I do agree with the creativity statement but yeah we need both fit strikers and creative midfielders - I think our lack of creativity is what made us a bit boring last season - most would agree.

With regards to 2003 I know what you're saying about Di Canio but it wasn't that that relegated us that was what stopped us having a shot at the unprobable but the heart felt possible. The fact that Di Canio and Kanoute were injured 7 months of the year and we were forced to partner Ian Pearce alongside the young green but very promising Defoe for 2 months is what really fucked us over. We didn't have the squad to deal with it and I'm worried that if we don't get another established striker that doesn't spend more games with the physio than on the pitch we're gonna have a similar scenario.

It's all a bit worrying at the moment if you ask me but to be fair it's very early days in this transfer window and we have a reputation of leaving things very late (and often missing out!)
I'm worried about the injury prone aspect of our strikers and def think if it was a choice between Zamora or Cole on the bench, I'd go for Bobby so talk of him leaving pisses me off but I can understand it from his point of view if he wants to play each week. As has been said a few times, we desperately need a creative attacking midfielder (not just a workhorse) but someone in the Yossi vain(but not as lightweight) who could open up defences and deliver that killer pass (plus score a few goals too) I'm a bit worried that Eidur G fits into the past his prime injury prone bracket.
Guess we'll all have to wait and see

Like you say beex it's early days and I'm not worried until the season starts and our concerns haven't been addressed but just putting out there what the concerns are. IMO if he thinks we're sorted up front he only has to look at our lack of goals last season and the persistent injury promlems to the players he's now relying on being fit. Hopefully there is a decent striker on the shopping list and our worries are for nothing. I also hope he sees a creative midfielder as a priority - I somehow have the feeling we'll buy 6 more defenders though and these problems will go unaddressed

No I haven't seen him play have you? How many 17 year olds do you see running around the EPL? I'm all for buying youth, great move for the clubs future but we need to also strengthen the current first team. Now if you think he'll be going straight into the first team that's up to you, but I don't think he will.

As for Sears, I'm positive he would not have been in the mix had it not been forced upon us. Sme for Tompkins. In saying that I thought both did well and will be better for the experience. But with a fully fit sqaud, I wouldn't expect to see much of either of them for a while.

The arse model is good and one I'd like to adpot but when they buy young players they keep them in the lower grades until they're ready for the big leagues. This is what I expect to happen with this bloke. Hey, I maybe wrong and maybe he'll play first team football and if the club feel he's ready I'm happy with that.

West Ham boss Alan Curbishley hopes to clinch a deal for Switzerland midfielder Valon Behrami after he bought out his contract with Lazio. (The Sun) Anyone know anything about this bloke?

Fulham have emerged as favourites to sign Everton striker Andrew Johnson for £10m after having a £5m bid rejected. (Various)
However, West Ham have bid £11m for the striker and look likely to beat Wigan and Fulham to his signature. (News of the World). Fuck me let's hope not!

Manchester City will bid £1.6m to tempt West Ham full-back Lucas Neill to Eastlands. (News of the World). Bwahhhhhhh!

You don't think Bajner has strengthened the squad. You don't want AJ. You didn't comment on my question about Eidur. Who do you want up front? (keep a reality check)

As for Behrami, how many right mids do we need?

That was the 9M geezer I was on about before. He can play right back or right mid. I've heard talk of selling Anton and moving Lucas to centre with Behrami at right back.

No I don't know and neither do you. Heaps of young blokes are put on the books by all clubs never to be heard of again so I don't know how you can assume he will be any differenet? No I don't want AJ, very average player and they want 11mill! (keep a reality check mate). No I don't want Eidur, can't imagine he'd be happy sitting on the bench and I suspect his wages would be right up there. Happy with Ashton and Bellars up front. Who do you want up front?

With regards to another striker, I'd like us to get a bloke in his early 20's, with some league experience elsewhere, who's keen to prove himself. I don't know who that might be but that's Nani's job. As for the reality aspect, if anyones trippin mate, it's you.

And you didn't answer my question, how many 17 year olds do you know of that are first team in the EPL?

I haven't checked all their ages and without foxtel I don't see that many matches but off the top of my head, 17yr olds have seen play epl include Sears, Rooney, Saric (this season) and wlacott and tompkins are close to that age.

Walcott has only just started to play albeit irregularly but he wasn't getting a game at 17, our two were forced changes, don't know about Saric, Rooney is the only one in recent years who played regularly at 17. Not bad mate one player in the past 5 years, guess you were right mate and I was wrong!

Fundamentally, just by virtue of us signing a player I do not believe that automatically strengthens the sqaud. If you think it does then that's up to you.

I think we'll have to agree to disagree on this one.

Nah I reckon you should go over to his side of the office and tip his paper clips out over his keyboard.

It looks like Bobby's gone!

http://www.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=775841

and Keegan can go fuck himself!

http://www.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=775119

I would be really pissed off if Curbs agreeed to something like this.

LOL, maybe I already have?

Duff, in the meanwhile, has endured a fairly frustrating time in Tynseside since joining Newcastle United from Chelsea, with his two-year spell blighted by persistent injuries.

Blighted by persistent injuries! Are we just a dumping ground for Newcastle's high paid injured players???? Curbs deserves the chop if he'd be so stupid. He can't prance around saying all my signings are injured if he goes in for players like this. Hopefully it is nothing but a stupid rumour.

On Bobby I'm very sad to see him go. I know it's reasonable money but still sorry to see him leave.

Well said that man!
Very sad about Bobby too but can see it from his point of view. He's a natural goalscorer when fit which CFC isn't, doesn't make sense to me?
I'm being a good boy about all the Curbs out stuff from last year. As I said, clean slate, new season, let's see how he gets on with all our crocks back and playing.
However, I must confess that some of the transfer rumours like the Duff one make me wanna start laying into Curbs again. Surely he's learned from last year that we can't keep buying players with bad injury records.