I don't think it is impossible for us to finish 7th with the team we've got now but it is very unlikely unless we had another central defender and maybe another attacker (preferably a winger, but a CF wouldn't go amiss). We've got nowhere near the squad depth of some of the likes of Spurs or Liverpo...

Linked with Lyon's Clinton N'Jie in L'Equipe via the Metro. Never heard of him. Newcastle United have made a £10.5million bid for after storming into the race to sign him, according to reports. Lyon forward N’Jie is one of the most sought after players around and was subject of a bid from Tottenham ...

Cal wrote:[tweet][/tweet]

Hmmm no Mitrovic and starting with Obertan?
Please say that isn't going to be our starting lineup for Southampton?!

Yep, though could probably get him on a decent contract as a result. He'd be out for a few months but would be worth the wait. Great defender. I think he's mediocre at best and has never played better football before or since the WC. Really raised his profile that tournament but has never impressed...

Feeling pretty positive tonight, we've got some good players in early with hopefully more to come. We have CBs now, Coloccini can play, Taylor has been part of a decent defence in the past, we have players who can score goals if given chances in Cisse, Mitrovic (hopefully) and Perez, we now have qu...

£25,000? Is that a typo do you think? ALso, after a quick google, I've seen that Wolves pulled out of a deal to sign him last year because of a failed medical <laugh> . This is becoming some sort of nufc backwards policy £25k would be an amazing deal... but you're probably right that it is a typo. ...

Wow, our fans don't overreact at all do they?!!! Obviously, we'd all prefer to win every friendly game (and every competitive one too) 6-0 but it really isn't that important. McClaren has came in to oversee a team who pretty much gave up in January - he has a lot of work to do and this is just the s...

Over The Line wrote:
But if a striker is scoring 20+ goals a season then I really don't care if he doesn't do much else.

This x100.

I don't think anyone here would argue Cisse is the best player in the world but if he's scoring the goals that keep Newcastle safe, like he did last season, then he's doing his job.

Are you on a wind up? <scratch> I'm not Cisse's biggest fan because of his attitude and workrate when the team aren't performing, but no one in their right mind can deny that his goalscoring record is excellent. If he plays games he scores goals, that's a fact. He's definitely useful to have around...

I think that's correct, but middle of the park you need to find your best players and play them. Chelsea barely rotate at all, but especially not at the back or the middle, we were the lucky recipients of a Matic-less side at SJP. Obviously if someone has a dip in form you change it, but flipping b...

I think I just forget that Tiote is a thing. He's fantastic when he wants to be, but sadly isn't often enough. Not saying he should be an automatic first choice, but when he is playing well, he's excellent and really useful at breaking down the opposition. Hopefully under Schteve he'll find that fo...

Interesting that nobody is including Tiote, despite him having an existing relationship with McClaren. I'd maybe use him in games where we're less likely to see a lot of the ball (ie against the top teams such as Arsenal or Chelsea).

The view on Ben Arfa now is completely revisionist <laugh> His last 6 months or so weren't great but the seasons before that he was often the shining light in a woeful team. I'd say sometimes not often. Injuries and form meant he was rarely consistent for a 10 game stretch This. He was inconsistent...

Do you not think he goes missing in central midfield? And would you play him in behind a striker or as one of the two further back? He does but sometimes he's sort of forced to get involved in the middle. Tbh, after having thought about it, he'd be on the bench and come on for SDJ after about 65 se...

I don't get your point? He's saying if we did get Shaqiri. Also, De Jong and Aarons hardly played so that's basically 4 new players attacking, plus Wijnaldum. Londontoon was saying a team with Shaqiri would be exciting, so taking him out of it doesn't invalidate his point. I'm not trying to invalid...

Apart from Mbemba and Colo as there too similar that lineup is pure filth. Would score a s*** ton of goals but also ship a lot because of our attacking full backs. Oh well classic Toon Easy tiger. Assuming we don't get Shaqiri , or any new winger, that team is only 2 attacking players different to ...

Having a running race with Ashley Cole. Such a great moment. I don't get up to Newcastle nearly as often as I would like to, but I was there for that. Sublime <awe> As for his best positions, I'm not that sure myself. I put CM, but a fair few valid points have been made. Our midfield is looking rea...

Difficult one, this. I think he's more suited to playing as a central midfielder. He's got all the attributes to be a crapper version of Yaya Toure. Problem is, he's gone missing far too often when he's played there and doesn't get back enough. On the right wing he provided a lot of assists but is f...

I'm not quite understanding why people are making it an either/or between Perez and Cabella on this thread. They play different positions don't they?! Perez is best as a striker or support striker while Cabella is a midfielder or winger. Anyway, writing him off completely is dumb. He showed flashes ...

Are you sure it doesn't say PARDIS?