Hafnia

In the overall scheme of things I find it hard to get excited enough to criticise a player who has had to deal with a lot more than your average bloke on the street, Yes he has been paid well for very little but that does not compensate his issues in his private life. Everyone I know who has met him find him a likeable down to earth person who wanted to do well for us, the fact that he didn't meet Moyes work ethic does not mean he wouldn't have done a job. People will quickly idolise Duncan Ferguson (me included), yet criticise Van Der Meyde for the reasons that they tend to overlook Dunc for.

Buying Alan Smith is sending the wrong message out to everyone who may see us as an ambitious team. Why would we have or need him? He is finished as he will never be the player he was before his injury, even if he was, I wouldn't have him, backward step. Same goes for Owen, we are moving forward, they are moving backwards. Anyone who is not going to improve the first 11 is clutter in my opinion.

I feel he's had a lot of growing up to do, he now knows what is expected of him. I feel it is a win win for us. He will prob be on 30k a week, he will give much needed cover for the the Euro cup games, the team spirit we have have may be infectious and give him a new lease of life. Moyes will hopefully have strict rules in his contract that will enable him to get rid if he steps out of line. I would like us to get Crouch too.

Been told by a reliable source that Pennant has agreed to join us in the summer on a free. Personally I think it's not a bad signing if it happens. Given a run of games and some confidence he could be a useful addition to the squad.

Over 90 mins pienaar was the best player - when we were poor he was one player who showed and kept cool. Jags was immense too, notice berbatov didn't want to know after jags nearly took his leg off. Neville had his best game in a blue shirt

sorry but he will not do anything for a team other than hang in 6 yrd box, most players haven't got the gall to be as selfish as Owen and look at their team mates in the eye. Yeah, great player when he had pace to beat the defender, now he can't, he relies on people not picking him up. £100k a week!!! He has been the most overrated player for ages and Capello has seen it. People seem to forget he insisted on taking penalties for the shite and he had the worst average. He missed 3 in 5 once. nah leave him for Spurs, expensive lazy selfish luxury... had his day and is still gettin well paid..

watched hibbert closely today, he reacts rather than anticipates, compare him to evra, cole, bridge, the arsenal boys, and it's not even a gulf, it's frightening that he plays the same level as them. He can't cross. I am desperate for the lad to do well as a local homegrown talent, but alas he is in the same boat as Rhino, great heart and a blue, but weak link. Baines showed the way today. it's not about bandwagons, it's just that some fans share the same negative opinions at times and need to tell them. You can get behind him all you like, things won't change in terms of his ability. He should have been hangin in taylors face, holding his shirt etc like carragher does, instead gave free header and effectively let them back in game, I do blame howard also though

the way we need to look at it is this, would any of the performance given warrant a start in next game if their was an adequate replacement for each person, i.e utd, chelsea, and to a point the red shite. Howard - Drop him, simple as. Nash would probably save some of ones he has let in and at least talk to back 4. Hibbert - Not prem quality sorry. Jagielka - 1st name on sheet player of year up to now Lescott - nothin to be proud about but he has the class Baines - deserves his chance Arteta - sell him in January if he carries on like this, I would seriously drop him to try and get right response Osman - technically very good, phyically poor, works hard. Fellaini - Keep playing him, he will come good. Pienaar - get him involved he does good things. Yakubu - lazy, drop for vaughan Saha - give him games, youi can see him improving all in all, where is the leader? Gotta be Jags

piss poor. We have got the worst right back in the prem, plus unfortunately Howard has seemingly lost his bottle, he just isn't talking to his back 4, this has been clear in a few games now and we are conceding, he needs to command his area, rather than scurrying around the six yard box. Is he doing what led him to be dropped at old trafford? could well be the case. Is carlo good enough to step in though? controversial one, but the Yak needs a rocket, he is rapidly returning back to the jogging lazy centre forward that was critisised so often, fellaini is more a victim of his size rather than be a constant fouler, he looks reasonably decent and is too early to rate. Baines looked ok today, Osman was best player, we just need a leader, someone who can really own the responsibility, and it's not neville, give the armband to Jags. Very disjointed, lacking belief, no cohesion, lot of work to do. Poor day.

workmanlike and clueless, no spark of invention, quiet end of season with no carsley has cost us...

The only way I can see Watson's side of it is the fact that he is a boyhood geordie, that's fair enough. If he said, Moyes is a good manager, let's try and get him, then ok, i'd be cheesed off just on the basis we paid him £1000's in wages and speaking out like that is out of turn. However to say he needs to show ambition by coming to Newcastle is BoLLo&^kS and for that alone he needs to be corrected. They have not won anything of note, bar the the backing of the rest of the country when failing against Man UTD in their league challenge they threw away. They are a club whose fans behave like they are the only true fans in the country and anyone who doesn't get his fat gut out, doesn't care. I find it's possibly the biggest insult ever that our manager should be tempted to leave for a club that forever promises to deliver, but never does. Nothing against newcastle, it's really difficult to break into the top 4 for any club, but a club that doesn't offer a manager stability is not an option, and to suggest a club on the up like ours, run efficiently should be worried about losing a manager to such a shambles.

22 min 15 secs - good header, pretty much made carragher look like a little boy, just wide. Very similar to a scottish number 9 in the way he attacks the ball in the air, impressive. Seems unplayable in the air. Name some prem centre mids who could mark him for goal kicks?, I can't think of many....... Much needed height and prescence, could just be the minder we need for Mikel, Pienaar and Ossie. he will give them the space and confidence against stronger teams. To those who have laughed a us for going in with £15m, we may have last laugh...

