stalker

If the club is smart it'll have most of its transfer deals locked up before the window even opens.

That would make a change from the Freddy Shepherd school of transfers where you save money on wages but pay an inflated transfer fee by not buying anyone until transfer deadline day

Given, when fit, is simply a better keeper. Harper deserves all the starts he gets at the minute though.

I completely agree, sadly I don't think we've seen a fully fit Given since the Harewood challenge, I just hope we will again

"Alan shearer a real sports idol and a real example to all those footballers on how to be a real sportsman and is also the all time leading premiership scorer, also he is a real legend and icon in Newcastle and around the footballing world, give him one he desevrves it more than any other footballer."

So we've established he's actually "real" and not imaginary

Charlton focus on Ivorian future

Young English footballers do not posses the same motivation to succeed as their African counterparts, according to the Charlton chief executive Peter Varney.

Charlton's partnership with one of the most famous football academies in Africa, Asec Mimosas, has enabled them to sign five players from Ivory Coast.

"These players have a natural hunger to be successful because that secures their future," Varney told BBC Sport.

"Perhaps the difference here is that, materially, kids have it all too soon."

Charlton are entitled to feel they pulled off a major coup by agreeing a deal with the west African-based club in May 2006.

Currently playing in the Ivorian Premier Division in Abidjan - the largest city in Ivory Coast - the club was founded by the former France international Jean-Marc Guillou in 1993 and has produced the likes of Arsenal's Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Eboue, Tottenham's Didier Zokora and Chelsea's Salomon Kalou.

Fourteen of the academy's past and present players were members of the Ivory Coast squad at the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations.

Under the terms of the agreement, Charlton are part-funding the academy and will host two footballing visits per year in exchange for first refusal on emerging players.

"It's the best academy in Africa," said Varney. "The whole programme is completely different to Europe in the way they deal with the players' education and their training.

"They live on-site and the coaches work on the technical development of the players far more than we perhaps do in this country - I think we could learn a lot from it.

"We invest, and actually part-finance, their academy to make sure it continues to exist and then there is an arrangement by which we can take the better players and give them the opportunity to play with our other partners around Europe."

Asec's first visit to south London took place this week when a selection of the first team squad, preparing for the start of the African Champions League, took on a Charlton reserve side at the Championship club's training ground.

Two of the five players Charlton have signed, 18-year-old striker Gohi Bi Cyriac and 19-year-old midfielder Deble Serge, were on display for the visitors and Serge opened the scoring with a stunning second-half strike.

There was little to chose between the two sides for much of the match but Asec's superior technical ability, strength and stamina shone through in the latter stages and their 2-0 win was sealed when right-back Alli N'Dri swept home a clinical move.

"We are all fortunate to be in this academy so we work hard," says Asec's 18-year-old centre-half Troh Cesar, who idolises Arsenal's Toure.

"It would be a dream to play in the English Premier League and I would love to play for Arsenal like Kolo."

Charlton's signings are all registered to the Football Association in England but are, or will be, placed at clubs in European countries whose work permit regulations are less stringent.

Defender Soro Bakary has been farmed out to Germinal Beerschot in Belgium while forward Ismael Beko Fofana and midfielder Konan Serge Kouadio are playing for Norwegian side Fredrikstad.

When the players qualify for a European passport, a process which usually takes two years, they should be eligible to join up with Charlton.

With the emergence of African nations at the various tournaments over the years we feel Africa is definitely part of the master plan for the globe," said Varney.

"But we can't compete with the top clubs in terms of signing players for the here and now so the strategy was to get associations with a number of clubs in key territories around the world and get in at academy level so that the best players can come to us."

Such thinking has resulted in Charlton establishing partnerships with clubs such as Valencia in Spain, Shandong Lunend in China and Ajax Cape Town in South Africa.

"This isn't about Charlton getting three players from the Ivory Coast next week," said Varney.

"This is something we will look back on in four or five years time and somebody will say Charlton had the vision to set this structure up around the world and from that have come these players who they didn't paying huge fees for.

