn’t know or Graham Carr or Bobby Moncur don’t know for that matter?

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  7. Only in your world, Sharpy do football clubs hold back on signing players until they have appointed a couple of first team coaches even though the head coach has been in the job a couple of weeks already. But it’s ok, he’s not important I guess? Just the coaches that are the important ones when it comes to new players and current players!

    YCMIU

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  9. Stu – no, clubs hold back on signing players until a transfer window opens 😉 . We are clearly looking to sign players – unless you now don’t believe the papers, so they aren’t waiting for coaches as you ridiculously suggest and try to make out that that’s what I’ve suggested. To say it again for your benefit, I said he wouldn’t finalise his plans until his coaches have came in and started working with the squad. They can feed back into McClaren as is the case in every club. You suggest Carr & Moncur could do that – yet they don’t work with the players at all.

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  10. Stu – it doesn’t quite sum it up perfectly though does it. Zenden also knocked Liverpool back, which suggests he is either happy where he is, or has a better offer in the pipeline. Round being ‘on the dole’ is just disrespectful and sums up the tone of a bitter and negative article (which is probably why you like it). Round has already said that he is looking for a manager or head coach job – that would be his preference, not signing on.

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  12. Not sure where you get the Zenden turning down Liverpool line? He hasn’t done that as far as I am aware. Also Round is out of work whether you like that or not.

    You also say it’s a negative article! If somebody wrote a positive article about NUFC at this moment he would be laughed out of Fleet Street, never to get a job again. That’s because there isn’t a positive story to write about! Every season you get proved wrong by your blinkered support and hope that tha club will finally change. How many more times can you keep getting made to look delusional?

    Also you say it’s clear were trying to sign players. Really? Where does it show that? All the papers are clear in their view that they haven’t bid for anyone yet. Your silly little comment about the window not being open yet is just that – silly as it hasn’t stopped 90% of the other PL clubs having made signings.

    But anyway, you seem to be missing my point once again! The club is a mess and its brought it on itself. I would find it incredible if players and coaches didn’t look at the club and think “I’m not sure I fancy being there”. Zenden, Round and Neville have all turned the coaches job down! These are facts and for that reason it sums it up perfectly! Unless of course, you don’t believe the likes of Round, Zenden and Neville?

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  14. Kim – Exactly! McClaren doesn’t have that much say on who comes or goes so God knows why the fact the coaches haven’t been appointed yet would have any impact on this.

    It’s just Sharpy trying to come up with an excuse as usual. He’s still adamant we had a better squad last season than the one before that. 🙄

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  15. It’s nice to see NUFC club has money in the bank. It’s important not to spend the money foolishly and wait for the perfect deal to come along. Lee might not be a professional football man like Joe Kinnear but I believe he is doing his best. I’m very disappointed that John Carver wasn’t giving the job permanently 🙁 It’s important we do all we can to help advertise sports direct for free and make Ashley a few quid in the process. Even if we still have the same team at the start of the season I’m sure will win a cup.

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  16. TAE:
    Disagree, and have said it before I know, but….
    Carr’s primary list of players is proven time and again to be first class spots, the only problem is the consistent unwillingness of the club to meet the valuations of said players. Bony, Lacazette etc….. all class and worth a pretty penny now compared to what we could’ve had them at.
    We are then forced into the market of potential maybes, and the problem with gambles is some come off and some don’t.

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  17. You Yew – Carr told the club last summer “To move heaven and earth” to get Lacazette.

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  18. YOU YEW
    he also values what the players are worth,you not noticed a lot of our bids are way off the mark, so whos to blame for that

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  19. so maclaren is now looking for his 4th choice coach!

    what choice will it be when he eventually appoints one 6th 7th 8th ?

    whoever he get’s in – the players are gonna have bags of respect for him mind.

    not.

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  20. Steve McClaren is a very good coach. Has won a couple of medals with Twente and Middlesbrough. His managed England and reached a european final that speaks volumes to me. He might want to wait till january at the least before making a decision but that money will be saved anyway so no harm done.

