Dokko

Nailed on broken leg. (I'm blacker)

Former Chelsea and Italy midfielder Roberto Di Matteo has been confirmed as MK Dons' new manager. The 38-year-old has succeeded Paul Ince, who assumed control of Blackburn Rovers this summer, at Stadium:mk and will be unveiled at a press conference on Thursday. Swiss-born Di Matteo has now signed a one-year deal with The Dons, although there is an option for a further season. Great success Di Matteo, who retired from football aged 31 due to injury, enjoyed great success at Chelsea - including scoring in their 1997 FA Cup success over Middlesbrough within 43 seconds of the kick-off. "Like the club itself, Roberto is young, ambitious and hungry to succeed," read a statement on the club's official website in regards to Di Matteo, whose job with MK Dons is his first managerial position. "We are enormously excited about the team moving forward under his leadership."

Exactly. So why are you quoting the the July 1st crap then, I'm honestly confused ?? I think all this arguing over nothing points with NE5 has finally fried his melon.

It's a signing that has been made public on day two of the transfer window and one that comes roughly 6 weeks after the club bid a record fee for Modric. The only significant thing about the summer transfer window is when it closes. Nothing else matters.

Fair enough. At least it'll shut people up for a day or two though. Its appeased me if you are wondering, but like i said above, more is needed, but the ball is finally rolling, and that my friend is all i wanted. Someone made a decent point earlier that the lack of a press conference may mean others are in the pipeline. We've presented a couple at once in the past. Which would be fantastic news, or it could be that this has just gone so quick and the 'team' (as in Wise/KK etc) are all scattered around the edges of the globe doing other things so a press conference isn't logical currently. Would like to think its the decent point rather than my own thinking though!

Since Keegan commented on the transfer, at least he approved it....if it was not his recommendation in the first place. Let's just enjoy incoming transfers and worry about these stuff later I hope it wasn't his recommendation, that means that the system is working and more importantly they are agreeing with each other and working together.

Hope so, the more I think about it the more I'd like to see Aimar here. Despite his recent slump in form and fitness he's the sort of player who could potentially flourish under Keegan. There's no doubt he's got ability, he's highly creative and if given an appropriate role could prove to be just what we need. Aimar was a sensational player at Valencia, i think its very much worth taking a chance on him and getting him back to form. As long as his wage demand are not stupid.

Fair enough. At least it'll shut people up for a day or two though. Its appeased me if you are wondering, but like i said above, more is needed, but the ball is finally rolling, and that my friend is all i wanted.

It never crossed my mind either.

Its one signing, that looks like it has been done on the cheap, its nice to get someone through the doors, but we've a lot of work to do. So lets not pretend we've won the lottery or found that final piece of jigsaw which has been long missing down the back of the couch, because in truth, half the puzzle is still missing. A starts a start though.

'I am happy at Lazio, and I do not think I am cut out for the Premier League. 'At Manchester City I injured my knee, I got a three-match ban soon after I arrived, and I got attacked. 'Then to finish things off I ended up with Sven Goran Eriksson as my manager - and he never played me for a single minute.' Where's that violin?

got a link?

Nope. If you sign a pro contract under the age of 28, you must stay three years, and then you can leave if you pay out your whole contract. If you join a club age over 28, it is two years. New contracts are irrelevant as well, it is all down to when you join the club. Where you getting this info from?

I'm sure there is an age limit, a contract length limit as well. You must be over 28 years old and in the final year of your contract. I reckon we haven't gone with the Webster ruling, but taken advantage of Mallorca being in administration.

So he can play both wings? Sounds good. Lets hope he's up to the change of league, let's hope he's an Enrique not a Luque.

Ashley is tighter than a virgins hole, no way is he going to wipe £6m off the club like that. Paycut aye, sacking nee chance.

De Riddler to Wigan on a free.

Quickest 6 months of my life.

Joey Barton will face talks over his Newcastle United future with the club's manager Kevin Keegan and managing director Derek Llambias upon his release from prison. Barton, who is currently serving a six-month sentence for assault, admitted attacking his then Manchester City team-mate Ousmane Dabo at the city's Minshull Street crown court and is due to be sentenced today. There are unconfirmed reports that Barton could be released on Sunday, albeit with an electronic tag, but his agent, Willie McKay, admitted that the midfielder had already set his sights on returning to pre-season training with Newcastle on Monday. "We can't really say too much until Joey is released, but we will be sitting down and talking about his future," said McKay. "He will be aiming to be back for pre-season training next week. But again, we will see what happens. Joey had a great end to the season and has kept himself in great shape. In fact, he is in the best shape I have ever seen him in and I think he will be fitter than anybody else." Newcastle have refused to comment on Barton's future. The training-ground incident with Dabo happened before Barton's arrival at St James' Park. However, the offences which led to his time in jail were committed after his move to Tyneside and have caused the club huge embarrassment. Barton was arrested in Liverpool city centre on December 27 after going on a drunken rampage during which he was caught on CCTV repeatedly punching a fellow reveller.

I heard a couple of days ago Shearer was coming in to replace Steve Round after Euro2008 as he's had a change of heart and wants to get into football but still wants to commentate, so doesn't yet want a managers job. Put it down to pub rumours like.

Well made up. You should be a journalist. Jimenez is in Dubai, media have been speculating he's looking for investors, in terms of transfers this could make sense. Not saying it is happening, just could make sense.

Today is just the day finances exchange and contracts start. It has no other significance.

I don't see how one is more valid than the other when it comes down to trust, I can't really think of any reason not to trust anybody yet as I think our only known bid so far this summer was the right thing to do. Was taking the piss, nice bite though.

Great post. very well put and sums up my thoughts concisely. I'll be one of the first to criticise those that need criticising if things don't go as planned, but I'll give them as long as possible to get things sorted. At the end of the day, I do trust in not only Keegan but Ashley as well and everyone in between; they have still got a lot to prove granted but believe they've only got the club's best interests at heart and I'm sure given time we'll be in a better place. I don't trust any of them bar Keegan. What reasons have you got to think that though, Parky? On the same note you could ask me why I say I trust them... I've just seen no real reasons to doubt them as yet. I guess it's time really. Haven't seen anything in particular to make me start thinking I trust them...Although trust is a big word I guess. Your position is as valid as mine tbh. Apart from yours has more validity.

Great post. very well put and sums up my thoughts concisely. I'll be one of the first to criticise those that need criticising if things don't go as planned, but I'll give them as long as possible to get things sorted. At the end of the day, I do trust in not only Keegan but Ashley as well and everyone in between; they have still got a lot to prove granted but believe they've only got the club's best interests at heart and I'm sure given time we'll be in a better place. I don't trust any of them bar Keegan. Same here. Glad he's back off holiday.