"If you're signing a Didier Drogba or a Kalou when they're the finished article Charlton aren't able to compete in that market. By doing this we are able to compete."

But while European sides continue to reap the benefits of Academie Asec's production line, the club itself - spearheaded by Pascal Theault since Guillou's departure - are under pressure to continue producing talent amid increased competition.

The academy used to have monopoly over Abidjan's young players but, as ever-increasing numbers of boys dream of a move to Europe and agents look to capitalise on the desire of European clubs for African players, over 300 academies have been formed in the city.

Meanwhile, the domestic game in west Africa, which fails to attract the same levels of investment as north Africa, faces a precarious future.

"Everybody is looking at the Africa Cup of Nations and saying Africa is getting better but I'm not sure of that," says Benoit You, Asec's director of marketing and communications.

"Ivorian people know the results of matches involving Chelsea and Arsenal but they don't know the results between Asec and another Ivorian team.

"We can't afford to keep the best players in Africa, the stadiums are very bad, the pitches are not good, we don't have TV rights and it's not possible to sell kits because people don't have money.

"It's possible that in the long term Africa will purely become a feeder for European football. I hope it doesn't happen but it's becoming very difficult for the clubs."

A particular problem arises when European sides cherry pick Asec players for small fees without entertaining the idea of investing in the club long-term.

That is where Charlton have bucked the trend and not only will their partnership enable them to sign tomorrows Toures and Zakoras, but it will also go a long way to guaranteeing the survival of Africa's most famous football academy.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/charlton_athletic/7244803.stm

Does anyone know if Charlton's deal in the Ivory Coast was anything to do with our new guy Vetere?  I'm still amazed by how few link ups (if any) we have with foreign clubs.

Milner will get better with every year that passes, he is a credit to the club and a proper professional.

He is a good pro. No one would dispute that. I like him too, not least for his attitude but he is quite limited for a wide man imo. He isn't a great crosser and he lacks a yard of pace. He makes the most of what he has though.

You could possibly say the same of Joe Cole, never been the quickest and can't cross.

