James

http://icnewcastle.icnetwork.co.uk/newcastleunited/news/tm_headline=plans-to-farm-out-young-stars%26method=full%26objectid=18809862%26siteid=50081-name_page.html Good decision I think. Also, Roeder seems determined to beefen up our squad to the extent that none of these players will get a look in next season.

Seen him play then? Fucking hell Nope, but his stats are there for all to see. Either he's injury prone, or not good enough to play for Shakhtar, or there are some extenuating circumstances for his lack of appearances. Unless its the latter, there is no way I could be interested.

Luke Edwards asked Roeder about Edgar's contract on my behalf, and Roeder said that negotiations are ongoing. More news on Monday.

This Rat guy has only played 65 games in 4 years at Shakhtar. Unless he only emerged as a Shakhtar player last season (unlikely as he's 25), I wouldn't be interested.

Fucking hell, that is a great shortlist of players, although I haven't heard of Rat before.

Good game to open Wembley with really.

Best keeper from Britain and Ireland, but all are currently lacking due to bad, outdated coaching. Foreign keepers arethe way forward in my opinion.

Arsenal were next on their list. Tax men always go for the people that are going to provide them with the most money. Hang about, you just said that NUFC were chosen by the Premier League to be the test case, not that they were targeted by the taxman, which is it? Premier League chosen, although the taxmen were after us and others, and were happy to have us as a test case to a) save legal fees by only taking one club to court and b) because we were one of the most lucrative.

Arsenal were next on their list. Tax men always go for the people that are going to provide them with the most money.

http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,1693358,00.html Describes how we were the test case. I definitely do remember though that we were chosen as the test case specifically because our books were amongst the best of the clubs being pursued.

Are you absolutely sure about that? Yes, or at least one of the best. I remember being suprised, but that was definitely the reason for us going through the court as the test case. Now I might be wrong about this, but didn't the auditors refuse to sign off on the accounts a number of times? Definitely not recently. In fact the Premier League described our books as 'transparent' iirc. I know this kind of contradicts what everyone believes about shepherd cooking the books, but people do come up with theories that aren't true about him, but become considered truth. I don't like him much as a football chairman either, but he deserves credit rather than falsehoods in this instance. Can you provide me with a link to back up what your saying, please? I can't back up what I've said at the moment, by the way. I am trying to find a link, right now

Are you absolutely sure about that? Yes, or at least one of the best. I remember being suprised, but that was definitely the reason for us going through the court as the test case. Now I might be wrong about this, but didn't the auditors refuse to sign off on the accounts a number of times? Definitely not recently. In fact the Premier League described our books as 'transparent' iirc. I know this kind of contradicts what everyone believes about shepherd cooking the books, but people do come up with theories that aren't true about him, but become considered truth. I don't like him much as a football chairman either, but he deserves credit rather than falsehoods in this instance.

Are you absolutely sure about that? Yes, or at least one of the best. I remember being suprised, but that was definitely the reason for us going through the court as the test case.

Pretty much has eight games to save his NUFC career.

Edgar is getting a new contract then.

Sounds like Roeder answered my question regarding Edgar's contract although I'm going to have to wait to find out what the answer was.

Basically, Inland Revenue wanted the Premiership clubs to pay more VAT, so the Premiership asked us (who had the best kept books) to stand against Inland Revenue in court as a test case.

I've asked if Edgar will be getting his contract extended beyond this summer. Edgar is 20 in May by the way Gemmill.

yup, i was about to point it out myself.

Owen will be first.

You may have something there, Edgar didn't even feature for the reserves tonight whereas Hunty did. Unless he's injured of course.

Holloway had Huntington on trial at Plymouth, sent him back, didn't think he was good enough.

Well Roeder seems to take several over the top steps to protect his youngsters where possible: a) Signing Duff to keep Zoggy in the background b) Signing Srnicek to keep Krul out of the picture c) Picking Bramble, Moore, Onyewu and Carr ahead of Taylor Perhaps Roeder's waiting to unleash his star defender if and when he is 27 years old and able to play in a team with 10 other decent players.

Good defenders are hard to spot, as they are anonymous if playing well which is perhaps why he is hard to spot in the reserves. Remember how Malaga bid for him on the basis of a single friendly appearance.

Is everyone mystified about his lack of opportunities? With the chances he's had, he has looked more composed, and better on the ball than any centre back we currently employ. Even the local journalists are puzzled: http://www.easy-ryder.co.uk/2007/03/yet_another_case_for_the_toon.html#comments So what has he done to be overlooked in such a way?