Shearergol

A lot of players would try playing for their place in team if they heard we were bringing new players in.

I think it's a good time to post this.... http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_3510712,00.html

So you're saying Arsenal have a good scouting system in place. Fair play to them, but what the fuck does that have to do with our situation? Well it looks like we're doing exactly the same thing. Kinda relevant, yeah?

i'm saying he's not had the final say, which is a bit different. you don't think arsenal would sign fabregas if wenger turned round and said 'not good enough, wont fit into the team, already have better in his position so i dont want him" do you? So if Keegan had said no, we would still have signed them?

So you are now claiming Keegan had no say in signing Colo, Jonas, Bassong etc etc?

Jail him then. It's a criminal offence which has nothing to do with football. Banning a player from playing for 6 matches isn't a punishment to match the crime. It's punishing the club, not the player.

Exactly. Why haven't Wenger and Benitez put this thing into their clubs? And why did it drive Mourinho from Chelsea? There's three of the best "continental" managers on the... continent, and they're having none of it. Maybe because the bigger clubs like Arsenal and Liverpool can have their pick of players, so they don't have to have people scouting the untapped market? Aye, that sounds like Arsenal alright. Glad you mentioned that. Wenger didn't choose Fabregas, in the same way that he didn't want Overmars to leave. eh? Wenger did sign him. a contact in spain said he was a good player, Wenger got Steve Rowley to scout him a few times, Wenger personally travelled to spain to meet him and his parents, arranged for a trial and then finally gave the final word. very similar story for the other youngsters arsenal bring in. as ive said elsewhere, Wenger is in total control at Arsenal. he's even paid scouts from his own pocket to look for players in Africa, that's how involved he is. An Arsenal scout (Francis Cagigao) watched Fabregas twice. Another scout then went out to watch him in another game. Wenger wanted to sign Messi, but because of the fact that he's Argentinian he couldn't. Cagigao went to Rowley and spoke to him about Fabregas. He then convinced Wenger to watch a video of him, which led to Wenger signing him. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this system, and people calling for the heads of Wise etc need to take a step back and think for a few days. IF (and we still don't know) what Wullie says about Owen/Barton is correct, then Keegan certainly has right to complain. I still don't think he should have resigned following one day's problem's though, especially at this time of the season. Both sides are to blame, not the actual system.

Johnny, I feel I answered that in my previous post. Damn, going away for the weekend, just as this debate was getting good

I clearly don't know enough about Deschamps to get excited. Can someone list his management career achievements please.

What? People identify players. Scouts watch them. The manager ok's it. That's how clubs work. As I say, I don't believe Keegan didn't have final say, apart from maybe one decision on deadline day.

Exactly. Why haven't Wenger and Benitez put this thing into their clubs? And why did it drive Mourinho from Chelsea? There's three of the best "continental" managers on the... continent, and they're having none of it. Maybe because the bigger clubs like Arsenal and Liverpool can have their pick of players, so they don't have to have people scouting the untapped market? Aye, that sounds like Arsenal alright. Glad you mentioned that. Wenger didn't choose Fabregas, in the same way that he didn't want Overmars to leave.

For the umpteenth time, that appears to be what was happening until the later stages of the deadline when they started going over his head. sounds like Fergie did sign Ronaldo then. from what i remember the man utd players, after a friendly game against sporting lisbon, were raving about him in the dressing room. I'm sure fergie had his own thoughts, having just watched him play for 90 minutes. anyway the source on wikipedia about that incident also says that fergie had been tracking Ronaldo for 4 years before that. like saying Robson didn't sign N'Zogbia because charlie woods initially saw him, and cos Shearer said we should sign him up. the final decision rests with one man. Do you honestly think that most managers go and watch players for 4 years? I know for a fact that that isn't the case. not sure why you'd even have to ask that question and so one is saying that. Fergue probably watched him a few times and also had scouts go and monitor his progress. The point is, people go on on here that we shouldn't have the team in place to find talented players. Nobody actually knows the full story other than a statement from the LMA saying that a manager shouldn't have players forced upon them, and an alledged email from Keegan's relative. It worries me that the story coming out is that Keegan refused to sign a player based on that the fact that he hadn't seen him play, despite having a small squad and it being the last day of the transfer window. I really can't believe that Keegan was in discussions with certain players and Wise turned around and told him to sign different ones. If that really is the case, where the fuck are they? Some say that Keegan wanted to keep Barton and the club wanted to sell him. Again, if that's the case, and Keegan always lost out, why is Barton still here? There's a hell of a lot more to this, and I'm convinced that the transfer system is a very small part of it. Nearly every club works the same way, and I think people are making too much of it.

How's it a light punishment? He's been punished 3 times for the same offence, and Newcastle are the ones suffering despite having nothing to do with it.

For the umpteenth time, that appears to be what was happening until the later stages of the deadline when they started going over his head. sounds like Fergie did sign Ronaldo then. from what i remember the man utd players, after a friendly game against sporting lisbon, were raving about him in the dressing room. I'm sure fergie had his own thoughts, having just watched him play for 90 minutes. anyway the source on wikipedia about that incident also says that fergie had been tracking Ronaldo for 4 years before that. like saying Robson didn't sign N'Zogbia because charlie woods initially saw him, and cos Shearer said we should sign him up. the final decision rests with one man. Do you honestly think that most managers go and watch players for 4 years? I know for a fact that that isn't the case.

Exactly. Why haven't Wenger and Benitez put this thing into their clubs? And why did it drive Mourinho from Chelsea? There's three of the best "continental" managers on the... continent, and they're having none of it. Maybe because the bigger clubs like Arsenal and Liverpool can have their pick of players, so they don't have to have people scouting the untapped market?

For the umpteenth time, that appears to be what was happening until the later stages of the deadline when they started going over his head. I've not read your previous posts on the subject, so apologies. Are we to believe that Keegan left the club at this stage of the season over one disagreement then?

Think some people (or person) might feel a bit stupid if this lad turns into a star?

Good point, but I see that as a positive thing.

Think you might be right about the geography thing. I'm not in Newcastle, and I blame both sides. I can still see Ashley making the club huge again.

What's the point is suspending the other 6?

The fact that they don't/didn't give 100% for England?

They wouldn't give 100% for us every game, that's the point.

How anyone can pick and choose football clubs to support is beyond me Fan for life, I have no other option.

Didn't you know that he isn't English, he's Scouse? The language barrier gave me a clue but he still played for England sometimes. What makes these comments all the more repulsive and gut wrenching is that he's a life-long Everton supporter. He's a c*** basically. Yep, can't stand him. Along with Gerrard, they're the two players I hate most in football. Pair of wankers. Fully agreed