1. HEAVYWEIGHT TOILET

2. WILD DOGS = Wolves

3. PROFESSOR OF ROLLERS

4. GLASS MANSIONS = Crystal Palace

5. MALE MEADOW

6. ANIMAL CAR

7. DIRTY WATER

8. PUSH A WEIGHT

9. STEEL CITY DAY - Sheffield Wednesday

10. ALWAYS 100 = Everton

11. FAMOUS FOR BUNS

12. NOT AN EASTERN DISH = West Ham

13. WHERE THE WOMBLES COME FROM = Milton Keynes (...)

14. DETECTIVES NEED THEM

15. FAMOUS FOOTBALL BROTHERS = Charlton

16. VEHICLES SURROUNDED BY WATER

17. OPPOSITE OF DULL OFF = Brighton

18. COTTON FACTORYS BARRIER

19. LOCK THE DOOR

20. ROYAL, LEISURE AREA, GUARDIANS = QPR

21. OUTBUILDING FOR SANTAS TRANSPORT = Barnsley

22. COLLECTION OF ARMS = Arsenal

23. FAMOUS JOCKEY = Leicester

24. KEEP THE FIRE BURNING = Stoke

25. SEND HERE FOR SILENCE = Coventry

26. NOT A NORTH OR SOUTH COUNTY = Middlesbrough

27. BOTTOM OF A SHIP = Hull

28. INTER

29. FAMOUS HAIRCUT OF YESTERDAY = Barnet

30. FAMOUS US PRESIDENT = Lincoln

31. COMPLETE BACON JOINT

32. LARGER THAN A DUCK POND

33. BONNIES PARTNER = Clyde

34. HAWAIIN GREETING = Alloa

35. WE NEED THIS TO LIVE = Ayr

36. LATEST FORT = Newcastle

37. ORGAN OF SMALL LAKE = Liverpool

38. CAR WITH SPANISH HOUSE = Aston Villa

39. PRISON CLOCK = Celtic

40. ORGAN IN SMALL LAKE = Liverpool reserves 

37 is Hartlepool

Don't cheat by googling them

Not sure if this has been on here before but thought I'd post it anyway-

Name the football teams

1. HEAVYWEIGHT TOILET

2. WILD DOGS

3. PROFESSOR OF ROLLERS

4. GLASS MANSIONS

5. MALE MEADOW

6. ANIMAL CAR

7. DIRTY WATER

8. PUSH A WEIGHT

9. STEEL CITY DAY

10. ALWAYS 100

11. FAMOUS FOR BUNS

12. NOT AN EASTERN DISH

13. WHERE THE WOMBLES COME FROM

14. DETECTIVES NEED THEM

15. FAMOUS FOOTBALL BROTHERS

16. VEHICLES SURROUNDED BY WATER

17. OPPOSITE OF DULL OFF

18. COTTON FACTORY’S BARRIER

19. LOCK THE DOOR

20. ROYAL, LEISURE AREA, GUARDIANS

21. OUTBUILDING FOR SANTA’S TRANSPORT

22. COLLECTION OF ARMS

23. FAMOUS JOCKEY

24. KEEP THE FIRE BURNING

25. SEND HERE FOR SILENCE

26. NOT A NORTH OR SOUTH COUNTY

27. BOTTOM OF A SHIP

28. INTER

29. FAMOUS HAIRCUT OF YESTERDAY

30. FAMOUS US PRESIDENT

31. COMPLETE BACON JOINT

32. LARGER THAN A DUCK POND

33. BONNIE’S PARTNER

34. HAWAIIN GREETING

35. WE NEED THIS TO LIVE

36. LATEST FORT

37. ORGAN OF SMALL LAKE

38. CAR WITH SPANISH HOUSE

39. PRISON CLOCK

40. ORGAN IN SMALL LAKE

Can't blame them for trying to be honest, would those laughing now still be laughing if he had accepted?

 

Considering the chances of him accepting, it wasn't even worth the cost of the phone call, or the time wasted doing it for that matter.

It could also have a negative effect on the rest of their search for a manager, how many good managers have too much pride to be willing to take a job as 3rd choice?

1. A Premier League Match

2. A Championship Match

4. A League Two Match

5. A Conference Match

6. A FA Cup Match

8. A FA Cup Final

9. A League Cup Match

12. A League Match in another country.

17. An English Derby.

18. An International

21. A European Championship Match

25. A Champions League Match

27. A UEFA Cup Match

30. A Friendly

31. A team win the league

32. A team get promoted

33. A team get relegated

35. A Penalty Shootout

36. A saved penalty

41. Watched a game at Old Wembley

44. Watched a game at the Nou Camp

50. Travelled more than 400 miles specifically to watch a game.

Does anyone know of any bars in Berlin showing the toon game today?

Wasn't there an incident in luckies when he was at newcastle?

Nugent at the moment, I don't think he's a bad player but your manager wanting to selll you after a month is pretty woeful

Why does anyone give him airtime ? He was a useless manager and has nothing worthwhile to say to anone or anything !!! 

Sky sport jusy seem desperate for ex newcastle managers, cant wait for the start of the champions league when we'll get the dream punditry trio of souness, guillit and roeder

so Bentley has been left out of both the U-21 and full squads? serves him right

 

Serves him right just because he was tired?

No because he waited till after the squad deadline to say he was tired which meant england went to a tournament a man short

I think its worrying that we can't find the finances to sign a member of staff Allardyce clearly wanted. He's only on a rolling contract so it can't be that much to just get him to buy himself out of it and give him a signing on fee to cover it.

http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,2150679,00.html

Chelsea to beef up backroom staff with Forde

Former Bolton man to be performance director

Mourinho likely to welcome new signing

Dominic Fifield

Friday August 17, 2007

The Guardian

Chelsea are set to make a major addition to Jose Mourinho's backroom staff with the recruitment of the former Bolton Wanderers performance director Mike Forde, a highly regarded figure within the game, who would adopt a similar position at Stamford Bridge.