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  21. Thanks Kim. You have certainly stimulated a good debate. Personally I agree with Eric @ 49 and I am more concerned that we get in good coaches than I am about player recruitment at this stage. I have seen too many players appear to go backwards in recent seasons and at least getting rid of Carver and Stone (and Pardew) is a step forward. Some of our players, including the youngsters, are perhaps better than we think. We shall no doubt see in the coming weeks.

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  22. Kim @86 – yes, which makes him a scout – not a coach. Once they are through the door, what work does he do with them?.

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/liverpool/11667573/Liverpool-news-Bolo-Zenden-open-to-Anfield-return.html

    Stu – maybe Zenden hasn’t pied Liverpool, looks like he’s still keen actually. So maybe that is his better offer – hardly an excuse. Round isn’t out of work actually. He appears on SSN to discuss goings on in the world of football – pays better than job seekers I’d imagine. But it was on there that he said he was looking for manager/head coach – again, a fair reason rather than excuse id say.
    I’m not looking for positive articles either. But balanced ones would be nice. Too much to expect if you ban the media I reckon, but doesn’t mean fans have to feed off the negativity though.
    Nowts changed?! – well he could be sat round a table with Carver & Stone discussing the squad now couldn’t he?!.

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  23. Just came back from Keilder this morning what a heep of cr*p it is,all flood outlets close at 8.30pm bars close at 9.30pm its pouring down stuck in cabin eaten alive by bloody insects,nee news from toon all round **** time 👿

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  25. Stu –

    He’s still adamant we had a better squad last season than the one before that. 🙄

    Amazing!!. You are referring to something I said almost a year ago, and before last summers transfer window closed. At the time I said it, yes I believed that to be the case – but that was before we let Benny & Mapou go and also well before we sold Mapou & allowed Santon to go without replacing them or strengthening at all. Wow 😯

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  26. Rubbish, Sharpy! Complete rubbish! You told me about 3 months ago to wait until the season had finished! You were still sure we would score more goals, concede less goals and get more points than the season before last.

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  27. You were still sure we wouldn’t miss Remy or Cabaye either. Which was staggering at the time and just looks even more bizarre now.

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  28. Ice, sounds ****, poor you. Our Hazel came back from Crete on Wednesday covered in mosquito bites too.

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  29. Sharpy , As I understand it our coach doesn’t get the final say on ins and outs anyway. He gets in put but not the final say, at least that’s the line the club itself put out.

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  30. Stu – @101. My comment was made before the window shut & before De Jong was out injured. I did say I didn’t think we would miss Remy & Cabayes GOALS – which was around 22 combined from memory. I said that Cisse, De Jong, Riviere (got that one wrong), Perez, Cabella and the likes of Colback & Sissoko were capable of making those up between them. Come the end of the window – ie when MYM & Benny had gone, I suggested we were no weaker or stronger and were still a CF & CB short of where we needed to be. How you choose to remember it is up to you.

    Kim – that’s how I understand it too. We aren’t a top 4 club where the manager can name his player and money is no obstacle. But he can say we need a CB in and they’ll have a list of maybe 3 or 4 realistic options. But as I say, once he and coaches look at the squad he will then probably say exactly what he needs.

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  31. Sharpy – Give it up, man! The targets have been in place for months if we are to believe what Charnley says. McClaren will have been told by Carr, Charnley and Moncur what positions are needed, he will have known himself as the players are a secret. He won’t have too much of a day on incoming/outgoing players so to think he’s waiting for his coaches before making his decisions is just completely delusional.

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  32. So Arsenal apparently willing to let Joel Campbell go for around £5M, anyone reckon he’s worth a punt at that price?

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  33. I’m starting to see now why the club didn’t want to all the press guys at McClarens unveiling. They would have asked all the questions that he couldn’t answer…

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  34. TAE:
    Like Stu said, he told the club to do whatever it takes to get Lacazette. They wouldn’t.
    I don’t believe he has the final say on what gets spent for a second, that buck lies elsewhere. I wish Carr did get to decide on what to spend, I reckon we’d have a canny squad by now if he did.
    He tells them who to sign, and when they won’t he has to find someone else who is cheaper.
    That’s where we fall on our faces.

