Ayatollah Hermione

Did Alexander McQueen die when the fashion police shot him?

Where'd that bear come from?

Used to love calling people that.

True enough. I dont think charlie is needed but would definitely strengthen the 1st team and squad what with having Marveaux as backup but i'd be more than happy to see how Marveuax does. If Barton stays then i would probably imagine him to start wide right ahead of Jonas or we may play 3 CM'S (Cabaye, Tiote and Barton) with Barfa and Jonas or Marveuax on the flanks. Either way we have plenty of options in how we set our midfield up if we play with one striker. If we are to play one striker then one more striker would probably suffice. If said new striker is to go straight into the 1st team then we would have Ba, Shola and Lovenkrands as back up presuming Best and Ranger leave. But like i said 2 new strikers would be ideal...its just whether there are 2 quality obtainable strikers out there and whether FMA wants to spend. I think he'll play 4-5-1 like. Barton and Jonas wide, Tiote and Cabaye in the middle with Ben Arfa in front of them. It's really all he can do in terms of what he has available in the midfield. Though, owt could change from now until September. Hopefully Jonas doesn't leave because he'll be a big miss to the midfield, more than people realise.

I wouldn't say the two of them are crocks but they're definitely going to have fitness problems and I believe Ba's been dodgy for it wherever he's been as well. Hopefully we can keep him fit but the worst case scenario is that they all get injured and we don't even have Best to whack up front. If they're after a striker, then they'll get a striker in but unless it's some kind of release cause (like Cabaye), I can bet he'll be underwhelming. I don't think N'Zogbia will sign at all TBH. They'll see his place as stocked, they'll see his wages and pricetag and knock it on the head.

Oddly enough, he sort of looks like the least annoying one.

We spent over £20 million on three players when he first got here and 2 of them were absolutely crucial last season. Guess who they'd like to sell....

Can't see N'Zogbia signing; we have Jonas, Marveaux and Ferguson who can play wide left, even Ben Arfa at a push. That's more than we have capable of playing RB decently. If we're planning to sell Ranger and Best, then we need two more strikers in, purely for depth. Ba, Shola, Lovenkrands + one other won't be enough since the three mentioned there are harldy fit as fiddles. If Shola plays more than 25 games, it'll be a surprise. The squad needs not only depth, but improved depth. Flogging the likes of Guthrie and Smith is needed but so are their replacements. Unless Vuckic and Gosling are going to become good understudies but it's still a risk to take.

Anyone know wheres showing the fight in the toon tomorrow? And dont say "whey, there'll be one ootside Bambu at midnight" either

Who are they expecting to play at LB if Enrique gans like? Such brilliant management. Also, I'm not one to want to see loads of money flung about but if we don't spend at least £20 million on the squad this summer, it's a fucking disgrace.

He'd look like an extra from Bugsy Malone.

Go back to Ancient Rome or something. At least set your sights high.

ID on the door, Kev.

As an aside, I was in Topman today. Jesus Wept!

Today, I bought a polo, some jeans and a shirt from H&M but I'm not going to post the pictures like

It's the Oliver Twist trampy Mackem look more like.

Stiva was from a nickname. A-NICE-HAT and Ayatollah Hermione just sort of make me laugh in a silly way.

Here's a fashion tip: try not to leave a solid gap of flesh between trouser and shoe.

It's early days so I'm not getting too fearful yet but I mean, there's hardly a precedent worth getting excited over either.

Cant believe he's still going. Got some brass neck on him.

He's going to see Arcade Fire, man

Nah, it's just for showing off basically. I prefer the achievement system because it's immediately easier to see who's a right sad act.

We bros, bro

C WARR WHAT IS HE GOOD FOR?

Hate the way they do that as though the NE clubs have no right to buy decent players. They were absolutely convinced he was off to either Spurs or Liverpool and I'm guessing can't for the life of them understand why he'd go to Sunderland. In many respects it's comparable to when we signed Owen and the journos couldn't get their heads round why he'd choose us over Liverpool. Massive statement of intent from the Mackems and one you have to commend. Understandable why they're chuffed to bits - lets face it we would have been. I just don't like the touted inevitability around the reselling of these signings. On our side, you've got players like Cabaye and Ben Arfa talked about as massive profit makers. Now, the mackems make a good ambitious signing in Whickham and the same is said of them. That sort of mindset is never going to get the NE back as a top footballing region. Of course, I don't mind when Sunderland flog their best players To be fair i'm not sure whether it is even a media bias or anything like that. NUFC and SAFC wont be threatining the top 4/5 for a long time and if players from either of our clubs realise a potential that would see them capable of playing for one of the top 4/5 teams then its likely that they're going to be sold. I think the same can be said for all other teams outside the so called elite, including mainstays such as Everton. I'd possibly even put Spurs in that category as well, look at the Modric situation, Chelsea make a bid, Spurs turn it down, player allegedly wants to leave. Its just where we are in todays food chain I'm afraid. Oh, believe me, it's Mr Mike Ashley and his house of Bargains that has turned NUFC this way. If Quinn is an ambitious owner (and tbf, I reckon he is) you'll be beating off all suitors with a shitty stick if Whickham becomes a success. Players like him coming good will take you to the next level. Unfortunately for NUFC, we've either sold those players (Carroll) or will sell those players soon enough (Tiote, Ben Arfa, Enrique). This is going down a dark corridor with talk of ambition and money on this board so I'll leave it there. Whickham's a good signing after Larsson and Westwood being rather underwhelming IMO.