BONTEMPI

Injury rules out Mark Viduka for start of season Jul 31 2008 by Alan Oliver, Evening Chronicle Mark Viduka KEVIN KEEGAN has reluctantly ruled Newcastle United striker Mark Viduka out of the start of the new season. Keegan fears his well-travelled forward will be missing for the first two or three games of the Premier League campaign – and it could be September before he appears in a black-and-white shirt again. However, the good news from the United camp here in Majorca is that Keegan believes the burly Aussie will be the only player missing when the Magpies go to Old Trafford for the season opener on August 17. Nigerian striker Obafemi Martins has rejoined the squad for the Mallorca Summer Cup following the death of his mother, meaning only Viduka, Michael Owen, Joey Barton and Abdoulaye Faye have been left on Tyneside. Striker Owen is recovering from slight calf trouble, while midfielder Barton is returning to fitness after being released from prison. Defender Faye – who has been attracting interest from several Premier League clubs – was given extra time off after a summer of international duty with Senegal. It was feared at the end of last season Viduka would need an operation on his troublesome Achilles tendon injury, but the Chronicle revealed on July 14 this was not going to be the case. Viduka did have an injection in May, and he is now on the verge of returning to full training with the rest of the United squad. Keegan said: “Mark will definitely not be ready to start the season, but he should be back in training in the next week. “With the catching up he has to do, I would say, if everything goes to plan, Mark will miss the first two or three games just because of match fitness. “Other than that, I don’t think there is anybody who I could say, at the moment, will miss the start of the season.” That means the manager is confident young striker Andy Carroll, who is currently in plaster after a freak holiday accident, will also be fit. Keegan added: “Andy is touch and go because, again, he has missed a lot, but everybody else has a chance.” Bearing in mind United were without 10 of their first-team squad in Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Doncaster, at least things are now beginning to look up a bit for Keegan.

Only worry potentially is the fact that Keegan has been saying this all Summer only to face yet more rejection, then regurgitate these quotes, then get rejected again, &c, &c. I'm not sure I share his (feigned?) confidence any more. I believe that we're trying as hard as anyone, but the players we've targeted are of a calibre that's got us pitching against teams that can offer significantly more than we can. Because, like it or not, for a foreign player who knows little or nothing about the club, we can offer absolutely f*** all geographically, in terms of our recent league positions, and certainly no more or less financially than the other clubs. Keegan's a blind optimist at times. Since the winter transfer window he's been coming out with quotes like this but nobody of real note has come in! I suppose we were all under the illusion that Ashley would be packing the first team with real talent and then concentrate on building the foundations for the future with the youngsters. But what are we looking at so far for the first team is an unproven Argie and a Liverpool reject as our reward for even supporting that shower of shite last season! Hope I get proved wrong and we push on from here, but knowing what we have in our squad at present we ain't gonna improve too much. Lets face it, it's going to be another tough season if we again fail to get at least 1 creative player in let alone some decent defensive cover.

Bomb it then. Tbh I don't blame spurs one bit! They have put there money where there mouth is and look at having a crack at the top four I do blame however our club for f***ing around and being in a worse position squad wise than last season! Still a few weeks to go but all we'll be doing is scraping the barrel for bargain basement rubbish nobody wants. so your point is that he shouldn't bomb it? Bomb it anyway as I don't like them but you can't blame them for really pushing ahead in the transfer market.

Bomb it then. Tbh I don't blame spurs one bit! They have put there money where there mouth is and look at having a crack at the top four I do blame however our club for fucking around and being in a worse position squad wise than last season! Still a few weeks to go but all we'll be doing is scraping the barrel for bargain basement rubbish nobody wants.

Note they've neglected to mention any of the information already known in regards to this concerning the main issue being that Deportivo are apparently after a bit of extra cash. His agent has said we are the only club in for him plus he has supposedely agreed a contract would hope that would be enough to see this transfer through. Some facts bother me: It has been played out in the press The agent has said he knows Ramos very well Leindro (president) supposedly knows Ramos well Spurs have a lot in the coffers now and have got rid of Gardner and Kaboul We havnt tied this up quickly Hopefully the fact weve been working on it for 3 months shows our interest if we've been working on for 3 months, our transfer men need shooting with s**** Too right Being the state we were in last season we should have had at least 5 players in by the start of July! Somethings seriously wrong at the top, if our squad is even thinner than the start of last season. Ashley & Co are not cutting it in any way shape or form at the minute.

