lovejoy

this, although i do like pennant

fat sam picked smith against his scouting teams wishes if odays chron is to be believed. Boro ready to bid for Smith May 13 2008 by Alan Oliver, Evening Chronicle MIDDLESBROUGH will try to lure Alan Smith from St James’s Park in the close season. Boro boss Gareth Southgate has joined Rangers manager Walter Smith in a bid to sign his former England international colleague. And while Rangers may struggle to meet Smith’s wage demands, they should not be too much trouble to Middlesbrough. Southgate, Kevin Keegan and United’s top brass Mike Ashley and Chris Mort were all at the Sir Bobby Robson charity dinner at St James’s on Friday night. And while the United chairman was seen locked in conversation with his Sunderland counterpart Niall Quinn, Mike Ashley had a long discussion with Southgate. Whether Southgate brought up the subject of Smith with Ashley or whether he will go straight to United’s director of football Dennis Wise, vice-president Tony Jimenez or Keegan himself, remains to be seen. But Southgate has been a big admirer of Smith since the pair of them played for England under Sven-Goran Eriksson. Southgate tried to sign Smith 12 months ago from Manchester United when he was his No 1, target but the 27-year-old Yorkshireman preferred Tyneside to Teesside. My information is that his scouting team wanted Sam Allardyce to go for Brazilian midfielder Elano, who was also available for £6m at Shakhtar Donetsk, but the United boss had his heart set on Smith and he got him for the same fee. And to be fair, while some United supporters have criticised Smith this season, both Big Sam and Kevin Keegan have always spoken highly of him. But all those players who had their wages leaked to a national Sunday newspaper will be more than a trifle concerned about their St James’s future, with the United hierarchy keen to cut the wage bill. And these will include Smith, who is reportedly earning £62,000 a week and who, in 30 competitive starts for United, has not managed a single in goal in a black-and-white shirt. Smith has another four years on his United deal, but first-team coach Steve Round’s contract is up at the end of next month and at present the former England man has not been offered a new one. I understand Round, who is being eyed by David Moyes at Everton as his first-team coach, would like to stay with United and Keegan is happy to have him, but the decision is out of their hands. http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/nufc/newcastle-united-news/2008/05/13/boro-ready-to-bid-for-smith-72703-20901910/

nicknamed after a musician called duke ellington?? surely he's nickamed after the duke of wellington??

that specky coward from the notw reacted angrily this morning on sunday supplemetn when it was suggested by patrick barclay that the story had been put out by the owen camp. it would appear barclay was correct

'i can assure fans i will definately be here next season'. keegan on bbc.

cant see it. firstly, he wouldnt get a game, and secondly, they'll be after a bigger striker like berbatov imo

owen to run his contract down if tomorrows rags are to be believed, ashley wont pay his current wage and he wont take a cut

no need for a thread on it i know, ive had a few. i suspect it'll die like one of jol's.

keegan fucking loves this word. becoming a souness 'proper'.

i like him, always have. one of the best crossers of the ball in the league imo

speaking of glenn, he has given lee clark's brother in law a full time scouting position at norwich. jobsfortheboys Paul Baker has quit Blue Star for Norwich? He is one of the good guys of NE football Paul Baker. Wonder if still lives in Clarkies old house a few streets down from me & Janitor? aye, he's as straight as a die to be fair, canny fella

speaking of glenn, he has given lee clark's brother in law a full time scouting position at norwich. jobsfortheboys

what a soft bastard. he's 26/27 for fucks sake, and he's only 2 hours or so along the road.

anything above 8th would be a very good step forward imo

source?

the abuse towards ramage is bang out of order by the way

we look a very decent team here. we knock it about well, and look calm getting out of our own third. sam must be squirming like fuck. geremi still gives it away too softly for me

wasn't he playing for stoke? he is generally there because his mate owns it, unless you mean last night?

steven davis and andrew johnson linked in todays press. dont want either tbh

Stop that. Gallas being one I can think of, who else has Wenger signed from a club in this country? EDIT : Walcott as well jeffers, richard wright

and yet here we are, level on points.

spot on

OK, I can't remember that, I just remember two large amounts of debt being paid off. he certainly did. its after his 'pack of cards' comment, it may have been mort who said it actually, but im sure its ashley