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  35. Kim:
    At that price probably as a back up.
    His record’s not that great if you look at it, better at international level. Possibly a half decent world cup last year made his stock rise, but don’t think he did too well on loan last season.
    Fact is we need a proven Prem goal scorer in my opinion.

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  37. McClaren doesn’t need to personally assess the squad in training to know we are short a CB and CF. Willo is available for transfer and Taylor has played an average of 14 games per season throughout his career. That leaves a 33 year old with one year left on his contract and one eye on home, and an unproven Championship newcomer. As for CFs we only have one – Cisse, and he might want away. The rest – Riviere, Cabella, Perez, de Jong are more No 10s/wingers. What was proven last year is that without a focal point for the attack (Cisse) we simply don’t score. He can watch a few vids and see that.

    McClaren is supposedly a savvy football man. I doubt he needs training sessions to see this and you would hope that Carr would have outlined it in the board meetings. Moncur was a good defender so you would hope he might have pointed out the deficiencies at CB.

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  38. Stu @106. It’s made a lot easier if you read what is actually written mate!!. I didn’t say before making decisions, I said finalising – there’s a big difference.

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  41. Simon PeachVerified account
    ‏@SimonPeach I am told #SaintsFC are not interested in signing Charlie Austin from #QPR. Koeman is not actively looking for a striker right now.

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  42. Stu @114 – remarkable 😯 did you actually just write that 😯 😆 . @106 you implied I was suggesting he was waiting for his coaches to come in before making his decision. As I said back @84, we are clearly already looking to bring players in with links to Austin and Drost up front and Matip at the back – unless the papers are lying about that. So yes, they will start getting what they need now. But when they start working with the squad properly, they may make changes to what he feels he needs. As in, he may decide that he prefers Dummett at CB – meaning he needs a LB rather than extra CB. Looking at players like Anita, Aarons & De Jong who haven’t played much last season may sway his decision – surely that makes sense.

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  43. Eric – LVG is a savvy football man, but it’s clear to everyone that he’s spend last season weighing up what they need and what their best formation and things are.

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  44. I think the one word that best describes the club right now is moribund. Definition: near death, at death’s door, not long for this world. We don’t even have a full coaching staff yet after several weeks of apparently doing nothing. Ambitious teams have already been signing good players while we do nothing except submit the occasional pathetic low bid. Charnley is useless. When will Ashley realize that? I think McLaren will eventually get his act together but Ashley will never commit anywhere near enough money to really make us a competitive side (win silverware? don’t make me larf).

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  45. Kim@116:
    That’s now WHU and Southampton been reported not actually interested.
    What on earth is going on with that boy?

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  46. Sharpy: LVG was starting with a much better squad than ours, although admittedly with higher expectations. We have 2 gaping holes that need to be filled ASAP, especially with our 1st 4 games. I will be much happier if we address this issue, and are not scrambling around on transfer deadline day with the pressure really on McClaren then.

    I know we have time but remember we had 5 f-ing months to look at head coaches and only got Stevie Mac coz he was sacked.

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  47. Mcclaren may stabilise the club but it’s a difficult task with so many fires to fight it will take him a couple of seasons. We are a club in transition brought about by a poor transfer policy and the disruption of pardew moving on. McClaren, similar to Pardew, should be thankful to be given the chance to manage a heavyweight club like nufc.

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  48. Eric – I wasn’t comparing our squad with Man Utd. I was simply saying that football savvy managers with as much experience & prior success as LVG take their time to weigh things up as well. Fools rush in, but it certainly seems that based on reports, they are looking at CFs & CBs – and good ones at that.

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  49. UU: here is a link saying Soton not interested in Austen:

    http://www.sportinglife.com/football/news/article/332/9892698/-?