Never would have happened in the old testament. NE5 Stage left!

I saw footage on the local ITV evening news and Martins was getting off the team bus. I was surprised to see him. Poor Lad Think Keegan will play him as he'll probably want to pay tribute to his mum! Remember what form Lua Lua was in for Pompey after he lost his Son? I know it's not nice to be thinking we'll get benefit from it but it does tend to happen

Think i'd like to see this line up at the back with Faye moving into a midfield holding role for away games. Given Beye Colo Taylor Enrique Faye Jonas Guthrie Duff\Zoggy Owen Martins\Viduka This for home Matches Given Beye Colo Faye Enrique Butt\Guthrie Jonas Duff Zoggy Owen Martins\Viduka I think Zoggy would shine in that position as lets face it his crossing is shite half the time and that's the position he'd relish making those jinking runs.

Yes We do need at least another 3 players not including Bassong and Coloccini if he comes. Left Back, Right Back, And Attacking midfielder before i'd start to get too excited, But I Think our defense would be the strongest it has ever been in the premier league and a bit better going forward. Bassong and Coloccini could cover the fullback spots.. actually I believe Colo is a better RB than CB.. hope we get him. would you drop beye though? Just what I was about to say

Yes We do need at least another 3 players not including Bassong and Coloccini if he comes. Left Back, Right Back, And Attacking midfielder before i'd start to get too excited, But I Think our defense would be the strongest it has ever been in the premier league and a bit better going forward.

Of course we can Ok the Strikers maybe missing but you can still gage how well the defensive shape is and the style and formation we're likely to use through the middle

Whats good about this is both the player and agent want this to go through as in the past there has always been another club in for a player as well and the agent plays a waiting game till he gets the best deal for his man but every thing is sorted but Deportivos f***ing about with the fee and obviously thats the only stumbling block so imho its our man till Spuds put in a late bid to scupper it if it is too be believed, after today they won't have too much money left Jew's always have some gold stashed away somewhere! Controversial. ususally in a little bag around their necks i believe A good friend of mine, Richard the Lionheart I beleive, used to tell me that too. Thats why he on the quite condoned a night of murder and beating of Jews in London just after he was coronated. Always a night on the piss to Spur you on

Quite looking forward to this match Even if we're not at full strength, we'll see exactly the level we are.

Whats good about this is both the player and agent want this to go through as in the past there has always been another club in for a player as well and the agent plays a waiting game till he gets the best deal for his man but every thing is sorted but Deportivos f***ing about with the fee and obviously thats the only stumbling block so imho its our man till Spuds put in a late bid to scupper it if it is too be believed, after today they won't have too much money left Jew's always have some gold stashed away somewhere!

I could well see this signing paving the way to attract a couple more players. But I hope we get a top class play maker, we can't just rely on Spidey to provide all the ammo.

I'm great at spanglish It's espanglish actually. NERD!

I'm great at spanglish

He never should be allowed to take a penalty for us mind, check u tube!

Aye but is the lad any good? Can't remember watching him From what i have seen of La Liga he's class...Perfect age and has alot of experience... Can he knock up a mean paella as well?

Aye but is the lad any good? Can't remember watching him

I think he's a good player and with our current position and with the season starting soon he's as good as we are going to get. Besides with that mop he's bound to become a cult hero of sorts. Never mind the hair, he has some neck on him, bet he can get some power with his nut.. http://www.tin247.com/bongdaso/080518165338-312-583.jpg Looks like his heads shrunk!

Hope he's the find of the season but i ain't counting on him being any better than Boomsong

mmmmm TAP ASS!

Not Mido terms then?

Keegan aims to keep 'spot-on' N'Zogbia at Newcastle with four signings to come... From the mail but no info on the 4 other signings mind