Mr Logic

I was expecting some news today, but thought it would be about defenders. Owens or Martins is gone (possibly both!) if this comes true.

Despite their best efforts to sign the defender, Dortmund chief Hans-Joachim Watzke announced “Paris St. Germain have informed us that they will not meet us half way on the transfer fee. Therefore the file is now closed on this deal.” The Ruhr club had raised their original bid to £2.7 million, but this was still not enough to get their man. It is believed that the 26 year old will now be on his way to Newcastle United and Dortmund will have to look elsewhere for a defender.

Getting to the stage I'm almost frightened to open up a thread because all I'll see is crap. Almost impossible to have a decent discussion about anything. Really depressing

Been thinking a bit about this of late and I know others, including myself, have expressed similar thoughts regarding trust in his decisions about players to bring in. But is that trust really justified? It seems he made a lot of transfers at Bolton which didn't result in successful first teamers. In fact it looks more like for every 4 players he bought only 1 made it into a regular starting position. At the end of the day all that matters is having that successful team on the pitch, so does it matter how many players he buys that don't work out? Well it does in this first season, because he has to be seen to turn things round quite dramatically. If for instance he brought 8 players in and only 2 or 3 really made the grade that might not help us too much. Also one has to consider the wage structure here at Newcastle is miles away from the one at Bolton. Can he bring players in on 10k when others in the team are, reputedly, on 8, 9 and even 10 times that? There's a canny article here.. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20010922/ai_n14407163 ..that I hadn't read before. (Long read alert, 2 pages). There's no doubt if he's given the time to implement his vision that he will transform this club. I for one don't care how many duds he buys, as long as they don't come with transfer figures like Boumsong and Luque, provided he get a bare-bones 16 players that are bleeding for the club week in week out.

Not the noises you would expect/hope to hear from a player who was keen to come here.. Reading that you could be excused thinking we were third choice.

They have added another defender today. Andreas Granqvist signing from Helsingborg on a two-year deal, a 22-year-old defender who was apparently on loan with them last season at some stage. He gets to play with Bramble, bless him.

I'm assuming you don't know the position with Owen, will he stay, will he go. Therefore you can't know the situation with Allardyce wanting more strikers or not. For the record I think Owen is ours at least until january, and probably all season. And therefore Allardyce probably isn't looking at more strikers. I'd swap Ameobi for Gudjohnsen in a heartbeat though.

I know that it is "St James' Park", but it shouldn't be, abcdefg was right. I always thought there was something wrong with writing St James', it didn't make sense to me but I am not a grammar expert by any means. Glad I read that post. But it still sounds right to say St James's and not St James, so I know what I will be writing in future. At the ground where Newcastle play..

It's heart that counts actually, quality is a close second. I doubt there's anything to this rumour though.

Can't see the decision being reversed, West Ham will stay. Without Bent though..

Maginot Line, he was french, crap defender..

6m is just the excellent class, you have to spend 8m to get one of the fuking excellent ones.. ..oh, wait!

From BBC Barcelona striker Eidur Gudjohnsen admits he would be interested in a move to Manchester United. He said: "If I leave then my idea would be to return to British football. "A perfect choice for me will be a club that plays in the Champions League. Obviously Manchester United is a club that fits into that category." He added: "I joined Barcelona to be part of the club's triumphs but it is not easy for me when you look at the club's forward line and see all the big names there. "Each minute has been a special test for me but to sit on the bench is not the most desirable experience for a player. "I still don't think I have failed in Spain, but perhaps I have not totally won the confidence of the coach." Gudjohnsen is under contract until 2009 and could be available for around £8m - a figure that could interest United as the Premiership champions weigh up their striking options for next season.

What wouldn't help lower league footballers? I never suggested an actual alternative. ---------- (Barry) Silkman added: "It is an absolute total lie. A complete lie. Whoever he is, Lord Stevens, he is a liar. The people who have done this are liars. There speaks a calm and rational man.

I'm surprised the report doesn't suggest/advocate a complete change to the structure of how transfers are carried out, looking in particular at the role agents play and wether or not another system could replace it. I for one would be pleased to see the end of agents altogether if it could be accomplished.

Expect an announcement late this afternoon then.

30yr old now, would he have been a useful squad player, or aiming higher. I recall some good performances for Chelsea, but never saw him much at Birminghham and then he went to Rennes.

If the agents have their licences revoked at least we'll never have another Willie McKay player here.

How does he know exactly how they'll operate, there's a new man in charge down there. He knows most of the players I grant you, and he may even have an idea how Sammy might play it. If he's good at his job the advantage should lie with him.

Funny how they always throw fixtures up like this, going to be very interesting. Followed up by the Arse and Villa at home.

One point unresolved that means I can't really answer this. We don't know any of Ashleys plans, did he really say Allardyce has got one season to show results? How can he build a team in one season? If everything goes his way position six is within his reach, will that be good enough?

All it suggests is Steve Gibson felt it was a lot of money they offered. Can't conclude anything else.

Journal 'believes' a bid has been made, but it doesn't appear to have actualy come from a Sam quote.

Allardyce denies interest in both Guily and Tuncay (SkySports)

Manchester City have hit back at Newcastle boss Sam Allardyce in the cash row over Joey Barton's proposed £5.5m move to St James' Park. City spokesman Paul Tyrrell said: "It is disappointing that Sam Allardyce has chosen to make these claims public. "At no time have we divulged the details of Joey's contract." Tyrrell added: "Sadly this is now in the public domain through no fault of Manchester City." (From BBC)