8 mins in he does Torres, loving his work

http://www.itv.com/CatchUp/Video/default.h...mp;Filter=24595 Given there is only one Youtube clip of value, the catch up for the 1st leg is attached, you can get second leg if you can stomach the 5hi^& winning.

Bluekipper are normally pretty good........ do you think he will be better than Jags in the centre of mid??? Fingers crossed we get him.........

Watched scholes tonight, ok, got sent off. If united paid £50m 14 years ago it would be money extremely well spent - they didn't but look what he's done. This lad to me looks the business - similar but potentially more rounded, £17m could be great business, He is the type of player that makes the difference - forget stature, he can play. Want him signed. Round of applause on Saha, a little risk, but if fit, a world class goal scorer and not many better natural finishers in the game.

Agggghhh WTF, don't know what to think. All I know is that everything we have at the mo is a GAMBLE, apart from Victors mate who wull be great IMO, if Saha gets and remains fit then it could be 1984 with Andy Gray all over again. I want Moutinho, simple as. Moyes knows we want him. I think we will get him, which is why we went cut price on def mid and sacked off M'bia and used the extra cash.

My appraisal of him is simple. AJ worth £10m then as he is 3 times the player he is worth £30m. If he was english he would be partnering Rooney up front for the national team, no question. He is one of the best goal scorers I have seen in Prem, even at pompey and middlesborough he was 20 goals a season. Would not surprise me if one of the top 3 ever tried to buy him, his work rate shouldn't really be questioned, he does what he does and does it well, when he drops deep he makes good lay offs, he can hold ball up. His passing is very good, tremendous power in either foot. £12m was a great piece of business, just got to make sure he has his head on the game.

“I have just been told that Arsenal are as well interested, but my position is clear: I want to start the season with Everton. What Rennes are currently offering me is far behind my demands. Both clubs have to find an agreement to help me leave. I’m aware that my directors have declared I won’t leave, but it’s just a means to make my price higher. I understand their position and I would do the same. It’s politics. Regarding what I’ve heard, I know [general manager Pierre] Dreossi is ready to let me leave. From my part, I don’t want to play for Rennes anymore. Personally I don’t worry because English clubs have the resources to sign me. When they really want a player they are ready to spent whatever amount. I’m hopeful it will be done by next week. That kind of opportunity only happens once. Everton offer me €1.5m (£1.2m) whereas I don’t earn the half of it at Rennes. Even if I owe everything to this club Rennes, I have a family to feed, regardless the challenge, which is very interesting. It’s an ideal springboard for my career.” Even though this doesn't need translating, the message is "I want to play for Everton, my manager will let me go, I have agreed terms - now i'm just on tenterhooks to see whether this club F$%$s another certain transfer up by pinching a few few pennies when they have sold players themelves for well above going rate!" Come on Bill, the mancs wanted him a while back, Arsenal are interested, he wants us. What we waiting for Liverpool? Just like the sissoko ordeal? He's a big lad, he's young, he puts it about, anything less than £8m is a good deal!

Just observed transcript, I doubt the fella is a kopite or a wnd up murchant.... defo Portuguese, types and pronounces better than a red could ever do. Articulate enough and respectful enough to deserve respect. Still, we want MOUT! Seen enough today to realise we are 2 years away from Rodwell, Gosling and Baxter being a major force, then again do we want them pinched.

I think we can, quality costs money I agree, and hopefully a deal right for both parties is met. Put things into perspective in current climate a £16m bid would be more than fair. I for one feel the sentiments of clubs being able to hold onto players. We lost Rooney, didn't want to sell him, he wanted to go and then we had to sell. Same applies, it's rough and tough but it's the way it is. SP have some real quality players and you will do well to keep them away from the likes of Chelsea and Man Utd, liedson and veloso for example. As a side note it does however make me laugh that Real only bid £8m for Van Der Vart

Every player has his price, plus no disrespect to the portuguese league this is the premiership, the prem is the place to be. We are the highest placed team who can offer JM a place to play every week and develop further. To me, it's just a matter of money. Fair play to Sporting, they have churned out some real talent, we wish you well, but we want your captain.

It's not the fee that matters to me. It is getting someone on the wagebill that will cost a fortune, he will be looking at £40-£50k a week. Do you think the likes of Cahill, Arteta, Yakubu, who will be first team regulars will be happy at having a bench warmer on parity? There is definately a question mark over his fitness, I think he is all but spent, his injury was horrendous and sometimes you just aren't the same player again. I wish it could be a bargain, but my gut feeling is no chance, he ain't a midfielder, and he isn't a first choice striker - look at ljunberg at west ham.........

Considering we sold mcfadden for £6m, anything over than for Johnson is great business, the lad simply could not threaten centre halves the way he used to - when they were scared to touch him in the box. He never beat a man with a trick or pace for that matter. When up against the likes of only Biket, Skirtle (zenit) who had enough pace and strength, he was made to look like a little boy and would then play out wide - never mind the likes of Terry, Ferdinand, Vidic, Woodgate. Cahill has a better goals per game average especially considering his position. It's great business, I do wish him well as he works hard but unfortunately he is a good championship player the same as Beattie and Nugent. When Vaughan or Victor replaced him on the pitch you could see the difference in quality, first touch, strength, confidence - so it had to be done. Let's just hope we can bring Milito in, anyone with a goal in every other game in spain and italy whilst playing as a target man has gotta be a great foil for Yak. Just need to get some business tied up in next two days, Milito, Moutinho and a defensive mid fielder (however I think he is gonna try Dan Gosling or Rodwell)

Rumour is he has failed it - knee. Not sure on how true it is, it's on toffeeweb. Bad news, maybe Fulham realised £13m was too much!