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[delboy]

Originally Posted by Alkaline

Viduka got 19 goals this season. Hardly shite. His goal to game ratio is very good across the board to be honest. Fine the guy might like the odd pie but he's a good goalscorer.

Barton is underrated too. He's a dick and has a short temper but he's a great tactical midfielder and leads on the pitch. He scores the odd goal too and is always tirelessly running round the pitch.

Both are good signings and certainly things that Newcastle have been missing.

thing is they're both decent mid table players at best thats me point. i'm sure big sam will get the best out of them, barton is a great player i agree but can he control his discipline??? i just think newcastle need to sign better players if they are to challenge.

[calum]

Originally Posted by Alkaline

Well, we have Lucio and Van Buyten and Ismael all of whom are competent defenders. Lucio is a bit of a Rio Ferdinand type defender, sometimes he looks like he can't be bothered but he scores a few goals and he, by large, is a solid defender. Van Buyten is tireless and a good header of the ball. Ismael was very sorely missed this season, he's a rutheless tackler and he watches and marshalls the backline well. We also have Mats Hummels coming through, he looks really good for the future in a Thomas Linke sort of way.

As for defensive midfield we have plenty of options (bare in mind that Hargreaves didn't play much of this season): Van Bommel, Demichelis, Ottl, Altintop and Sosa.Van Bommel is a great midfield playmaker from the back, Demichelis is a great player and Ottl looks like a solid midfielder too.

I can maybe see us sign another midfielder and a defender. At least we have a good keeper lined up to replace Kahn in Rensing. What we really need is a great young defender. I would like to see Anthony Van Den Borre come in from Anderlecht. I also wish we'd made a move for Barton his tenacity in midfield would've been more than welcome and i'm sure he'd've been a hit in the Bundesliga.

OK I disagree about Lucio and Van Buyten but I'd totally forgotten about Ismael, and Demichelis, and I've only seen Ottl once. And personally I prefer Van Bommel if he has someone more defensive behind him. Otherwise, I can't compete with your knowledge of your own team, thank you for exposing my ignorance

[Sam L4]

Originally Posted by Alkaline

It would be nice to see a solid defender come in too.

It's a shame Titus Bramble has been snapped up.

[Jan Deal]

Ah, Titus:

YouTube - Titus Bramble against Liverpool

YouTube - Titus Bramble - World Class Defender

[jackson]

Man Utd have also bid for Renato! fergie is fair loving his midfielders
tribalfootball.com - Flamengo reveal Man Utd approach for Renato

[Murrr]

Originally Posted by delboy

thing is they're both decent mid table players at best thats me point. i'm sure big sam will get the best out of them, barton is a great player i agree but can he control his discipline??? i just think newcastle need to sign better players if they are to challenge.

Is it reasonable to expect Newcastle to become title challengers in the next twelve months though? I'd say not. Big Sam's got a massive task on his hands; several years of mismanagement have left us in a right bloody mess, that's not something that's going to change over the course of just one season.

I'm a big fan of both signings tbh; Viduka is a class act and despite his age and alleged pie-munching antics he'll bring a lot to the team. He's as strong as a bull and great in the air (something we missed all season) and he's pretty handy with the ball at his feet too. Barton's a prick, aye, but in terms of goals and assists he is head and shoulders above any other Newcastle midfielder this season. They aren't going to win us the Premiership, but they will certainly help us towards a more realistic target for the season (UEFA cup spot).

Now, time to do something about the defence...

Originally Posted by Alkaline

It would be nice to see a solid defender come in too.

Get Craig Moore and Olivier Bernard in! You'll never look back...

[delboy]

Originally Posted by Murrr

Is it reasonable to expect Newcastle to become title challengers in the next twelve months though? I'd say not. Big Sam's got a massive task on his hands; several years of mismanagement have left us in a right bloody mess, that's not something that's going to change over the course of just one season.

I'm a big fan of both signings tbh; Viduka is a class act and despite his age and alleged pie-munching antics he'll bring a lot to the team. He's as strong as a bull and great in the air (something we missed all season) and he's pretty handy with the ball at his feet too. Barton's a prick, aye, but in terms of goals and assists he is head and shoulders above any other Newcastle midfielder this season. They aren't going to win us the Premiership, but they will certainly help us towards a more realistic target for the season (UEFA cup spot).

aye fair point - thing is though surely viduka will be back up behind owen, martins (if he stays) and amoebi???? mind u i'm sure he'll get plenty of games - think he could work well with owen who seems to prefer a big pie eating frontman as his strike partner. but your right there's a hell of a job to do at newcastle, so you think big sam is the man????

[Moshulu Rob]

Originally Posted by Murrr

Is it reasonable to expect Newcastle to become title challengers in the next twelve months though?

Are you having a giggle? Newcastle are so far behind the top four it's quite amusing. They are at least five years away from a title challenge. They have gone for a mid-table manager who has made mid-table signings because they're a mid-table team.

A fully fit Owen (wishful thinking), perhaps Martins and Given are the only players who are good enough for the Champions League. They don't have any quality at the back and fuck all in midfield. All this talk of Newcastle being a big team makes me laugh. They are shite. Sleeping giant? Fucking comatose, more like.

Love from christy

[Sam L4]

Originally Posted by Moshulu Rob

Are you having a giggle?

He wasn't saying Newcsatle are a top 4 team. Hence why he added the question mark, it was more of a reference to what somebody else said.

PS. Good luck tomorrow.

[Murrr]

Originally Posted by Moshulu Rob

Are you having a giggle? Newcastle are so far behind the top four it's quite amusing. They are at least five years away from a title challenge. They have gone for a mid-table manager who has made mid-table signings because they're a mid-table team.

A fully fit Owen (wishful thinking), perhaps Martins and Given are the only players who are good enough for the Champions League. They don't have any quality at the back and fuck all in midfield. All this talk of Newcastle being a big team makes me laugh. They are shite. Sleeping giant? Fucking comatose, more like.

Love from christy

Eh, think you've missed the point. That's exactly what I was getting at.

Originally Posted by delboy

so you think big sam is the man????

I certainly hope so, aye . He's excellent at getting the best out of underachieving or mediocre players and backstage staff system and approach towards fitness and training is great. He's also great at working on a shoestring budget, which should hopefully see the end of high-profile trophey signings at Newcastle (Duff, Luque, and Owen to an extent). I don't see him ever Champions League level, but if he's back by the board I don't see any reason why he can't lift us towards regular European football.

It's odd this, feeling positive about Newcastle United. I'm not sure if I really like it tbh, so used to doom and gloom :-D.

Anyway, seeing as this is a signings thread after all, I'd like to see Leighton Baines and Tal Ben Haim at the Toon ASAP!