Disco

Just a thought here but could the reason for Spurs and us having similar transfer targets be Jimenez. I mean wasn't Jimenez the one who negotiated bringing Ramos to Spurs so you'd presume from that he has some sort of link to the Tottenham heirarchy. Would also imagine agents are touting a lot of similar names to us, Spurs, City and the like as all teams need players and have new managers in place.

played there for large parts of last season and for Holland at the Euro's although that was a part of a 4-5-1/4-3-3 system.

So I take it Gerrard will play out wide this season (on the left) then, as appears to be the case with England under Capello also. I don't think would be looking to move out left as he has made the England Squad as a very effective defensive midfielder int he centre of the park. Gerrard played some of his best football on the right and was also voted player of the year, not so good on the left though. Maybe a line up something like this if we keep Alonso and still get Barry. Reina Carra - Skrtel -Agger -Dossena Mascherano Gerrard - Alonso -Barry Keane Torres Why has Carragher been shunted to RB by Rafa? Seems a strange one as he offers little going forward.

maybe he buys them just so he can reel off the array of Falklands material he has at training?

how tall is he?

good news

Looks very raw to be fair to the lad, similar to Distin is stature and pace etc and with a bit of coaching could probably be a decent player.

On a seperate note I though Guthrie looked tidy, like a more positive version of Scott Parker, similar tenacity etc.

Never going to get a funnier/better reception in his career i think its fair to say. Forrrrrty, Forty Six, nobody knows his naaaame.

Safe to say we're going to need the Duke, Martins and Owen to do the business this season. We looked ok keeping the ball in spells but no conviction/creative spark in the final third. Also the lack of substitutions made shows our lack of depth when a few people are out. At least its only friendly and we can only get better. Should if nothing else show we need some strength in depth. Fans gave Bassong a day to remember n all.

3pm

That was my first thought as well. He looks a little incredulous. sits near me that bloke in the cap.

Agreed, article appears to be based on hearsay (not the former Popstars band).

Sport Football Newcastle United Owen warns Newcastle he is ready to walk out on a free Simon Williams and Dominic Fifield The Guardian, Saturday July 26 2008 Article history Michael Owen is in a strong bargaining position for his contract talks with Newcastle United. Photograph: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images Michael Owen has warned Newcastle United he will leave on a Bosman free transfer at the end of the season unless they improve their contract offer. The England striker has told friends he wants to stay at St James' Park having been impressed by Kevin Keegan since the manager's return in January. But talks over a new deal, which began in May, have dragged on because the club are reluctant to match his wage demands. Owen's £105,000-a-week contract has less than a year left to run and in January he will be able to open discussions with rival clubs about a free transfer next summer. Although the 28-year-old would rather stay at Newcastle, he knows he is likely to receive a larger wage offer elsewhere if he leaves on a Bosman and as a result he and his advisers are negotiating from a position of considerable strength. Newcastle's owner, Mike Ashley, is keen to reduce wages but Owen does not see why he should take a pay cut after proving his worth with 10 goals in 19 games at the end of last season. The club, though, are mindful that their £16m signing from Real Madrid has played only 47 games for them in three years because of injuries. Keegan insisted in April that he regarded Owen's new contract as the club's most important signing of the summer but the matter has not been resolved, despite several meetings. Owen is keen to get something finalised after expressing his pleasure at life under Keegan. "We had a good time of it last season, especially towards the end," he said yesterday. "There was a feelgood factor about the club and we were buzzing." The Football Association has moved to clarify comments made by Fabio Capello to stress that the England coach is not intent on quitting after the 2010 World Cup. Capello, who has a contract to 2012, had been quoted in the Italian newspaper La Repubblica suggesting he would retire "having made an impact at a World Cup". But an FA spokesman said: "Fabio just wishes to clarify that he did not mean he was planning to quit the England job after the World Cup. At the moment his full concentration is on qualifying for the 2010 World Cup and he is not thinking past that objective at the moment." Dwight Yorke is likely to miss the rest of Sunderland's pre-season campaign after suffering a suspected fractured cheekbone in a collision with Vitoria Setubal's goalkeeper Nikola Milojevic during Wednesday's 1-1 draw in Portugal.

Even if Spurs accepted the Villa bid Barry would knock it on the head. Looks like Albelda will be the DM in a couple of days time ....... for £2m apparently. same applies, although it is a lightweight midfield and 3 could take time to adapt, potentially a lot of goals again at WHL next season in both nets

if Spuds get Barry n Bentley they're going to be laughing. Bentley - Barry - Modric - Dos Santos/Lennon with Jenas, Zokora, Huddlestone and possibly still Malbranque in reserve is a very good midfield.

Just bought me tickets today, don't think there are many left by sounds of it. Hopefully be better than the Carlisle match i went to last season.

Bad craic.

very good article TBF.

can't see him moving to us, said he wants to stay at Pompey and Pompey have got Europe next season. Good player though.

Pompey to go after SWP then?

Didn't think it was possible for me to hate Chimbonda any more than I already do, then he goes and signs for Sunderland he's left the scum to sign for the scum......fantastic! i'm so glad we've steered well clear of rubbish like Chimbonda I actually think that those four players if the all go to sign for Sunderland will prove to be a good buy. Keane seems to be able to get the best out of players and buying players aint that easy right now as we are finding out. Wasnt long ago Chimbonda was rated by lots of clubs. The rest of them will probably help take Sunderland from relegation favourites into a team who finishes around 12 - 14. You have to start somewhere and it is not like Sunderland can go out there and buy the top names, they have to take a few gambles. fully agree Johan, a lot better than the shite he bought last yr.

In my opinion we'll struggle to find a better player this summer than Malbranque. I really rate him. fully agree, very good player and will be a major coup if the mackems get him

"Steed" would be a decent acquisition, can unlock a door, good passer, Prem experience, gets a few goals, can play a few positions.