    The less competition the better since he does appear to be one of our main striking targets. I don’t even know if he is any good as I hardly watched QPR. I do know he started out non-league and made his way up through the ranks to the PL. Does that show determination or does it indicate that one good season was a flash in the pan? It is a fairy tale from non-league to an England call up as most players are targeted at a very young age. Maybe he is a late developer?

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  50. Sharpy: I didn’t accuse you of comparing squads I was saying our needs are more urgent.

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  51. Want a striker,try Hernadez knows PL got nee chance at Real/M could be had on loan if nowt else happens

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  54. Due to pardews departure and carver and charnleys incompetency the club have taken a large step backwards. A season of stability is called for and lets be honest Mcclaren has the experience and cv to bring this to the club. Charnley will give him at least 3 years to get it wrong.

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  55. If Eric steele a geordie boy has told stevie mac to foxtrot Oscar then that really is an eye opener

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  58. SHARPY didn’t know mate been.out of touch with footy news for two/three weeks,but see nowt has changed on. toon front

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  59. Youyew@120, I think the price is far to high for Austin tbh, he is in his last year of contract and QPR are gonna need funds for when they get fined so are trying their luck. Thing is he has previously failed a medical (Knee, similar situation as Ba I reckon) and I can’t see many taking a chance on him at £15m. He has had an excellent season in a poor team but can he do it again? If we or anyone got him for say £8-10m I think it’s worth the gamble but not £15m, would rather we bought Remy back . Also is he worth more than Cisse at £10m value? I think not.

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  60. Ashley is right to re-name the club The Norwegian Blues. He thinks we’re not dead yet. Is he correct? It looks fairly moribund to me. Look what Liverpool have done and are trying to expand on. Now look at us. We can’t even get an assistant for McLaren in. The word is out on us under Ashley. And the word is bollocks.

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  63. Ice – how did your sons wedding go off mate?. Where are they having their honeymoon?

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  64. Fools rush in! Wow, Sharpy you’re on fire today man! Nobody on earth could ever accuse this NUFC regime of rushing in to anything and they are certainly looking like fools!

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  65. SHARPY having honeymoon in UK as she has never been,had a few days in Lumley Castle a week at Centre Parks,just been to Kielder for a few days,I went there too it was ****,no food after 8.30 no pub open after 9.30 bloody insects bite the **** out of you even with replenant on,they go back
    to Malta 27th

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  66. Stu – it’s probably one of a very few things they haven’t been accused of then 😆

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  67. Ice – crikey, I hope coming to the UK was her idea then mate. He’ll be in the dog house literally in their honeymoon period.

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  68. SHARPY it was her choice she likes it so much she wants pup to move back to UK cannot see him doing it like as he has top job with bank doing mortgages,he was saying now is the time to buy in Malta from the UK prices down 30% and more

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  69. Ice – I think that was his subtle way of telling you to move out there ready to help out when the pitter patter of tiny paws happens 😉

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  70. I see Ryder is back from holiday offering no knowledge, no insight, not a single piece of new information except Stevo took part in the ice bucket challenge. He should go back to working on his tan for all the use he is as THE CHIEF SPORTS WRITER.

    http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/steve-mcclaren-bring-new-ideas-9504896?

    Mark: Now his BFF Carver has been sacked he needs a new BFF. I find it funny he didn’t see the Carver sacking coming (him and Troy). Now he acts like he wasn’t behind Carvs all the way. All you have to do is look at any archive pieces in The Chronic to see that is not true. Hypocrite. I am sure him and Carvs played golf together every Monday to wind down from the latest defeat.

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  71. Ice
    See you had a great few days in Kielder 😀
    Insect repellant does not keep those big midges off you.
    Believe it or not, if you use Avon skin so soft oil spray the midges will leave you alone all day.
    They actually sell this stuff at the bird of prey centre up there.

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  72. Sorry to hear about the trip Ice but don’t feel too bad for ha having just got back from Malta.:)

    just returned from the Caribbean last night. I’m still feeling rather irie and the stack of work waiting on my desk is just to have to go on collecting dust until I’m readjusted….Late August I figure:)

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