biggs

More Journaltastic news Magpies keep up trawl for talent Jun 20 2008 by Luke Edwards, The Journal MIKE Ashley’s blueprint for Newcastle United’s future continues to take shape as the Magpies close in on the signing of Plymouth teenager Aaron Spear. While United fans clamour for the first big-name signing of the summer, which they hope will send out a signal of the club’s renewed ambition ahead of the new season, United’s owner is keen to ensure the club’s long-term health is looked after as much as its short-term needs. The Journal revealed last week that Ashley will be taking a more hands-on role at St James’s Park next season following the departure of chairman Chris Mort. This will see the billionaire take direct control of player recruitment, as well as having the key say in the on-going contract talks with skipper Michael Owen and defender Steven Taylor. As a result, although Kevin Keegan will be back at his desk next week to step up the Magpies’ first-team recruitment drive, Ashley continues to promote a policy which will see the Magpies attempt to sign the best young players in the country, even if some of these have never made a first-team appearance. “We are not going to make big-name signings just for the sake of it,” a senior Newcastle figure told The Journal. “If the right player is available and the price is right we will be in for them, but we don’t want to buy established stars who are approaching the end of their careers on big wages who will need to be replaced in one or two years. “We want young, hungry players who will be at this football club for a long time to come. That is the vision we have for the future of this football club. It is about the strength of the club over many years to come.” Spear will be the latest youngster to move to the North East when the deal finally goes through later this month. The 15-year-old will follow former Swindon prospect Ben Tozer, 18, Hungarian youth international Tamas Kadar, 18, French striker Wesley Ngo Baheng, 18, highly-rated Italian forward Fabio Zamblera, 18, and Swedish goalkeeper Ole Soderberg, 17, to St James’s Park. All have signed this year and United’s activity in this area will not end with the capture of Spear. The teenager is also attracting interest from Arsenal, who have attempted to hijack his proposed move to Newcastle, but sources close to the player have suggested he favours a move North in a deal which is likely to cost the Magpies around £250,000. Keegan is well aware of his boss’ desire to build up the strength of the club’s young players, but he has also emphasised that considerable investment is needed in the first team squad if he is going to be able to build on the positive end to last season. Newcastle’s only transfer activity so far this summer has seen players leaving, with Emre, David Rozehnal, Peter Ramage and Stephen Carr the most high-profile departures, while striker Shola Ameobi – a player once talked about as Alan Shearer’s natural successor – will also be on his way when he returns from his honeymoon next week. And it seems Celtic winger Aiden McGeady could be one of the first of the new arrivals, with Newcastle’s new youth-team coach Alan Thompson insisting his former Bhoys team-mate has all the attributes needed to be a success in the Premier League. McGeady has also attracted the attention of United’s North East rivals Sunderland and former Newcastle midfielder Thompson, who has returned to the club to take charge of the Academy’s 15 and 16-year-olds, would love to see him in a black-and-white shirt next season. Thompson said: “I think Aiden McGeady has more than enough to survive in the Premier League and he would be a great attribute if he comes to the North East. He’s a young lad, but already has umpteen international caps and you don’t get that at his age unless you’re good enough. I used to joke with him that neither of us was any good in the air, but he’s strong on his left or right foot and he’s willing to learn.”

well John Terry's getting very good at crying if that's what you're looking for. Would he do that for England though .

what about clinical depression or any of the many psychosis people can undergo through no fault of their own. it's a bit like i wouldn't expect you to top yourself if i said "why don't you shut the f*** up as you obviously have not got a clue what you are gibbering on about" where as for some that may be enough to push them over the edge due to the position thay are in. Arrr bollocks man. Who gives a monkeys toss ? Make yourself look like a tit why dont you

Thats what is great about football,an ending like that (unless your the loser) when most of the game was crap .Glad England are not in the competition in a way as i hope those over paid pre madonnas can watch the competion and realise what they are missing though i doubt they really care that much any way.The emotion at the end is what its all about and thats what i want to see from our players .

FFS RIP

Agree with you ,but all is not lost maybe we can sabourtage Arsenals communications network with a gremlin ie Dennis Wise and get Arshavins before they repair it .seriously though we have to aim high and see what happens its been said time and time again we are not able to offer much to top players apart from selling them a vision ,so live in hope .

Probably left his transfer targets list with Terry Mac and he thought they were horses to back when hes away. When he meets up with Wisey and says when is the press conference for the new signings Terry Mac legs it

Agreed 100%. Yes the 2 home games are tricky as fook

Lampard

According to Anal Oliver KK will not be watching any games as if he would know

bitter sweet bitter sweet first 4 games away first game ,away last game :frantic:

Yes we will probably struggle if anyone else comes in who can offer europe etc but thats our situation so we have to live with it unfortunetly.

Smart arse

Cheers

Anyone know what time the fixtures are released.