Forde had been expected to rejoin his former manager at Bolton, Sam Allardyce, at Newcastle United only for the two clubs to fail to agree a compensation package to prise him from his rolling contract at the Reebok Stadium. That has alerted the Chelsea chief executive, Peter Kenyon, who is confident a deal can be reached with the Wanderers' chairman, Phil Gartside.

Talks are going on between the clubs and, should a deal be struck, Forde would be expected to take up his new duties in London before the end of the month. He would join a backroom staff which includes Frank Arnesen, the chief scout and head of youth development, and the recently appointed director of football, Avram Grant. However, the 32-year-old's involvement is unlikely to unsettle the manager, Jose Mourinho, in the same way that Grant's appointment did when it was first mooted in the new year, with Forde's role very much geared towards off-the-pitch matters.

Chelsea's owner, Roman Abramovich, has adopted a policy of seeking the best off-field backroom team possible to match the side he has seen Mourinho build and both he and Kenyon have been impressed with the impact made by Forde, whose background is in sports science and psychology, over his eight-year spell at the Reebok. During that time his job effectively entailed scouring the globe for innovations that could be deemed relevant to life at the club, whether those techniques were centred on IT, scouting, psychology or people management.

As a senior member of a backroom staff that was 21-strong last season - a department that covered everything from coaching, medicine, sports science, performance analysis and administrative support - he also built up significant links with leading American sports franchises from NFL to NBA. Similarly he spent time with the All Blacks and the former formula one team British American Racing as well as consulting the statistical analysts at the Boston Red Sox.

Indeed, with Forde having played his part with Allardyce in hoisting Bolton from the Championship into Uefa Cup qualifiers, leading foreign clubs - from Australian rules teams to the NBA's LA Lakers - visited Wanderers to observe the techniques encouraged and nurtured by Forde. "In any leading business there's always someone whose job is to pinpoint what's around the corner because what was extraordinary yesterday is very ordinary tomorrow," said Forde in an interview with the Guardian earlier this year, with his role having been very much aimed at giving Bolton any competitive edge that was possible.

Gartside had moved to keep his performance director at the Reebok in the wake of Allardyce's departure to Newcastle by offering him a new contract and position as general manager, though he instead opted to seek a new challenge. To that end he has been on gardening leave since resigning his post earlier in the summer. That period should end once Chelsea reach an agreement with the Bolton chairman, allowing Forde to take up his new position in west London.

Mourinho had initially been resistant to Grant's appointment when it was first suggested by Abramovich back in January, though he has accepted that the Israeli will make his life "easier" now that he has joined the club. The 51-year-old reports to Kenyon with his duties nominally to liaise on and coordinate footballing matters across Chelsea's interests. "His job, in general terms, is to help people in different areas in the club," said Mourinho during the club's recent pre-season tour of the United States. "I am happy to have him in our structure and, if I say I am happy, then I am happy. If I wasn't, then you would see me around the corner snarling."

We seem to have forgiven Barton for his "past" even though he hasn't pulled on a shirt, so if Diuof plays as well as he has done for Bolton then I can seem him becoming popular with the fans.

Barton never came to St James and deliberately wound up the crowd though. I still can't believe Diouf didnt get booked for that last season especially given he did it after both goals

Westham have a good midfield and attack but their defence is truly awful. Ferdinand, Spector and McCartney are not premiership players and I'm not 100% sure whether Upson can be anymore either.

I know peoples' situations can change quite quickly but you figure he would have had some idea about his family moving to London before the summer so why sign a new contract?

Is Forster in the squad? Both sites I've seen with it on haven't got him in it

Ronny Johnsen

Did Kenny Dalglish ever play for the Toon, in a friendly or something daft like that. Which reminds me - Gullit did.

Yeah I thought of Gullit, I'm not sure it counts though

Andy Cole

Just seen the question on nufc.co.uk and I'm a bit stumped.

Name the 15 players to play for nufc who have won the European cup (including one who signed this summer)?

To start people off I managed to get some of the easy ones:

Butt

Kluivert

Geremi (i think)

Rush

Keegan

Tomasson

Hamann