TRon

The Journal is reporting that both Martins and Owen will start the season at Newcastle. Of course the buy out clauses could change things swiftly, but if they do stay, Darren Bent, Alan Smith and the Mirror can fuck right off with my full blessing.

I ignore rumours from the Mirror because like these two, they are invariably made up. We have "won" the race to sign Smith remember

This is a signing I am pretty happy about. He was on Sam's original shopping list along with Haim, and has been a long tern target. A million miles away from Freddy Shepherd's previous approach of playing Russian roullette on transfer deadline day. Target identified early. Well scouted. Concluded in plenty of time for pre-season. Business how it should be done.

No, Owen's staying for the time being because no top 4 club will pay £9m.

Except he's going to Spurs.

Well only Henry's leaving so far, and it's a typical Wenger sale. Get shot of a big star whose peaked for a massive fee. Great business really.

This is from the Mirror. So they reckon we are signing both Smith and Bent do they?

Today the Mirror is running the story that we are shock contenders to steal in for Bent despite the fact everyone knows he's going to Spurs. Looks like another transfer rumour plucked from Fantasy Island after yesterday's Newcastle have 'won' the race for Smith BS.

alternatively: He's big, he's Czech, he's got a scrawny neck....

Good observation that.

Can't we have a poll called "Who is the best centre back in the Premier whose surname starts with Tay.."? For me it will be Taylor all the way

This coming from Anal Oliver is just priceless: mackems.gif Oliver must have a spine made of jelly the amount of flip flops he performs. Anyway, on Luque I always thought any manager with anything about him would make up his own mind on a player. If anyone can get something from Luque I would back Allardyce. Great stuff.

Owen wants to quit us to play CL football. So he'll sign for City. Yes that makes sense

4 pages long already - and to think that this story is probably baseless speculation seen fit to print by the Mirror...

They were good enough for Leeds! Yes they were many ages ago. Viduka is now 33 and weighs quite a bit more. Smith won't have his old pace after smashing his leg in two. If we play those two together we'll have one of the least mobile forward lines in the Premier. Anyway, I think this story is pure BS. I don't expect it to be confirmed so it doesn't matter in any case. Viduka is 31 mate My bad. He looks about 35. Anyway, the point being, I don't see him and Smith as a forward line that will work. Put either of those two alongside Martins or Owen and we might be onto something. I agree, I see Smith as a link up if we play 4-3-3 or cover for Butt in a holding role! Why would Smith come here as cover for Butt in a holding role? To take his first team place maybe. That's the only possible reason I could see for signing Smith, as a midfielder.

They were good enough for Leeds! Yes they were many ages ago. Viduka is now 33 and weighs quite a bit more. Smith won't have his old pace after smashing his leg in two. If we play those two together we'll have one of the least mobile forward lines in the Premier. Anyway, I think this story is pure BS. I don't expect it to be confirmed so it doesn't matter in any case. Viduka is 31 mate My bad. He looks about 35. Anyway, the point being, I don't see him and Smith as a forward line that will work. Put either of those two alongside Martins or Owen and we might be onto something.

Good news. It means he made thew whole thing up in order to get out of playing for Nigeria in the future.

They were good enough for Leeds! Yes they were many ages ago. Viduka is now 33 and weighs quite a bit more. Smith won't have his old pace after smashing his leg in two. If we play those two together we'll have one of the least mobile forward lines in the Premier. Anyway, I think this story is pure BS. I don't expect it to be confirmed so it doesn't matter in any case.

A front two of Viduka and Smith would be too slow. If he's a squad player then fine, otherwise it doesn't make sense. The Mirror is unreliable with transfer rumours anyway, I'll wait for confirmation before taking this as a done deal.

Fat Fred hasn't got many things right as Chairman, but when he said he'd carry Owen to Liverpool for £9m he made a fair point. Owen is staying because no one will buy him at that price, not because he is committed. Martins buy out clause is £13m. I'd bet that has a far better chance of being activated before the season starts, though I hope not.

The first time I saw Taylor he was playing at RB and he was blamed for giving away an early goal, (unfairly IMO). What impressed me was the way he recovered to have an outstanding game. I like Allardyce's attitude though, that he shouldn't have expectations thrust on him as if he's a seasoned pro. He's 20 yrs old and being talked of as captain for next season FFS.

Are you worried? I'm not. The clauses are there incase a bigboy is interested, West Ham and Man City can bid for Owen and Martins all they want IMO. They'll be pissing into the wind. In Owen's case yes. If Martins is offered a big pay rise to move south where lots of his buddies probably live, who's to say?

More agent-driven pimping tbh. He'll probably sign soon enough once it's realised this isn't going to get milked any further. and if he doesn't, he doesn't want to be here enough, end of story.

Fail to see what relevance the quality of our local journalist has to our lack of success on the pitch. When local thickos run a story it doesn't work - when local thickos run a football club it doesn't work. When the two go hand in hand things can go wrong as we have witnessed.

That's all that needs to be said tbh.