Rich

He told the Sunday Mirror: "I believe I showed at Arsenal last season that I can play in England, score goals and make goals. "Newcastle is a big club, but before I consider a move I need to know about my future with Real. "I want the chance in pre-season to show our new coach, Bernd Schuster, I should be part of his plans. "If things don't work out here I will have to look at other options in Spain and England."

He played a fang-tastic gig at fresher's week at Glasgow Uni when I was there and liked it so much (or got paid so much) that he came back within 2 months to do another one, which was also fucking ace. Then he was the legendary face of 5ive's coverage of the NFL alongside the equally brilliant Mike Carlson and then he even bettered this with his coverage of our UEFA Cup "campaign", which was better than anything else I saw last season from BBC/ITV/SKY. That singing thing he did is an obvious negative, but aside from that he's still in the black as far as my opinion goes.

Further proof the guy's an utter twat. I like him!

I would have thought that if he was looking good it would have something to do with his level of performance. He is a handsome chap, mind.

It hasn't... and let's hope that Big Sam isn't talking bollocks and that Luque can get a lot fitter and consequently a lot better.

Yes indeed.

Carlisle commentators saying that we're not playing too well and their mighty team are looking comfortable. We're giving the ball away too much and are being very wasteful, apparently. Rozehnal seems to be sweeping up a lot of potential danger again. No news on our formation other than Caroll, Dyer and Martins are staying very far up the field.

i put that in but it dont seem to want to work its asking for a username and password You need to be a Newcastle World member.

Some delays on A590 because of roadworks. Cumbria Show today, causing some slow traffic. I'm Casey Broadhurst.

Not a Newcastle World Member? Being a member gives you access to these sorts of things on other PremiumTV sites.

This actually works! You little beauty! http://www.carlisleunited.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10361~1073063,00.html Might need to be a Newcastle World member, but that link is playing in Media Player for me.

He doesn't consider himself injury prone, you know?

That Godwin Antwi fella playing for the Monkey Hangers surely can't the the FM legend himself? He always ends up at Chelsea on my games! Anyone know this either way? EDIT: It is him, on loan from Liverpool for the season. Magic.

Bossed the game from the back when I was at Wembley for England U21's/Italy U21's, looked a cut above most others on the pitch. Obviously the only time I've seen him live but him, Bentley and Pazzini were the stand-out players. It's only 1 game, like, and a friendly to boot. He has a very good reputation, seemed very comfortable on the ball/good in the air and was up and down the flank like a dynamo. Mightily impressed with him at the time.

You are right midds. I listened to it on Sky + rewound it and listened again cus his voice is quite muffled a couple of times. He definately hinted that targets had been missed through failure to move quickly. He also looked knackered! Some buggers woke him up at 7.30am this morning, no wonder! Only joshing!

That's another important point. It's not on TV.

To bring some sense into this thread, can I just mention that: Taylor is injured. Emre isn't fit to play. Viduka is thousands of miles away. Milner won't be played after his U21 excursions. Edgar has just been playing in the U20's overseas. Troisi isn't in contention either, apparently. Thank you.

Well they hooked me in for 3.30pm (first time I've watched SSN this summer really) and nothing fucking happened, so I flounced off outside for a sit in the sun. Couldn't stand watching any more looped shite, I refuse to be Skirged.

Where have people seen this, by the way? Is it on SSN?

An hour ago. Not too long to wait then

Am I alone in hoping that McKay and Souness get fucked because of this?

Is it Portsmouth, then? After Rangers were confirmed I texted my mate to say "I bet the other team is Portsmouth, because of Amady Faye." Mystic Meg, eat out your heart (if it actually is Portsmouth, of course!)

Admittedly I've only seen him a few times but he has impressed me greatly, he's already in the senior France squad at the age of 21. This lad has a big future IMO and would already challenge Butt for a place in the team. With the arrival of Sidwell and Chelsea's packed midfield, he obviously feels he won't get the chances over there. He used to be at Le Havre with N'Zogbia. He'd be the type of ambitious but realistic player I'd like to see us go for, someone with his best days ahead of him who will grow with the team. His versatility and quality means he'd get a lot of games with us. The type of player we should be targetting IMO (except for CB where we could do with an experienced head). Agree entirely. Whenever I saw this lad play last season, which was a fair bit him being at Chelsea and all, and whether it be in midfield or at right-back he looked a touch of class for someone of his age. Very composed, very decent on the ball and didn't seem phased by anything. If there's any sort of chance of getting him here - even on loan for a season - then I'd love us to go for it. Even a loan would give us a season to try and make him "fall in love" with the place and realise he could have a big future here and it of course gives us another year to try and get up towards where Chelsea are. He's the ideal age and he should go on to be a very, very good player. My only concern would be with his size, but Makelele has made a decent career in football and he's been of a similar build. If we're not going to be buying an Alou Diarra, Bouba Diop or an Appiah sort of player then Diarra makes perfect sense - although ideally for me we'd get Diarra plus one of the aforementioned and pedal Butt! He's also very close to Geremi if I remember rightly, he was his "mentor" ("serving father" to be precise) at Chelsea and helped him to settle in, (dunno if anyone remembers that funny Chelsea training video where he was calling Geremi his "Daddy/Father" - it's on YouTube). This, along with him knowing the Zog, might be two major factors in our favour.

Blame Nut and KaKa... and the fact it's a Sunday morning and not a high percentage of this forum go to Church.

Definitely. Good shout.