Well he would be a waste of money in that case then,hope you dont scout for anybody cos they will be f***ed on your recommendation Ummm, what? Ummm pissed beer goggles

Well he would be a waste of money in that case then,hope you dont scout for anybody cos they will be fucked on your recommendation

Hot off the press another Sunday Sun ball busting Neil Farrington exclusive. Keegan and Mourinho in race for French striker Gomis Jun 15 2008 by Neil Farrington, Sunday Sun NEWCASTLE face a mighty new foe in the race for French striker Bafetimbi Gomis – Jose Mourinho. United are ready to pay £10 million for St Etienne starlet Gomis, dubbed the new Didier Drogba. But Mourinho is ready to make the task of luring the 22-year-old to Tyneside all the more difficult by offering him Champions League football at Inter Milan. The former Chelsea boss is said to be cool on the idea of taking Drogba himself to the San Siro, but Gomis is available at less than half the price. Meanwhile, the Sunday Sun under- stands Newcastle are in talks with Tottenham over a deal for central defender Younes Kaboul. But United — who envisage spending big money on Gomis and the likes of Arda Turan, Andrei Arshavin or Rafael van der Vaart — are reluctant to meet Spurs’ £6m asking price for the 22-year-old. The Magpies have been offered Benfica’s Brazilian centre-half Luisao, but won’t be doing business at a quoted price of £12m. But Ipswich remain defiantly confident of boosting Newcastle’s coffers by buying Shola Ameobi, with manager Jim Magilton still hopeful of convincing the seemingly reluctant striker to join them when he returns from honeymoon.

I think you have just contradicted yourself dear boy

f####n hell lads you heard this Fingers crossed

14/06/2008 09:04 Newcastle Power-Play For Arshavin The race to sign Zenit St Petersburg star Andrei Arshavin is heating up as Newcastle have reacted to reports that Manchester City are circling in on the player by intensifying their own efforts. * »Comments (2) * Print This Story * Send To A Friend * Contact Us Newcastle Power-Play For Arshavin galleria zoom * * * Newcastle's director of football Dennis Wise has reportedly met with Arshavin's agent to sell him on the prospect of his star client signing for the Geordies once Euro 2008 has run its course. Newcastle have been credited as being long-term admirers of the 26-year-old, and Arshavin has previously claimed that he would be open to a move to St. James' Park. "Of course I would like to play in England," he told the Daily Mirror last December.. "In Russia as well as England they are talking about Newcastle being interested in me and there has been no concrete offer. "In principle if they made an offer I would be interested." Zenit boss Dick Advocaat has already admitted the club are likely to lose their crown jewel, and the latest statement from his club suggests that judgment day may even be less than a week away. “If Arshavin doesn’t leave by June 20 he’ll stay in the team,” confirmed club official Konstantin Sarsania. The Russia star was vital to Zenit’s European success, earning strong interest from several clubs, including Everton, Roma and Schalke reportedly. Arshavin has yet to make an impact on Euro 2008, as he is suspended for Russia's first two games. He could prove pivotal for them in their final group game against Sweden, however. Derek Wanner, Goal.com

He doesn't have the money to blow himself though, hows he going to spend Chelsea level money but still make the club attractive to investors if it goes tits up? Surgical enhancement down below with the money hes got will not be a problem

To this day i havent a clue which stand is the Sir John Hall stand will always be the Leazes and the Gallowgate to me and we should start a petition to get them renamed .

If Turkey and the Czech Republic draw their final Group A match in Geneva on Sunday, second place and a quarter-final berth will be decided on penalties. Shoot-out chance The Czech Republic lost 3-1 to Portugal on Wednesday evening and then Turkey beat Switzerland 2-1 – both after added-time goals. That leaves the Czech Republic and Turkey level on points, goal difference and goals scored, and according to Article 7.08 in the official 2008 UEFA European Championship regulations, in that instance, if the two equal teams are playing in the last game, their match is decided by spot-kicks after 90 minutes should it finish level. Regulations Article 7.08 reads: "If two teams which have the same number of points, the same number of goals scored and conceded play their last group match against each other and are still equal at the end of that match, the ranking of the two teams in question will be determined by kicks from the penalty mark, provided no other teams within the group have the same number of points on completion of all group matches." The full regulations can be read by clicking here. Whoever finishes second in Group A will play the winners of Group B in Vienna on 20 June. Portugal, as Group A winners, face the Group B runners-up in Basel the night before. Precedent The situation has arisen before in a UEFA final tournament. In the 2002/03 UEFA European Women's Under-19 Championship in Germany, Italy and Sweden went into their last group game exactly level. A last-gasp Italy goal made the score 3-3, and Sweden won the shoot-out 4-1, though they were to lose to Norway on penalties in the semi-finals. Meanwhile, while Turkey have never been in a major penalty shoot-out, the Czech Republic beat France 6-5 to reach the 1996 UEFA European Championship semi-finals and Czechoslovakia defeated West Germany 5-3 in the 1976 final and France 9-8 in the 1980 third-place match, giving the nation a major tourmament record of three wins out of three with all 20 attempts converted. Experience Meanwhile, both likely goalkeepers on Sunday have recent experience of major penalty shoot-outs. Turkey's Volkan Demirel saved three spot-kicks as Fenerbahçe SK defeated Sevilla FC 3-2 on penalties in the UEFA Champions League first knockout round in February. Fenerbahçe then lost to Chelsea FC, who reached the final only to be beaten 6-5 in a penalty competition by Manchester United FC in Moscow, Petr Čech saving from Cristiano Ronaldo. Hope that helps

the top two teams from each group will qualify to the quarter-finals of the 2008 UEFA European Championship. if two teams are level on points in the group, the tiebreakers are as follows: - number of points earned in matches between the teams in question; - goal difference in matches between the teams in question (in cases where there are more than two teams equal on points); - goals scored in matches between the teams in question (in cases where there are more than two teams equal on points); - goal difference in all group matches; - goals scored in all group matches; - in cases where exactly two teams are equal in all previously listed critera and play one another to a draw in their final group match, kicks from the penalty mark will be conducted in lieu of the remaining criteria; - the number of points obtained by the teams in question divided by the number of matches played in the qualifying competitions for the 2006 FIFA World Cup and 2008 UEFA European Championship; - fair play conduct of the teams in the group stage; - drawing of lots.